Witney-based The Shake Shop opens new branch in Carterton

The Shake Shop officially opened its new branch in the town centre yesterday, after several successful years in Witney Market Square.

A party atmosphere pervaded the new shop in Streatfield House, in Burford Road, with the first customers through the door offered tasty free treats.

Debbie Hackett, who runs the store alongside her sister, Kim Cook, revealed expanding to the town had been in the pipeline for a long time.

She said: “We’ve thought about Carterton many times and the right shop has now come up.

“We often got asked why we hadn’t come here. We’d been looking for a second place for a long time.

“Now seems a good time as there’s a few new businesses going there.

“Everyone else seems more excited than us, if that’s possible - we’ve had such an amazing response.”

As well as the obligatory milkshakes, The Shake Shop also sells sweets, smoothies and ice creams.

The business is almost a decade old and has become a favourite of Witney residents, while contributing to many community initiatives including Witney in the Pink and Turn Witney Blue.

Such is its popularity that seven people work in the small shop on a Saturday, with the business boasting 15 staff in total, including Mrs Hackett's daughter Eleanor.

Mrs Hackett continued: “It’s a nice problem to have. We’ve got so much going on in Witney now so it takes a lot of staff, but we'd rather be busy.”

Staff started making the new shop feel like home on Friday, before a soft launch on Monday afternoon.

Carterton mayor, Michele Mead, was due to cut the ribbon on the town council-owned store yesterday.

Among the incentives offered to particularly keen customers was a prize for the first person in the queue, a free bag of sweets with the first 50 milkshakes and a raffle.

The business is one of several firms setting up shop in Carterton, with Witney computer repair service, Ability Systems, set to open this week.

Another Witney cafe, Delice, is also believed to be expanding into the town, while a Betfred bookmakers is also due to open on Burford Road.

Town council clerk, Ron Spurs, said he expects The Shake Shop to be 'very successful' in Carterton and is confident it will be an asset to the town.

He said: "We're very pleased they've come here because they make a contribution to the Witney community and they'll be doing the same here.

Mr Spurs added: "We have so many young people in the town and what they want isn't probably what most towns want.

"There's no point getting a shoe shop, because they can get those online. The town has changed to accommodate the needs of the community."