Support small, independent shops’ – Rye mayor

Bernardine Fiddimore said the town and its surrounding villages had a wide range of stores and family-run outlets that offered good services to customers.

She said: “We have some excellent small stores in the Rye environs that would benefit from good publicity and now seems a good time for that.

“The Village Store and Post Office in Iden is under new ownership and offers fantastic value for money.

“The fresh produce, including cured meats, cheeses, bread, cakes and greengrocery are cheaper than big supermarkets and of really good quality.

“It’s not unusual to have to queue outside the door for a few moments during peak times.

“The Post Office offers full opening hours and the owners are welcoming and very popular.

“The husband is a master baker and the range of cakes and savouries amazing.

“It’s a similar story in Icklesham.

“Here the fruit and vegetables are often locally grown and near half the prices supermarkets charge.

“There is a great range of goods on offer and the layout is quirky but very attractive making it a fun place to shop. Recently off-licence sales have been added.”

Councillor Fiddimore said Salts Farm shop in nearby East Guldeford was ‘another independent success story’ for the Rye area.

She said: “The meat is superior quality and some of the vegetable varieties cannot be found anywhere else locally.

“The shop also offers a huge range of ready meals from the Cook range and incorporates a coffee shop, overlooking the beautiful marshes.” She added the store had recently featured in Country Living as a ‘must visit’ shop.

Cllr Fiddimore said: “At Winchelsea Beach we have the Co-op, a mini supermarket which really is super and with all that you would expect including wonderful bread, Fairtrade goods and very keen prices.

“Just up the road is Suttons Store selling fresh wild game, luxury sauces, pates and all sorts of fresh fish.”

Cllr Fiddimore was also full of praise for stores in her own town.

She said: “In Rye itself we have a wet fish shop on New Road and the Tilling Green Store, recently refurbished and selling a vast selection of food goods.

“We have a butchers in Cinque Ports Street and a very good greengrocer next door where you will never find wilting or rancid goods.

“They spray the vegetables with iced water several times a day.

“In the High Street there is another good greengrocer’s and the Rye Deli must be one of the busiest stores in Rye in its new expanded premises.

“Down at Costcutter you will find wines at very good prices.”

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