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Continue ShoppingThere’s nothing like a farm shop sign to tempt you to pull over and stock up on some quality local produce. These rural outlets have become highly popular and successful, as consumers are more conscious of supporting local businesses and buying food with a transparent supply chain.
According to Speciality Food Magazine, the farm shop thrived during the national lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, as people who were deprived of dining out experiences sought out new foods. Consumers also enjoy the high standard of service and prefer the attractive rural environment over larger identikit supermarket chains.
UK farm shops have generated sales of over £1.4bn in the past year, and there are now around 1,581 outlets around the country. Here is a selection of the very best to visit for delicious and fresh local produce this Christmas.
Cowdray Park in West Sussex is known as a polo venue, but it also has an acclaimed farm shop with a deli and butchery. You can also browse a high end lifestyle section selling hand picked homeware, or order a hamper to keep you and companions refreshed as you take in a few chukkas.
Set in the grounds of the splendid Chatsworth House near Bakewell, Derbyshire, the Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop was established in 1977 by the Duchess of Devonshire. It started out as a butcher shop, but it now has an extensive range of produce.
As well as local meat, there is a fresh fish counter, a delicatessen, a patisserie and fresh fruit and vegetables.
Doddington Hall is an Elizabethan house in Lincolnshire that has all the classic features of a stately home. It also has an award-winning farm shop that was established in 2007, and sells fruit and vegetables straight from the kitchen garden. There is also beef on sale from the estate’s herd of Lincoln Red Cattle, plus honey and other produce.
Gloagburn Farm Shop near Perth was established in 2003 and is run by third generation farmers. The shop sells meat and eggs produced on the farm, and there is also an extensive range of preserves, savouries, and sweets, plus a coffee shop. You can also order some items online or treat yourself to a hamper.
The award winning Tebay Services farm shop was opened in 1972 when the M6 motorway was built through the farm of John and Barbara Dunning. The butchery sells lamb, Herdwick mutton, Cumberland sausages and native-breed beef from the family farm.
The shop was named Specialist Food Retailer Of The Year 2022, and you will find a deli counter selling handmade pies, pastries, Scotch eggs and savouries. There is also a cheese counter selling a diverse range of cheeses from throughout Europe. Besides all this, there is a range of artisan homewares and clothing in the lifestyle section.