OUR STORY

Our Story

Located in the charming and historic village of Walsingham in Norfolk, England, the Walsingham Farm Shop has become a beloved institution among locals and visitors alike. Founded in 2006, the shop prides itself on its commitment to promoting local and sustainable farming practices, supporting the local community, and providing customers with high-quality, fresh food. 

The creation of the farm shop emerged from the findings of the 2002 Curry Report, which highlighted the need for a more sustainable and diversified agricultural sector in the UK. The report called on farmers and local businesses to work together to improve the quality and availability of locally produced food. In response to these recommendations, the shop was established with the help of a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant, which provided funding for the development of businesses in rural areas.

At the heart of the Walsingham Farm Shop are its four founders: Clovis and Elizabeth Meath Baker, John Downing and James Woodhouse, in partnership with the Walsingham Estate. Each of them has a deep passion for farming and food and brings a unique set of skills and expertise to the operation of the shop. 

From the start, the Walsingham Farm Shop has been dedicated to promoting sustainable and ethical farming practices, revitalising the village, and providing customers with the freshest and most delicious local food. The shop is committed to supporting local farmers and suppliers, and to minimising its environmental impact through sourcing from small herd farms, recycling, and other sustainable practices.

The shop offers a wide range of high-quality, locally sourced food and drinks, including fresh produce, dairy, meat and poultry, artisanal bread and baked goods, wine from the fast-expanding Norfolk vineyards, and beers made locally using the top quality malting barley for which North Norfolk is famous. Everything is carefully chosen to meet the shop's high standards of quality and freshness. Among the shop's bestsellers are our own homemade pies from our kitchen, sausages from our butchery, and our selection of Norfolk cheeses from a burgeoning group of local cheesemakers.

We pride ourselves on providing a unique and enjoyable shopping experience for customers. The shop is housed in a beautiful historic farm building, a former grain store, and customers are welcomed with warm smiles, friendly conversation and local knowledge.  As well as a great selection of Norfolk food and drink to shop for, we also offer a variety of services and can take on special events. We can provide a wedding ‘cheese’ cake, cater for a party with a buffet, barbecue or hog roast, and we also run regular product tastings in the shop.

Since its founding, the Walsingham Farm Shop has had a significant positive impact on the village and the surrounding area. We have created jobs, supported local farmers and producers and attracted visitors to the area, boosting tourism and the local economy. Additionally, the shop has helped to inspire and support other local businesses, further contributing to the revitalisation of the community.

Our farm shop is more than just a place to buy fresh, delicious food. It represents a commitment to sustainable, ethical farming, to supporting local farmers and suppliers, and to building and strengthening our local communities. As we continue to face the challenges of a changing agricultural sector and a growing demand for local and sustainable food, we hope Walsingham Farm Shop will continue to inspire and lead the way.

In our butchery, we are incredibly passionate about providing customers with the freshest and tastiest sustainably sourced meats. Our expert butchers pride themselves in making all of our products onsite using our own recipes and blends to craft award-winning sausages that have become a local favourite. We take great care when sourcing ethical and environmentally friendly ingredients from local farms and suppliers, so you can trust that every bite is delicious and made with sustainability in mind! Our mission is to provide fresh and frozen quality meat products for our customers while also minimising food miles throughout the supply chain, helping to make a positive impact on our environment. By abiding by this vision, we strive to ensure every cut prepared by our butchers comes with peace of mind as well as flavour.

Chris is our Master Butcher with nineteen years of experience in the trade. Locals across North Norfolk are well familiar with his broad Norfolk accent and cheerful disposition! He's been part of the team at Walsingham Farms Shop for eight years and loves to share his hints, tips, and expertise with customers planning their meal. Everyone always enjoys Chris' good-natured banter as he skilfully crafts each customer's ideal cuts of meat for them. He has something for everyone, from beef and pork to poultry and beyond - so come by today and find out what Chris can do for you!

If you're looking for great food made from top-quality ingredients, look no further than our deli kitchens! Our Walsingham shop is always buzzing with activity, as our team works hard to cook and present the finest ingredients in delicious, mouth-watering dishes. And if you're in Norwich, don't miss our market kitchen run by the expert in pie, mash and gravy, Hannah. Be sure to try one of our hot pies and sides while you take in the excitement of the market. In our Walsingham deli you will also find a wide selection of our own homemade products, including pies, quiches, tarts, sausage rolls, salads, ready meals, and soups. And don't forget to check out our impressive collection of award-winning cheeses from around the world and locally. We take pride in using only the very best ingredients, and you can always trust that anything with our label on it has been made with care and attention in our own kitchens.
  • WE LOVE GREAT FOOD and we want to help others do the same – whether a simple English apple, a local cheese or one of our signature pies. We love to eat and talk about food whenever we get the chance….we admit it, we love what we do.
  • WE ARE LOCAL AND PROUD OF IT. Based in North Norfolk in the town of Walsingham our approach is to source locally first, providing that the quality is good enough. If we have to, we will spread our net to get the right quality, but will always buy from small independent producers wherever possible.
  • WE KNOW WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM. We know our suppliers, we know where their food is grown, made or reared. We believe in promoting quality food from farms and local suppliers and working with them to improve quality, service and price that delivers value to our customers and a sustainable living for our suppliers.
  • WE DON’T TAKE OURSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY. Amazing ingredients are important, but at the end of the day it’s just food. If there is jargon to be busted we are up for the challenge. We just want everyone to come to us knowing that we will help them enjoy the pleasure of local food and find what they need.
  • WE WANT TO EARN YOUR TRUST. Of course we want to sell you food, but we also want you to think of us as reliable and keen to listen. We will always be open and honest. If we make a mistake (and we are sure that we will!) we want you to tell us and we will try our best to put it right.
  • WE WANT TO SPREAD THE WORD THAT LOCAL CAN BE GREAT. We have a lot of stories to tell whether about the joy of seasonal food, our great producers, the benefit of eating local or recipes we have developed.