Popping out for a poppadom

MANY French people are getting a taste for HP Sauce, poppadoms and even Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.

That is the view of Julie Mosley who runs a new shop in the village of Sauveterre, in the Lot et Garonne, which sells favourites you would find in most British kitchen cupboards.

“Many French people around the area have British friends so they have tried different foods from the UK at meals and for aperitifs,” said Julie.

“So often they will buy things to offer to both French and Brits when they return the invitation and people visit their own homes.

“And I’ve also noticed that some retirees from Paris developed a taste for British food from having shopped in the city’s Marks and Spencer in the past.”

On the shelves you will find packets of biscuits, teabags and even pickled onions, English mustard and piccalilli, plus a shelf for those missing their curries and poppadoms.

The shop is also connected to a small art gallery where local artists will be featuring their work, so you can take a browse after picking up your shopping.

On the night of the official opening professional photographer Bill Horne, who lives just outside Sauveterre, was showing a collection of his pictures.

After spending many years in commercial photography the chance to experiment and try a few different artistic techniques is something he is enjoying.

“Friends had asked in the past if I would show my photographs, but the majority of pictures I have taken are for publicity and marketing,” Bill said.

“Although they are creative they are not art, and so I decided to try and spend some time producing more artistic pieces that I wanted to show.

“I don’t really consider my pictures finished in the true sense, more a way of promoting questions in people’s minds.”

As people walked between the shop and the gallery Julie was busy helping people pick a few of their favourites.

“One of the things I’m hoping I can do is take customers’ suggestions for new products and items, so that the shelves have a few different items you wouldn’t expect,” Julie said.

“I hope to have a bit of fun with the shop and seeing that my desk is next to all the chocolates, well I couldn’t be happier.”

And there were smiles from many of the French customers as they were leaving with boxes of teabags and cartons of cranberry juice under their arms, and of course one or two creme eggs.

Shop location: Rue Principal, Sauveterre.
Opening times: 09:00 – 12:00. 15:00 – 18:00 (19:00 in the summer)