Shop’s first year has been brilliant, says Thwaite pub and restaurant owner

An enterprising pub owner has seen her business grow after launching a vegetarian shop.

Jan Wise decided to capitalise on the booming trade at her Grade II-listed vegetarian coaching inn and restaurant, the Walnut Tree, on the A140 at Thwaite and the success of her lockdown meals.

She opened a barn-style vegetarian shop next to the award-winning venue – and now the shop has celebrated its first anniversary, with trade steadily increasing.

Jan said: ‘‘It’s really hard work starting a new venture from scratch, but our shop has had amazing support from the team, friends and family.

‘‘People love to help a small independent business, especially if it’s something they believe in, and the first year has been brilliant.

“We’ve had amazing support from customers seeking good homemade healthy local food.

“Those that live further away bring a cool box and take enough dishes to stock their freezer.”

Jan added: ‘‘The concept for the shop came out of lockdown, when I started to do veg boxes alongside the range of frozen ready meals we had always sold.

‘‘Customers started asking for other favourite menu items they could take away.

“So, I started making mushroom Wellingtons, cauliflower cheese pies and chestnut and sweet potato roasts for people to pick up and cook at home.’’

The shop, which sells a range of products, including local art and crafts, is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 3pm.

The Walnut Tree, a free house coaching inn, had been closed for 18 months and was called the Buck’s Head before Jan bought it in 2016.

A vegetarian herself, Jan, who has two sons, had previously run a successful vegetarian restaurant at the Red Lion pub in Great Bricett, near Stowmarket, as a tenanted landlord.

She said: ‘‘Our pub was listed in 2020 as one of the top 30 best vegan and vegetarian pubs by The Times newspaper and now we have grown with our shop, which is a real treasure trove of treats.