Overview

Our drive continues now to visit an interesting Lifestyle store and take in the town of SHIPSTON on Stour. PORTOBELLO FARM LIFESTYLE EMPORIUM. Campden Road, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 4PY Open 10.00am until 5.00pm This is a trendy store, which offers unique collections for your home and garden. They have antiques and modern, sometimes quirky, but of very good quality, and prices that show they care about their wares. It is easy enough to find, with a good sized car park, and a level pathway will get you Into the store, and although it’s tight in there, we believe you can get wheelchairs around to see their selection of goods, just take your time. We personally found it intriguing, and grateful we had left cheque book at home, but it certainly is a nice place to go and visit. SHIPSTON ON STOUR. This is a smallish sheep market town, just 9 miles away from Stratford upon Avon, and some 10 miles away from our first port of call today at Chipping Campden, and sometimes referred to as the Vale of Red Horse. The name came from Scepwestun, of the 11th century, and was a part of the parish of Tredington until 1720. It was a prosperous town at in early stages, and a staging post between Stratford and Oxford between the 1600’s and 1800’s, and today has a few listed buildings to be seen. Up to 1848 they manufactured shag fabric for deep pile carpets, which was an important business for the town, and this allowed a market place to thrive, as well as holding fairs, 4 times a year. It’s a nice enough town, clean and tidy, but not a lot to do or attract, but pleasant enough to encourage you to stop and see as you continue with our Easter Parade tour of this part of the Cotswolds.

Transport & Parking

Parking at the Lifestyle Portobello emporium was easy, the car park is compressed chipping with a slight slope which can get waterlogged, so be careful, but there is a level path to get into the store. SHIPSTON has a car park with disabled bay right by public toilets and a path to take you right into town, but make sure you pay for two hours parking, which is very cheap anyway.

Access

In the store, you can just about get round, but it’s tight, go slowly on your scooter and you will see almost all in there, except for one corner which has steps, but it’s a good sized shop, and if you have money, there are some really nice pieces that will tempt you. SHIPSTON has a small town centre, you can see everything in a few minutes, and although it’s level enough, the pavements are uneven.

Toilets

There are public toilets in the Telegraph Street car park, basic, but usable, reasonable clean, and although we did not use, we believe there is a disabled toilet, with radar key needed, but check this out first.

Staff

Those we met in shops were very nice, supportative of disabled, so you will enjoy this trip today.

Photos