Roz from Fabulous Farm Shops went to visit one of their new members, Primrose Organic Farm Shop & Café in Dorset recently and had the following rave review to share!
A small, but perfectly formed, farm shop has burst onto the Dorset foodie scene in all its organic juicy goodness. The Primrose family of Lymburgh’s Farm near Marnhull in Dorset have been busy farming the land sustainably, rearing 100% pasture-fed cattle and nurturing their vegetables for three generations and now we can share the goodness of their produce at www.primroseorganic.co.uk.
The beautiful, wooden chalet-style shop opened its doors in August this year. Hand-crafted from locally sourced timber, with the exterior painted a welcoming shade of forest green, the side of the shop winks at you as you venture up the rough farm track. It’s a pleasing sight after wiggling through the Dorset lanes of Margaret Marsh, a “middle of nowhere but what a beautiful spot” whisper on the lips.
The new building sits very well in its surroundings of honest farmyard and lush fields and leaning on the car park fence brings you face to face with the glossy herd of Red Devon cattle, though they are more interested in their pasture than the visitors.
Several little stone buildings backdrop the shop with plans to turn one into a rustic, events’ space with a wood burner and tables for lunch or coffee. A more makeshift shelter provides current outdoor space for dining which will disappear when the barn takes shape. There is a definite whiff of excitement about the plans that are to come and a whisper of a “Christmas event“ was overheard as I nosed along the shelves in the shop.
There isn’t a lot of room inside but, boy, have they made the most of every inch of shelf space. The central shelving is full of organically grown vegetables as rich and juicy as freshly picked produce can be. Intricately frilled mushrooms nestle next to vibrant red peppers and curly kale. The rainbow of choice makes the mouth water. The shelves along one side wall are filled with tempting crackers and store cupboard treats with a bottle of cucumber syrup for your gin and tonic catching my eye and making me keen to get home for cheeky sundowner (despite it being only 2pm). At the back of the shop is the fridge full of beautifully, plump organic chickens and fresh sausages and a freezer with a good choice of meat cuts, farm reared beef and mutton. There is also one dedicated to local ice cream!
As you approach the till, you pass a wickedly good coffee counter which displays local bread, pastries and the most enormous pain au chocolates I have ever seen. The coffee machine is a shiny, majestic thing and the coffee and tea menu is comprehensive, even announcing a Parisian Hot Chocolate, served in a bowl – ooh la la. I’m going back for one of those!
Outside, the chairs and benches are mismatched and rustic but come liberally dotted with sheepskins and woollen rugs to keep the knees cosy whilst the hands wrap around the coffee cup. Little vases of colourful flowers bedeck the tables adding another pretty detail against the back drop of big sky and Dorset field.
This is a lovely farm shop. It deserves to be a huge success as the owners are determined to make it more of a community hub than just a place to buy a box of eggs. Gather a few friends, order a coffee and a croissant and sit back and relax, before you go home and cook the roast. I might even join you there!
Opening hours:
Thursday 2pm to 6pm
Friday and Saturday 10am to 4pm
To find out more about them, go and have a look at their website and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
To find out more about membership with Fabulous Farm Shops, check out their website HERE.
