Fine foods and delectable drinks can be found all over Devon but there’s one place that stands out as a singular location that serves all manner of delightful victuals that are all super local. Darts Farm in Topsham, overlooking the beautiful Clyst Valley, just outside Exeter, is a unique, multi-award-winning food and drink destination, which started out in 1971 as a pick your own.
A working farm with a farm shop, local butchers, fishmongers and more with eateries, events, and an array of local products to buy, a visit to Darts Farm should be on everyone’s list when they’re next in Devon. Here are our top ten reasons why it is a must visit for anyone living in or visiting Devon.
1.The food hall
The food hall offers a unique shopping experience that champions local food and drink, which has been sourced from their own farm and other incredible, passionate artisans.
Their master butchers are on hand to offer advice on the best cuts, from nose to tail, and their deli is brimming with the best British farmhouse cheese and charcuterie; with perfect pairings just around the corner in the drinks cellar. On the shelves you will find the best produce from local and like-minded family run, independent artisans. The result is an unparalleled selection of award-winning food and drink.
2. Delicious dining
Darts Farm offers an incredible choice of dining opportunities throughout the day, every day, and during the evenings from Thursday to Saturday. These include takeaways, coffees, breakfast, lunches, dinners and afternoon teas, all made from the finest ingredients, which are locally-sourced, wherever possible. Choose from the original Darts Farm restaurant, The Shack, The Fish Shed, The Terrace Bar, The Cow and Cacao Café or The Farm Table Restaurant.
3. The Farm Table
This is the new flagship restaurant that opened in the summer of 2022 and showcases the best produce available from the farm and shop. The Farm Table celebrates the simplicity of beautiful ingredients grown, reared, caught and crafted on their doorstep. What they cannot grow themselves on the farm, they source from their vibrant community of like minded artisan producers, farmers and fisherman who share their passion for flavour, seasonality and sustainable, traditional methods.
The menu includes their iconic Ruby Red beef, dayboat fish and seasonal vegetables, all cooked over charcoal and accompanied by wines from their own Pebblebed Vineyards, as well as an amazing selection of beers, ciders and spirits from the cellar.
4. Cow and Cacao Café
This new café recently celebrated its first anniversary after a hugely successful first year of serving breakfasts and lunches featuring such delights as indulgent waffles, homemade artisan gelato, baked eggs and wood fired pizzas.
Cow and Cacao Café is the perfect venue for all the family to enjoy a pit stop and see fabulous food produced in front of their eyes. Kids will marvel as they watch the local, organic milk being slowly churned into beautiful, creamy artisan gelato, which is made in small batches and flavoured with unique seasonal ingredients such as honey from their bees on the farm.
5. The chocolatier
Cow and Cacao Café is also home to Darts Farm’s in-house chocolatier who handcrafts incredible artisan treats using sustainably sourced cacao beans from small scale growers in the world’s best regions.
They are proud to be one of the few UK producers to craft chocolate from bean to bar. In small batches, they roast the beans, before cracking the shell to release the nib. Then they grind the nibs for up to 55 hours before ageing their chocolate for two to three weeks. Finally, they melt it down to create bars, truffles and all things chocolate which you can buy in store as well as online for nationwide delivery.
6. The vineyard and cidery
Shoppers and diners alike can enjoy award-winning wines from Pebblebed Vineyards and unique, small-batch ciders; crafted in their on-site cidery by their in-house cidermaker, Barny from Sandford Orchards. The vineyards and winery are located on their farm and the team are proud to be one of very few single estate producers; growing their grapes and producing their wines in the same place.
To discover more about the secrets behind crafting amazing English sparkling and still wine in the beautiful East Devon countryside then book onto a tour and tasting.
7. Food and drink events
Darts Farm also plays host to a full calendar of events; from chocolate masterclasses, cheese clubs and wine tastings, to seasonal feasts and themed dinners in The Farm Table. They also lay on many free events throughout the year with opportunities to meet local artisan producers and taste their incredible food and drink.
8. Lifestyle shopping
For those wanting even more retail therapy, there are a number of homeware departments to browse including an Aga Shop, Fired Earth and Orange Tree and, for those who prefer the great outdoors, there is a Cotswold Outdoor and an RSPB shop. To make a full day of it, you can even book yourself in for a makeover or relaxing treatment at Energy Hair or The Treatment Loft.
9. The great outdoors
It’s not all shopping and eating as visitors can also relax and recharge and let their little ones run off some steam in the extensive grounds. You can reconnect with nature by winding your way through the vegetable fields and nature trail, while kids will love watching Darts Farm’s herd of native Ruby Red Devon cattle graze on the banks of the River Clyst and visiting the animals in ‘animal corner’.
There’s also a play area where they can tackle the fort or conquer the assault course plus there is wildlife spotting to enjoy in the bird hide overlooking the wetlands. In the summer months, you will find fun activities for the whole family, such as the Maize Maze and pick-your-own sunflowers.
10. City to Sea cycle adventures
Situated at the start and finish point of the Exe Estuary, Darts Farm is in the perfect location for those wanting to explore the beautiful trail by bike. Their City to Sea initiative has routes for all abilities, from families to hardcore cyclists. If you haven’t brought your own bike, then bike hire is also available and, of course, you can stop for a breakfast, refuel with coffee and cake or pick up picnic provisions for your day out from the farm shop before you set off.
Factbox
For further information on Darts Farm, visit dartsfarm.co.uk and follow Darts Farm on Facebook and Instagram.
Address: Dart Farm Village, Topsham, Clyst St George, Exeter EX3 0QH
Phone: 01392 878200
