Mark Williams visited Abbey Farm Rhuddlan for a taste test
Mark Williams enjoys a taste test at Abbey Farm(Image: Mark Williams)
Mark Williams recently visited Abbey Farm in Rhuddlan, for a taste test. This is what he found:
Abbey Farm caravan and camping park is a small, peaceful and quiet family-run place, set on a working farm in the village of Rhuddlan, Denbighshire.
The farm has a history dating back to 1258, where a Dominican Friary once stood. The farmhouse was built in the early 1800s with the surrounding farm buildings dating back as early as 1283.
You will find the farm by turning right on the small roundabout by the Kings Head pub in the middle of Rhuddlan. Abbey Road is the second road on your right Follow the road until you get to a single-track lane (past Pleasant View Holiday Park) where you will find the farm down the lane on your left.
The location is idyllic as you are surrounded by the Clwydian Range. They have recently opened a farm shop, which sells their own beef, lamb, pork and free-range eggs, Alongside, a carefully chosen selection of quality local produce from trusted producers across north Wales. On the shelves, you will find products such as Dylans, Aber Falls, Facers Brewery and Marie Bach jams and honey.
Mark Williams visited Abbey Farm for a taste test – inside the shop(Image: Mark Williams)
They have also recently opened a self-service coffee shed, which is open everyday 10 to 4pm with Italian bean-to-cup delivers barista-style coffee and hot chocolate. You can also help yourself to a slice of something sweet from their cake selection freshly baked by Siwgr a Sbeis from Llanrwst.
The calf shed is located just opposite the farm shop. The cute wooden shed is very small with just a couple of tables and a bar counter with stools. Although there are a few picnic tables outside protected by milk churns.
They run an honesty system and you scan the QR code with your phone and pay quickly and easily or use a bank card with a swipe system.
The coffee machine uses locally high-quality roasted beans by Mug Run who have been roasting beans by hand from Rhyl since 2013. They ethically support small coffee farmers to ensure they are paid fairly. You can add a shot of Welsh vanilla, hazelnut or caramel syrup for free from sip syrup. The choice includes latte, flat whites, macchiato, mocha and cortado alongside espresso and cappuccino.
Mark Williams visited Abbey Farm for a taste test(Image: Mark Williams)
The vibe inside the cow shed is relaxed with a retro radio transmitter playing moo-sic to my ears. Siwgr a Sbeis from Llanrwst have been making homemade traditional cakes for over thirty years. They use old cookery books for recipes but add a modern twist to their homemade delights. The cakes, bakes and flapjacks were wrapped and priced at £1.60 each.
Some of the cakes in the farm shop are made by ‘Gluten free cakes from Victoria’, who bakes from her home in Penrhyn Bay. She comes up with creative ideas to help create a sense of inclusion and belonging for people who are often limited in their choices.
Mark Williams visited Abbey Farm for a taste test – outside The Calf Shed(Image: Mark Williams)
They also have the iconic lemon buns from Cadwgan bakery in Colwyn Bay. These famous yellow buns always sell out, so remember to grab them early on a Saturday morning. The farm shop also has bread and Welsh cakes from Tan Lan bakery.
Jo, and her taste testing husband Ian, are behind the Taylor’s tearoom from Prestatyn who provide the Manchester tarts and marble cakes on a Thursday.
We visited on a Thursday so chose a Manchester tart to take to the calf shed. A staple on school dinner menus until the mid-1980s, the Manchester tart is a variation on an earlier recipe by the Victorian cookery writer Mrs Beeton.
This particular version had a delicate pastry base with a layer of raspberry jam, raspberries and a really delicious creamy custard. It was topped with coconut and fresh raspberries. The custard and fruit tart was mouthwatering with a fresh taste that slapped you in the face. I could have eaten that tart, until the cows came home.
Mark Williams enjoys himself at Abbey Farm(Image: Mark Williams)
We also had a marble cake, which is another classic childhood cooking memory. This marble cake had psychedelic swirls of chocolate and vanilla with a tasty buttercream frosting on top.
We managed to tackle the self-service coffee machine and chose a frothy cappuccino, which was incredibly creamy with a steamed milk frothy head. We also had a chocolate mocha, which tasted pretty similar due to the steamed milk topping. We used a bit of the free syrup to give it a bit of a sugary kick. If you enjoy this coffee then you can buy the beans or ground in their farm shop
I really enjoyed the DIY aspect of self service, and you only have yourself to blame if something goes wrong. It was really nice to see Abbey Farm support some of the best producers in the area, with the farm shop being a sort of one stop cow shed for some of the best cakes in the area.
Abbey Farm Rhuddlan, it’s all about great coffee, tasty cake and trust.
Abbey Farm
The Facts
Manchester Tart £3.95
Marble Cake £3.75
Cappuccio £3.50
Mocha £3.50
Total £14.70
Opening Times:
Farm shop is open
Thursday to Saturday 10-4, Sunday 10-2.
The Calf shed coffee is open daily
10-4
Atmosphere- Holy cow, udderly amazing.
Car Parking- Farm car park (watch out for the tractors)
Disabled Access- No steps to get inside and picnic tables outside
Service- Self service (so you only have yourself to blame for poor service)
Overall- The self-service calf shed, where I could have eaten the cakes until the
cows came home.
Abbey Farm
Abbey Road,
Rhuddlan,
Denbighshire,
LL18 5RL