Award recognition for family business

A family-run country store in Penryn is in the running for a prestigious award after recommendations from customers.

Emma and Simon Bailey of Bailey's Country Store say that the letter informing them of their business' nomination for the Best Food Shop category at the Cornwall Life Food & Drink Awards came as a complete surprise.

"If I'm honest we had no idea the awards were even happening," said Simon. "Let alone that we had been put up for one of the prizes.

"We can only presume that one or more of our customers have very kindly gone out of their way to put us forward for this and if that's the case then we're incredibly thankful. It's so nice to know that there are people out there that value what we offer to such an extent."

Bailey's Country Store opened its farm shop in 2006 and has grown from a small counter to a popular stockist of quality produce from a wide range of local suppliers.

The Bailey's Country Store team will find out if their nomination leads to a win when the awards ceremony is held at the Carbis Bay Hotel near St Ives on 29 November. Other categories to be contested include Best Restaurant, Best Farmers' Market and Best Drinks Product.

As well as the farm shop Bailey's also offers supplies for the smallholder, equestrian, wild bird fancier, pet owner and gardener under one roof.