It has recently been named among the best in the UK, and nestled within the stunning grounds of the Chatsworth Estate, it can lay claim to be the poshest farm shop in the Peak District. The Chatsworth Farm Shop also boasts a huge cafe with stunning terrace boasting spectacular views out across rolling countryside and to the fairytale estate village of Edensor.
Customers rave about the huge selection of local produce in the store, which can be found in the picturesque village of Pilsley in Derbyshire. It's just a couple of miles down the road from the historic estate of Chatsworth House that remains a popular destination for visitors from across the country.
The shop boasts a dazzling array of fresh fruits and vegetables, a butchery and fishery with fresh cuts and huge deli. There are also freshly-baked loaves, cakes and the classic bakewell puddings and tarts.
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But naturally, it's not exactly the cheapest way to get your fresh produce - on our visit we spotted honey at £12 a pot, small pie slices at £4.95 and posh ready meals for two at £11.99.
There's a large free car park at the farm shop that swiftly fills up with Range Rovers and supercars on weekends - and be warned you may have to queue to dine at the popular cafe as there are no reservations here. On our Sunday visit there was around a ten minute wait to get seated inside.
The farm shop cafe is based in a brightly-refurbished barn space at the rear of the farm shop boasting some seriously spectacular views of the rolling Derbyshire countryside. It looks down the valley along the Chatsworth Estate where you will see the spire of St Peter's Church at Edensor.
You can choose to sit inside the modern cafe space or outside on the large terrace boasting an array of tables underneath canopies. Thankfully you can admire the brilliant views from both settings, thanks to wall to ceiling windows inside the cafe.
Edensor village itself is around a mile walk from the farm shop along the main road, and is known as one of the prettiest spots in the Peak District and was recently named among the poshest villages in the UK by The Telegraph. It boasts a simply stunning array of individually-designed homes dotted around the church and village green.
Visitors on Tripadvisor hail the "gorgeous views" at the cafe, and the farm shop's "labyrinth of fabulous fayre" with 500 five star reviews, many calling it "superb".
Jennifer C wrote on the reviews site: "Ate with 2 children outside. Striking view of the estate. Toddler loved the cows up on the nearby field. Food was great. Service was good - ice in drinks would have been good as is so hot but prompt and friendly and lovely surroundings."
MrsWoman94 called it a "superior farm shop experience". She wrote: "This farm shop is the crème de la crème of farm shops in my opinion. A vast array of top quality local meats, fresh produce and other delicacies are ready to be discovered.
"We bought some of their smoked back bacon on our recent visit and whilst not cheap by any stretch of the imagination it was absolutely delicious. Wonderful pies, sandwiches and of course a naughty cake or two.
"I also like the range of local beers - especially the selection from the Eyam Brewery (recommend the Mompesson’s Calling a plum porter!). You could quite easily spend a small fortune but undoubtedly you get what you pay for here.
"Always busy but parking is plentiful and it’s a couple of minutes walk from Pilsley Village too. Check out the view from the back of the building too - stunning rolling green fields down to the village of Edensor."
InvictaMoto said: "Called in after a trip to the house itself. Loads of local products and some superb stuff from locally produced meat and eggs to the Bakewell Puddings and tarts." Adding: "You could easily spend a fortune in here. Restraint needed!"
The farm shop was named "Best in the Midlands" at the recent Farm Shop and Deli Show Awards for 2022. And it was also named in a list of the best farm shops across the UK in Country and Town House Magazine.
It was initially established back in 1977 by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire as a way to celebrate the local meats from their sprawling Chatsworth Estate. But it has become so popular over the years it has expanded to offer a wealth of produce from their tenant farmers and the best of regional suppliers too.
We headed to give the farm shop cafe a try and were impressed with the array of hot dishes on offer - you can get a full range of cooked breakfasts up to 11.30am and then a lunch menu that includes hot and cold options as well as an afternoon tea from £15 per person.
Although a little like the shop itself, being this posh comes with a price tag. Cold sandwiches are priced from £8.25, hot sandwiches are £11.25 while you can expect to pay £14 for a traditional roast lunch or a classic fish and chips.
We ordered the Derbyshire oatcake, served with cheese and bacon which was priced at £10 and the Chatsworth beef burger with chips for £13.
But both dishes were more than worthy of those prices. The Derbyshire oatcake (a flabbier version of a Staffordshire oatcake) came with two slabs of cured bacon and a side dish of carrot salad that was so delicious that I promptly went and bought some in the farm shop afterwards.
The beef burger was vast and meaty with a really interesting taste punch. My two-year-old was also extremely happy with his pot of local Matlock Meadows chocolate ice cream.
How to get there
The Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop is in the village of Pilsley, Bakewell, around 38 miles from Manchester, via the A6 and A623, use sat nav DE45 1UF. There is lots of free parking at the farm shop itself and it is open 9am to 6pm on weekdays, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.
The nearest major train station is Chesterfield, with local bus services connecting to Chatsworth - there's a bus stop right outside the entrance to the farm shop at Pilsley.
There are also daily National Express coaches from Manchester that pass through Bakewell.
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