Loved by tourists and visitors from across the globe, Totnes in South Devon is just a little bit quirky, a little bit different to your average English town and is all the better for it.

Totnes has successfully held off the commercialisation that has impacted villages and towns across Britain, here you will not find a MacDonald’s, a Starbucks or any major retailer. Instead you will be reminded of how England used to be as a nation of shopkeepers with small proud independent shops offering their own unique products and services.

However, there are rumblings that the Totnes resistance has been broken and that a Costa Coffee shop will be opening sometime soon.  This is much to the chagrin of most of the locals who almost to a man/woman oppose the move, but sadly their views do not seem to count.

Is this the beginning of the end for the independent coffee shops in Totnes as big high street chains destroy all before them?  And what next, Marks & Spencer and Tesco moving in?

We hope not, let Totnes retain its charm, let the independent shops thrive.