The Welbeck Farm Shop on the Welbeck estate near Worksop is celebrating ten years as a hub for artisan food, a period that has seen it win numerous local and national awards, most recently as FARMA’s Farm Butcher of the Year.
By focussing on low food miles, artisan food production and rigorous taste testing, it has earned a reputation as one of the country’s top farm shops. A four-day food festival running from Friday 14 October to Monday 17 October will offer 10% off all food and drink (except raw milk) as well as tastings of many of the farm shop’s award winning products including breads, chocolates, craft ales, cheese and butchery.
When it opened on 17 October 2006 the Welbeck Farm Shop sold a selection of artisan foods, with many from small, local producers, as a means of supporting the strong food heritage in the area. It’s a tradition that continues today with a much bigger selection and two thirds of the shop’s product range sourced from, or prepared at, the historic Welbeck estate.
Sitting on the Welbeck estate, described as ‘the capital of Britain’s artisan food and drink movement’ by the Great Food Club, the Farm Shop is joined by a wide range of other businesses focussed on artisan food, including Stichelton Cheese, Welbeck Dairy raw milk, the Welbeck Bakehouse breads, Welbeck Abbey Brewery ales and the School of Artisan Food, described by the BBC as an “idea that will change the food culture”.
Oliver Stubbins, Welbeck Farm Shop General Manager, said: “Everything we sell is taste-tested by the people who work here, if it isn’t the best we have ever tried, we don’t stock it. There’s a real commitment to high quality artisan food production, with much of it sourced from local producers to reduce food miles and sold loose by our expert staff over the counter, to reduce both food and packaging waste. We want to inspire other artisan food producers and play our part as a supporter and retailer of their foods.”
“We have met so many fantastic people over the last ten years and have lots of very loyal customers and suppliers, with more local suppliers than ever before and a record number of members on our loyalty scheme. We’re making a one-metre long chocolate cake to cut on the 17th and want to share this special occasion with those who we have built such a great rapport with over the years.”
“We’ve got British Game Week (24-30 November) coming up next when we’ll have partridge, pheasant and venison, all sourced from the estate.”
British Game Week overlaps with Welbeck’s popular Christmas Art and Food Market, running in the Courtyard from 25 – 27 November. Renowned for showcasing emerging new talent and established stars, this year will host over 70 artists and makers selling handmade gifts and more than 20 stalls featuring artisan foods from around the region.
For more information visit https://www.welbeckfarmshop.co.uk/
