Based in Alston, England’s highest market town and at the heart of the North Pennines AONB, we run a small specialist wholefood shop and delicatessen.

Established in 1998, we are a Workers’ Co-operative dedicated to supplying carefully sourced, quality products at reasonable prices. Our aims are to support local producers, reduce food miles and promote fairtrade.

Opening hours

9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. With the exception of Wednesday, when we open at 10am.
Sundays: 11am to 3.30pm during the Summer months.
We are open on Bank Holiday Mondays: 9am to 5pm.

We also offer a pick & pack service.

Payment

We prefer cash. We also accept cards and contactless payments.

How to find us and parking

We are in the centre of Alston, in the Market Place. There is car parking in main town square and top of the town just off Nenthead road. All parking is free. Buses run past the shop. See below.

Road distances from Alston:

• Penrith: 21 miles via A686
• Carlisle: 28 miles via A689 or A69 and A689
• Hexham: 21 miles via B6305 and A686
• Haltwhistle: 16 miles via A689
• Haydon Bridge: 18 miles via A689
• Hadrian’s Wall: 22 miles via via A689 and/or A686
• Barnard Castle: 32 miles via via B6277 and A67
• Newcastle: 45 miles via A69 and A686
• Durham: 40 miles via A689

Bus routes

Tynedale Links 681
Alston to Birdoswald Roman Fort
via Slaggyford, Halton Lea Gate, Lambley, Park Village, Haltwhistle, Greenhead and Gilsland
Monday to Saturday
View 681 timetable

889
From Alston to Hexham
Tuesdays
View the full 889 timetable

888
From Newcastle to Keswick
First Friday in July to the last Sunday in September.
Usually daily.
Only Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday in 2023.
View the full 888 timetable

Walking

Alston is on the Pennine Way long-distance footpath, Isaac’s Tea Trail and the South Tyne Trail.