TOWNS across Britain are desperate for boutique, welcoming, and unique friendly spaces to adorn their high streets.

Thankfully for residents in Wrabness, the village with a history of 400 years near Harwich has an abundance of quirky little shops - including a versatile community shop, café and bar.

Wrabness Community Shop, Cafe and Bar has been “a hub of village life” since the 1950s under various names and in different locations – up until the closure of the Post Office in 2008 which three years later led to the shop's closure. 

Two years later residents - as well as Grayson Perry - launched the shop in Black Boy Lane to avoid a "permanent loss" to the village.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Community - Deb Smith has been a shop manager alongside Zoe since 2019Community - Deb Smith has been a shop manager alongside Zoe since 2019 (Image: Newsquest)

Shop manager Deb Smith showed me around the shop which is open seven days a week from 9am to 4pm to suit customers and the 15-strong and entirely volunteer staff.

Promoting other local businesses is also another major aspect to the shop, with the dual bar and cafe area including space for both homemade handbags and Colchester Brewery beer.

The bar does not have a TV because, like a micropub, the focus instead is on socialisation and community.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Transformed - The space where Jenny's homemade hand bags were displayed was changed from a space-wasting coat rack to a sleeker wall hooksTransformed - The space where Jenny's homemade hand bags were displayed was changed from a space-wasting coat rack to a sleeker wall hooks (Image: Newsquest)

There is, however, a music license which will be used to full effect on a Dansette Days retro music night on Bank Holiday May 25.

There will also be a tropical-themed cocktail tiki party on July 20.