A FARMING family is celebrating after winning a prestigious national award.
The Lambing Shed has been named the UK’s Farm Shop Café of the Year in the Farm Retail Awards.
This Knutsford café is housed in the building where farmer Arnold Mitchell and son Michael reared their sheep more than 60 years ago.
Director Kathryn Michell, daughter of owners Sue and Michael, said: "We are absolutely over the moon to have won.
“I am so unbelievably proud of the whole team, it’s been a very difficult two years for everyone in hospitality and the team are so passionate and work so hard to make The Lambing Shed a success.
“From head chef to kitchen porter, everyone plays a crucial role, and we couldn’t do it without each and every one of them.
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“I have lived in Knutsford my whole life and we love being part of the community.
“To be recognised nationally as Farm Shop Cafe of the Year is amazing, and we have had such lovely messages of congratulations from our customers, we are so grateful for their support."
The Mitchell family opened The Lambing Shed at Moseley Hall Farm on Chelford Road in 2015 to showcase their award-winning home reared beef and lamb.
The menu is based entirely around local, high-quality produce and the finest meat from their butchery.
Judges noted the high quality of food and service and hailed the café as ‘a superb example of a business which understands its customer profile and delivers a range of food and service to meet their customer’s needs’.
The café has 33 staff and opens seven days a week.
Head chef Dan Gibson has been at the helm for three years and previously worked at the award-winning Fitzherbert Arms pub in Staffordshire.
Jenna Scott, marketing manager, said: “We are lucky to have a team of four chefs amazing chefs.
“The quality of our food is more like a restaurant than a café.
“We serve our home reared beef and lamb and chicken and pork from local farmers.
“Our menu is based on local, high quality produce. We source everything as local as possible to cut our carbon footprint.
“It is amazing to get this national recognition. Kathryn has always wanted us to become a destination place and not just a café where locals can enjoy the best food.
“We are only a 10 minute drive off the motorway. We welcome everyone who supports our family business.”
The Farm Retail Awards are the only awards judged by fellow farm retailers and celebrate the best farm shops, farm cafes and restaurants, farmers' markets and trade suppliers in the country.
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