A BRAND new spirits and gifts retailer that focuses on all things local opened its doors for the very first time last month. 

Spirits of Dawn, located on 19 Devonshire Street in Penrith, was opened by partners Dawn Muirhead and Steven Wright, both local to the area. 

Since it opened on November 15, the pair said the reaction from the local has been great and they are thrilled to be doing something that 'they've always wanted to do'. 

"The shop's doing well, it's been a really good reception from the local community which is really pleasing," Steven said.

"We wanted to open a shop to sell as much local produce as we could in one shop because it's difficult to get in one place.

"Especially thinking of the tourists staying next door at The George Hotel." 

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The inviting shop offers everything from gins, vodkas, whiskey rums, port, chocolates, hampers, relishes and chutneys - mostly with a local focus. 

"We've got Carlisle Gin, Lakes Gin, Carlisle's Castle Chocolates, Hawkshead Relishes - we're really trying to keep everything as local as we possibly can," he said. 

The shop is open on a Monday to Thursday from 9-5, and on a Friday and Saturday from 9am- 9pm. 

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