Local This Way

Local This Way

Born out of lockdown, the Hampshire Deli & Farm Shop is a local success story that has now been put on the map with the installation of four brown Tourist Road Signs by Hampshire County Council. Hampshire Deli & Farm Shop owner Barry Walker immediately noticed new customers finding their way to the Deli door.

Local residents and visiting tourists are keen to find local. Rural businesses need signage and this is certainly one way of putting local food businesses on the map. Hampshire Deli & Farm Shop is now clearly signposted with signs on the A339, from Basingstoke and Newbury, as well as signs pointing to the drive where Hampshire Deli & Farm Shop sits on the Wolverton Park Estate.

"The process was not as difficult I was led to believe" comments Barry Walker, "We had been examining the potential of brown signs, however I had thought that they were expensive costing many, many thousands of pounds. Talking to one of our clients who had had brown signs installed, I realised the cost was far less than I had realised. The process was also quite easy, and so we had the four signs installed for a total of £1,200."

Barry adds: "There are many rural food businesses in Hampshire, and all of these business can benefit from the installation of such signs. The secret is to know where to apply. You must contact the Engineering Department at Hampshire County Council, who were very helpful. The whole process took two months from start to finish. These signs are designed to help promote the tourist industry in Hampshire, and I did argue that many food businesses are fast becoming popular 'tourist destinations', which the council did agree upon."Barry adds: "There are many rural food businesses in Hampshire, and all of these business can benefit from the installation of such signs. The secret is to know where to apply. You must contact the Engineering Department at Hampshire County Council, who were very helpful. The whole process took two months from start to finish. These signs are designed to help promote the tourist industry in Hampshire, and I did argue that many food businesses are fast becoming popular 'tourist destinations', which the council did agree upon."

"As an initiative all Hampshire Fare members who are in rural locations should apply for Tourist Road Signs, as the artisan food economy in the county would benefit immensely as we have found that consumers do want to support small producers."