Last updated 19:31, Thursday, 27 November 2008

A NEW shop, selling chocolate and wine, has opened in Cockermouth.

Shill’s, on Station Street, officially opened on Saturday and is owned by Nick Shill and his wife Wendy, of Parsonby.

The shop sells locally handmade chocolates, wine from around the world, meat, cheese and olives.

Nick, 56, said: “The idea came from everything we have done before in our working life.

“We started off in the agricultural business, due to our love for food, and then we ran the Ivy House Hotel in Braithwaite for 13 years up until 2001.

“Since then I have been involved with buying fresh food for the last four-and-a-half years.

“I hope that this shop will bring all that together and that our knowledge will make it successful.”

They will look to use as much local produce as possible but will also sell specialist international products, especially wine.

Wendy, 60, said: “Due to our love for food and wine we decided to go for it.

“We will try to keep the produce as local as possible.

“The chocolate is hand-made in Penrith, and some of the cheeses are from Thornby Moor.

“However, we have many international wines, our olives are from Greece, and we hope to be selling Cuban cigars very soon.

“We want a place where people can come and browse and also buy different things.”

Nick also hopes to introduce a monthly wine tasting session, and the first will be on Thursday, December 11.