Salisbury Scrutineer

30 Salt Lane

Open Monday to Saturday – 8am – 7pm

There is so much to say about Abbey Stores that I can hardly contain myself to write properly. This has been my fourth attempt to write a review and every time it makes me so desirous to just dash down there to see what new things they might have in, that I never finish what I want to say. Abbey Stores deserves more than one review anyway so for now I shall be content in just saying a fraction of the amazing things I wanted to.

Abbey Stores is everything a good shop should be. In fact, it’s not just a good shop, it’s a magnificent emporium of first-rate food and drink and other useful household things. How is it possible that we can go in and take so long choosing which cider we want to drink and whether to go for bottled or draught take-out (choices in both) with our free-range local sausages and craft cheeses? Is it possible that we will ever get through the range of condiments, sauces and chutneys called (as it should be) Tracklements (made locally in Sherston, Wilts), or ever do without them again?
But more than the produce, which is a good balance of locally sourced items and those yummy things that Britain has no hope of producing in any sensible fashion (olives, salami, etc.), it is the people who run Abbey Stores that makes it a pleasure to shop in. Abbey Stores is run by Penny and Charles, two of the loveliest people we have met in Salisbury, and in fact, ever. Again, we could go on about them and their kindness in sharing so much good information about Salisbury with us, but it would embarrass them and probably make you think that I have consumed too much cider. One example is indicative. Within the first week of moving to Salisbury and discovering Abbey Stores, we couldn’t remember whether they were open on Sundays or not so we telephoned the shop but there was no answer. Content to know then, it was shut we went about our Sunday morning. However, within minutes the phone rang again. It was Charles who had returned the call through 1471. He said they were indeed closed but that he would be happy to open up for us if we needed anything. Nothing more needs to be said.

Both Penny and Charles have succeeded in running the kind of ‘decent local shop’ that many people moan about not having. There is no pretension here. It is good food and drink, not dressed up as gourmet or something for occasions. To shop in Abbey Stores is to not just support a brilliant enterprise and contribute to the local economy, but it is also to make a stand against the increasing ubiquity of the super-giants such as Tesco which not only suck away at your soul but also make you pay for ‘necessities’ you never really wanted in the first place.

Verdict: With Abbey Stores and Salisbury’s Charter Market, we haven’t made our weekly shop in a supermarket for over 3 months. We very occasionally (when the moon is new) go to Waitrose when we’re in need of something particular at short notice.

PS. No, it doesn’t cost a fortune. It is just a matter of choosing how much you value eating decent food and drinking proper drinks while supporting the local economy. We think it’s quite important so we spend accordingly. Without exaggerating, it would be safe to say that we both earn significantly below the current UK average salary. I’ll get off my tall horse now.

[GP:Abbey Stores]

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