The Wee British Shop is now open at 3705 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL. Credit: The Wee British Shop
For British and Irish expats living in St. Petersburg, finding the taste of home often means crossing the pond (Tampa Bay). That changed this month with the opening of The Wee British Shop at 3705 5th Ave. N, bringing a comforting slice of the U.K. and Ireland to the ‘burg.
The new specialty grocery, founded by U.K. natives and best friends John Tatum and Sarah Denning, offers relief for anyone missing proper Cadbury chocolate (The real UK stuff, not what Hershey makes), along with a full range of imported teas, crisps, biscuits, and pantry staples.
When Tatum and Denning met nearly a decade ago, they quickly realized the closest stores for fellow expatriates to find the food and comfort they missed most from home were in Largo and Tampa.
Now, the owners want to ensure no one goes without their favorite treats.
“As a Scottish woman living in St. Pete, we just felt like the community was underserved,” Denning explained. “I love living here and I wanted to share my wee bit of home with St. Pete.”
“We strive to be a place in the community where you can come and hear a familiar accent and feel a bit of home,” she told CL.
In addition to packaged foods, the owners told CL they plan to introduce freezer items and baked goods as shipping and storage logistics are finalized. Customer requests are being considered as they determine which brands and products to keep in steady supply.
The Wee British Shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is closed on Mondays. Follow @theweebritishshop on social media for updates.
This article appears in Oct. 23 – 29, 2025.
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