English couple Valerie and Derek Austin and  their sons Richard and Paul have opened a new shop in Muro de Alcoy selling a wide array of English groceries. Valerie hails from Manchester and met Derek from London back in the UK. They married and set up home together in Brighton. Some years ago, illness made the couple take stock and realize there was maybe a little more to life. They decided to start a vineyard venture in France and as a result Derek is a qualified vineyard Manager and Valerie has a qualification in winemaking. They bought a 10 hectare vineyard in  France and successfully grew and produced their own wine for nine years before they decide to sell up due to the rising production costs of wine in the French market. They then decided to visit Marbella in the hunt for a new home, where they met an estate agent who brought the family up here to view houses. They fell in love with the inland Valencian region and in January 2006, after a lot of research bought a house in Lorxa and a shop in Muro, in an area as yet untargeted by shops serving the expat community. The shop is on the main road through Muro and is light and spacious with shelves full of all those essential English items as well as a few that you might just fancy. This really is a tardis of a shop.

Freezers full of most things you could think of,  though I’m sure someone will now prove me wrong!,

English bacon, bread, gammon steaks and muchmore. If there’s something you want, but can’t see,you can add it to the “Wanted List”. Items on the list in great demand will be ordered. Are you struggling to find a good book? The bookshelves at The Muro English Food Shop are heaving with used books for just 2 euros for your first and then a euro for subsequent books or 5.25? for brand new paperbacks.

Alternatively, if you’re finding that your grey matter needs a little workout then there is a selection of new English word search an crossword books for just 2.50 euros. Birthday cards, Strongbow cider, Cathedral City cheese, English sweets, I could go on and on, but that would spoil it for you. It really is more than just an English food shop. Valerie told I.T, “I really hope the shop can become a focal point and almost a drop in centre for English people. It’s nice when you are new to an area to have a place to go and meet with people in the same situation who can offer help, advice or just a friendly chat.”

The Austin Family would like to thank all their friends in Lorxa for their continued support and advice and big thanks to Denise Hinde for her help with all the necessary computer work. Inland Trader wish the Austin Family all the best in their new venture.