16 August 2018, 15:02 PM
  • Thorntons, a business name synonymous with Cross Hills for well over a century, has made a reappearance in the heart of the South Craven village with the recent opening of Thorntons Delicatessen

The Main Street-located enterprise represents a new venture for owners, Robert Hart and Helen Burgan.

Robert said, “For over 100 years the shop was run by the Whittaker family and sold cooked meats. The last owner was Peter Whittaker, who sold the business about five years ago, though it’s been closed for the past two or three years.”

Robert – who was born and bred in nearby Sutton-in-Craven – continued, “We identified an opportunity to give the shop a new lease of life, retain the old trading name and at the same time fill a niche in the local retail and hospitality sector by opening a brand-new delicatessen in the village.”

The couple both have a background in the meat and bakery sectors and first met at Stanforths Butchers shop on Mill Bridge, Skipton.

The entire Thorntons’ offering has a strong focus on homemade producers, which include hot and cold sandwiches, snacks and drinks, salad boxes, paninis and a comprehensive range of home-made pies and pasties, all freshly prepared in the in-house bakery.

The only concession to the homemade ethos is Stanforths pork pies. Other Thorntons Deli specialities include home-cooked hams, quiches and cakes.

Robert continued, “It’s great to be working in our local village. We’ve been made to feel very welcome, with local people and businesses all wishing us well. In fact, many of them have already become regular customers.”