Welbeck Farm Shop & The Harley Cafe shortlisted for national award
The Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire is celebrating this week with two of its businesses shortlisted in the Farm Retail Awards. The Welbeck Farm Shop has been named one of the best farm shops in the UK, while the Harley Café is looking to be crowned the best farm café.
The Awards, set up by the Farm Retail Association (FRA), champion the best farm shops, pick your owns and farmers markets. A shortlist with three finalists in each of the eight award categories was announced last Friday (November 14) with The Welbeck Farm Shop short-listed in the Large Farm Shop of the Year category, sponsored by Fieldfare, while the Harley Café, which sits across the Courtyard from the Shop, features in the Farm Café/ Restaurant of Year shortlist.
The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at the Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate.
Oliver Stubbins, Welbeck Farm Shop Director, commented: “I’m delighted that the relentless hard work and passion that our teams show every day has been acknowledged and considered among the very best in the UK. To be shortlisted for both the Large Farm Shop and Cafe of the Year categories is a testament to our colleagues, customers and suppliers.
"In stature the Shop and Cafe are tiny compared to many of the other amazing family run Farm Shops in the UK, but this peer-judged awards acknowledges the consistency in service and quality of food offer, and the passion that goes into everything that we do.”
Emma Mosey, Chair of the Farm Retail Association said: “Each of our finalists represents the very best of British farm retail, from outstanding farm shops and skilled butchers to welcoming cafés and the dedicated businesses that support them. Together, they showcase the innovation, passion and community connection that define our sector.
"As we continue to champion local food through our More Than Food campaign, these finalists remind us why farm retail matters: it’s about people, provenance and pride in doing things the right way.”
The Welbeck Farm Shop and the Harley Café sit at the heart of a vibrant artisan food community on the Welbeck Estate. Since opening in 2006, Welbeck Farm Shop has earned a reputation for being one of the region's best farm shops. It focuses on low food miles, drawing on a rich artisan food tradition. Meat is sourced from the local area, including from the Welbeck Estate, where rare breed livestock graze historic pastures.
Meats are cured in-store by the award-winning butchery team. The Estate’s Raw Milk is also offered, delivered fresh from the dairy every morning. It’s the same milk in the internationally acclaimed Stichelton blue cheese. A cheese counter developed with help from their friends, Neal’s Yard Dairy is lovingly tended by an in-house cheesemonger.
Managed by the Welbeck Farm Shop, the Harley Café takes pride in serving the best local ingredients, including produce from across the Welbeck Estate, with bread from the Welbeck Bakehouse, meat from the Shop’s award-winning butchery, the famous blue cheese from Stichelton Dairy and fresh vegetables from the Estate’s Walled Garden. Situated in The Courtyard at Welbeck, the Harley Café serves homemade, seasonal breakfast and lunches.