CHILDREN from Somerset are being invited to visit Father Christmas at an award-winning farm shop in the county from next Sunday (December 10, 2023).
Santa will be arriving at Rumwell Farm Shop, on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington, on December 10 to host his grotto on December 10, 17, 19 and 21.
Anne Mitchell, Partner at the multi-award-winning Farm Shop, said: “We’re thrilled that Santa has taken some time out of his busy diary to be with us again this year in his cosy cabin grotto for four dates in December.
“This year, Father Christmas is also arriving by a surprise mode of transport at 9.30am on Sunday, December 10. Please come along to see him arrive for free. Make welcome banners at home to wave too. Elves will be handing out free sweets and we’ll have festive tunes playing for everyone to song-along to as well.
“He’ll then be in his pre-purchased, ticket-only grotto on Sunday, December 10 from 10am-4pm. He is with us on Sunday, December 17, 9am-4pm and Tuesday, December 19 and Thursday, December 21, 9am-5pm.
“While in residence, and with the help of his trusty band of elves, he’ll wish everyone a very ‘Happy Christmas’ and give each child who visits him a wrapped, age-appropriate gift to take home. It promises to be a wonderful experience for every little one who comes to see him. Please note when booking that we’re only able to admit a maximum of four children with an appropriate adult or two.”
Tickets to meet Father Christmas at Rumwell Farm Shop cost £13.95 per child and include a wrapped age-appropriate gift. Booking is essential and can only be made online here.
Rumwell Farm Shop is an independent, family-run, award-winning business owned by the Mitchell family. It was originally a potato store, when David and Anne Mitchell began selling their potatoes and free-range eggs at the gate more than 25 years ago.
Due to customer demand, the range of products soon increased, and the Farm Shop grew into the place it is today. David and Anne’s sons, James and Jack, are now also involved in the business, as well as their wives, Sophie and Donna.
The Shop has a traditional Butchery counter selling its home-reared and free-range pork and Rumwell Angus beef. Also onsite is the new, purpose-built Rumwell Orchard events space, a Delicatessen, Bakery, Jam Kitchen, Food Hall, Wine Cellar, Gluten Free Kitchen, Food To Go service and Gift Room.
In 2023, the farm shop picked-up Taste of the West Awards for its homemade products including six category Golds for its bakery-made sourdough loaf and rock cakes, its Butchery beef burgers – featuring its own farm Angus beef – and its lamb burgers.
The team also won gold for its gluten free bread, baked inhouse in its bespoke GF Kitchen, and its Countryman’s Pickle, made by its onsite Jam Kitchen team. It was commended for a further two products – the Bakery’s Biscoff doughnut and the Deli’s chilli and spring onion Scotch egg, using eggs laid by its farm hens.
To add to this, Rumwell Farm Shop received a prestigious Gold Award in the Farm Shop and category at the Taste of the West Awards.
It was then named ‘Champion’ Best Farm Shop at the south west Taste of the West finals in November 2023 and also scooped the top prize for its instore made Butchery beef burgers, using beef from its farm.
It was also a finalist in the Large Farm Shop of the Year category in the 2023 national Farm Retail Awards and won nine Taste of the West Golds in 2022 for its Shop, Café and products too. Its dry cured back bacon was given the title of overall Champion Bacon in the 2022 Taste of the West Awards as well.
The food prepared in the Café kitchen is sourced from the Farm Shop, the Mitchell family farm, which is just four miles away, and other regional suppliers. The Café kitchen has Coeliac UK’s Gluten Free accreditation.
Father Christmas will be arriving at Rumwell Farm Shop on Sunday, December 10 at 9.30am. He will then be in his grotto from 10am until 4pm that day and again on Sunday, December 17, 9am-4pm and Tuesday, December 19 and Thursday, December 21, 9am-5pm.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop on 01823 461599 or visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.
