Page 28 - Herefoodie 24.indd

Inside Story...

popularity of the eggs. Moving from their
NEIL AND PENNY home kitchen to a dedicated unit, then a
CHAMBERS larger ‘Eggshed’, they now produce up to
The Nest at Little 45 Scotch egg flavours supplying wholesale
Verzons Farm nationwide, along with Penny’s recipe pies,
Nr Ledbury quiches and sausage rolls. In 2008 they
opened the world’s first Scotch egg shop,
Back in the 2000s, Penny had an Egg’cetera, in Worcester.
event catering company and supplied
homemade treats to local delis, By 2014 they took on Little Verzons Farm
inbetween working with the City of in Herefordshire, where they launched The
Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Neil Nest; a larger shop and café. These and
designed and painted murals and faux their own charcuterie are all on the menu
finishes for various clients, from private along with salads, breakfasts, cakes and
commissions to public buildings, and held more. The deli and farmshop specialises
workshops and classes, helping Penny’s in regional producers, crafted kitchen and
events when needed. homeware, and the site is home to more
indie businesses.
Farmers’ markets offered a sustainable
new venture and their first foray in 2003 at With orchard and woodland walks (dogs
Teme Valley Market, with a selection of five welcome) the lake (Loch Nest!) and seasonal
varieties of Penny’s Scotch eggs, sold out. events, this is a wonderfully chilled artisan
Expanding to more markets, prestigious foodie place to explore.
Ludlow Food Festival confirmed the littleverzonsfarm.co.uk

farm. Their own field-fattened beef was also
NICK PRICE soon being sold at the shop, as well as other
top quality local produce, leading to the
Oakchurch Farm Shop
Staunton-on-Wye, need for bigger premises.
Hereford Now spearheaded by son Nick, it is the self-
proclaimed ‘Harrods of Herefordshire’, which
Do you remember Pick Your Own fruit fortunately refers more to the wide selection
trips with your parents, when you actually and quality of products and produce than
entered the fields with a one-for-the- the cost of them. Championing Herefordshire
punnet and one-for-me mission? …
food and drink producers and a huge range
Oakchurch started as a ‘pick your own’ of their own delicious fresh and frozen
strawberry farm in the 1970’s and remains homemade foodie products, it is a weekly
family owned, yet now it is soooo much more. shop for many. Alongside a quality garden
Herefordian born and bred Edward and Ros centre, giftware, fashion and housewares,
Price started from a little wooden shed on the their onsite restaurant offers quality breakfast,
side of the road in 1970, as an outlet for their brunches, lunches and cakes … after all,
PYO strawberry fields and the fresh produce you’ll probably be there all day!
that they were growing on the Oakchurch oakchurch.net

26 Herefordshire’s BEST FOOD & DRINK GUIDE