Hawnby store reopens after full restoration

A North Yorkshire village business has reopened following a comprehensive restoration.

Hawnby Stores and Tea Room, near Helmsley, is back in business under new operators Oli Nicholls and Sally Pearson, who have leased the building from the Hawnby Estate. 

The building, which dates to 1762, has been carefully restored and now serves as a café, shop and community hub. 

Formerly a sub post office, the site has served the village for centuries and now offers locals and visitors a refreshed place to gather and shop. 

Oli and Sally recently relocated from the French Alps to pursue their long-held dream of running a business in the heart of the countryside.

Oli said: “Whilst we loved our time together in France, the pull of Yorkshire was too much. 

“Sally’s family come from Leeds and I have strong connections with the county, so when we saw the opportunity to run a beautiful little village shop and open our very own café deep in the North York Moors, we grabbed it with both hands. 

“It’s impossible not to fall in love with Hawnby.”

Sally added: “We want to be so much more than a village shop. 

“We are very passionate about our lovely, refurbished café, while we have also created an informal space for coffee and light snacks and are planning to have community and musical events on the beautiful space in front of the shop leading down to the River Rye.

“This is a dream come true for us. 

“Since we took over the lease of the building at the end of last year, we have worked so hard, with the help of our families, to create a welcoming and sustainable business what both we, and Hawnby, can be proud. 

“Now we are open, we can share this dream with everyone.”

Jamie Savile, from Hawnby Estate, added: “We are absolutely delighted with the transformation of the Stores and Tea Room and extremely impressed with the work Oli and Sally, and their families, have done.

“Their enthusiasm and passion, combined with their knowledge and experience of the hospitality sector, make them a perfect fit for the Stores. 

“We had a good deal of interest when we advertised the business, but Oli and Sally were the obvious candidates to take on this very special project.

“Their plans to make the Stores an integral part of the Hawnby community will be a massive boost for our village.” 

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