Moving in questions - please help!

[5napp3r]

Hi everyone,

We will be moving to Barroway Drove very shortly and just have a few questions that hopefully people can help us out with as we do not live local (coming from Bedfordshire!)

We need to register with doctors, dentist etc - can anyone let us know where they are/ recommend please? And also, what the local hospital would be.

We also have horses and dogs and need to register them with a vet - can anyone recommend a practice we can register them with?

Can anyone recommed a farrier for the horses?

And lastly, where can you get pet supplies from eg horse feed, shavings, other 'horsey' supplies, dog food etc.

Many thanks in advance

[Apple]

Hello and (an early) welcome.

There are three Doctors practices in Downham Market. We use 'The Howdale Surgery' and would recommend them to anyone.

http://howdalesurgery.co.uk/

There are two dental practices in Downham Market, you may even be able to register as an NHS patient with one or other if you are really lucky! You need to visit them in person to register if at all possible.

Our pet rabbit was always cared for by 'The Hollies' vet clinic (Downham Market), which is a part of the London Road practice of King's Lynn. I am happy to recommend their service based on my experience.

http://www.lrvc.co.uk/index.html

There are two pet shops in Downham (Downham seems to have two of everything!).

'Claws and Paws' is in 'Fairfield Road', next to the railway line on the opposite side from the main station building.

'Animal Magic' is in the High Street, near to the Nationwide Building Society office.

'Bearts' at Stowbridge ( a couple of miles away) do all things horsey (I know nothing about heese).

http://www.bearts.co.uk/

If you are new to things like oil fired heating, septic tank emptying and the like, be sure to ask advice of a neighbour or on here before appointing anyone to do or supply anything. It is easy to be ripped off when you first arrive here, by, for instance, being charged £150 to empty the septic tank when you ought to be paying no more than about £60.

This forum is a good place to seek advice, do not be shy about asking.

[5napp3r]

Thanks for all the information, its great! At least we have a starting point now!

Thanks again.

[Sheepdog Lady]

Hi!
Your local hospital will be The Queen Elizabeth (QE2) in King's Lynn.
I would also recommend The Hollies, in Downham Market (across the road from the Morrisons carpark) my dogs are registered with them and had better experience with them, than the other vets in the town. tel: 01366 386655
My horses are registered with the Isle Veterinary Group nr Ely tel: 01353 658241 (the vets in the town only do small animals)
My farrier lives in the Drove, a lovely man by the name of Dave Sanderson tel: 07770858586
For equestrian supplies there is Bearts of Stowbridge but also Goldings in Outwell.
I would be more than happy to show you where any of these are if you'd like to e-mail me. Hope this helps! Ella

[5napp3r]

Hi Ella,

Thanks for the information and reccomendations, and also for the kind offer of a show around! I will have to take you up on that when we move in!

I would email you but cant seem get your email off the forum though?

Charlene (and Mark)

[Tim]

Email addresses are hidden, for obvious reasons......

You can PM someone through the site though and that is private. Click on their name and then look for send message near the bottom of the page.

Tim

[nennyrainbow]

Doctors: We are with the Downham Market Health Centre on Paradise Road (Tel 01366 389289)- they may need to see you in person though to register. We have had no problems there and they can usually get you a  same day appointment if you need it. They also have a pharmacy attached.
Dentist: The Downham dental practice (01366 382265) was accepting new NHS patients over the summer; whether they still are I don't know but you could always put yourselves on the waiting list.
Vets: we use "the Crossings" just outside Downham in a new purpose-built building on the industrial estate and they have been very good. We had our dog neutered there 2 years ago and they seemed very professional and clean.
As you will see you have to go into Downham (3-4 miles) for most things as there aren't any amenities in the village. Hospital is QEH at Kings Lynn (about 30 minute drive unless you're stuck behind a tractor in which case it can take forever 
As everyone else has said, Bearts in Stowbridge (the next village) sells all sorts of things to do with horses (at least to a non-horsey person - my horse has handlebars and pedals). And dog food, wellies, Joules clothing, trailers, dog beds and all sorts of things you'd never imagined too....I quite like going in there even though I don't ride!
see you soon
Emma

[5napp3r]

Hi again,

A few more questions that have come to mind...

A good butcher?
Garden center?
Nice places to eat - be it local pubs or restaurants?
Local papers?
Any other info which you may think could be of help?

Once again thanks for all the above info given!

Many thanks in advance.

[Apple]

Hello.

Butcher? - Sorry, cannot help with that as we are both veggies, but would certainly recommend 'The Vegetable Shop' in the High Street for organic fruit and veg.

Garden centre - Plenty around here. The Downham Garden Centre, on the way into DM always seems helpful and will deliver big/heavy stuff for you.

Eateries - Plenty of these in DM too. The Downham Cafe for instance serves all manner of food from snacks to a roast dinner. The Downham Fryer is a good (restaurant) chippy. The Hop & Hog, (near The Vegetable Shop) does lovely tea, coffee and home-made cakes etc. Reeds coffee shop is nice, though a bit pricey. You have plenty of take-aways in DM too, you will soon need a new wardrobe if you try them all out in the first week!

[Tim]

Butchers: There is one in Stowbridge near a farm shop (also good) that people rave about.  There is also one in town opposite Boots that do good deals if you have a big enough freezer.

Garden Centre:  There is also the garden centre on the A10 behind the petrol station, they've been improving it slowly over the last couple of years.

Restaurants:  Depending on your tastes, if you like Indian food there are two restaurants.  The Titash and the Downham Tandoori, generally we've had a better meal at the Downham Tandoori.  Chinese takeaways, of the three we prefer the Peach House on Bridge Street, there is the restaurant by the station but I have no experience of it.  The Thai restaurant on Bridge Street is nice, not the cheapest though (or it wasn't). Arbuckles on the A10 is quite a nice meal out, nothing fancy but nice for the family.

Local papers: There was some interest in getting someone to deliver to the village but I don't think anything happened.  No free newspapers are delivered so you'll be going into Downham for them.

DIY: Barkers opposite the Downham Garden Centre cater for most of the paint/screws/tools you'll need for DIY.  Sometimes I have found their items to be expensive but generally they are better or at least competitive with the big chains and it's a lot less driving than going to Wisbech.  If you need tools or parts for tools then A.T. Johnsons is worth a visit, the place is quite large and they have a lot of the more obscure items you might need.  Other than that you are stuck with chain stores, there is a B&Q in Wisbech and in King's Lynn there is a B&Q, Homebase, Wickes and Screwfix.

[Abbey]

Hi there !

Off the top of my head ,  a few answers to your questions

Horses - our vet is Anchorage Barn Clinic over fakenham way ( just does horses but would recommend without hesitation and have always got a same day appointment )

Farrier is Dave Sanderson - another drove resident who is brilliant - mobile on the wcf website

Feeds - we alternate between Goldings ( who deliver )  and Bearts ( who don't - well not usually )

Dog vet - the Crossings in Downham Market - they have a daily drop in clinic on weekdays which is handy

People vet ( lets get our priorities right here ! )  Downham health centre

Butchers - JW Sargent on the road to Stow Bardolph in Stow Bridge . Best meat I've ever bought anywhere and we don't buy from anyone else . Also the farm shop across the road is fabulous , which is handy , and I think they still get a fish man there wednesdays . As for restaurants - well the Chequers in Wimbotsham is very dear to our heart - they adopted us on our first night after we moved in to find the kitchen unusable ... as others have said feel free to email
 

       

[5napp3r]

Hey,

Can anyone recommend a registered electrician?

From memory the stables and outside at the back doesnt have lighting and would like to have some put in.

Many thanks

Charlene and Mark