Welbeck Farm Shop has been crowned Regional Champion in the Countryside Alliance Awards in the Local Food/Drink category. As a regional winner (Midlands), Welbeck Farm Shop, which sits at the heart of our vibrant food community, will now advance to the grand final. Fellow victors from across the UK will compete to be named the National Champion by a judging panel chaired by Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Tim Bonner. The winner will be announced at a Champions Reception taking place at The House of Lords on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
The Awards, often referred to as the ‘Rural Oscars’, are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food and farming, enterprise and heritage. They are set apart from other award schemes because they are driven by public nomination. Having been shortlisted by the public, the next stage of the judging process considered various factors such as: does the Welbeck Farm Shop champion ‘local food’ and support other local producers; is there a passionate commitment from the retailer; does it save or promote a traditional local food that may otherwise have been lost; and would winning this award help to tell a positive story about rural life. Additionally, the Shop had to show how the local community has been put on the map by the quality and diversity of local produce being sold, and how it has helped to breathe life into the local community and economy.
Oliver Stubbins, Managing Director at Welbeck Farm Shop, commented:
“We are humbled to once again be recognised by the respected judging panel of the Countryside Alliance. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Farm Shop team and the wonderful suppliers we work with, many of whom are based on the Welbeck Estate. This is an Award we were fortunate enough to have won 8 years ago, and we are honoured to be heading back to such an amazing venue with so many other fantastic rural businesses and await the announcement of the national winners.”
Since opening in 2006, Welbeck Farm Shop has earned a reputation for being one of the region's best farm shops. Much of the Shop’s product range is sourced from, or prepared on, the Welbeck Estate – it stocks the Estate’s own meat and game, and raw milk is sold in an in-store vending machine - it is also used to make the famous Stichelton blue cheese. Other Made at Welbeck range items include ale from Welbeck Abbey Brewery and bread from Welbeck Bakehouse.
