Shopping on the Edge

Think of a Cotswolds get-away and you think of idyllic walks, quaint villages and hearty food – but are you likely to think of shopping?

Well, if not, why not? It may surprise you to know that the market town of Stroud, just a few miles to the south of our Edgemoor Inn on the A46, is brimming with fascinating independent shops, art galleries, and a fabulous farmer’s market.

Savvy shoppers in the know will tell you that Stroud is simply THE place to seek out vintage treasures and awesome antiques.

We have our fair share of visitors here at the Inn who talk excitedly about their shopping expeditions in the area when they call in to join us for a meal and a drink.

Besides Stroud, the nearby village of Painswick, just up the road, is a great place to pick up unique arts and crafts. If you’re into art you’d probably enjoy visiting the Loovre – the old public convenience building in the heart of Painswick where artist Rupert Aker paints his magnificent local landscapes with oils and palette knife …. but, I digress ….

Bargain Hunting

We can heartily recommend this part of the world to anyone who fancies undertaking their own version of an “Antiques Road Trip” or a “Bargain Hunt”.

Just to whet your appetite, here’s a brief description of some of the interesting emporiums you’ll find in Stroud:

• Shambles Market (at the top of the High Street, beside St Laurence Church). Open Friday and Saturday 8am to 4pm. A delight for browsers, with an eclectic mix of stalls indoors and outdoors selling everything from cheese to antique ceramics, old books and vintage fashion. The best way to get a taster of what’s on offer is to watch the promo video on YouTube made by local film-maker, Chris Challen! There’s just too much to describe in words.

• The Malthouse Collective on the Salmon Springs Trading Estate (GL6 6NU) is open from 10am to 5pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays. This is something rather special and unusual, bringing together the wares of dozens of local makers and antique dealers in an historic building. It’s a showcase of beautiful things, old and new that will keep you anyone happily engaged for a couple of hours.
• Time after Time will whisk you back to the past when you enter the store in the upper High Street. Sandra and David have filled the shop with authentic glamorous antique, vintage and retro pieces, jewellery and accessories of good quality and condition, for men and women.
• You’re guaranteed of a very friendly welcome from people-person Caroline Ractliffe when you visit her shop, Intrigue, in Kendrick Street. It’s difficult to pin this fascinating, colourful store down to a shopping genre. Billed as a “gift shop and clothing store” it’s actually an Aladdins Cave of offerings – dragons, gemstones, hats, handbags, scarves etc. etc.
• The Antiques Emporium at the Griffin Mill, London Road (GL5 2AZ) is the real McCoy! 10,000 square feet of space that is home to 23 antique dealers from all over the UK and Europe, bursting with magnificent pieces dating back centuries, and a smattering of bric-a-brac and collectables.

We’ve barely scratched the surface of what you can discover when you set out shopping in Stroud, but no doubt you get the idea!

Why not plan your own shopping jaunt to the Five Valleys? When you’ve shopped ‘til you’ve dropped call in to the Edgemoor Inn and we’ll revive you with a home-cooked meal and a pint while you regale us with tales of the bargains you’ve bagged!