Britain's Best Farm Shops

Britain’s best farm shops

Daylesford farmshop in Gloucestershire

Caroline Boucher October 15 2011 12:01AM

Flour from the nearby mill, lamb from the surrounding fields, cheese from the local dairy ... the rundown on the top 30 farm shops

1 Brockweir and Hewelsfield Village Shop Chepstow, Glos Having formed a not-for-profit organisation, locals built this shop and now run it with volunteers (though they can pay a manager) and respond to neighbourhood input. Lots of local produce, a donations section of fruit and vegetables by the door, a book swap at the side of the café and an upstairs room (with internet) for hire. Its green credentials are demonstrated by the solar panels on the roof. Respect. The Village Shop, Brockweir, Chepstow (01291 689995, bandhvillageshop.co.uk)

2 Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon Awash with awards, both local and national, this thriving hub of Devon life richly deserves such honours for its huge range of excellent, largely local produce and extended facilities, which range from Pilates and beauty treatments to an RSPB shop and bicycle hire. Topsham, (01392 878200, dartsfarm.co.uk)

3 Exe Valley Farm Shop Devon The stock here reflects the huge number of small suppliers making really wonderful produce in this richly fertile county. There is a local dairy section, ice cream, juices, organic veg, meats, bread and cakes, including a good gluten-free range. Also animal and poultry feed and natural remedies. The Exe Valley Farmshop, near Thorverton, Exeter, (01392 861239, exevalleyfarmshop.co.uk)

4 Chatsworth Derbyshire The beef, lamb, venison and pheasant all come from the estate and the bread, pies and quiches are made on site. There is also a Chatsworth range of jams, marmalades, ice cream and cereals, plus there is a stock of more than 80 different British cheeses. The estate’s annual bonfire night is coming up too — spectacular. Chatsworth House, Bakewell, (01246 583392, chatsworth.org)

5 Welbeck Farm Shop Nottinghamshire The owners bake their own organic bread in wood-fired ovens (including an excellent sourdough); the beef is hung for as long as possible and the game and rabbit that go into the pies are from the estate. The stichelton, the first organic raw-milk blue cheese to be made in the UK since the 1960s, is a treat. Nr Worksop, Nottingham (01909 478725, thewelbeckfarmshop.co.uk)

6 Udder Farm Shop Gillingham, Dorset There is a very good deli counter offering Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, pasties and pâtés, plus olives from Olives et Al (found in most top hotels and restaurants). Milk and meat come from the Blackmore Vale, there is a coffee shop and even locally made cosmetics are available. Manor Farm, East Stour, Gillingham, (01747 838899, theudderfarmshop.co.uk)

7 Lobbs Farm Shop Heligan, Cornwall The source of the meat is visible from the windows of this shop perched above the rolling hills of south Cornwall. The three Lobb brothers farm all the surrounding land, and their lamb and beef are excellent. There is a useful range of ready-made meals for summer visitors, but also plenty of the basics, too. Heligan, Pentewan, St Austell, (01726 844411, lobbsfarmshop.com)

8 Home Farm Shop Tarrant Gunville, Dorset As with many such shops, this one came about when the owners found farming uneconomical and wanted to support a farm that had been in their family for generations. Famed for the stupendous breakfasts served in the adjoining tea room, the sausages and pork pies made from the farm’s pigs are delicious. There is a butcher, lots of local produce and fabulous home-made cakes. Tarrant Gunville, Blandford Forum, (01258 830083, homefarmshop.co.uk)

9 Kimbers Farm Shop Wincanton, Somerset Run by the Kimber family as an adjunct to its farm, this outlet has won awards for its welfare-friendly rose veal. The shop stocks a good range of local produce, has wet fish delivered every Thursday and its local milk includes unpasteurised. Charlton Musgrove, Barrow Lane, Wincanton, (01963 33177, kimbersfarmshop.co.uk)

10 White Row Country Foods Beckington, Somerset This farm shop near Bath has an unbelievable range of produce from pork from white pigs to a well-stocked fish counter — the Scallop Shell — run by the award-winning fishmonger Garry Rosser. The mainly local fruit and veg are succulent and fresh, and there’s a café. Beckington, Frome, (01373 830798 whiterowcountryfoods.co.uk)

11 Summerhill Farm Shop Cardington, Bedfordshire Wonderful rare-breed white beef from a local herd, fresh bread baked daily from Ampthill Bakery and a good range of wines, cheese and a deli are all on offer. There is also a catering wing that will serve corporate or large gatherings. Cople Road, Cardington (01234 831222, summerhillfarmshop.co.uk)

12 Low Sizergh Barn Sizergh, Cumbria Situated in a restored 17th-century barn, this shop has more than 60 cheeses, including three types of Kendal made from the farm’s dairy herd. Organic veg is grown through the Growing Well charity initiative and delivered by wheelbarrow. There’s also a yummy teashop. Low Sizergh Farm, Sizergh, Kendal, (01539 560426, lowsizerghbarn.co.uk)

13 Friday Street Farnham, Suffolk Locals arrive early during asparagus season to bag the outstanding crop grown and sold here. A large stock of mainly local produce, lots of seasonal pick-your-own opportunities and a Maize Maze if you wish to get lost for a bit. Friday Street, Farnham, Saxmundham (01728 602783, fridaystfarm.co.uk)

14 Grange Farm Chichester, Sussex In the autumn there are 24 varieties of apples, pears and plums for you to pick in this well- stocked farm shop tucked into the South Downs. Grange Farm Shop, Funtington, Chichester, (01243 575372, grangefarmshop.com)

15 Southbourne Farm Shop Hampshire There is a wide range of meat, plus such exotica as wild boar, ostrich and kangaroo. Sausages are made by Treagust butchers in Emsworth and the bread and cakes are delicious. Main road, Southbourne, Emsworth, (01243 377521, southbournefarmshop.co.uk)

16 Humfreys Tregony, Cornwall Don’t be deterred by the mud and modest appearance of this little shop. It has an excellent range of local produce, from rich Cornish cream and cheeses to Kernow sausages made from the pigs in the next field. Vicky, who makes the best bread in Cornwall, sells her loaves here, as do the new boys on the block — Da Bara — a bread company founded by a former Tresanton Hotel chef. Barwick Farm, Tregony, Truro, (01872 530110, humfreysfarmshop.co.uk)

17 Daylesford Farmshop Kingham, Glos This is the A-lister’s farm shop, with prices to match and no mud in sight. Nevertheless, you have to admire this sleek, slick business because the Daylesford products are tremendous; everything, from the quality of the fruit to the brilliant home-made biscuits (the oatcakes are the best), is excellent. You can also spend the whole day here being buffed and polished in the adjacent spa if you so wish. Daylesford, Kingham, (01608 731700 daylesfordorganic.com)

18 Fodder Harrogate, Yorks The approach here is no-nonsense Yorkshire. It’s plentiful, local and well thought out. The butcher, who hangs beef for at least three weeks, is currently recommending brisket and oxtail. The bread, sourced throughout the area, ranges from Yorkshire brack to parkin and tea loaves, and the shop stocks hard-to-find fruit such as gooseberries in season. And there’s a café. Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate (01423 546111, fodderweb.co.uk)

19 Goods Shed Canterbury, Kent Technically this is a farmers’ market, but it’s included here because it’s open every day except Monday, has a good ethos and range of food and serves a wide community. The project goes from strength to strength and has an on-site restaurant using produce from the market. People are now being urged to bring in their surplus produce, which will then be turned into jam or chutney (and the donor can negotiate a free jar or two). Station Road West, Canterbury, (01227 459153, thegoodsshed.co.uk)

20 Ludlow Food Centre Shropshire Situated on the Earl of Plymouth’s huge Oakly Park Estate, this well-stocked farm shop sources all its beef, lamb and rare-breed pork from its 8,000 acres. The on-site bakery produces fresh organic bread daily, they make their own cheeses in the dairy and the black puddings, pasties and pies are all made in the kitchens. There’s a restaurant as well. Bromfield, Ludlow, (01584 856000, ludlowfoodcentre.co.uk) 21 Whitmuir Organics Lamancha, Midlothian Organic is the byword here, from the meat, dairy produce, poultry and vegetables to cosmetics and baby clothes. The Whitmuir vegetable field is a staggering 850ft above sea level but still produces more than 35 crops. The shop is now bringing on 350 turkeys for Christmas, who peck round the pastures during the day and the shop runs a veg box scheme. Whitmuir Farm, Lamancha, West Linton, (01968 661908, whitmuirorganics.co.uk)

22 Durleighmarsh Farm Shop Petersfield, Hampshire There is such demand for the shop’s asparagus that 100 acres have now been planted. Pick- your-own covers soft fruit, tree fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers. Fans drool over the home-made desserts. Rogate Road, Petersfield, (01730 821626, durleighmarshfarmshop.co.uk)

23 Woody’s Farm Shop Norton St Philip, Somerset Beetroot bread, anybody? Or potato and rosemary? Bread comes from The Thoughtful Bread Company, although cakes, puddings and pies are made on site. There is meat from local farms and a café. Farleigh Road, Norton St Philip, Bath (01225 720006, www.woodysfarmshop.co.uk)

24 Rhug Corwen, Denbighshire An impressive range of meat from the estate and a huge selection of Welsh cheeses. The shop is being refurbished, but it also has a slick mail order service. Rhug Estate, Corwen (01490 413000, rhug.co.uk)

25 Ty Talgarth Nantymoel, Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan Specialities are the Welsh black cattle beef, hung for three weeks, and Welsh mountain lamb. There is also organic pork and poultry. Open Wed-Sat. Nantymoel, nr Bridgend, Wales (01656 840436)

26 Hooton’s Homegrown Brynsiencyn, Anglesey The free-range bronze turkeys for Christmas waddle about outside and there’s an extensive choice of meats, cheeses and larder goods at this family farm. The business also has two nearby sites where you can pick your own fruit and veg. Gary Rhodes chose Hooton’s as one of his Local Food Heroes. Hooton’s Homegrown, Gwydryn Hir, Brynsiencyn, Anglesey (01248 430344, hootons.net)

27 Rolvenden Farmers’ Market Kent OK, so this is a farmers’ market rather than a farm shop, but devoted fans say it is by far the best source of truly good local food in this rich Weald area. There’s Sussex beef, Gloucester Old Spot pork, a good fish stall from the Rye area and wild rabbit for £2.50, plus well-priced vegetables, home-made cakes, jams and breads, depending on who turns up on the day. Thursday mornings and one Friday a month. St Mary’s Church, Rolvenden

28 Johnsons of Old Hurst Huntingdon, Cambs There aren’t many farm shops that stock live Nile crocodiles. The ones here are for restocking the world total rather than for eating, but they do keep children occupied while you shop. There are 18 varieties of pork sausage, a good range of home-made pies, pasties and Scotch eggs and an extensive butcher’s counter. A bigger shop is being built. Church Farm, Old Hurst, Huntingdon, (01487 824658, johnsonsofoldhurst.co.uk)

29 Northfield Farm Cold Overton, Leicestershire The meat is from rare breeds and sausages or burgers can be made to your own specifications on orders of 5kg or more. The shop has great organic bread, its own vegetable garden and home-brewed sloe gin and damson whisky. There are also two llamas there. Whissendine Lane, Cold Overton, (01664 474271, northfieldfarm.com)

30Tomich Farm Shop Beauly, Inverness Eggs are from the shop’s free-range hens, with pork and bacon from its free-range pigs. There’s also smoked salmon and herring from Orkney, fresh fish and scallops and lots of Scottish cheeses. Robertson’s The Larder, Tomich Farm Shop, Beauly, (01463 782181, robertsonstomichfarmshop.co.uk)