A popular garden centre, farm shop and tea rooms nestled in a quiet village valley has been named among the region’s best after a ‘Rural Oscars’ nomination. Lymefield Garden Center and Farm Shop in the picturesque village of Broadbottom is known for its stunning views of the rolling countryside.

It is situated in the Etherow Valley on Tameside, the views of which can be admired from the tearoom terrace which looks out over the River Etherow. The cafe is famous for its freshly baked cheese and onion pies and pies.

Now Lymefield staff are celebrating after being named a North of England finalist in the Countryside Alliance Awards for rural businesses. The awards are now open to public votes and they hope their customers will support them.

Read more:We went for Sunday lunch at the garden center which attracts customers from miles around with its pies.

The business has been trading for over 25 years, starting as a garden center on the old dairy farm, and has grown considerably since then. He now has more than 50 employees, all local to the area.

The farm’s historic site has been owned by the Pryce family for the past 100 years and is now run by brothers Robert and David Pryce. Initially a dairy farm, 25 years ago they decided to branch out into a garden center, starting with a “pair of polytunnels” on their land.

A small tea room followed five years later, before a purpose-built extension was added to the site ten years ago to house a fully equipped farm shop and large tea rooms with outdoor terraces. The aim was to find a space to display their own home-raised lamb in butcher shops, as well as local pork from the neighboring village of Chisworth.

Robert and David say Lymefield is at the heart of the local community and supports a wide range of projects and charities, as well as being used as a hub both for local people to meet for coffee and for people traveling from the whole region to spend a day. .

Items sold at the Tea Room and Farm Shop are sourced locally as they believe in supporting other small businesses throughout the region.

The tea room menu ranges from cooked breakfasts in the morning to a full hot menu at lunchtime, including cheese and onion cake with salad for £9.45 or wedges for £10.45, while there is a range of homemade cakes priced at £3.45 such as lemon drizzle, fudge and scones. You can also buy cake slices, scones, lemon scones and fruit tarts to take away from the farm shop from £1.75.

Jill Todd, Lymefield Office Operations Manager, said: “Lymefield is an amazing place to work, it has the best environment, the right team culture and the clients are like our family. We are totally impressed to have pulled it off as one.” . of the finalists in the Northern England Region for the Rural Business category.

“The team here can’t stop smiling, it’s a great boost to the business and to the local community, we are so proud to be recognized and a big thank you to everyone who voted for us so far.”

Lymefield is nominated in the rural business category, against a range of other businesses that have shown diversification into farms in the north, including Brindle Gin distillery in Chorley, Lancashire and community-run café and event space The Gather in Ennerdale, Cumbria.

Countryside Alliance Awards Director Sarah Lee commented: “These awards provide cause for celebration at a time of great uncertainty in the field. They were created to provide a voice and platform for the rural businesses that form the heart of their communities.

“Our local products are second to none and there are many community heroes and businesses worthy of national recognition, so get involved and nominate today.”

Lymefield’s tea rooms are open daily from 9am to 4pm (and from 10am on Sundays), while the farm shop and garden center are open until 5.30pm There is a large car park Free for customers and drivers, use the SK14 6AG sat nav to get there.

For those using public transport, it is about a ten minute walk from Broadbottom train station.

The complete list of nominees for the “Rural Oscars” of the North

Here’s the full list of nominees in the Countryside Alliance Awards, with winners announced on May 17, 2023. You can vote for YOUR favorites across all categories by clicking here.

Butcher

BW & DJ Glaves & Sons Ltd, North Yorkshire

Roast lamb, Cumbria

Bromborough (Merseyside) Cuffs, Merseyside

Foreman’s Butchers, Northumberland

Local food/drink

Stoneygate Farm, shop and cafe, North Yorkshire

Town End Farm Shop, North Yorkshire

Gazegill Organics & Dairy, Lancashire

Knitsley Farm Store, Durham

Hauxley Farm Dairy, Northumberland

pub

Boot and slipper, Yorkshire

weight, cumbria

The Blacksmiths Arms, North Yorkshire

Queens Arms, North Yorkshire

The Oddfellows Arms, Cumbria

rural company

Lymefield Garden Centre, Tameside

The Gather Ennerdale, Cumbria

Create Hodder, Lancashire

The perfect shot, Northumberland

Tabby Distillery | Cuckoo’s Gin, Lancashire

Village Store / Post Office

Barton Store and Post Office, North Yorkshire

Burscough Bridge Post Office, Lancashire

Chatton Village Post Office and Shop, Northumberland

Slaidburn Central Store and Post Office, Lancashire

Sutton General Store and Post Office, Cheshire

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