Fishmonger still committed to Wellington despite move (From This is The West Country)

Fishmonger still committed to Wellington despite move

6:30am Friday 25th May 2012 in News By Michael Marsh

A POPULAR fishmonger in Wellington has re-located to Rumwell, putting a dent in the town’s ambitious plans for a food quarter.

Samuel’s Fresh Fish and Game was opened by Sam Cunningham after the store he used to manage in Cornhill was destroyed in a fire three years ago, forcing the street alley to close until only last month.

But Sam, who came runner-up in the BBC Young Fishmonger of the Year competition in 2010, has relocated his store from Wellington’s high street and will operate from Rumwell Farm Shop on the A38.

Sam says he wants to be involved in the food quarter plans and he still helps out in the farmer’s market regularly in the town.

He told the County Gazette: “We had some angry people say they were upset we were moving out of town and we didn’t just upset our customers, we were letting down other business Wellington.

“My argument was: it’s not good, financially, staying in town but if things were different I would have stayed.”

The move comes as a blow after traders in the town put forward proposals for a food quarter as part of their bid to receive a share of £1million to spruce up the high street.

But Sam Parr, who’s heavily involved in Mary Portas’ project to ignite Britain’s retail sector, says the town “still has its identity”.

Sam, who owns Cloud9 in Fore Street, added: “It’s a shame but it’s not too much of a blow because Wellington still has its identity as a food town.

“We’ve still got the butchers here and other traditional food stores.”