Shill's of Cockermouth sold to new owners after retirement of couple

Nick and Wendy Shill have been popular faces on the Cumbrian hospitality scene for many years, as the owners of Shill's of Cockermouth.

Started in 2008 as a shop on Station Street, Shill's was modelled on the couples’ lives, with experiences from past careers, holidays, parties and hobbies influencing much of the business.

Moving in 2013 to South Street in the town, the couple opened a restaurant and wine bar alongside the shop and have loved the business ever since.

Nick and Wendy Shill are familiar faces in Cockermouth (Image: Supplied)

However, after deciding to retire they have now handed the business over to local hospitality owners the Speck family, who will continue their legacy in the town.

Wendy said: “It was started as a love of everything we loved.

“I haven’t got any formal qualifications at all; we have started a business with experience of travelling the world.

“Nick and I are really going to miss it because all the staff are our family.

“We feel that we have created the most amazing legacy and we are just delighted that it will be continued by the Speck family.

“We would like to thank all of our amazing and very loyal customers who have supported us over all of these years, and we feel very confident that the Speck family are going to look after and love Shill’s just as much as we have.”

The Speck family, consisting of couple Caroline and Howard Speck as well as children Emily and Jonathan, said they are delighted to add the business to their already bustling hospitality portfolio.

The family own businesses such as The Bellevue at Papcastle, The Highfield Hotel in Keswick and the Royal Yew in Dean.

The new business will give the ‘next generation’ of The Speck family a chance to make their first jump into the hospitality scene.

Fiona Coyle retail manager, Aidan Maddocks head chef and Heather Palmer restaurant manager. (Image: Supplied)

Howard and Caroline said: “We want to build on the Shill’s name and expand it. All of our businesses are different, and we don’t want to make them all the same.

“We will act as consultants, but Jonathan and Emily are the future and that is why we have bought Shill’s.

“Shill’s is all about local Cumbrian good food and hospitality, it’s a business that we have admired for many years.

“It’s a successful business with lovely staff and we are just going to push it along, we are very pleased to have purchased the business.”

Nick will stay on at Shill’s in a capacity as wine consultant, continuing to host wine tasting evenings in the business.

However, Wendy and Nick say they are looking forward to enjoying more free time in retirement to pursue their loves of travel and garden, as well as more free time to visit their children who both live out of the county.