All Welcome to Attend Opening of Normandy’s New Community Shop and Café on October 14

Published on: 29 Sep, 2023
Updated on: 29 Sep, 2023

Normandy’s new community-run village shop and café, which opened earlier this summer, has its official opening on Saturday, October 14.

Normandy’s new community shop and café.

It is sited at Manor Fruit Farm, off Glaziers Lane. Bob Hutton, the chairman of the community benefit society that has been formed to create the shop and café, said: “Our society has worked tirelessly over almost four years to build from the ground upwards, a new shop and café, which is owned by the community, run by the community and for the benefit of the community.

“This is a massive achievement which has now provided Normandy residents with their one and only shop and café, providing a lifeline for the elderly and isolated and resulting in the building of community spirit within the village that has not been seen for years.”

Mr Hutton adds the society has gained massive local support through a community share offer raising more than £95,000.

This was followed by raising more than £570,000 via Surrey County Council’s YourFund scheme.

The official opening on Saturday, October 14, will be at 2pm, all are welcome to attend, but please let the shop know as they would like to know numbers of people attending. See image above for details or click here to reserve tickets.

The opening ceremony will be led by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, along with two local representatives – one chosen from the shareholders and a young person whose drawing will have been chosen as the best submission in a competition.

Mr Hutton said: “We currently have three paid members of staff. Everyone else is a volunteer. And as a community venture all profits go back into the running of the business with any surplus being directed to other projects for the benefit of the community.”

Click here for the website of the Normandy Village Shop & Cafe.