Shop local, shop Beaminster
9 brilliant independent shops, all just a short stroll from the cottage doorstep. No car required.
One of the pleasures of staying at Blackbird Cottage is this: you can leave the car where it is and spend an entire morning exploring Beaminster on foot without running out of things to discover.
Beaminster is one of those rare market towns that has held onto its independent shops. No identikit high street. Just a beautiful honey-coloured stone square surrounded by butchers, bakers, florists, bookshops, antiques and galleries, most of them within a five-minute stroll of the cottage door.
Here is our guide to the best of them.
FOOD & DRINK
GIFTS, FLOWERS & HOME
FRUIT N TWO VEG · The Square, Beaminster
The greengrocer that Beaminster wouldn’t be the same without. Owner Anthony Cassar sources as much produce locally as he can much of it is cut and in the shop within a day. Fresh, seasonal and local varieties in a way that supermarkets can only dream of. If you’re self-catering at the cottage, this is your first stop.
NICK TETT FAMILY BUTCHERS · The Square, Beaminster
Nick Tett’s butcher’s shop on the square is something of a Beaminster institution. Locally sourced meat, the famous Beaminster sausages and an exceptional range of cheeses including Dorset Blue Vinney, Cornish Brie and Dorset Red Cheddar. Nick & Jen also stock preserves, chutneys and a growing range of deli essentials. Pop in on a Saturday morning and you’ll find half of West Dorset doing the same.
THE VILLAGE BAKERY · Beaminster
A proper bakery in a town that takes its food seriously. Fresh bread and cakes baked in the traditional way in the neighbouring village of Evershot, alongside pastries we especially love their sourdough. Perfect for stocking up before a day’s walking or a picnic on the Jurassic Coast.
BRASSICA MERCANTILE · The Square, Beaminster
Brassica Mercantile is one of the finest independent homewares and lifestyle shops in the South West and one of the UK’s top 50 independent retailers. A beautifully edited collection of ceramics, glassware, textiles, cookery books and organic wine sourced from around the world. The kind of shop where you come in for a look and leave with three things you didn’t know you needed. Don’t miss the ready-made meals and pantry essentials made in the restaurant kitchen.
CILLA & CAMILLA · 22 The Square, Beaminster
Part café, part miniature department store and wholly wonderful. Cilla & Camilla has been a fixture of Beaminster’s square since 2011, offering a carefully chosen range of gifts, homeware and lifestyle pieces alongside their beloved breakfast and lunch menu. The sunny courtyard is one of the best spots in Beaminster on a warm morning. Pop in for a coffee and leave with something lovely for someone or yourself.
RAMBLING ROSE FLORISTS · The Square, Beaminster
A florist dedicated to English garden flowers. Kate stocks mostly locally grown flowers from spring to late autumn, and even grows her own tulips, sweet peas and dahlias. Next door to Nick Tett’s, the two shops sit together on the square in the most pleasingly Beaminster way imaginable. If the cottage garden has inspired you, this is where to come.
ANTIQUES, BOOKS & ART
THE BOX GARDEN ANTIQUES · The Square, Beaminster
An antiques shop specialising in Georgian and country furniture, period lighting, china and decorative items. A proper treasure trove for anyone who loves beautiful old things — and entirely in keeping with a town where there is a listed building for every twenty inhabitants. Well worth a browse on a slow afternoon.
BEAMINSTER BOOKS · Church Street, Beaminster
Find the bookshop at the top of Church Street, just off the corner of the square opposite the Co-op. Beaminster Books is the perfect place to find something to read by the wood-burning stove. Worth getting in touch in advance if you have something particular in mind they may be able to open outside their usual hours.
BEAMINSTER GALLERY · Beaminster
A beautiful gallery showcasing work by local artists in a range of media. Beaminster has always had a creative streak the town hosts an annual festival of music, theatre, literature and art. Worth a visit whether you’re an art lover or simply someone who appreciates beautiful things. Gallery often features work by local artist Marion Taylor who created the delightful Delft tiles featured in the kitchen at Blackbird Cottage.