By Dianne Bourne
Copyright manchestereveningnews
An award-winning farm shop near Manchester has announced major expansion plans as it prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary in business. The Lambing Shed, in Knutsford , Cheshire, has become a popular hotspot with families and foodies thanks to its award-winning cafe serving homemade food, and its large farm shop stocked with a host of local produce and artisan treats. It has also enjoyed a busy summer after turning one of the farm’s barns into a huge indoor beach for families across the school holidays. For the best ideas on days out, shopping and parenting issues, get the Manchester Family newsletter here Now the family-run business has announced it has had plans approved to DOUBLE in size in the year ahead. The news comes as the Cheshire farm shop is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary with a festival-inspired celebration day on September 20. Customers can now book tickets for the Farm Fest event, which will including music from the Country Bound Band and a dancing sheep show, with FREE tickets for kids with a paying adult. The family-run business was named the UK’s Best Farm Shop Cafe at the prestigious Farm Retail Association Awards in 2022, and has been growing in success ever since. The cafe and shop are based inside what was, yes, once the lambing shed at Moseley Hall Farm just off Chelford Road on the outskirts of Knutsford . The farm is run by Sue and Michael Mitchell, with son Rob now helping on the farming side, while daughter Kathryn is director of the farm shop and cafe. They decided to transform the shed into the shop ten years ago to diversify and showcase what farmers were doing in the local area and have never looked back. Building work will start early next year on the expansion at the site, and will allow the venue to extend their range of homemade produce as well as double the size of the hit cafe. Kathryn said: “We are at the very early stages, but the plans will allow us to extend into an existing barn adjacent to where we are now that will double our footprint. “We really want to stay true to who we are, supporting local suppliers and making as much produce ourselves supporting our family farm, so the plans include two new production kitchens where we will be able to extend our range of homemade produce, including pies and cakes. “Our restaurant will also be getting a complete refurb and again will be doubling in size. “Having reached the 10 year mark and being able to announce this at the same time to our customers is very exciting, we really wanted to mark the occasion with a family day at Farm Fest.” Under the expansion plans, all the retail element of the farm shop will be on the ground floor of the new barn, while the cafe will be extending into the current shop space. Join our Family WhatsApp group HERE The business has also announced that due to the success of the barn beach this year, it will return again for families in 2026. The site continues to be a working sheep farm set across 400 acres on Chelford Road – and every spring they host lambing weekends to allow the public to come and meet the baby lambs for themselves. The cafe is open daily offering breakfast and lunch, but doesn’t take bookings, with a large indoor cafe area as well as the conservatory section where families and customers with dogs can also sit. There’s also an outdoor seating area with picnic tables next to a free children’s play area for families to use. The play area now features a wooden adventure play frame, as well as swings and mini tractors for kids to play on. The Lambing Shed Farm Shop is on Chelford Road, Knutsford WA16 8RB. Farm Fest takes place on Saturday, September 20, with tickets available to book now for £15 per adults, with kids going free with each adult.
