No Normal Shops in Glastonbury?
This post was published in July 2020 but is just as relevant in April 2021!
It’s often said that there are ‘no normal shops in Glastonbury’. It’s true that you can’t buy white goods, there’s no ‘High Street’ chains and if you need something practical, like trainers or a rucksack, you are best heading to the temple of shiny newness that is Clarks Village in Street, a whole two miles away. However, we do have many of the essential shops and services you’d expect to find in a medium sized town.
Now Glastonbury is beginning to reopen after lockdown, I’ve been taking the opportunity to photograph the shops and shopkeepers. Usually at this time of year, they are busy with people, but with fewer visitors and social distancing measures I’ve been able to capture them at their best. Particularly since many have spent the 3 months of lockdown refurbishing, restocking and generally making their premises ready to receive visitors. I published the first set of images in this post Glastonbury Begins to Reopen After Lockdown.
Last week I popped into Tor Pets to ask if they wanted a photo and Jennie had a suggestion – why didn’t I do a ‘Normal in Glastonbury’ post and feature the ‘normal’ shops? I thought this was a brilliant idea, so thanks Jennie. I do try and represent Glastonbury in an authentic way. But I must admit, it’s hard not to get distracted by the wyrd and wonderful when you live in a town where you’ll find more besom brooms for sale in the High Street than yard brushes. You won’t find anyone selling saucepans in the centre of town, but you are spoiled for choice when it comes to cauldrons.
I had great fun taking these pictures, everyone was so friendly and it was nice to chat to people who I don’t normally meet (as I don’t have a pet and haven’t yet needed to buy a carpet) I hope you enjoy them, they are by no means comprehensive, there are other normal shops too. I couldn’t decide what order to put them in, so I’ve arranged them as you encounter them from the top of the High Street downwards.
By the way, no one has paid me to be in this post, I thought it was a fun idea and Glastonbury Shops need support after the lockdown. But, the only way I can afford to do posts like these are if some of you support me to carry on writing (and photographing!) so please take a look at how you can support Normal For Glastonbury, you can join We are Normal For Glastonbury (your £20 subscription helps a lot) and buy my eBook (it’s only £3.99), paperback coming out soon! Local businesses if you’d like an in depth interview please find out how to commission an article from me and reach thousands of people who love Glastonbury Town.
I wrote a blog post all about Steve and Jan’s tiny department store in the Gauntlet Shopping Arcade.
Steve and Glenn from Dicketts stationers do sell Glastonbury gifts and cards, but they also have a wide range of art and stationery supplies too, so I figured they count as nearly normal!
Welcoming everyone back to Glastonbury!
All these shops are now open. Accommodation providers will gradually be reopening from July 4th. For photos of our (often considerably less normal) shops that are already open after lockdown, please see this article (there’s another one coming soon):
I made some humorous observations about shopping in Glastonbury in this early post:
Amateur Photographer Magazine interviewed me about my series of photos of Glastonbury Shopkeepers, so if you’d like to learn more about how I went about taking them please click on the article.
Enjoy this post?
Then you’ll love my books – ‘Normal For Glastonbury: Life in England’s Most Magical Town’ (the new fully illustrated edition is now available) and my ‘Crap Views of the Tor’ Postcard Book. There’s more in my Online Shop too.
My readers support this blog to keep it independent and ad-free, so I can continue to write about and photograph Glastonbury Town and its wonderful creative community.
For more of ‘this sort of thing’ join the We Are Normal For Glastonbury membership site, for exclusive content, a comprehensive guide to making the most of your visit to the town, a personalised membership certificate and more. Membership is only £20 a year.
You can also subscribe to Normal For Glastonbury by email, follow the Normal for Glastonbury
This post
All those shops look so interesting and colourful, hope they have a good summer.
I know, they do don’t they! See, even out normal shops aren’t boring!
Just read the book, it was a Christmas present from my wife, I couldn’t put it down very interesting and amusing too. We love Glastonbury and its interestingly different people, a must for any of you people watchers out there. A place where acceptance of all types of people is apparent, if only the world was too.
Glad you enjoyed the book David. Glastonbury is the best place for people watching!