Derbyshire farm shop Croots boosts its parking facilities to cater for demand

Steve Croot in the new car park.

Popular Derbyshire farm shop Croots has doubled the size of its car park to cater for increasing numbers of customers.

As it gears up for Christmas and its busiest time of the year, the farm shop near Duffield has opened a second car park to create additional spaces.

The new hardstanding area has effectively doubled the number of car parking spaces at the farm shop in Wirksworth Road to around 56.

“Croots Farm Shop & Café has become a popular destination for shoppers and diners, and we wanted to make sure that our visitors could park – whether they were coming to shop, visit our café for coffee, lunch or afternoon tea, or to use our children’s play area,” said Steve Croot, who runs the shop with wife Kay Croot.

“We’re situated at the end of a 500m drive and many of our visitors come by car, so this will make it easier for customers to find a space, especially as we are now heading towards our busiest time of the year when we expect a lot of visitors to the Christmas events we have planned, as well as those coming to do their shopping or join us in the café.”

The new car park is near the top of the drive, just a few metres away from Croots Farm Shop & Café.

Croots, which opened in June 2008, is an award-winning family run farm shop – well known for its wide array of quality food and drink, homemade produce and gifts. It has an extensive butchery counter and a well-stocked cheese display, making it a big favourite for foodie fans in Derbyshire.

It also sells a range of bakes created exclusively for Croots by Great British Bake Off contestant Val Stones who is the sister of Steve Croot.

Earlier this year, Croots Farm Shop won the People’s Choice in the Midlands Award in the Family United Business Awards.

“We’ve expanded the shop and the café since we opened, and improved the drive, so it’s logical to also extend the car park,” added Steve. “We have additional improvements in the pipeline too, as we continue to boost our facilities and customer experience.”

Croots Farm Shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm) and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.

For more information, visit http://www.croots.co.uk. Find Croots on Twitter @crootsfarm_shop or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Croots-Farm-Shop

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Croots Derbyshire Pasty applauded on the national stage

Steve Croot with the Derbyshire Pasty

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has scored success with its home-made Derbyshire Pasty after it was highly commended in the 2016 Great British Food Awards.

Croots Derbyshire Pasty, made from local beef, potato, swede and onion, was highly commended in the Savoury Pies and Pastries category of the awards, run by national magazine Great British Food.

It’s the second time that the farm shop near Duffield has won an accolade in the magazine’s awards, while flying the flag for Derbyshire food at the same time. Last year, Croots Bakewell Tart was named as the top sweet bake in the same competition.

Steve Croot, who runs the farm shop at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, with wife Kay, said: “We’re chuffed to have added another accolade to our collection of awards. Croots Derbyshire Pasty is a local twist on the famous Cornish Pasty, but of course is made with local ingredients. 

“It’s very popular with our customers and we’re delighted to hear that the judges rated the pasty highly too.” 

Last month Croots struck gold with its rump steak, winning an accolade in the Great Taste Awards 2016. Overall, the shop has won more than 100 awards for its products.

Croots Farm Shop will receive a name-check for its latest commendation in the October issue of Great British Food, on sale September 2nd 2016.

It is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm) and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.

For more information, visit www.croots.co.uk Find Croots on Twitter @crootsfarm_shop or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Croots-Farm-Shop

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk  

Derbyshire farm shop Croots offers Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties as part of Afternoon Tea Week

Derbyshire farm shop Croots is celebrating Afternoon Tea Week by launching something special for children, which will have them grinning like a Cheshire cat.

The farm shop near Duffield is offering Mad Hatter’s tea party-themed afternoon teas for youngsters and will be donating £1 from each tea purchased to its adopted charity, Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre.

During Afternoon Tea Week, which runs from 8^th to 14^th August, Croots has an offer on its adult teas – two for £20. On Wednesday 10^th August it will offer special teas for children from 3pm which are themed around the famous Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter’s tea party.

The children’s teas, which will also be available on Thursday 11^th and Friday 12^th August, and on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the rest of August to coincide with the children’s craft activities being run at Croots, feature a tasty range of ‘eat me’ and ‘drink me’ items.

Youngsters are being invited to take along their favourite teddy or doll and enjoy a cream tea in a special area of Shires Eatery at Croots which is being decorated with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

“As it’s Afternoon Tea Week, we thought it would be great fun to do something special for the children and at the same time raise some money for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, which provides holidays for local youngsters who are going through tough times,” said Kay Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, with husband Steve.

“The Mad Hatter’s tea party-themed afternoon teas will begin on Wednesday 10^th August during Afternoon Tea Week but we’ll carry on serving them Mondays to Wednesdays for the rest of August to coincide with the children’s craft activities that we’ve got planned. We imagine that our younger visitors will take part in the craft activities, have a bit of a play in our play area and will be keen to tuck into the delicious afternoon teas that our team in Shires Eatery have created.”

The children’s afternoon tea features a selection of sandwiches, crudités, fruit kebabs dipped in chocolate, ice cream cupcakes, Bakewell tart, lemon sponge and milkshake. For each £10.95 tea sold, £1 will be donated to the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre charity.

Croots Farm Shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm) and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.

For more information, visit www.croots.co.uk Find Croots on Twitter @crootsfarm_shop or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Croots-Farm-Shop-127012538821/

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Croots Farm Shop brings festive cheer to Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre

Customers and staff at Derbyshire farm shop Croots have brought some festive cheer to the farm shop’s adopted charity.

A series of fundraising efforts including a Christmas hamper draw, the sales of magic reindeer food and a competition to find the best dressed Christmas tree resulted in £323 being collected for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre over the festive period.

The charity, which has been the farm shop’s adopted charity for a number of years, provides disadvantaged Derbyshire children with holidays in Skegness. In 2016, it celebrates its 125^th birthday.

Steve Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, with wife Kay, said: “We’re delighted to have raised a lovely sum for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre so that we can present the charity with a great Christmas gift.

“I’d like to thank our customers and staff for once again taking part in our fundraising efforts which allow us to raise money for such a good cause.”

For more information about Croots Farm Shop, visit www.croots.co.uk Find Croots on Twitter @crootsfarm_shop or on Facebook www.facebook.com/Croots-Farm-shop

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Croots Farm Shop raises cash for charity

Generous customers and staff at Croots Farm Shop have raised almost £300 for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre.

The money was collected via a range of fund-raising efforts, including selling special reindeer food in the run up to Christmas Eve and a festive raffle. Cash was also collected for the charity through carrier bag sales during 2013.

Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre is one of two charities regularly supported by Croots Farm Shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, Duffield. The other is the Shire Horse Society.

“Once again our customers and staff have dug deep and have helped us to raise much-needed funds for a local charity,” said Steve Croot, who runs the farm shop. “We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated in some way.”

Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre was established in 1891 to give disadvantaged Derbyshire children holidays in Skegness, Lincolnshire, and currently provides 450 holiday places per season for boys and girls aged from eight to 14.

The centre needs to raise more than £150,000 every year, and generous customers and staff at Croots have already raised several hundred pounds for the charity since adopting it two years ago.

Croots Farm Shop is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (Shires Eatery until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk