Shelf portrait: Cooks Aweigh

5THE TOP

THE SHOP’S CURRENT BESTSELLERS:

l Dollyhotdogs Placemats and Textiles from Dollyhotdogs l Robin Decorative Table Light from Lightstyle London l Prestige Inspire Bakeware from Meyer Group l Costa Nova Riviera, Madeira, and Pearl Tableware from My Gifts Trade l Jute Plant Pots from Garden Trading with Houseplants

Inset: A display featuring Costa Nova Madeira tableware and Dollyhotdogs’ Mussels.

LEAF LINES

When Helen Mottershead first opened a cookshop over three decades ago, she “tried to be a mini version of Kitchens of Bristol and Bath.” Having established Cooks Aweigh in Topsham 21 years ago, the past ten years has seen the shop evolve into a lifestyle boutique, selling interior décor, houseplants, and pots alongside luxury china and glassware and distinctive kitchenware.

Inset: Plants and woodware at Cooks Aweigh.

SHELF PORTRAIT

COOKS AWEIGH

Cooks Aweigh in Topsham has evolved into a cookshop and lifestyle boutique, stocking interior homewares and plants alongside tableware and kitchenware. PH talks shop with owner Helen Mottershead.

Below: Helen outside Cooks Aweigh in Topsham.

Facts and stats

Below: Inside Cooks Aweigh.

l Cooks Aweigh is around 700 square feet and leads into a semiclosed courtyard which – in warmer months - is used as retail space – particularly for pots and plants. l The shop is situated in the heart of Topsham, which is in the UK’s “top ten destinations to live and work.” l Besides a presence on Instagram, Cooks Aweigh is promoted via its listings in Topsham’s “very active community groups.” l Cooks Aweigh is split between one third cookware and kitchenware and two thirds lifestyle and interior decoration. l In addition to Helen, the Cooks Aweigh team consists of one full-time and three part-time helpers.

ON THE WAY UP

“Kitchen textiles are selling well, particularly the Dollyhotdogs’ marinethemed ranges, which are designed in Devon and manufactured in Staffordshire, so have UK-made appeal. On the interiors side, lighting is good for us and, of course, sales of decorative interior lights have gone up in the run-up to Christmas.”

UPS AND DOWNS

“We don’t sell many sets of saucepans – partly because there are so many places to buy pans from and partly because customers have bought good quality pans from us in the past and don’t need to replace them, unless they now need a set which is induction-compatible. The exception to this is Prestige Eco Cookware by Meyer Group, which is selling well both in saucepans and frying pans. This range has caught the attention of consumers, who like its eco credentials, including its plantbased non-stick coating.”

Inset: Cookware at

Cooks Aweigh.

THE BEST THING LOCAL SUPPORT

“The best thing about my shop is its diversity,” says Helen, acknowledging that: “People can buy good quality kitchenware at the supermarket and online, but they come to Cooks Aweigh for its nice aesthetics. Houseplants do very well for us; so many people want to accessorise their homes with plants and pots.” “Tourists are very important, but Topsham has an exceptionally stable, mixed age resident population as well as lots of people who come from London for weekends who all want to support local businesses. We get a lot of repeat business from people from all over Devon and Cornwall.”

MINI MAKEOVER

“During lockdowns we took the opportunity to redecorate the shop, repainting and putting in a new floor so that we had a fresh new look when we reopened.”