18 Fantastic Farms Shops
Leicestershire’s link to pies and Stilton goes hand in hand with its abundance of farm shops. These rustic outlets often started as wooden stalls selling spuds and Sunday joints at farm gates. They have grown and modernised, but the ethos remains the same: high-quality, sustainably produced local food.
But how did Leicestershire get so many? It goes something like this. Back in the day, the county’s good grazing land made it ideal for cows. This led to Stilton. Next came pig farms, using cheese’s byproduct – whey – to feed their porkers. Leicestershire’s pigs multiplied further in the 19th century when fox hunters demanded energy-packed snacks for eating on the hoof – enter the Melton Mowbray pork pie.
This agricultural heritage has given Leicestershire a large farm-shop footprint. In the south, small shops like Grazers of Ashby Parva, Bridge 67 Butchers in Kibworth and Woodhouse Farm Shop in Elmsthorpe keep the farm-to-fork ethos strong. And award-winning Farndon Fields in Market Harborough, which began as a small veg stall, shows how professional a farm shop can get given time and expertise.
Further north, Stonehurst Farm in Mountsorrel – next to Michelin-starred John’s House Restaurant (run by the farmer’s brother) – provides a beautiful example of a rustic, welcoming farm shop. Its in-house bakery uses wheat grown on the farm. And Manor Farm in Long Whatton offers superb organic produce.
To the west, Cattows Farm Shop in Heather allows customers to pick their own fruit, and to the east, March House Farm in Great Dalby sells food grown using its regenerative agriculture techniques.
And, of course, almost every Leicestershire farm shop sells pork pies and Stilton. For most county visitors, they are an almost-obligatory purchase.
Attfields Farm Shop
Almost all the produce sold at Attfields Farm Shop is grown locally or on the farm, with very few items travelling more than 30 miles to reach the shelves.
Bradgate Park Venison
Bradgate Park is the only remaining medieval deer park in Leicestershire. For the long-term health of the herd, it is necessary to carry out a yearly cull.
Bridge 67 Butchers
This delightful butchery/deli sells lamb and beef reared on owners John and Jill Vickers’ family farm in Smeeton Westerby.
Cattows Farm Shop
Cattows Farm Shop is run by the Ludlam family, who have been farming in Leicestershire since 1899.
Farndon Fields Farm Shop
Farndon Fields started life in 1983 when owners Kevin and Milly Stokes opened a small shop on their 250-acre fruit and vegetable farm. T
Grazers of Ashby Parva
Grazers Farm Shop is open every Friday, 10am-4pm, and every Saturday, 9am-12.30pm.
Hill Top Farm Shop
Hill Top Farm Shop is a new farm shop on the outskirts of Melton Mowbray, full to bursting with sweet and savoury supplies from local producers
Manor Organic Farm Shop & Bakery
A family-run business on a working organic farm, Manor Organic Farm Shop was named Food Producer of the Year in the Great Food Club Awards 2022/3.
March House Farm Shop
You’ll find an excellent butchers’ counter filled with grass-fed, sustainably produced beef, lamb and pork from the farm
Northfield Farm Shop
Northfield Farm has been farming rare and traditional British beef and lamb breeds for two generations.
Pennbury Farm
Once a dairy farm, Pennbury Farm is home to the Evans family, who have lovingly converted barns into a farm shop and café.
Pick’s Organic Farm
The Pick family have been farming the land around Barkby Thorpe for hundreds of years.
Roots at Thorpe Farm
Roots at Thorpe Farm’s shop started life as a stall selling potatoes. Today, it offers a vast range of produce
Stonehurst Farm Shop
The farm shop stocks home-grown produce from the farm, where the Duffin family grow organic bread wheat, heritage potatoes and seasonal vegetables. They also graze Aberdeen…
Waterloo Cottage Farm
Founded by Angus and Kirsty Clarke, Waterloo Cottage Farm offers wholesome, delicious produce, including antibiotic-free meat
Winterton
Winterton sells Longhorn and Welsh Black beef raised on the owner’s farm near Wanlip and plenty more!
