Plans for Islip's very successful Community Shop were drawn up after the long-standing Village Store closed at the end of May 2000, following Chris & Janet Busby's retirement.
The fundamental refurbishment of the Village Hall in that year provided an opportunity to replace Busby's Stores with a Community Shop, which subsequently opened on October 14th, 2000. Because of overwhelming demand, the shop was extended in December 2005.
The shop is run by around 35 volunteers. Anyone wishing to offer their services as a volunteer should contact Maralynn Smith on 01865 372345 or at the shop on 01865 375715 or by e- mail at islipshop@googlemail.co.uk
In 2003, the venture proudly received the accolade of Community Shop of the Year from the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council and in 2007, it was given a Commendation Award as a close runner-up to Ascott & Tackley.
Services
As well as a full range of groceries (and if anything you require is out of stock, it can be ordered and supplied, often on the same day), there are a huge range of services available:
- Fresh bread and cakes from La Patisserie, Kidlington
- Local fresh meat to order from Woodlands Butchers, Kidlington
- Local honey and free range eggs
- Fresh fruit and vegetables to order from Rectory Farm
- Range of organic products
- Fairtrade goods both in stock and to order
- Top quality smoked fish and meat from Coln Valley Smokery, Northleach
- Cheese, home made pate, olives, humous, coleslaw, ready-to-bake bread and home-made frozen meals from Seasons Deli, Marston
- Fresh fish to order from Alcock's,Summertown (orders delivered on Fridays)
- Sandwiches, home-made quiches and pies from the Picnic Hamper
- Marshfields Ice
Cream
- Home-made soups from the Soupery, Warwickshire (hand made from local seasonal produce, gluten- free with no additives, preservatives or added salt
- Stamps for inland & overseas postage, stationery, a variety of local hand-made greetings cards, wrapping paper and books
- Dry cleaning and alterations
- Photocopying
- Oxford Mail and Oxford Times
- Credit and debit cards accepted
- Orders taken and deliveries made to the sick and OAPs
Post Office services
The post office is open on Thursdays only from 10.00am to 12.00pm, offering all the regular services (apart from Road Tax & Passport forms) including:
- Inland and overseas postage
- Recorded and Special Delivery
- Saving stamps for road tax and TV licences
- Benefit payments
- Redirection of mail
- Banking services for Barclays, Cahoot, Smile, Co-operative Bank, Lloyds TSB, National Savings and Alliance & Leicester
- Foreign currency, travel insurance and E1/11 forms
- National Savings products,Premium Bonds and mini- ISAs
Opening hours
Please note the shop is currently closed on Wednesday mornings until further notice.
- Monday
- 10.00 - 12.00
15.00 - 18.00
Tuesday- 10.00 - 12.00
15.00 - 18.00
Wednesday- 15.00 - 18.00
Thursday- 09.30 - 12.30 (Post Office 10.00 - 12.00)
15.00 - 18.00
Friday- 10.00 - 12.00
15.00 - 18.00
Saturday- 10.00 - 12.00
Maralynn and the volunteer staff look forward to seeing you!
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