Village shopscoops a topbusiness award

The Johnston Press South business awards brings together the winners of awards from newspapers in Sussex and Portsmouth, to find an overall winner in each category.

TV personality Fred Dinenage compered the awards at The Grand Hotel in Brighton on Friday (September 26).

And there was plenty to celebrate for Sussex businesses, who picked up a whole host of awards.

Among them was Hurst Green Shop and Cafe won the outstanding contribution to the community award. Fundraiser Maureen Harniman said: “We opened in May 2013 but started fundraising in 2009. It’s taken us years.”

She said the community support and help from volunteers has helped the much-needed community shop to flourish.

On winning the award, she said: “It is just wonderful.”

Hurst Green Village is on the A21 between Flimwell and Robertsbridge. The shop, with on-site parking, sits in between the village playground and the Village Hall.

The shop and café is the result of four years of planning to convert a redundant village building into a thriving hub offering convenience shopping for groceries as well as ‘speciality’ shopping from a range of products from local suppliers. This uniquely designed building also provides a delightful meeting point for socialising or relaxing with fine coffee and a pastry. There is a Post Office Local counter providing a valuable range of post office services. For information visit www.hurstgreenshop.co.uk.