Left to right: Becky Gibbons, son Kai Gibbons and John Gibbons outside The Larder

A shipping container converted into a village shop in a Dorset pub has come to the rescue of its locals

The Rose & Crown in Longburton has opened a village shop called The Larder, in the pub’s car park. It offers a range of essentials such as bread, meat, organic milk, fresh fruit, vegetables as well as takeaway coffee.

The pub received a Community Services Fund grant of £3,000 from Pub is The Hub to help to provide this essential shop, which will save local people travelling three miles to the nearest town.  Pub is The Hub, is the not-for-profit organisation that helps pubs to diversify with services for the local community.

Publicans Becky and John Gibbons, took over the running of the pub four years ago.   

The lockdown spurred the family to finish the shop project, which became increasingly important during the pandemic.

The owners of the pub rallied to help vulnerable and shielding customers by delivering takeaways and supplies.

Becky Gibbons said: “The village has an ageing population as well as a lot of young families who need the support of a local shop.  

“When we were in lockdown we realised that we really needed the shop in place to help those in the community.

“The locals love that we have opened a local amenity and have been really supportive.”

Pub is The Hub regional advisor Reg Clarke said: “This converted shipping container really offers the wow factor for those in the local area that need essential supplies.

“The Rose & Crown is a great village pub that really offers everything to its local community. This development has reinforced the pub as the hub of the village.”

The Larder is open Monday to Friday 9am till 3pm and on 9am till 1 pm on Saturday’s.

The pub already has an outreach Post Office on site, which is open on Friday afternoons.  It also offers breakfast and brunch from 8am till 1pm from a converted rice trailer in the car park.