Stirchley Stores

Stirchley Stores is a new co-op, which sells ethical, affordable and local food. It's run by volunteers and there's a lovely atmosphere the moment you enter the shop.

Working with other businesses in the area, the aim is to rejuvenate Stirchley. The shop opened last autumn, and is on the busy A441, not far from Bournville railway station.

It's next door to Loaf, which contains a cookery school and is a social enterprise with the aim of building up communities and promoting real food and healthy living in Birmingham.

Tom Baker, who was an NHS nutritionalist, runs the Loaf on a day-to-day basis and is passionate about what he does.

inside the shop there's wholefoods and eco friendly products:

and even a cookery book section where you can donate your old books and buy new ones.

Why I really like this shop is because there's a great selection of bread:

which are made in the bakery at the back of the shop:

They were recently included in the Sunday Telegraph's list of Britain's top 5 bakeries.  They use flour from Shipton Mill, a Cotswold mill which produces quality flour using traditional methods. 

There's even a Stirchley loaf, a half wholemeal bread with a lovely crust:

The Foccacia is also great:

and, with the shops emphasis on local ingredients, is made with English rapeseed oil.

There's also cakes, like this bread pudding:

and we can recommend these Chelsea buns:

This is a great enterprise, that ticks all the boxes for me.  Fantastic local food, served by lovely people - you leave the shop feeling the world is a better place!

Stirchley Stores
1421 Pershore Road
Stirchley
Birmingham
B30 2JL

Web: www.loafonline.co.uk
&
www.stirchleystores.co.uk