But a stone's throw from its now closed doors is a truly local success, albeit without the celebrity fanfare – the village shop.

Lee and Josie Stott originally set up shop in 1973 in a location near to the village's now closed pub, the Shoulder of Mutton. When the lease ran out and it looked like the Stotts would be turfed out, the parish council mobilised and moved them into a purpose-built extension to the Village Hall, where they have been ever since.

The Stotts have an old school, "full to the ginnels with everything" approach to shopkeeping, which means that this village shop stocks everything from sacks of Koi carp food and balloon pumps, to eight varieties of butter, nailbrushes, batteries and 2010 Johnny Depp calendars. There are even hardware elements, with tubes of Polyfilla and paint trays for weekend DIYers.

Perhaps it's the tins of red salmon or the jars of liquorice comfits and sherbet lemons (these days to be purchased by the 100g rather than the quarter), but the shop invites a feeling of nostalgia.

And while there is a slightly chaotic element (as if there isn't quite enough space to fit in all the sacks and boxes), as far as the Stotts are concerned, that chaos is definitely organised.

Shopper Sue Tyas says: "They've always got everything here, and what's more, they always know exactly where everything is!"

When a customer comes in asking for bandages, a selection is produced almost immediately.

To accommodate the ever-growing range of produce, the shop was extended earlier this year. As well as providing more space, expansion has meant that the Stotts can now employ their daughter, Clare. In addition, the shop employs a couple of students on Saturdays.

"Running the shop is hard work, but since the extension it seems easier – even though we are having a lot of extra work," says Josie.

What's interesting about The Village Shop at Marton cum Grafton is that there seems to be little acknowledgement of the trend for locally produced or organic items. Everything on sale is no nonsense traditional mainstream brands and products at reasonable prices. No heftily priced jars of farmhouse chutney here – more likely jars of famous-brand mint sauce.

And for that, the shop enjoys a steady stream of customers who call in from Marton cum Grafton and the surrounding villages of Ouseburn, Arkendale or Aldeburgh, some just for a few bits, others for larger shops. With such a variety of produce on offer, including bacon and dairy products along with fresh fruit and veg which Lee gets first thing in the morning from Leeds Market, The Village Shop really could – and doubtless does in numerous cases – cater for a full weekly shop.

Lee says: "Fresh produce is very important for business. You do get waste and you do get loss, but it does create a lot of interest."

Words of wisdom from a veteran of the great British tradition of shopkeeping.