A NEW shop offering a range of niche grocery products has opened its doors.
The Natural Grocer Market & Social is located on Cattle Market in Hexham, at the former site of Nichol & Laidlow.
As well as selling cooks' ingredients and other niche products that are not available in most supermarkets, the shop has a licence to sell alcohol to enjoy on and off the premises.
A range of craft beers, local gins and 120 fine wines are available to purchase.
The Natural Grocer also has a café area serving coffee, cake and homemade scones - and a more formal lounge bar upstairs.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, homemade tapas is on offer.
Owners Gordon and Joanne Moore said their food offering is "increasing every week". Where possible, they are using local suppliers.
Joanne said if people have requests for products they would like to see in the shop, they are happy to look at getting them in.
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Joanne said the support they have received since opening just over a couple of weeks ago has been "pretty phenomenal".
"We think we have created a 'wow' factor," said Gordon. "Both businesses and the public of Hexham have been very supportive and they like what they see.
"People are saying it's filling a gap in the market."
He added: "What does seem to be the case is that a lot of the business owners in Hexham get that it is all about more quality, independent shops, and the more we have, the more chance we have got of customers coming into Hexham.
"There are a lot of positive things to say about Hexham, it has beautiful parks, an increasing number of independent stores, and a good sense of community pulling together."
The pair, who previously ran the Border Reiver in Otterburn, are keen to make The Natural Grocer a social space for people.
Their first event, a wine tasting, will take place on December 1.
The Natural Grocer Market & Social is currently open between 10am and 5pm Tuesday-Thursday, and between 10am and 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Gordon and Joanne said they are also planning on opening on either a Sunday or Monday, likely before Christmas.
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