18 Best farm shops in Somerset
When we first moved to the county, I spent much of the first few weeks pottering in Somerset farm shops, getting a taste for the area, quite literally, through its food and drink. After years of city life in Bristol, suddenly, here on our doorstep were these gorgeous treasure troves of local goodies, surrounded by rolling fields and farmland, from whence much of the items on their shelves had been sourced. It was my imagined Somerset idyll and to make matters better, most had a cafe attached, serving scrummy field to fork concoctions and/or a playground and animals to entertain the kids.
There’s never been a more important time to eat ethically and sustainably-farmed meat, reduce food miles and support UK farmers. And there’s something so lovely about pondering over a cheese purchase for a special occasion, with an expert behind the counter. As an added bonus, you can order online at lots of these places, who often deliver locally too.
Here are the best farm shops in Somerset for your future perusal.
Table of Contents
- Trading Post Farm Shop, South Petherton
- Teals, South Cadbury
- Farringtons, Farrington Gurney
- Perry’s Cider Mills, Dowlish Wake
- The Newt Farm Shop, near Bruton
- Durslade Farm Shop, Bruton
- Sheppy’s House of Cider
- Buffalicious Somerset, West Country Buffalo, Chilthorne Domer
- Barleymows Farm Shop, Chard
- Puxton Farm Shop, Puxton Park
- Rumwell Farm Shop, near Taunton
- Newton Farm, near Bath
- White Row Farm, Frome
- Gilcombe Farm Shop, Bruton
- Kimbers’ Farm Shop, Wincanton
- Pitney Farm Shop, Langport
- Goose Slade Farm Shop, East Coker
- The Apple Tree Farm Shop, Brimsmore Garden Centre
Trading Post Farm Shop, South Petherton
Set on a working organic farm, this veritable Aladdin’s Cave of delicious goodies is part-greengrocer, deli, zero waste refill centre and wholefoods market, all rolled into one.
Peruse the shelves of tempting treats for locally-sourced beer, cider, wine and an exceptional selection of gin. Seek out obscure ingredients, find your sugar, gluten and dairy-free products as well as fresh bread daily, preserves, organically-grown fruit and veg, cakes, cheeses, biscuits and artisan chocolates.
Outside you’ll find an organic milk and milkshake machine (affectionately known as Belinda), so bring your empty glass bottles! During the festive season, they open up a Christmas marquee, brimming with Yuletide delights that are notoriously difficult to resist.
Click here to find out more about The Trading Post
Teals, South Cadbury
We stumbled upon Teals entirely by fortunate accident while travelling along the A303 to Berkshire. We nipped off the dual carriageway at the North/South Cadbury junction for a takeaway coffee and left with fabulous steaks from the Teals butchery, a Somerset-distilled bottle of gin, some Nkuku candlesticks and a zingy salad from the deli for me. And the takeaway coffee, which was excellent.
Teals has nailed the long-journey stop-off – think of it as Somerset’s ‘Gloucester Services’. Surrounded by countryside, the smart farm shop blends seamlessly into its rural backdrop and houses a dazzling array of produce which focuses heavily on West Country fare from small farmers and local producers. There’s also a bakery, deli, food market, gift shop, milk vending machine and cafe with inside and al fresco seating.
Take a stroll in the 100-year old cider orchard, peer at the honey hives, let your pooch out in the ‘dog jog’ field and soak up the magical ley lines vibes.
Click here to plan your visit to Teals
Farringtons, Farrington Gurney
Based on a 400-acre working farm in the Somerset village of Farrington Gurney, Farringtons incorporates a play barn, farm park, cafe, fish and chip shop, pet supplies, mini shopping village and award-winning farm shop with artisan bakery, deli and craft butcher.
Over the year they grow over 80 varieties of vegetables, which you can buy from their well-stocked farm shop, along with a range of homemade pies, quiches, salads, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, traybakes, cakes and their own range of ready meals. If it’s not grown onsite, it’s sourced from local suppliers.
Click here to plan your visit to Farringtons
Perry’s Cider Mills, Dowlish Wake
Attached to Perry’s Cider Farm and set amongst characterful, olde worlde thatched buildings, aged cider-making relics, a babbling stream and an orchard across the way, this is quintessential Somerset, and pretty darn charming as far as farm shops go.
Their craft ciders (some of my favourites) and apple juice sit alongside jams, chutneys, Somerset cheeses, meats art, gifts and great tasting, natural-as-possible goods from like-minded producers. You can also get your hands on some Perry’s cider merch, should you be so inclined.
Click here to find out more about Perry’s Cider
The Newt Farm Shop, near Bruton
Within the grounds of uber-glamourous country hotel The Newt, it’s no surprise that this farm shop is one of the swishest in the biz. Everything is inspired by a love for the land, sustainable agriculture, artisan food production and Somerset heritage. Beautifully labelled items including fresh, seasonal produce from their gardens and the best local growers line the shelves. A butchery offers the best cuts from animals grass-reared on the estate and nearby farms that share their ethos, and West Country cheeses mature in their Cheese Room. Look out for The Newt’s own cyder and apple gin among the enticing shelves, and have yourself a jolly tasty time.
Click here to find out more about The Newt Farm Shop
Durslade Farm Shop, Bruton
Both a cultural and culinary destination, Durslade Farm Shop, sited at Hauser & Wirth contemporary art gallery and gardens, certainly has the wow factor. Inside is a treasure trove of beautifully-displayed Somerset produce – you’ll find meat from their onsite butchers, jams foraged from their woodlands, tasty local tipples (including their own in-house Bacchus Maid of Bruton wine), fresh bread, sweet treats, ice cream, fruit, veg, homeware (including gorgeous forged ironware from Alex Pole) and gifts sourced from the best farmers, growers, makers and artisans in the county.
Click here to see what’s on offer at Durslade Farm Shop
Sheppy’s House of Cider
At the heart of Sheppy’s 90-acre cider farm stands the former apple pressing rooms, now a smart-industrial, award-winning farm shop, deli, butchery, café and restaurant. Soaring ceilings are loaded with barrels and tanks, while down below, shelves and fridges are stacked with cider (of course), farmhouse and artisan cheeses, meat from their free-roaming Longhorn cattle and Suffolk Cross Sheep and in their words, ‘food with a story – a provenance and place’.
With animal encounters on offer, a children’s play area, seasonal nature trails around the farm, orchard walks (and picnics – pre-order before you arrive and they’ll have one ready for you) and a duck pond, a visit to Sheppy’s can be a full family day out!
Click here to plan a trip to Sheppy’s
Buffalicious Somerset, West Country Buffalo, Chilthorne Domer
This family farm produces ethical, sustainable, award-winning mozzarella, raw milk and ice cream from their herd of 250 water buffalo, grazed on rich green Somerset fields during the summer (and housed in the winter). You can get your hands on these creamy delectable treats, along with buffalo yoghurt, buffalo soap, cream and lotion and meat from their onsite farm shop.
Click here to learn more about Buffalicious Somerset
Barleymows Farm Shop, Chard
Part of a mixed beef, sheep and arable family-run farm, Barleymows is set in gorgeous Somerset countryside with far-reaching green hilly views. Their local food policy dictates that if they don’t produce the items themselves, the farm shop products should come from within a 25-mile radius, or as local as possible, to keep food miles to minimum and ensure freshness and quality. You’ll find a butchers counter, with much meat from their farm across the road, a deli counter with mountains of cheese, a salad and sandwich bar, a ‘free from’ section, fruit and veg, preserves, outdoor and household items, freezer section with homemade in-house frozen ready meals, toys and lots more!
There’s also a fully-licensed restaurant/cafe with outdoor seating area, florist, a children’s play area, a brilliant Maize Maze and Outdoor Activity Field during the summer holidays, camping and caravanning pitch AND they grow their own Christmas trees.
Click here to plan a visit to Barleymows
Puxton Farm Shop, Puxton Park
Next door to the family amusement park, this farm shop and butchers is the perfect place to grab some wholesome items to refuel with after a day of whizzing, whirling fun. Of course, it’s open to non-theme-park-going customers too, which is lucky as they sell a fine range of fresh local produce including meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables, wines, spirits, Somerset ales, beers and ciders, plus bakery and deli items.
Click here to browse Puxton Farm Shop
Rumwell Farm Shop, near Taunton
See the chickens roaming freely under the trees, then pick up the freshest of eggs from inside one of Somerset’s biggest farm shops. Rumwell family farm covers a whopping 600-acres, with a farm shop housing eight different departments, including a food hall, gift shop, butchery (selling their own Aberdeen Angus beef), jam kitchen, bakery, gluten-free section, wine cellar and cafe – they’ve come a long way since their days of selling homegrown potatoes outside the gate.
Click here to see what’s going on at Rumwell Farm Shop
Newton Farm, near Bath
Located on the Duchy of Cornwall Estate in Newton St Loe, just ten minutes from Bath, this family-run farm has been going for four generations and counting. The Newton Farm Shop and Cafe showcase exceptional local produce, gifts, ice cream made in the South West and British flowers. There’s also a butchery with meat from their herd of pedigree South Devon, Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle, sheep and pigs which live on their lush chemical/pesticide/fertiliser-free pastures.
You should also know that the chef has earned a reputation for slap-up breakfasts and legendary roasts.
Find out more about Newton Farm
White Row Farm, Frome
This pig farm converted one of its farrowing houses into a shop in 2000 and hasn’t looked back. In addition to being chock-full of its own farm-grown produce (using small-scale sustainable farming methods), there’s a vast array of olive oils, jams, traybakes and bread, plus a butchery (selling pork from their own pigs obvs), deli, fresh fish counter, florist and fish and chip shop.
Kids can be entertained with the play areas, pedal tractors and say hello to the farm animals.
Click to learn more about White Row Farm
Gilcombe Farm Shop, Bruton
Gilcombe Farm is a 300-acre family-run farm which supplies its farm shop with its own organic produce and free range items comes from a hand-picked selection of non-organic local farms with a similar ethos towards animal welfare and quality.
You can also pick up lovely artwork, chopping boards, gifts, logs, homemade pies, free-range eggs, baked goodies and lots more!
Click here to find out more about Gilcombe Farm Shop
Kimbers’ Farm Shop, Wincanton
The Kimber family have farmed in Charlton Musgrove for over 300 years and are known for producing high quality meat and dairy from their herds, or sourcing it from nearby Somerset farms.
You’ll find all kinds of tastebud-tantalising items in the farm shop, deli and cafe – from sharing boxes and grazing boards to Christmas turkeys and hampers, biscuits, condiments and gifts. Keep an eye out for farm open days, where you can see all the behind-the-scenes goings-on for yourself.
Click here to plan a visit to Kimbers’ Farm Shop
Pitney Farm Shop, Langport
90-acre Glebe Farm has been tended to by the Walrond family for over 200 years, who have been farming organically here since 1999.
The farm runs small numbers of local breeds (Saddleback sows, Mule ewes, Dorset Down rams, hens and beef cattle) and grows around 70 varieties of organic veg, which is sold in their farm shop alongside predominantly Somerset-origination products.
The onsite cafe (next to the shop) makes everything from scratch, using the organic meat, eggs and veg picked from surrounding fields.
Click here to plan a visit to Pitney Farm Shop Somerset
Goose Slade Farm Shop, East Coker
Everything that is produced on this family-run farm is sold through the farm shop or to a handful of local pubs, restaurants and butchers. It’s top notch stuff, farmed sustainably in a way that promotes the environment.
Inside you’ll find a fresh meat counter stocked with their homegrown beef, lamb, pork, game and goose, chicken and duck from Cracknell’s poultry. There’s also fresh fruit and vegetables locally grown and sourced, fresh bread and cakes delivered daily, homemade cakes, pastries and desserts, jams, preserves, biscuits, snacks, confectionery, local cheeses and cooked, smoked and cured meats and fish.
If you’d rather a goose than a Christmas turkey, this is the place to get it!
Click here to plan a visit to Goose Slade Farm Shop
The Apple Tree Farm Shop, Brimsmore Garden Centre
Part of a garden centre in Tintinhull near Yeovil, The Apple Tree Farm Shop champions growers, bakers, butchers and producers within a 25-mile radius. Their carefully curated selection of food and drink includes cheeses, olives, Somerset cider brandy and the like, and sampling is encouraged!
Go at Christmas time to see the fabulous festive display.
Click here to find out more about The Apple Tree Farm Shop
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