A Little Shop, a Lot to Love

In Amberley, a five-minute walk to the shop can take an hour. You meet a neighbour, stop for a chat, hear how someone's getting on and remember something else you meant to ask. Eventually, you arrive for the milk.

That is village life as we know it: the everyday things made richer by the people around them. And it is the spirit behind Life in Amberley, our new collection of stories from the shop and the countryside on our doorstep.

A familiar place, through changing times

Amberley Village Stores has been in The Barn since 1998. Colin has owned the shop since 2001, and Lee joined in 2002, straight from school. Since 2024, they have run the business in partnership. With five generations of Lee's family connected to the village, these lanes hold rather more than a route to work.

Over the years, the shelves have changed and new ideas have arrived. What matters behind the counter has stayed reassuringly familiar: knowing your customers, listening properly and making people feel welcome.

More than a shopping list

Some people come in for a newspaper and a pint of milk. Others are walking the South Downs Way, staying nearby for a few days or discovering Amberley for the first time. There are regular faces and new faces, brief visits and conversations that run a little longer than planned.

Alongside everyday essentials, we make room for Sussex produce and the small discoveries that turn an ordinary shopping trip into something enjoyable. Local food has a story behind it: the place it comes from, the people who make it and the seasons that shape it.

Taking the shop beyond its walls

During Covid, the shop adapted to help keep the village supplied, delivering everything from a single KitKat to a full shop. Home delivery remains part of what we do, bringing the village shop to people who find it difficult to get here or simply appreciate a little help with the weekly essentials.

Inside the shop, Caroline runs the Post Office, adding another practical reason to pop in and another familiar face to the day.

A journal from the heart of Amberley

Life in Amberley will make room for village memories, countryside discoveries, local food and the everyday happenings that are easily missed when life gets busy. We hope it gives visitors a feel for the place and familiar faces a fresh reason to look around.

Start with our historic village photographs, explore our South Downs Way guide or get to know the shop. Better still, come and see us. Just allow a little extra time for the walk.