When you come to Dove Farm for a weekend or short break stay, we know that you need to be organised about food, especially if you are part of a large group.
To help you get in the basics, we have included information on the main supermarkets, and what to do about online orders.
We also know how much our guests enjoy sampling local specialities - and let’s face it, it feels good now and then, to indulge in those gourmet treats, like generous wedges of farmhouse cheese, or home made puddings.
So we are signposting you to some outstanding local products, and telling you about independent outlets where you can buy them from, or even direct from the producer.
Going away, allows you time out from your usual routine, and gives you the opportunity to browse and try new things, including new foods and new ways of buying them. Did you know you can pick up an organic vegetable hamper just three miles from here?
Buying food locally has many benefits:
• Money stays in the local economy, allowing it to grow
• Food does not need to be transported over large distances, reducing
pollution from freight carriers
• Less packaging is used, as a general rule, so less waste is produced
• Small scale, local producers often use more environmentally friendly
farming and production methods
• There is a direct link between producer and consumer – sometimes
you can actually meet and chat to the business owner, and tell them what you
are looking for in their products!
Who knows, you might develop new food buying habits that you will continue
when you return home. You might be surprised at what you find out about local
producers in your own area. If we all buy a little something from a local
producer, we are helping to keep consumer choice and sustainable food around
for a while longer in our regions.
The Supermarkets
We have two main choices :
TESCO food store
Brookdside Rd, Uttoxeter ST14 8AU
(located on retail park just outside town centre)
Open 24 hrs but shuts at 4.00pm Sundays.
0845 6779788
Sainsbury’s
Compton, Ashbourne DE6 1DA
Practically in the town centre, situated opposite the leisure centre.
Mon- Sat 8.00 am until 8.00 pm
Sunday 10.00 am until 4.00 pm
01335 347601
If you pre-order with TESCO direct, or Sainsbury’s – make sure
you give the full and correct postal address, of Dove Farm, and not Barn Owl
cottage, or any other name of the cottages. If the drivers stop somewhere
to ask for directions, no-one will recognise those cottage names.
If you arrange for your grocery delivery to arrive before you do, we will receive it for you, take it indoors and unload (putting away perishables and frozen foods)
In return, we ask you for a £5 donation to our chosen charity – which is Ellastone and Mayfield First Responders. This dedicated team of volunteers (acting in partnership with Staffordshire ambulance service) regularly saves lives in the local community, when a speedy medical response is critical.
You may like to know that we have had two incidents concerning guests staying here – but NOT related to any kind of farming accident! - which required urgent hospital treatment. In both cases, the First responders were able to get here before the ambulance and administer immediate first aid treatment.
For those items that you forgot to buy, or extra milk and a newspaper, our
nearest store now is the SPAR at Rocester. (our own village shop and post
office closed in 2006)
SPAR
60 High St, Rocester, ST14 5JU
Open daily 07.00 am – 10 pm
01889590255
Fresh eggs from really free range hens, are often available
from us, at the farm – but not always. It depends on the time of year,
and how many laying hens we have at any one time. We sometimes have duck eggs
too, if you would like to try them. They are considered a delicacy but are
a little too flavoursome for some people’s tastes.
If you require large quantities of eggs, let us know in advance and we can
bring in more eggs, ready for when you get here, from another local producer.
If you want some bacon to go with your eggs, why not try some dry-cured, real
bacon from rare breed pigs, locally bred and reared. You can go to the farm
and buy there, (it is on the way to Carsington Water, so you could build it
into your itinerary for the day.) You can usually see the pigs too, and in
summer the farm has open days. You can also buy from local farmers markets.
If you have no time for either, you can arrange for delivery of your bacon
– larger quantities only.
The Traditional and Rare Breed Meat Company
Riddings Park Farm
Kniveton Wood
Ashbourne
Derbyshire
DE6 1JF
01335 300059
www.tradraremeat.co.uk
Peak District Fine Foods
01332 883616
www.peakdistrictfinefoods.co.uk
If you would like to enjoy a selection of locally produced fine foods, delivered
to your door, then select a ‘basket ‘ of goodies online and make
your payment! Again, you can pre-order and arrange for your food hamper to
be here ready and waiting for you at the cottages. Indulgent and convenient!
The Leaf & Bean
32 Carter St, Uttoxeter, ST14 8EU
01889 568377
Noel and Sue have set up a small oasis of flavours in their specialist coffee
and tea shop (not a café – but you can try before you buy –
and then select packets of the stuff to enjoy at home.) You can buy special
after-dinner coffees, freshly ground of course, and any number of unusual
teas, green and black. Take some back home with you!
Patrick & Brooksbank Delicatessen
Market place, Ashbourne DE6 1ES
01335 342631
www.el-yummo.co.uk
Their philosophy is ‘we make the food you would love to make yourself
if only you had the time.’ Apart from the wonderful selection of cheeses
and hams, there is a large range of products, prepared on the premises. P&B
stick by three principles: the food is all prepared by hand, only the best
natural ingredients are used and food is cooked in small batches to retain
the homemade character of the meals.
The Chocolate Box
1, The Gallery, St John’s St, Ashbourne, Derby DE6 1GP
Extensive range of handmade chocolates, produced in Derbyshire, using natural
colours and flavours wherever possible. Special dietary requirements catered
for. Gift boxes.
Farmers Markets
There are several operating across the region, on different dates and at different
times of the year. Here are a few that are not too far away, but others could
spring up as the season progresses. We recommend that you check the weblink,
to make sure a market is going ahead as scheduled before you set out.
Farmers market (fine food festival market), Leek
3rd Saturday and 3rd Wednesday
Farmers market, Bakewell
last Saturday of each month
Railway market
(on A517 between Belper and Ashbourne at crossroads to Wirksworth and Duffield.)
Apr 21 may 19 june 16 jul 21 aug 18 - check dates for remaining months of
the year
www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk
the following two websites are a MUST for you to find out about all sorts of local food producers, and eateries demonstrating fine cuisine.
www.peakdistrictfoods.co.uk
www.tasteofstaffordshire.com
or