Countryside Alliance Awards: Best Local Food Retailer

Best local food retailer

Newlyns Farm Shop, North Warnborough, Hampshire

The food sourcing policy at Newlyns is simple: own produce, then local, then regional then national. Run by a fourth generation farming family, the Janaways, it offers products from their own 500 acre traditional mixed farm, which rears beef, outdoor pigs, free-range chickens and grows cereals.

Quality is, say the family, “non-negotiable” and award-winning sausages and bacon are made by their resident butchers, with the beef hung for a minimum of three weeks. They home cook their ‘ready’ range of meals and desserts on the premises.

The shop provides a vital outlet for a variety of local producers and is a staunch supporter of the county’s food group, Hampshire Fare, with so as much as possible stocked from fellow members.

A relatively recent addition to the business has been the cookery school, where a “field to feast” approach allows people to be educated about food. “Cooking,” they say, “needn’t be difficult or complicated.”

They want to get back to basics so offer courses for kids, as well as adults, believing that educating youngsters is vital.

The Janaways are passionate custodians of the countryside and believe that with this comes responsibility – so work closely with the local community. They supply local schools and host local shoots, for example.

“Newlyns is the most professionally presented shop and cookery school I have seen,” commented one of the judges. “The produce looks fantastic in store and layout has been carefully designed with attention to detail and to giving the whole site a rustic but high quality feel. The atmosphere is both friendly and enjoyable.”

Commended:

• Harrop Fold Farm, Cheshire
  
• Ainsty Farm Shop, Yorkshire
  
• Beadlam Grange Farm Shop, Yorkshire
  
• Llwynhelyg Farm Shop, Ceredigion
  
• Village Greens Farm Shop, Surrey

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