For our latest "Cuppa With", the Glossop Creates team caught up with Shelley Bass from The Bottle Store on George Street, Glossop...
Tell us about your business or venture?
The Bottle Store is a boutique shop specialising in spirits, cocktails and temperance. We like to work with local, small-batch and independent producers, where possible, and aim to supply the ingredients and the accoutrements needed for enjoying a tipple.
We seek out the unusual, the quirky and we love the ceremony that goes into making a cocktail and this doesn't mean it needs to contain alcohol!
What makes you stand out from the crowd?
There are plenty of places that you can buy alcohol, and non-alcoholic alternatives but we would hope that we stand out because of our unique offering and customer service. We're happy to chat, give advice and help you choose, our aim is for all our customers to walk away happy with their purchase.
While we like to offer something different from what you can usually get, that doesn't mean that we want to price anyone out. Different doesn't need to be expensive and we try to ensure there are quality, accessible products as well as the premium and rare. We may not have managed to sample everything we have (yet!) but we have rigorously researched all our products to provide a carefully curated offering of award winners and something for everyone.
What inspires you about Glossop?
There's a lot about Glossop that inspires me. I am not originally from here, and chose to settle here because of the access to the beautiful, wild countryside that surrounds the whole town, the lovely colour of the stone on the houses and the bustling high street. It was from living here that I got to know that Glossop has so many independent businesses; a health food shop, cafes, restaurants, pubs, greengrocers, butchers, book shops, clothes shops, gift shops, record stores, the list is endless and we are proud to be counted among them. Then there is the theatre, the music scene, the markets, the artists and creatives that bring colour and interest to the town.
Glossop really has a lot going for it, and with places like The Artful Pigeon and KIN.DER giving space for artists to sell their creations, we all benefit.
I always felt that Glossop was a unique place as the people of the town are curious and intrepid and they make space for independents among the bigger names. We felt this from opening our doors in November, so many people are determined to shop local, so many great chats, stories and advice in only a few months of being open and I am really excited about what's next as I feel that Glossop is just going to keep getting better.
Any exciting news to share with us/ forthcoming plans?
We have plans to be more interactive with tasting sessions and cocktail classes. We're having to have a real think about how it will work in our current setting so that everyone can get the most out of the sessions. Some reconfiguring is needed, some upgrading and then, hopefully, we'll be able to have our first event. We will make sure we advertise any events on our website and via our Instagram and Facebook page.
What would you like to see in Glossop in the future?
I am excited to see what will happen with the market hall, the plans sound really interesting and it is such a beautiful building. I really think it has the potential to be an attraction and the central hub of our town.
I know some artists struggle to find reasonably priced studio space, so it would be great if there could be some sort of artist co-operative or a community workshop for the town.
Tell us your three favourite local businesses in the town - and why!
Well, that is a really difficult question because I don't know if I can restrict it to three with the amount of superb local businesses.
I am going to be a bit sneaky with my first one as I'll say Bay Tree Books & Gifts and George Street Books. I adore reading and having an independent book shop in a town is a gift these days with so much competition from huge outlets and online retailers. Not only do we have a wonderful independent book shop for all the shiny new releases, we have a community bookshop full of second hand gems.
Of course Harvey Leonard's was a firm favourite as soon as I moved here, the wine machines are a great opportunity to try premium wines before you buy. Still offering amazing wines and beers and more as well as the best cheese and charcuterie boards in a larger space, they're a huge part of the community and an inspiration.
And finally, I am going to stick with my theme of community and name Jakasta as my third favourite local business. Our neighbours and standing the test of time, Jakasta is an absolute trove of treats that has supplied generations of the town with their New Age needs. I have bought so many birthday and Christmas gifts here as well as filling my own house full of delicious smelling candles.
