Historic Desford building brought back to life as OurCoop opens new community store
Posted by lauryn mellor | Published: 13/02/2026
A new community food store has opened in Desford, with OurCoop unveiling one of its first new stores since forming as a new co-operative society in January – and doing so in a way that celebrates the village’s heritage and character.
The store is located within Desford’s conservation area, opposite a Grade II listed manor house, and has been carefully designed to respect and complement its historic surroundings. Part of the building incorporates an original timber-framed structure estimated to be around 350 years old, bringing a unique piece of local history into everyday community use.
The historic structure, believed to date back to the late 17th century, was originally a timber-framed house similar to others still found around Desford today. Ahead of the store’s development, OurCoop worked in partnership with University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) to carry out a full historical building recording. A feature panel inside the store allows customers to see a section of the original timber frame and learn more about its significance. The full archaeological report is available via the Archaeology Data Service.
The store has been built on part of the former Blue Bell Inn public house car park, with a newly designed car park now shared between the pub and the store, maintaining local amenities and access for the community.
Outside, customers will find a cycle repair station funded by local community group Desford in Bloom, highlighting the role local partnerships have played in shaping the store. Solar panels are installed across the site to help reduce energy use, while bird and bat boxes have been added to support local wildlife.
To celebrate opening day, the first 50 customers took part in a golden ticket raffle, winning a range of prizes, as well as the chance to win a £1,000 Co-op Holidays voucher.
Simon Smith, Head of Commercial and Format Development at OurCoop, said: “Desford is a wonderful example of how we can invest in modern, convenient local shopping while respecting and celebrating the history that makes places special. Incorporating a 350-year-old timber-framed building into a new store is not something you see every day, and we’re proud to have worked closely with heritage and archaeological experts to do this properly.
“This store reflects what OurCoop is about - supporting communities, working with local partners and caring for the places we serve.”
To mark Valentine’s Day, OurCoop is also running a Scan to Win competition to win a Paris City Break for two. Until the 28th of February 2026, members who spend £30 or more in store and scan their membership card or app will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win one of two Paris city breaks, each worth up to £2,000. Every qualifying spend counts as an entry, giving members more chances to win while shopping locally.
The store also features a carefully curated food range, including GSN, a market-leading health food brand specialising in high-protein, whole-food products. Alongside this, customers can shop the popular COOK range, known for its frozen ready meals made with fresh ingredients and a homemade taste, offering high-quality, convenient options for individuals and families.
OurCoop is a member-owned co-operative society, created by bringing together three established co-operatives - Central Co-op, Midcounties Co-operative and Chelmsford Star Co-operative - to create greater impact for members, colleagues and communities.
By becoming a member, local people can access exclusive offers and rewards, while also having a say in how their local co-operative is run. More information is available at www.members.coop.
ENDS
For press information
Press Office
pressoffice@centralcoop.co.uk
Lauryn Mellor, PR and Media Specialist at OurCoop
lauryn.mellor@centralcoop.co.uk
07385 048004
Rory Fletcher, Senior Director at Citypress
rory.fletcher@citypress.co.uk
0131 516 5654