Herts &amp; Beds


<p>We all love a farm shop &#8211; piled high with local, organic fruit and veg, artisan produce, and homemade treats. Some even come with animals and play areas to keep little ones entertained. But find one with a truly excellent café, and that’s when it becomes something special.</p>



<p>Lucky for you, I’ve tracked down a few absolute gems that are worth going out of your way for. Just don’t blame me if you leave with a stack of wonky veg and a month’s supply of sourdough.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pearce-s-farmshop-and-cafe-buntingford"><a href="https://pearcesfarmshop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pearce&#8217;s Farmshop and Café</a>, Buntingford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pearces1500x1000-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Pearce's farmshop" class="wp-image-94582" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pearces1500x1000-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pearces1500x1000-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pearces1500x1000-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pearces1500x1000-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pearces1500x1000-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pearces1500x1000.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This Buntingford beauty boasts a contemporary café (think floor to ceiling windows and meadow views) with solid oak beams and big eco creds. All food is cooked fresh from the farm and shop produce. The menu is heartier than you might expect from a café, with cheese souffle, fish pie and chicken katsu joining the more familiar soup of the day, quiche and full English options. Plus there&#8217;s a huge dessert menu too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bull-pen-battler-s-green-farm-radlett"><a href="https://battlersgreenfarm.co.uk/bull-pen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bull Pen</a>, Battler&#8217;s Green Farm, Radlett</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/useBattlersGreenrestaurant-1000x667.jpg" alt="battlers green farm" class="wp-image-93827" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/useBattlersGreenrestaurant-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/useBattlersGreenrestaurant-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/useBattlersGreenrestaurant.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Originally the pen for the farmer’s bull, The Bull Pen at Battler&#8217;s Green Farm is now a contemporary dining spot with wooden beams, huge windows and plenty of tables and chairs. It’s the go-to place for a hearty breakfast, light bite, cream tea or coffee and homemade cake. There’s even a kids menu and a selection of wines and beers if you fancy a lunchtime tipple.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disco-licious-bedford"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jo.disco.licious/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disco-licious</a>, Bedford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="822" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/discolicious-822x1000.jpg" alt="cafe table and deckchairs at discolicious" class="wp-image-79305" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/discolicious-822x1000.jpg 822w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/discolicious-658x800.jpg 658w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/discolicious-1263x1536.jpg 1263w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/discolicious-432x525.jpg 432w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/discolicious.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 822px) 100vw, 822px" /></figure>



<p>This farmshop in Lower Gravenhurst is super popular with locals and people travelling from further afield to see what all the fuss is about, too. Owner, Jo, has over three decades&#8217; experience in the food industry and she brings that to what she puts on the shelves and on plates. Pull up a deckchair and enjoy the view (and the food).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mead-s-farmhouse-kitchen-wilstone"><a href="https://pemeadandsons.co.uk/meads-farmhouse-kitchen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mead&#8217;s Farmhouse Kitchen</a>, Wilstone</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="994" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/Meads-farmhouse-kitchen-external-1000x994.jpg" alt="Mead's farmhouse" class="wp-image-79323" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/Meads-farmhouse-kitchen-external-1000x994.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/Meads-farmhouse-kitchen-external-800x795.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/Meads-farmhouse-kitchen-external-528x525.jpg 528w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/Meads-farmhouse-kitchen-external.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>PE Mead&#8217;s Farmshop is in Wilstone, near Tring. There&#8217;s indoor and outdoor dining and menus range from breakfast rolls to hearty lunches &#8211; think butternut and sage pie to lamb ciabatta. They also do afternoon tea but you&#8217;ll need to book 72 hours in advance, although you can just walk in for food most days, unless you&#8217;re a larger group (6+), then it&#8217;s a good idea to call ahead.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hatch-smallford-farmshop-st-albans"><a href="https://www.hatchstalbans.com/smallford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hatch</a>, Smallford Farmshop, St Albans</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/KHatch1500x1500-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Hatch" class="wp-image-94585" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/KHatch1500x1500-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/KHatch1500x1500-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/KHatch1500x1500-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/KHatch1500x1500-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/KHatch1500x1500-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/KHatch1500x1500.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Just on the outskirts of St Albans, Smallford Farmshop has a cool industrial feel &#8211; shelves stacked high with fresh produce and artisan creations, a deli and butchery AND its own DIY orange juicing machine. The Hatch cafe has a mouth-watering brunch and light bites menu &#8211; from scrambled eggs with sourdough toast to bacon buns and a selection of cakes. Plus they do brunch cocktails, wine and beer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-potting-shed-st-albans"><a href="https://pottingshedcafe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Potting Shed</a>, St Albans</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pottingshedbreakfast-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Potting shed breakfast" class="wp-image-94588" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pottingshedbreakfast-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pottingshedbreakfast-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Pottingshedbreakfast.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Based in a converted barn at Carpenters Nursery and Hertfordshire&#8217;s oldest Farmshop, in Sandridge just outside St Albans, The Potting Shed must offer some of the best views in the county. Dine out on the terrace overlooking wildflower meadows and landscaped gardens in sunny weather or look out through the bi-fold doors at the countyside expanse as you enjoy your food. Many of the dishes are created from seasonal, home-grown produce &#8211; from eggs every way to stunning salads and lamb flatbead (their signature dish) as well as a kids&#8217; menu. You&#8217;ll need to reserve a table (it&#8217;s that popular!) and there are dog-friendly areas too &#8211; just mention that you&#8217;ll be bringing pooch when you book.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more-try-these">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? TRY THESE:</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/lovely-local-gardens-hertfordshire-bedfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best-rated gardens and green spaces in Herts &amp; Beds</a></li>



<li><a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/for-kids/childs-play/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little movers: 6 brilliant sports classes for active tots in Herts &amp; Beds</a></li>



<li><a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/april-events-whats-on-hertfordshire-bedfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">April antics! 20+ local things to see and do this month</a></li>
</ul>


Fabulous farm shop cafés that are well worth a visit

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