Fordingbridge Farm Shop finds new family through Vail Williams

Published by

Tom Kilkelly

L to R, Vail Willaims' Ben Duly, Corinna and Neil Rogers. Credit: Vail Williams

Fordingbridge Farm Shop, a family-run shop on the western edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, has been opened with new occupiers.

The shop is being taken over by husband-and-wife owners Neil and Corinna Rogers, who signed a lease in a transaction organized by property consultancy Vail Williams.

Previously vacant, the 3,656 sq ft site is being revamped by occupiers who are looking to turn Fordingbridge farm shop into a retail and entertainment hub for the country side town. The shop opened on May 10 and has created several new jobs.

Neil said: “We have a lot of plans for the shop, café and Mediterranean-style courtyard, with calendar events, music sessions, street food markets, barbecue burger nights, a Friday and Saturday evening bar, cooked breakfasts, locally sourced food, award-winning pies, freshly baked bread and high-quality butchers.

“Customers can be assured of a warm welcome, with reasonable prices in keeping with the budget expectations of families here in Fordingbridge and the countryside villages beyond.”

Nearby rural rides also mean that the shop can cater to the cycling community in the area as well.

Corinna said: ”During the pandemic we used to walk past the farm shop as it was being constructed, and always remarked wouldn’t it be amazing if we could be in there one day?

“Neil didn’t hang around when he saw a Vail Williams advert two months ago about the premises being available to let – he arranged a viewing in double-quick time and here we are with the lease signed.

“We are incredibly grateful to Vail Williams for making the lease deal such a smooth process – there were no hiccups, allowing us to focus on stocking the farm shop and kitting out the courtyard; we are expecting the courtyard festoon lights any day now, making great memories as customers chat, eat, drink and dance evenings away.”

Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022. During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan). His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.