We're closed today (Mondays), but looking forward to seeing you tomorrow :-)
As we sit and reflect on this sunny Sunday afternoon, we remember, five years on from the start of lockdown. To Borris's solemn words "Stay At Home" as he brought the country to a standstill as part of a 'national effort' to curb the Coronavirus. There were only four reasons to leave the house, the first being 'to buy food.'
Scenes of that first Saturday will stay with us forever as together we scrabbled to adjust. The unprecedented footfall, extraordinary queues snaking around the farmyard as customers waited patiently to stock up their fridges and freezers in anticipation of 'the new normal'. Despite having very young children and no childcare, we felt an overwhelming duty of care to our customers given the extraordinary number of emails and calls, it felt like our responsibility to continue giving so many producers an invaluable route to market. We knew if we pooled our team and resources we could make a real impact and change people's lives for the better. It was an intense time for our family. We forged strong bonds with local suppliers to keep the fresh produce coming. We leant on family members to help, one who set up an online ordering system to help them keep up with demand. We share here some of your notes of encouragement and feedback on their ordering forms, all of which made the exchange more personal and worthwhile. It felt like the businesses that kept fighting through lockdown would be the ones that were match fit when a semblance of normality appeared. There is no feeling like a resounding sense of purpose in your community.
We remember empty supermarket shelves, social distancing, masks, the farmer's traffic light systems to help queuing and the fearful pressure to adapt very quickly. Despite there being an element of danger associated with the front line, we made enormous sacrifices to stay open and keep providing for the community. Through uncertain times, the silver lining was cohesion and an overwhelming sense of community which set us on our path even today. Thank you as always to the many people involved. It was truly a moment none of us will ever forget. Those customers who are still with us today, thank you 🙏🪿News 23 March | Like/Comment
Oooh Saint Patrick Day Sausages! Prime Pork and Guinness £12.50/kg #cafelife #visitnorfolk #InLoveWithLocal #norwichcity #norwichlife #cookedbreakfast #localbusinessesNews 18 March | Like/Comment
Shout out to food vendors for the Aylsham Show Bank holiday Monday 2025 - we on the hunt for delicious, innovative foodie offerings for our Food Market area. Do apply, or shout if you know of someone we MUST have! The Aylsham Show
https://www.theaylshamshow.co.uk/exhibitors/book-a-food-hall-pitch-form/News 13 March | Like/Comment
We are celebrating this great team of ladies for
International Women's Day 2025. They came to us with their vision for a dance studio many years ago, a troop of sisters;
✨ Gemma, Joanna, Charlotte and Jessica!✨
Proud Mum Debbie 🪿watches on as these girls go from strength to strength working with instructors from all over Norfolk bringing such joy to so many with their weekly classes. They are at the heart of our community and a wonderful asset to White House Farm.🩷
Keep up the great work ladies. 💪News 8 March | Like/Comment
Calling all food traders for Bank Holiday Monday in August, don't forget to sign up for the wonderful @aylshamshow at Blickling.
https://www.theaylshamshow.co.uk/exhibitors/book-a-food-hall-pitch-form/
#foodmarket #community #dogfriendly #tribenorfolkNews 4 February | Like/Comment
Reliving one weekend and pining for the next. Pomegranate birthday cake, beautiful tulips and THE most delicious beef shin, slow cooked as advised by our wise butchers. 👌
Really sensational ingredients make all the difference. Enjoy this dream of a recipe from @georginafuggle for melt in your mouth beef from @whitehousefarmnorwich ❣️
✨ Shop well, eat well ✨News 14 January | Like/Comment
It's always a family affair @whitehousefarm
But this year is extra special as butcher Steve's daughter Ali came to help out. Thank you to all our wonderful customers, it's a joy to see you all at Christmas time. Wishing you a peaceful break. #communityNews 24 December 2024 | Like/Comment
Thanking all our customers for their support so far in 2024 and here are our opening times over the festive season. 🌟🎄
And top tip, the donkeys arrive this afternoon to give you a smile as you shop. 🫏News 18 December 2024 | Like/Comment
From 2pm today, White House Farm school will be singing carols with us in the café. Come and feel festive....dogs welcome too! #feelingfestiveNews 11 December 2024 | Like/Comment
Tonight's ladybird slaw for the farmer;🐞
In the bottom of the salad bowl;
1 tsp mustard
A good lug of vinegar @willysacv
2 tsp chia seeds
Lashings of @nortonsdairy pouring yoghurt
Half a lemon squeezed
A lug of olive oil 🫒
Add:
2 apples, 2 carrots, 2 sticks of celery, half a small red cabbage, a few handfuls of kale all shredded.
One naughty ladybird that jumped in 🐞
(Or bushy barnacles as you funny Norfolk folk call them!) 😂
Topped with toasted cashews or nuts of your choice.
And perhaps some roasted chickpeas.
Sprinkle of sea salt.
Boom. 👌
Pairs perfectly with roast chicken or our award winning sausages. Plus plenty left (I hope) for a pack up tomorrow.
Celebrate the veg shed and love of local produce. 💪News 5 December 2024 | Like/Comment
Can we just say a thank you to the people of Norwich for being such a great bunch. This week the farmer lost his wallet, some superstar handed it in and a police lady delivered it to our door. Thank you team Norwich for looking after the farmer. He needs you! #norwich #visitnorwich #dogfriendly #indepedentbusiness #thefarmerneedsyouNews 17 October 2024 | Like/Comment- Today's the day to pick your pumpkins!! #makememoriesNews 12 October 2024 | Like/Comment
It's true, we will open our pumpkin patch this Saturday! 🎃
Due to all sorts of excuses from the farmer (farming related reasons apparently) there are only a limited amount of orange/green pumpkins and we do anticipate selling out fast. For the early bird, there even seem to be sunflowers growing in the same field! (You asked for those in August!)🌻
But that's farming for you....
🎃 Open from 9am on Saturday
🚜 Dress appropriately, the ground could be muddy/wet
🐩 Dog friendly, they are allowed in the café too, ideally on leads please to avoid a scene from Hairy Macclary.
📸 Tag us @whitehousefarmnorwich for your chance to win coffee and cake. This was our winner a few years ago. 👌
🍐 The cafe is open until 4pm.
#farmlife #farmer #cafe #halloween
#farmshop #butchery #awardwinningsausagesNews 9 October 2024 | Like/Comment
Friday's all day butty. 👌 #community #familyfarming #cafe #independentbusinesses #lovelocalNews 4 October 2024 | Like/Comment
Two chickens for £10 today! #farmshop #butchery #autumn #norwichbutcheryNews 24 September 2024 | Like/Comment
Recent reviews
- “Went here to today and had a lovely time. We had a lovely lunch, jacket potatoes filled with tuna with scrummy hot chocolates followed by the most yummy lemon drizzle cake.” Sarah L.
- “Considering it was busy the service was excellent . We had a lovely browse around the shops.
Will definitely be returning.”Lily P. - “Great butcher, fantastic meat, great coffee and cakes!” Jim B.
- “A Hidden Gem, I love this place as it has so much to offer, a lovely coffee shop with a real fire, a butchers with great local meats. The BBQ chicken kebabs are great. There are new businesses outside, Hairdressers, Florists, Nursery (children's) - lots on offer.” Brian G.
- “Lived in Sprowston for 20 years but this was my first visit to White House Farm. Wish we'd gone sooner. Lovely farm shop with great produce. We bought a couple of egg and bacon baps and ate them outside in the sunshine with two very nice coffees. Friendly and prompt service. Recommended.” Jonathan G.
- “The sausage rolls are amazing! Can't leave without one.”Sarah
- “Great place - a wonderful family run this place and are always very welcoming. Coffee, cakes, and GREAT butchers.”Nathan
- “Lovely family run cafe and shop, staff are very friendly and even though they were extremely busy, they still provided excellent service! We had a fabulous lunch with delicious soup and amazing cakes!”Beth
- “Wonderful place! Pleasure to drink coffee here”Aldona
- “Amazing place! The staff are so friendly, the sausage rolls are awesome and the chocolate cake was to die for. Coffee was fab too.”Vanessa
- “Lovely little shop and a very warm welcome. Wish we had more places like this back home.”Becca
- “Went here to today had a lovely time. We had a lovely lunch, jacket potatoes filled with tuna with scrummy hot chocolates followed by the most yummy lemon drizzle cake. Considering it was busy the service was excellent . We had a lovely browse around the shops. Will definitely be returning.”Sarah
- “Love the sausages and meat. Always fresh and tastes so much better than from anywhere else.”Carol
- “Visited today for the farmers market, first visit in a while, and very impressed with all the new additions here. Well worth a visit, keep up the good work.”Gary
- “What a wonderful place! I wish I had visited sooner. Delicious lunch and some fantastic local produce on sale in the shop. Very friendly staff. Will definitely be back!”Leyla
- “A really good work force. Good customer service, and most of all the food is good too.”Mike
- “This is our third year buying our Halloween pumpkins from White House Farm. The children love it and we love picking up a little extra in the Farm Shop. The White House Farm apple juice is divine.”Amy
- “Great cafe and fantastic farm shop. And the bonus of lovely little shops in the new converted barns”Darren
- “You wouldn't believe the city is nearby... Lovely... ”Ctibor
- “Simply a lovely place. PYO Paradise! Friendly and very professional family enterprise. Superb food: even the sausage rolls are in a class of their own! Well worth a visit.”David