Do farm shops still exist?
Discussion
The first few farm shops I went to years ago were just that. Yes, you might come away with cow s
t half way up to your knees, but you'd also be lugging a bloody great big box of the farm's own beef for 30-40% less than you'd pay fornl lower quality meat in a supermarket.
These days, the average "farm shop experience" seems to resemble nothing more than a corner shop that has raided the deli, cheese counter biscuit and chutney shelves of their local Waitrose and just doubled the price of everything to scam the gullible! :angry:
Does anyone happen to know of any proper traditional beef, poultry or pork farm shops selling their own meat anywhere in Surrey or the neighbouring bits of Sussex or Hampshire?
And before anyone smugly suggests that this is a Surrey problem, it really doesn't seem to be any different where my parents are in Somerset either!
t half way up to your knees, but you'd also be lugging a bloody great big box of the farm's own beef for 30-40% less than you'd pay fornl lower quality meat in a supermarket. These days, the average "farm shop experience" seems to resemble nothing more than a corner shop that has raided the deli, cheese counter biscuit and chutney shelves of their local Waitrose and just doubled the price of everything to scam the gullible! :angry:
Does anyone happen to know of any proper traditional beef, poultry or pork farm shops selling their own meat anywhere in Surrey or the neighbouring bits of Sussex or Hampshire?
And before anyone smugly suggests that this is a Surrey problem, it really doesn't seem to be any different where my parents are in Somerset either!
I have a really good one near me (Berkshire) but they don't deliver. Absolutely loved Padstow Farmshop, not cheap but the best lamb chops I've ever had. They used to have an online shop but it's closed for now. We try to find one whenever we're out and about to try local bits & bobs.
This one in Surrey looks the ticket? https://prioryfarm.co.uk/farm-shop/
This one in Surrey looks the ticket? https://prioryfarm.co.uk/farm-shop/
The farm shop that my boy’s a butcher at is a little bit as the OP describes, however their meat is either raised on their own farms or from farms within pretty much walking distance, and their sea food comes from their own fishing fleet. They also sell their own branded beers and spirits, and I think the majority of their deli products are locally sourced too.
They also deliver nationally too, internet orders are a not unreasonable proportion of their sales.
They also deliver nationally too, internet orders are a not unreasonable proportion of their sales.
Essington Fruit Farm, Butchery & Restaurant
https://www.essingtonfarm.co.uk/
A great place for the kids as well. Pick the fruit from the trees (they've started charging a minimum now as people would fill their faces before taking a barely empty punnet to the tills!).
Not just fruit, but you can pick all your veg if you're cooking a roast dinner at home.
They have a Herefordshire herd of cattle, and some pigs are kept opposite the farm. Can't remember if I've seen any fowl. They underwent a huge revamp to the farm shop about 8 years ago, sadly reflected in the prices.
Edited to add - sorry, just noticed you wanted suggestions in the SE!
https://www.essingtonfarm.co.uk/
A great place for the kids as well. Pick the fruit from the trees (they've started charging a minimum now as people would fill their faces before taking a barely empty punnet to the tills!).
Not just fruit, but you can pick all your veg if you're cooking a roast dinner at home.
They have a Herefordshire herd of cattle, and some pigs are kept opposite the farm. Can't remember if I've seen any fowl. They underwent a huge revamp to the farm shop about 8 years ago, sadly reflected in the prices.
Edited to add - sorry, just noticed you wanted suggestions in the SE!
Edited by Fastchas on Tuesday 13th June 13:27
twing said:
This one in Surrey looks the ticket? https://prioryfarm.co.uk/farm-shop/
This one, I'm afraid, is the very "farm shop" that started my internal rant in the first place!!! 
The absolute epitome of what I'm trying to avoid! 
Somerset apple juices, Isle of Wight tomatoes, cheeses from Snowdonia, Devon and lots of other places, pies from London, COOK frozen ready meals and lots, lots more, all in a clearly purpose-built, very expensive-looking building on a farm which itself grows/rears, er... I'm buggered if I can tell, as that seems to be of secondary importance to "Discovery Land" and the "Gift Barn" on the website!
The good news is that I think I've just found exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for in Etherley Farm, so am planning to go and take a look...
Website that looks like it was created in the early noughties by a teenager doing a school project? Check!
Lots of detail about the livestock that they rear themselves? Check!
Per kg prices cheaper than Sainsburys? Check!
Fingers crossed it's as good as it sounds when I get there!
Kermit power said:
The first few farm shops I went to years ago were just that. Yes, you might come away with cow st half way up to your knees, but you'd also be lugging a bloody great big box of the farm's own beef for 30-40% less than you'd pay fornl lower quality meat in a supermarket.
These days, the average "farm shop experience" seems to resemble nothing more than a corner shop that has raided the deli, cheese counter biscuit and chutney shelves of their local Waitrose and just doubled the price of everything to scam the gullible! :angry:
Does anyone happen to know of any proper traditional beef, poultry or pork farm shops selling their own meat anywhere in Surrey or the neighbouring bits of Sussex or Hampshire?
And before anyone smugly suggests that this is a Surrey problem, it really doesn't seem to be any different where my parents are in Somerset either!
Goodwood home farm, all meat is from the farm, milk and cheese also from the farm. The beer is brewed locally using barley from the farm. t half way up to your knees, but you'd also be lugging a bloody great big box of the farm's own beef for 30-40% less than you'd pay fornl lower quality meat in a supermarket. These days, the average "farm shop experience" seems to resemble nothing more than a corner shop that has raided the deli, cheese counter biscuit and chutney shelves of their local Waitrose and just doubled the price of everything to scam the gullible! :angry:
Does anyone happen to know of any proper traditional beef, poultry or pork farm shops selling their own meat anywhere in Surrey or the neighbouring bits of Sussex or Hampshire?
And before anyone smugly suggests that this is a Surrey problem, it really doesn't seem to be any different where my parents are in Somerset either!
https://www.goodwood.com/visit-eat-stay/home-farm-...
Kermit power said:
These days, the average "farm shop experience" seems to resemble nothing more than a corner shop that has raided the deli, cheese counter biscuit and chutney shelves of their local Waitrose and just doubled the price of everything to scam the gullible! :angry:
Last year we had a week away, staying somewhere just outside Cheltenham, and found ourselves visiting this place - https://jollynicefarmshop.com/ when our basket of items came in at over £100 it was something of a surprise.I did keep the receipt for awhile, just for the shock value. The one that does stick in the memory were these crackers https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/peters... - currently available in major supermarkets for £2.50 - just £6.50 in the farm shop!
Edited by rah1888 on Tuesday 13th June 13:42
About 10 years ago I did some work for a large cash & carry chain. Many of the "farm shops with hand reared locally culled meats" just buy their meat from the cash and carry and repackage it as their own. I got to know which ones were duff and which ones were genuine, and on the whole there are very few genuine ones left.
You can't blame them for reacting to the market, ours was a bit farm shop shabby but always had a few trappings, but has since remodelled with more of that as the area gentrifies. Still has the best and pretty cheap chicken and eggs you can get though, very high quality/keenly priced meat, have to be careful as much of the fresh produce doesn't keep well in summer compared to supermarket fare but I guess that's because they're not pumping it full of stuff to make it.
vikingaero said:
About 10 years ago I did some work for a large cash & carry chain. Many of the "farm shops with hand reared locally culled meats" just buy their meat from the cash and carry and repackage it as their own. I got to know which ones were duff and which ones were genuine, and on the whole there are very few genuine ones left.
I've just got back from Etherley farm, and I reckon they're definitely in the "genuine" bucket!All meat reared on the farm, and I also met the visiting butcher, who was just finishing up a couple of their cows.
All in, £99.64 got me...
700g streaky bacon
2kg beef mince
8 duck burgers (1kg total)
400g duck breast
800g braising steak
500g stir fry beef stripe
600g feather steak
1.7kg brisket
750g apple juice
All the beef is grass fed, and the duck is free range.
Pretty pleased with that!
twing said:
I have a really good one near me (Berkshire) but they don't deliver. Absolutely loved Padstow Farmshop, not cheap but the best lamb chops I've ever had. They used to have an online shop but it's closed for now. We try to find one whenever we're out and about to try local bits & bobs.
This one in Surrey looks the ticket? https://prioryfarm.co.uk/farm-shop/
Which one as I am also in Berks? I used to use Casey Fields / Vicars game as a lady nr me setup a business delivering their stuff locally which was great as their meat was excellent and a fish monger on site and I could just txt her an order but unfortunately she stopped.This one in Surrey looks the ticket? https://prioryfarm.co.uk/farm-shop/
5mins from is Lockey Farm Shop but I have never been that impressed by their meat. Just because something is called a farm shop and costs more doesn't mean its actually better. A lot of snobbery involved around such shops especially in this county.
https://www.sunnyfields.co.uk/Shop
This place has always been good. On-site butchery, production kitchen and grow a lot if their own stuff.
Used to do a great cooked breakfast but not been there for a while.
This place has always been good. On-site butchery, production kitchen and grow a lot if their own stuff.
Used to do a great cooked breakfast but not been there for a while.
just use this OP
https://www.bigbarn.co.uk/
loads of field to gate around (at least in east saxonia and anglia and cornwall) its great resource, and they send you a box of fairfield crisps if you point out a producer they have missed.
https://www.bigbarn.co.uk/
loads of field to gate around (at least in east saxonia and anglia and cornwall) its great resource, and they send you a box of fairfield crisps if you point out a producer they have missed.
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