New Manor Farm Shop & The Stables Tea Room
North Widcombe Farm, West Harptree, Bristol, BS40 6HP
"This project will retain more of the market price of products on the farm, diversify our farming enterprise and provide local employment opportunities by encouraging people to shop locally and understand the value of locally produced quality foods"
Colston Gay, North Widcombe Farm.
A 40% Rural Enterprise Scheme grant of over £49,000 was awarded to Colston Gay of North Widcombe Farm in November 2001 to help fund conversion of traditional brick farm buildings into a 60 seat tea room with kitchen and a separate farm shop with an integrated butchery, cold store and cutting area.
The core business of North Widcombe Farm is organic milk production from a herd of 180 dairy cows. Organic beef is produced with 100 cattle reared annually and a breeding flock of 100 ewes provide lambs for sale. Colston Gay always wanted to sell direct to customers to counter falling wholesale market prices and maximise income by retaining as much of the sale price for the farm business as possible. Colston's wife Celia had provided cream teas on Sundays from the main farmhouse for some years which confirmed the demand for a cafe.
The nearby Manor Farm site was acquired as a long-term investment and its range of traditional brick outbuildings were considered ideal for conversion to a farm shop and tea room. Colston sought Rural Enterprise Scheme funding and prepared the application himself. The application was submitted at the end of July 2001 and approved in November 2001. The funding allowed the project to be developed at a level and quality to match customer expectations.
Work commenced in December 2001 and the new venture opened for business as planned in Easter 2002. It has already exceeded employment targets by providing 8 full-time and 6 part-time jobs. The farm shop now sells home-produced organic meats, vegetables, a range of dairy products, cheeses, ice creams, fruit juices and locally produced preserves. Seasonal goods and gifts are also available, as well as a hamper service.
Future plans include extending the range of poultry and pig meat products in the shop and development of a children's play area, plant nursery and trail to the Chew Valley lake area to provide better access to the facilities for walkers and bird watchers.
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 10 December, 2002