The Foodie Guide
Fine Food & Drink
Summerhill Farm Shop
Cople Road, Cardington, Bedfordshire, MK44 3SH
T: 01234 831222
E: sales@summerhillfarmshop.co.uk
http://www.summerhillfarmshop.co.uk/
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 9.00 am - 6.00 pm
Sat 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Sun 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Set in the picturesque village of Cardington, home of the famous Cardington airship hangars, Summerhill Farm Shop takes great pride in sourcing the very best in local and seasonal produce. The shop is now under the management of Sally Carmichael and also boasts new, award winning butcher Richard Sanders who was previously General Manager of Allen’s of Mayfair in London.
We are part of the Southill Estate which raises entirely grass-fed British White cattle for sale exclusively through the farm shop. The beef is hung for the full, traditional 28 days, allowing it to mature on the bone for that unique flavour and tenderness that can only be achieved by the maturing process. Cuts and joints can be ordered in advance and viewed over time whilst they are maturing. Such is the demand for our White beef that we do need to source some additional local beef but always ensure that it is farmed ethically and in line with our own very high standards of husbandry. Our lamb and free-range chicken are sourced from farms within Cardington village and the pork is from nearby St Neots. All of our meat is expertly butchered on site to the customer’s exact requirements but, in addition to the more traditional cuts, handmade sausages and burgers, there is an extensive range of our own gourmet and “ready to cook” lines such as chicken filo pastries, stir fries, marinated meats and the Summerhill Traditional Pork Sausage, winner of Bedford’s Best Sausage 2011 (Taste Real Food – Bedford). And of course we have local turkeys for Christmas!
The Southill Estate is also home to Warden Abbey Vineyard, Bedfordshire’s only working vineyard, and their range of English wine including the award-winning Warden Abbot Sparkling is available in the farm shop along with a bespoke selection of South African wines sourced by Charles Whitbread, owner of the Estate. We also stock a wide range of English fruit and country wines and several locally produced beers, ales and ciders.
Our deli counter has a great range of carefully selected artisan and award-winning cheeses, mainly from within the UK, and cold meats, including the delicious Bedfordshire Black Ham, olives and roasted vegetables, pies, quiches and patés. The cheese and meat are complemented by a very good choice of savoury biscuits, chutneys and pickles, sourced as locally as possible. Other local produce includes eggs which are all free-range from the same farm in Cardington as our chickens and cakes, fruit pies and bread produced by local bakers and delivered daily. In addition, we work very closely with local farmers’ co-operatives and distributors to source local fruit and vegetables, grown naturally and in season.
We can be found just three miles south east of Bedford – exit from the A421 at the Sandy A603 junction and follow the signs to Summerhill Farm Shop and Cardington from the roundabout.
