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CASTLE HOWARD FARM SHOP WINS SECOND PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
Added: (Wed Nov 09 2005)
CASTLE HOWARD FARM SHOP WINS SECOND PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
It is just over a week since Castle Howard Farm Shop celebrated its first year of trading, and now it is celebrating again as it wins its second prestigious award in a month. At a ceremony on Tuesday 1st November, the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humberside (RFGYH) presented Castle Howard with ‘Best Regional Retailer’ at their Awards for Excellence. This award follows the success in the Yorkshire Tourist Board’s White Rose Award for ‘Taste of Yorkshire’, which was presented to Castle Howard in October.
The judges of the RFGYH ‘Best Regional Retailer’ award praised the Farm Shop’s layout, presentation, cleanliness, good quality publicity materials, high percentage of Yorkshire products and also, the product knowledge and friendliness of the staff.
Louise Lewis, Farm Shop Manager said: “We are thrilled with this recognition. From the very beginning we were determined that the farm shop would stock a comprehensive range of regional, local and estate produce. Due to its success today we are supplied by 60 regional suppliers, we began with only 28! There is an increasing demand for products with a local provenance, which is great news for regional growers and producers.”
The reputation of the farm shop is now attracting regular customers from as far a field as Leeds and London. It is located outside of the gardens at Castle Howard, within the Stable Courtyard, alongside the Courtyard Café, Chocolate Shop, gift shops and adjacent Plant Centre. There are no charges to visits these outlets, making them great destination for locals and tourists alike.
The Hon Simon Howard said: “The development of a farm shop at Castle Howard was a natural business diversification for a farming estate. The profit generated by our retail activity funds our extensive restoration and conservation programme”.
As the summer season draws to a close Castle Howard has seen a 7% increase in visitors to the House & Gardens. However, just because the house closed on 6th November does not mean staff will be relaxing. They will be busy preparing themselves for a bumper Christmas trading period in the Stable Courtyard.
The shops will be staying open daily and are already stocked with Christmas ranges of foods, decorations and gift ideas. The Farm Shop is already busy with Christmas meat orders as well a seasonal vegetable packs and other hamper orders. Every Thursday night in December there will be late night shopping until 8pm, and at weekends children can visit Father Christmas in his grotto. The Gardens will also remain open daily – so there really is no excuse not to walk off all that delicious food!
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Issued by: Nicole Hingley
Date: 8 November 2005
Telephone: 0153 648625
Email: nhingley@castlehoward.co.uk
Notes to the Editor
· Christmas Opening Times at the Stable Courtyard including the Farm Shop, Chocolate Shop, Gift Shop, Bookshop, Courtyard Café and Plant Centre:
Christmas Eve 10am-4pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day Closed
27/12/05 Closed
28/12/05 10am-4pm
29/12/05 10am-4pm
30/12/05 10am-4pm
31/12/05 10am-4pm
New Years Day Closed
02/1/06 10am-4pm
From 03/1/06 normal opening hours will apply, everyday 10am—5pm.