Shop of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
- Marsh Green Farm Shop, Kelstedge
- Essen General Store, Beeston
- North’s Deli, Rothley
- Origin Farm Shop, Rushton
Shop of the Year 2026/7: North’s Deli
North’s Deli in Rothley is our Great Food Club Shop of the Year 2026/7.
North’s is a rare thing: a genuine village deli and patisserie with its own character, shaped over decades by the knowledge and taste of owner David North.
David is still working in the shop at the age of 84. After more than 50 years in food retail, his experience is visible everywhere. Every product feels as though it has earned its place on the shelves or behind the counter.
Walking through the door is a pleasure. The counters and shelves are filled with continental cheeses, charcuterie, patisserie, freshly baked pies, tarts and sausage rolls, bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, wines and plenty more besides.
What stands out is the selection. North’s does not feel driven by fashionable brands or flashy packaging. David chooses products because he believes they taste good, and decades of experience have given him a formidable eye for what belongs in a first-class deli.
There is an authenticity to the place that is increasingly difficult to find. North’s is independent and family run, and it feels personal rather than formulaic. The patisserie, deli and café sit naturally together, creating somewhere that works equally well for picking up dinner, buying a bottle of wine, choosing cheese or stopping for something to eat.
It is also a business built around expertise. David knows his products and producers, and that knowledge has helped North’s become far more than a useful village shop. It is a destination for people who care about good food.
North’s has become something of an institution in Rothley, and David North is one of the region’s great independent food retailers. The shop reflects his taste, experience and continued enthusiasm for finding and selling good things to eat and drink.
For its exceptional range, authenticity, personal service and more than half a century of food knowledge behind it, North’s Deli is our Great Food Club Shop of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
Essen General Store, Beeston
Essen General Store is one of the region’s strongest deli-cafés. Owners Ed and Sam have created a place where almost everything on the shelves or behind the counter makes you want to investigate further.
The selection is exceptionally well judged. Natural wines, craft beers, pasta, chocolate, cheese and charcuterie sit alongside a superb deli counter, with the team clearly applying the same high standards across everything they stock.
The café side is every bit as good. Essen’s sandwiches use ØKENDE sourdough and come with inventive, carefully chosen fillings, while cheeseboards can be paired with wine or beer. The relaxed setting makes it somewhere you can stop for lunch, meet friends or simply sit with a coffee.
Five years after opening in 2021, Essen has gone from strength to strength. It remains highly selective about what it sells and serves, while retaining a friendly, informal atmosphere.
Origin Farm Shop, Rushton
Origin Farm Shop opened in early 2026 on a working farm near Rushton and has quickly established itself as an impressive new addition to the area.
The smart, well-laid-out shop has a strong butchery counter alongside produce from independent makers including Braybrooke Beer Co, Saxby’s Cider, Gallone’s, Wild & Furrow, Hambleton Bakery and Northampton Cheese Co. There is also space to stop for coffee and something to eat.
The business is run by Thomas White, his wife Chloe and his father Robert, who also operate Origin at Whites in Earls Barton and Thomas Farm Shop in Ecton. The Rushton site uses a converted building on farmland the family bought in 2022.
Marsh Green Farm Shop, Kelstedge
Marsh Green Farm Shop champions Derbyshire produce from its rural setting at Kelstedge. Its shelves bring together a broad selection of local food, while pies and pastries are baked fresh on site using real-butter pastry.
A major draw is the counter operated by Robin Maycock Butchers & Bakery, a long-established family business and former Great Food Club Butcher of the Year. Locally sourced meat, handmade pies, sausage rolls and cheeses give the shop a particularly strong traditional food offering.
The emphasis throughout is on local sourcing, freshness and useful everyday food alongside more indulgent treats – exactly what a good farm shop should provide.
Congratulations to North’s Deli, Essen General Store, Origin Farm Shop and Marsh Green Farm Shop on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Shop of the Year final.
