In October 2026, Welbeck Farm Shop marks 20 years since first opening its doors. What began in 2006 as a new destination for quality local food has grown into one of the region’s most celebrated farm shops: a place where estate-grown ingredients, artisan skill and warm, knowledgeable service come together under one roof.
At the heart of The Courtyard at Welbeck, the Farm Shop champions food with a clear sense of provenance. Its shelves and counters bring together estate meat and game, fresh raw milk, artisan bread from Welbeck Bakehouse, ale from Welbeck Abbey Brewery, Stichelton blue cheese and carefully selected produce from trusted makers and suppliers. Over two decades, this distinctive offer has made the shop both a valued part of the local community and a destination for food lovers from farther afield.
The Farm Shop’s story is inseparable from the wider food community at Welbeck. Farmers, butchers, bakers, cheesemakers, brewers, growers, chefs and retail colleagues each play a part in bringing the estate’s food heritage to life. The result is an experience rooted in seasonality, low food miles and skilled production, from meat prepared by the award-winning butchery team to breads, cheeses and drinks made on the estate.
That commitment has been recognised repeatedly by customers, industry peers and national judging panels. Yet the awards tell only part of the story. The Farm Shop’s lasting success is also found in the everyday details: trusted advice across the counter, careful sourcing, seasonal displays and the relationships built with generations of customers.
Oliver Stubbins, Welbeck Farm Shop Managing Director, commented;
It's exciting to see the business continuing to grow at an incredible rate as we head towards our twentieth birthday.
When I joined eleven years ago, we had 16 colleagues, we now have 87 on our books, and our amazing team have been consistently recognised for their incredible commitment to providing great food and service to our amazing community.
Whilst we have seen a lot of change over the years, we have two colleagues that was here on day one, and several others with over ten years' service, it's a privilege to manage such a great team and help them flourish.
We're proud to be the point of contact where our customers can source food from our fabulous network of suppliers and growers, many of whom are based here on the Welbeck estate.
We hope our community can join us to celebrate our milestone, with lots of offers and a great competition, too.
Welbeck Farm Shop opens at the heart of the estate, bringing exceptional local produce, skilled makers and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape together in one destination.
Welbeck Farm Shop’s butchery receives recognition from the Farm Retail Association (FRA), highlighting the team’s specialist skills, quality produce and commitment to farm retail excellence.
The butchery team earns five Great Taste stars for Welbeck leg of lamb, dry-cured smoked back bacon, dry-cured middle bacon, dry-cured streaky bacon and Welbeck pancetta. The achievement celebrates high-welfare, locally reared meat and the team’s expertise in curing produce in-house.
Welbeck Farm Shop wins the Countryside Alliance Awards’ Local Food/Drink honour, recognition it would go on to earn again at the regional level eight years later.
The Farm Shop is named Midlands Regional Winner and Farm Shop Small Retailer Winner at the Farm Shop & Deli Awards. It is also crowned Food Shop of the Year in the Great Food Club Awards 2020/21 — an impressive double endorsement of its quality, service and carefully sourced range.
Welbeck Farm Shop is highly commended for Best Farm Shop & Deli in the Midlands at the Great British Food Awards.
The Farm Shop wins Midlands and East of England Butcher’s Shop of the Year, recognising the knowledge, service and craft of its specialist team.
The butchery team’s products receive six silver awards and one bronze in the Great British Food Awards. Across The Courtyard, The Harley Café is named Café of the Year by the Great Food Club, extending the recognition across Welbeck’s food and hospitality offer.
A remarkable year brings four major honours. Welbeck Farm Shop is named UK Large Farm Shop of the Year and Midlands Best Retailer at the Farm Shop & Deli Awards. Its butchery is crowned Farm Shop Butchery of the Year at the Farm Retail Awards, while the business is also named Best Independent Retailer of the Year at the North Notts Business Awards.
Welbeck Farm Shop is shortlisted for Large Farm Shop of the Year in the Farm Retail Awards, while The Harley Café is shortlisted for Farm Café/Restaurant of the Year — further recognition of the strength of the team’s complete food and hospitality experience.
In its anniversary year, Welbeck Farm Shop is Highly Commended in the Farm Shop Large category at the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards. It is also crowned Midlands Regional Champion in the Countryside Alliance Awards’ Local Food/Drink category and goes on to receive Highly Commended recognition at the UK final held at the House of Lords.
Win a £200 Christmas Hamper
As part of the birthday celebrations, one lucky winner will receive a spectacular Christmas hamper worth £200. Filled with festive favourites and carefully selected treats, the hamper is designed to bring a little Welbeck magic to the Christmas table.
Customers will be able to enter the competition during the birthday weekend, with full details available on the Farm Shop's Facebook page. It is a fitting way to thank customers for their continued support and to celebrate the loyalty, enthusiasm and appetite for great food that have helped Welbeck Farm Shop thrive for two decades.
Join the Birthday Weekend
The 20th birthday celebration will take place from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2026 at Welbeck Farm Shop. Whether you are a long-standing customer, a regular weekend visitor or discovering the shop for the first time, the team looks forward to welcoming you for a weekend of celebration, seasonal inspiration and the chance to win a truly special Christmas prize.
Twenty years after opening, Welbeck Farm Shop continues to stand for the values on which it was founded: exceptional food, genuine provenance, skilled craftsmanship and a warm welcome. Its growth from a much-loved local shop into a nationally recognised destination is a tribute to every colleague, producer, supplier and customer who has been part of the journey.
As the candles are lit on this landmark anniversary, there is much to celebrate — and even more to look forward to. Here’s to the next chapter of Welbeck Farm Shop, and to many more years of sharing the very best of Welbeck.
