Homer Hill Farm Shop at West Rainton, Houghton-le-Spring, is a family business run by the Haswell family, who farm more than 110 acres in County Durham and have Aberdeen Angus, Belgian Blue, and Charolais cattle. The shop, located in Pittington Road, can be a bit tricky to find, but once you make the turning off a windy county road, it opens out like a mini ranch.
A feast of treats under one roof
The first sight is a large paved seating area on the left, with well-spaced wooden tables and chairs, linking to its on-site cafe. This leads down to an area outside the shop's side door, packed with summer flowers, and there are generally plants for sale here too. On the opposite side of the drive is a children's play area with swings and a wooden 'tractor', as well as a little wooden gazebo-like structure where you can bag a quiet spot to sit if you're lucky. To complete the scenic picture, you might well spot some reclining cows in the adjacent field.
The stone-built farm shop itself—beyond which is a big parking area—is a real treasure trove. It offers far more to explore beyond the main butcher counter, which sells beef from its own farm, alongside sausages, burgers, and ready meals, as well as locally-sourced lamb and pork.
Cafe and deli delights
The coffee shop-cafe extends out the back, offering "far more than scones," it says, with the likes of "our famous fish and chips" served on Fridays, cooked in its special-recipe batter, and bookings invited for afternoon teas and Sunday lunch. It also serves breakfast on Sunday mornings.
The farm shop interior, which links to the cafe, has plenty of room to browse—which is just as well, as there is much to look at, with floor displays and shelves fit to bursting with food products, country-theme gift ideas, and alcohol, including local spirits and beers. It's colourful and breezy, with bunting setting off the shelves of marmalades and jam, plus shiny bottles of piccalilli, pickles, and oil. Among the products—which includes local names such as Northumbrian Pantry and Durham Gin—there are all sorts, from rice and curry sauces to gifts.
Homemade pies and pasties
There are also dairy products, fruit, and vegetables. But the focal point—and where you are most likely to find a queue—is the long delicatessen counter opposite the door. Selling home-made pies and pastries, this is what really catches the eye. Next to those savouries are inviting displays of local cheeses.
Among the £2.50 pie options are mince, pork, and corned beef, while the steak is £3.75—certainly not cheap, nor huge for that matter, but it's a treat of a pie, full of chunks of meat. And a large soft and billowy cheese and onion pasty is £1.99. Greggs might be renowned for its cheese and onion pastry—or bake as it's called now—but this one more than gives the Geordie baker's version a run for its money. Other options include a Cornish pasty and black pudding Scotch egg.
The farm shop's website itself says: "You simply must try our homemade corned beef and black pudding" so that might be on the cards for next time.
