Awards
2009 Home
NEWS RELEASE: DODDINGTON FARM SHOP & CAFÉ WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
IN FARM RETAIL AWARDS
| Best Farm Retail Newcomer 2009 sponsored by: |
|
Clare Birch, Jenny Reeves, Thomas Doran, Rob Gentles (G7) |
Doddington Farm Shop and Café near Lincoln has won the Best Farm Retail Newcomer Award from the National Farmers' Retail
and Markets Association (FARMA), it was announced at the FARMA national conference in Newcastle
on Tuesday night.
Doddington Farm Shop and Café only opened in July 2007, but has already established itself as a food-lovers' destination. The retail concept has been built around the renovated two-acre Elizabethan walled kitchen garden at Doddington Hall, which historically has provided fresh produce for the entire village of Doddington. Owner Claire Birch and her family have always been passionate about growing, picking, cooking and eating fresh vegetables, and in 2006 decided set about restoring the garden to its former glory as a source of food for the local community. Today the farm shop and café features the garden's
seasonal, often heritage, vegetables, plus game and eggs from the estate, and other locally
sourced products. Bread, cakes, food to go, salads, soups, desserts, jams and pickles
are also made on site.
The café-restaurant has gained an impressive regional reputation. Head chef Tom Doran is passionate about 'proper cooking', incorporating the abundance of seasonal fresh produce from the kitchen garden and the estate into his dishes, which he makes from scratch. The result is a creative and thoughtful menu that will inspire even the most regular visitors - which is perhaps why booking has become essential. Should the restaurant be full, customers can enjoy barbecues featuring Lincoln Red burgers and Saddleback Lincolnshire Sausages, accompanied by a selection of homemade salads, organic breads and local beer. For something different, the restaurant hosts a series of cookery demos, and 'Veg-watchers' events
to celebrate gluts of seasonal produce.
Milly Stokes, one of this year's judges and a former FARMA award-winner, commented, "Doddington Hall farm shop and café will go far. It is a beautiful, well-designed venue in a delightful setting, offering delicious homegrown and homemade produce. The café's
reputation for inspiring seasonal dishes is well deserved. I wish them all the best for
the future.'
Ends
For more information:
Doddington Farm Shop & Cafe, Doddington, Lincoln, LN6 4RU
Contact: Claire Birch Tel: 01522 683537 www.doddingtonhall.com
FARMA, Rita Exner or Gareth Jones: 0845 45 88 420 www.farma.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
The National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association (FARMA) is a 700-strong farmer-owned co-operative that represents and supports direct sales to the consumer in all its forms: farm shops, pick-your-own farms, farmers' markets, box schemes and internet sales.
It sets standards for farmers' markets with an independent inspection and Certification mark to ensure that they are genuine farmers' markets;
and works to improve retailing and marketing skills throughout the industry. The FARMA Awards have
been running since 2002. |
