Chatsworth Farm Shop & Café, Pilsley, Peak District, Derbyshire
Established in 1977 by the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, the Chatsworth Farm Shop and Café has a celebrated heritage. Combining the highest quality local ingredients with a bucolic setting, it’s a restful spot for savouring a taste of the Peak District and its stunning landscape.
Drive 5 minutes from Chatsworth House to the village of Pilsley and you’ll find the Chatsworth Farm Shop and Café with its signature blue paint.
Go for lunch or breakfast on the terrace and wonder at the estate’s patchwork of fields. Little ones can tuck in to the Chatsworth Young Farmer menu.
In the shop, you’ll find everything you need for a locally-inspired dinner party, afternoon tea or family picnic.
Visit a Pioneering Farm Shop
Long before they became popular in Britain, the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire came up with the idea of establishing a farm shop on the Chatsworth Estate. She wanted to sell beef, lamb and venison from the 35,000 acre estate.
Today, over 60% of the products sold in the Chatsworth Farm Shop are either produced or prepared on the Estate. The rest is sourced from tenant farms and local Derbyshire suppliers.
Admire the View of the Chatsworth Estate
Visit for brunch or lunch in the Farm Shop Cafe and sit on the lovely terrace with its wonderful view. In the distance, you’ll spot the spire of the church where JFK’s sister, Kathleen, is buried.
Order Derbyshire Oatcakes, often added to a full English breakfast, the cafe serves them hot filled with mozzarella and roasted tomatoes.
Wash it down with a bottle of ‘After the Walk’, a beer brewed at the Peak Ales micro brewery on the Chatwsworth Estate.
Shop for Derbyshire’s Finest Produce
In summer, you’ll find baskets of English cherries gleaming like jewels and peas ready for podding. Inside, there’s a busy butcher’s counter selling seasonal sausages, a vast range of frozen game, a fresh fish counter and a cheese counter with over 100 varieties.
The bakery produces an impressive selection of breads and cakes including one of the largest Victoria sponges I have ever seen. There’s also a smoking oven on site. It uses Chatsworth seasoned oak marinated in whisky to smoke fish, meat and vegetables.
Buy Gifts For Foodies
With smart wicker hamper baskets, the Chatsworth Farm Shop is an excellent place to source gifts or treats. There’s a good range of British regional gins including Edinburgh gin and Chatsworth marmalade and jams. Comfort-seekers can even go home with a cosy sheepskin rug.
Tips
- Visit Chatsworth at the end of July for the Farm Shop’s annual summer food fair
- Walk into Pilsley village and enjoy a local pint at The Devonshire Arms pub which offers rooms
- Christmas turkeys, hams, festive pies and meats can be ordered from early November
Cook’s Tip
Allow venison to rest for 15 minutes before carving
Where to Stay in the Peak District
Located on the Chatsworth Estate, The Cavendish Hotel in Baslow would make a good choice for food lovers planning a country break. The hotel restaurant has won an AA 2 Rosette Award.
Ready to book a weekend break in the Peak District?
Check out these recommended Best Places to Stay in the Peak District.
Dogs
There are water bowls for me if I get thirsty but only Guide Dogs are allowed inside the farm shop and café.
How to Find The Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop
Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop, Pilsley, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1UF
Visit the Chatsworth Website
Explore
Find more Foodie Things To Do in the Peak District.
Discover Britain’s Best Farm Restaurants and Cafes.
The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.