The Isle of Wight Farm Shop on the outskirts of Godshill has undergone a complete refurbishment and has re-opened, just in time for Christmas.
The former Brownrigg’s store on the main Rookley to Godshill road has had a complete overhaul with all new fittings and a new layout to help improve the overall shopping experience and expand the range of local and regional produce on offer.
The Butchery department is already gearing up for the busy Christmas period with the Isle of Wight Meat Co. team curing gammons, rolling pigs in blankets and gearing up to pluck turkeys ready for the big day.
Chris and The Isle of Wight Pie Co. team have developed a wide range of festive treats including Turkey and Ham Pies and Festive Sausage Rolls, filled with chestnuts, cranberries and sage.
A new wine partnership with Alistair Gibson’s Heritage Cellar is already proving to be hugely popular, with a fantastic collection of old and new-world wines direct from some outstanding vineyards.
There are a number of late-night shopping events in the run up to Christmas where many of the wonderful Isle of Wight producers will be on hand offering samples, recipe ideas and in-depth product knowledge. These will include Briddlesford Farm Dairy, The Isle of Wight Cheese Co, Mermaid Gin, The Garlic Farm, Alistair Gibson, Calbourne Classic’s, Graces Bakery, Isle of Wight Meat Co., Isle of Wight Pie Co., The Island Jam Company, The Isle of Wight Gin Co., The Isle of Wight Cocktail Co. and many more.
Events will be taking place on Thursday 1st, Friday 9th and Tuesday 13th December,between 16:00-20:00.
Andrew Hodgson of Cheverton Farm, who took over the farm shop last year, says:
“It’s a really exciting time for us as a farm, it has been three years since we built the on-farm butchery at Cheverton and the addition of the farm shop completes our farm-to-fridge journey.
“The team have made a fantastic job of the shop redesign and have lots of exciting plans to roll out over the coming months. Sue and Paul Brownrigg left some big boots to fill, both in terms of the shop operation and turkey production in the run up to Christmas, but we inherited an excellent team and Conor is doing a fantastic job rearing the turkeys”.
Following Sue and Paul’s retirement Conor Moore has taken over the all-important turkey rearing for Christmas. Conor initially left the Island to experience contract farming from the Cotswolds to Connemara on the west coast of Ireland. Upon returning to the Island to start his family, Conor has been building up his farming business, firstly taking on the rearing of lamb for Cheverton Farm and now the all-important rearing of Isle of Wight Christmas turkeys.
The turkeys are his first poultry venture but he hopes to re-establish the rearing of chickens in the new year.
