Local produce from your local is the motto of a new farm shop that's opened at a Nottinghamshire pub. Everything from fruit and veg to bread and meat can be found at the White Horse Inn in Ruddington.
There's even locally distilled gin from Ruddy Fine Gin -and the odd exception to the rule such as not so local Champagne but it's still sourced from a Nottingham supplier. The village pub, in Church Street, is extending its opening hours after launching the new venture with independent businesses and it's hoped it will prove a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Visitors to the pub can treat themselves with something from the farm shop, where most of the wares are from within a 40-mile radius. Equally shoppers can take a seat in the pub and enjoy the warmth of a roaring log fire while indulging in one of the recently introduced breakfasts or delicious homemade cakes displayed on the bar.
Read more: Dismay over disappearance of Nottingham pub's iconic feature
Colston Bassett-based veg box supplier Parsnips and Pears is trading in the pub's undercover area next to the car park. Fruit and vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy are for sale.
The leeks are so fresh, there's still soil on them from the fields. Parsnips and Pears co-owner Steve Eyre said: "We've been supplying the pub kitchen for years. The produce is grown in Lincolnshire or things such as grapes and ginger are imported. The eggs are organic from Waltham on the Wolds.
"We have our own flock of Texel sheep in fields in Cropwell Butler. The beef is Dexter - it's fantastic quality, you wouldn't believe it, you've just got to try it. The burgers are 100% beef, there is no rusk or anything like that in there.
"When you make a lasagne with that minced beef, it's like something you've never tasted - it's stunning. They're all grass-fed, no nuts. The lambs too. The pigs are fed on cabbage leaves or whatever comes off the fields, rather than protein nuts, and it makes the pork amazing."
Some of the first shoppers were sisters Helen Dale, of Ruddington, and Brenda Mould, of Lady Bay. Helen said: "I've only just moved to Ruddington from Berkshire. This is splendid. It's the icing on the cake."
Brenda said: "It means low food miles. There's beautiful looking products and it's supporting local commerce. What could be nicer? There's nothing wrong with supermarkets but this is an extra dimension to Ruddington, which seems to be flourishing."
The farm shop continues with a deli inside. From Wednesday to Saturday, a corner of the pub will be set out with freshly-baked bread, chutney, chocolate, condiments, crisps, preserves and oils.
Champagne, wines, craft beers and fruit liqueurs are supplied by Musgrove and Co. Founder Laura Musgrove, who started out as a gift company last year, said the business brings together local producers. "Obviously the Champagnes etc are not but they are bought through by the local merchants such as Gauntleys and Weavers so it's supporting local businesses."
The generously-sized cakes on the bar are not going unnoticed by shoppers. Most are made by baker Nichola Thompson, who said: "There's scones, frosted brownies such as Terry's Chocolate Orange, rocky road, flapjacks and lemon and blueberry drizzle. I thought I'd rather do big chunky eye-catching pieces and I reckon one brownie will have four people munching on it because they're so rich and creamy and big."
It's seems like everyone has chipped in, even pub cleaner Lynne Asher who has made a popular carrot cake. The original plan had been to open a shop in the village.
The White Horse's landlord Andy Hunt said: "We looked at the old butchers, but unfortunately the site wasn't right for us. Then we thought if we're looking at opening something as well as the pub, why not do it in the pub?
"It's born from the fact that after Covid we closed on Wednesday and a Thursday lunchtime and we wanted to reopen now we have enough staff. With everything going up we needed to increase trade so we thought what can we do that's different because if we just open as a pub, there's quite a lot of pubs in the village who do lunch and there's a lot of eateries in the village.
"I think it will bring people into the pub who haven't been before, definitely. It already has this morning. Alongside that we are doing coffee and cakes and breakfast from 10 o'clock - that's brand new to coincide with the shop.
"It's not been easy at all and things like this are making us realise that business isn't going to survive, not just us, hospitality in general, if it doesn't diversify. It's been tough. One of the hardest things has been getting good staff and on top of that everything has gone up. Every time I ring a supplier, it's such and such has gone up by ten per cent. We've got to do things differently now. There's been a great reaction.
"We are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. What we are hoping to do is become a seven-day operation again but we need the business to be there."
The farm shop is open 10am to 3pm, Wednesday to Saturday. At the end of the week any fresh produce left over will be donated to local charity, Ruddington Pantry, or the community fridge as it's also known. It brings people together to eat, learn new skills and reduce food waste.
READ NEXT:
Long Eaton pub introduces food from 'world's smallest kitchen'
3 Beeston businesses close with a bang as owners leave to spend more time with family
Nottinghamshire bars off the beaten track that you have to try in 2023
Plans unveiled for empty Mansfield pub Starbucks considered taking over
Nottingham couple share their favourite pub after visiting 1,000 Notts bars
