There’s a Gloucestershire farm shop that outshines even those with celebrity status, thanks to its unique country-style drive-through, trendy café and bar in the heart of the Cotswolds
There’s one farm shop that is by far the best – and it’s in Gloucestershire
Jeremy Clarkson’s farm shop has been named the best in the UK, but there’s another one in Gloucestershire that’s even better.
Popping out to a nearby farm shop is certainly a pleasant way to spend a weekend, whether it’s for a morning coffee in the country café, a browse around the locally sourced goodies in the independent shops, or to attend one of the many events held. Luckily for us, there’s a plethora of delightful farm shops nearby.
One of the most popular to visit is Daylesford Organic Farm, frequently hailed as the UK’s poshest and most luxurious farm shop, nestled in the Cotswolds of Gloucestershire. Meanwhile, Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop in Chipping Norton is another favourite, positioned just an hour from Gloucester.
Since it opened in 2020, Diddly Squat Farm Shop has drawn in thousands of visitors, with the Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm undoubtedly contributing to its success. It’s become so loved that it was named the UK’s best farm shop by the country lifestyle experts at Welligogs, after analysing TripAdvisor rankings and reviews.
Don’t get me wrong, I really like Diddly Squat Farm Shop, with Hawkstone’s beer and Clarkson merch, but Jolly Nice is beyond my favourite. The family-run farmshop, complete with a trendy café and bar, with its very own drive-through, is nestled within the Cotswolds in the village of Frampton Mansell.
It’s conveniently positioned between Stroud, Cirencester, and Tetbury, and is an ideal place to visit during the weekend, or to stop by if you’re on the way to the M5, as I was. Having spent many years living in Gloucestershire, I’ve seen Jolly Nice expand into the sprawling, flourishing space it is today.
Their drive-through is perhaps one of their most unique features, served from a wooden cabin; it’s a far cry from McDonald’s, but a charming experience you’d only ever find in the Cotswolds. It serves up locally roasted coffee, alongside a wide selection of meals from breakfast baps and burgers, to salads and sandwiches, all made from scratch for the ultimate drive-through luxury.
Priding themselves on supporting “local farmers, growers and artisan producers”, the farm shop offers a wide selection of goodies, making it an experience in itself. The farm shop itself has beautifully decorated archways and wooden paths that lead off to different areas of the wooden cabins and sprawling tents.
There’s a dedicated frozen section with some of the best ready meals I’ve ever seen, a deli serving a wide selection of organic and artisan cheeses, and a butchery with free-range meat and seasonal organic vegetables. There are plenty of pantry staples and dry goods scattered around the shop, alongside packets of sizeable cookies, tins of crisps and a machine to squeeze your own orange juice. It really does have it all, and that’s not even the best part.
Following the path and underneath huge festival-style tents is the Jolly Nice café and bar. The space is elegantly decorated with fairy lights and foliage, against its rustic wooden floor and walls, alongside reclaimed oak church chairs and long vintage tables.
Come winter, its open fireplace made from a 300-year-old local oak beam, will certainly make it cosy, and the perfect retreat. Plus, its menu is just as appealing as its interiors, with their famed burgers available to order at the bar, alongside toasties, sausage rolls, sandwiches or sweet treats.
I sat outside to enjoy my selection of sweet treats, which were as good as they looked!
I opted for a giant-looking Oreo cookie and an iced latte, but couldn’t resist a scoop of their banana-and-toffee ice cream from the parlour just outside the main eating area. This is also where you can find outdoor seating, so you can sample the locally sourced goodies with some classic country views – and don’t worry if it rains, it’s completely covered with ample benches for visitors.
There are drinks available from Stroud Brewery beers and Dunkertons Cider on tap, and on Fridays, they host a later night with “cocktails on the double”. Jolly Nice is all about bringing people together with various events being held each month, from candle making to folk music to puppy meet-ups in a nifty enclosed area at the chic, country site that goes above and beyond in its offerings.
