Belvoir Castle’s Engine Yard launches farm shop and brasserie

A long, long time ago there was a very hungry lady. You might even say she was hangry. One day she visited her friend, the fifth Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle near Grantham, and complained that the gap between lunch and dinner was almost unbearable.

It was the mid-1840s and the lady was Anna Maria Stanhope, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, and this moment was the birth of afternoon tea as the quintessential English activity we now know it to be. We’re not sure how often she visited these friends but she must have made Belvoir Castle an even more popular destination for the nobility – for the scones as much as for the company.

Today, you don’t need a title to enjoy Belvoir’s delicious treats. The Engine Yard was established in 2018 and is now home to a new farm shop and fine-dining restaurant, further bolstering the estate’s position as a foodie paradise.

Belvoir Farm Shop joins existing fine food shops The Country Victualler, Jorge Delicatessen and chocolatier Cocoa Amore. The new shop will showcase fresh and organic fruit, vegetables and groceries from the Castle’s own estate and other local producers. This will be run in partnership with Wild Jacks, a local company that has its roots in farming and champions Lincolnshire brands with a heritage in sustainability.

Emma Manners, the 11th Duchess of Rutland and driving force behind The Engine Yard, said: “We have an abundance of wonderful produce on this estate and with the opening of our new farm shop, it is the perfect opportunity to create a farm to fork offer of locally sourced food and drink. Wild Jacks bring that unique element to help us develop an extra special, premium offering, with their experience in championing local produce.

“We are always looking to provide more reasons for people to spend a day at The Engine Yard and Castle, and I am delighted that the farm shop will offer options that are not readily available anywhere else in the Vale and further strengthen the food offering across the whole retail village for both the local community and the day visitor.”

In addition, the upper floor of the Fuel Tank cafe (pictured above) has been transformed into a high-end brasserie. The menu will also feature local and seasonal produce including a selection of Lincolnshire Red steaks. Look out for regular game evenings in the season featuring venison, pheasant, duck and partridge with wine pairings. It’s set to be a place where special occasions are celebrated and wonderful memories created.

Oh, and by the way, the castle does a pretty good afternoon tea in the Regency-style tearoom and there’s set to be a new outpost in the Engine Yard called ‘The Duchess Parlour’ offering Champagne, oysters and high tea. The seventh Duchess of Bedford might have been a bit of a diva but we doubt even she would find too much to complain about…

For further information visit www.engineyardbelvoir.com

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