A village post office and shop is set to go up against the best in the UK after winning the regional finals of the ‘Rural Oscars’.
Garboldisham Post Office and Village Store won in its category in the Countryside Alliance Awards after voters chose it as the best village shop/post office in the East of England.
Robbie Starling and his wife, Kelly, who have run the business for more than a decade, said they were delighted at the news.
Mr Starling said: “We found out the result on Friday. The funny thing was that, after looking online, we found out we had won moments before an email came through to say congratulations.
“It is truly amazing. We have never bigged ourselves up and for us just to be nominated, which we have been only once before, was special.
“We did put it out there for people to vote for us and they did in their numbers, which we are enormously thankful for.”
The winner of each category will now go on to represent their region in the national champions reception at the House of Lords on June 25.
Garboldisham Post Office and Village Store will compete against other finalists from around England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The village shop is no stranger to accolades, having been voted as one of the top ten village shops in the UK by County Life Magazine in 2019, while also being recognised by Breckland Council for its work during the pandemic.
Mr Starling said these and the new accolade continue to put Garboldisham on the map and show that the village ticks a lot of boxes.
“We have a pub, shop, post office, school and church, as well as various interesting clubs, so it is an attractive place to live and we are very proud to be a part of that,” he said.
“Our award win could not be possible with everyone who supports us and the custom they give us, and we thank them wholeheartedly for being behind us.
“We have all been through some thick and thin times, so it is always amazing when we are appreciated in these ways.”
