Inside the newest sandwich shop offering a 'posher Subway experience'

Anyone who has bought a six inch or footlong sandwich from Subway will know that there is a plethora of options, from the iconic Meatball Marinara to meaty options such as Chicken and Bacon and the Italian BMT.

What owner Phill Bennett said he has set out to do at his shop on Load Street is to provide a more personal experience for customers, following the same principle of the chain, but calling it a posher Subway.

He said the idea for the shop had come while he was getting a hair cut and over heard people complaining about the sandwiches they'd bought.

He said: "I was in the barbers Outlaws and Kings across the road having my hair cut, which I've had for around three years, and they'd ordered in a Subway sandwich and found it was all wrong and had cost more than £20.

"They were arguing with each other about it and the owner Scott turned to me and said I should open a sandwich shop, as I run a business called Footprint Catering, which is a bespoke company providing fine dining, buffets, delivered food services and the like.

"Eight months down the line, after the idea grew, I found the right place and it went from there."

Mr Bennett said that in addition to Footprint Catering, he also had 30 years of experience in the industry, having trained down in London and listed catering for the G8 summit and working for fine dining restaurants among some of his highlights.

He said, however, that going into running a bespoke sandwich shop had been a real change for him, but one local had said they loved it and it was also popular with tourists.

He said: "I've got a bit of history behind me in the kitchen, but this is totally different and I would say it is a bit out of my comfort zone, but still comfortable as well.

"It's also what a lot of people have said the town needs and we've been getting that response a lot from the customers.

"Even with the bridge being one way at the moment, we haven't seen less of the foot traffic that comes through the town and I think it actually encourages people to walk around the town a bit more, so we've been able to capitalise on that."

The site of the shop was previously a phone shop and underwent a complete refurbishment before opening to the public on May 1.

The business caters for all allergy and dietary requirements with products, including the poke bowls being available for those who are health conscious, with Mr Bennett saying there was a wide selection on offer.

He said: "Its exactly what it says on the tin as it's a bespoke sandwich where you choose your bread, which is locally sourced, then you choose your fillings, whether it's a meat option or smoked salmon, vegetarian or vegan.

"You just build up your own sandwich, while there is also a menu which has gone pre-selected sandwiches, and we do a Fab Five every week, which has specialist sandwiches like New York deli, smoked salmon with cream cheese and bagels, roasted feta, vegetable and feta.

"You can also get cold drinks, crisps and things to make it like a lunch box with some special things inside it and it's what you would call a posher Subway."

Mr Bennett said the reaction since opening on May 1 had been overwhelming, with plenty of people coming in each day, and said he hoped for it to become a chain across other towns.

He said: "My long term vision is to slowly make it into a little chain, aimed at tourist towns such as Bridgnorth and Pershore.

"It's been a long time coming, but I think it's what this town has needed as residents and tourists come in and get their sandwiches and their responses are genuine for how much they enjoy them.

"It's been great and I've been getting a lot of positive vibes from everyone."