Love your ice cream (Cheshire Ice Cream Farm)

Member Name: juleshobs

Product:	Cheshire Ice Cream Farm
Date:	29/05/08 (124 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Really delicious ice-cream

Disadvantages: not really enough there for a full day trip

Having just had a bank holiday and for once hubby was not working or watching some vitally important sporting event I decided that even though the weather was not wonderful that we all needed some fresh air and a trip to one of my favourite places was called for.

Off we went, children prized away from the X box and TV and herded into the car with cries of 'where are we going, its not shopping is it'. Once hubby and I could get a word in amongst the grumbles and complaints to tell them that we where off the the Ice Cream farm, calm and peace ensued from the back of the car which one little voice (Ok not so little daughter is 14) asking could we also go to the Candle Workshops also but will save that for another time.

Ice Cream making at the farm came about with the introduction of milk quotas in the 1980s and the farm had to come up with a solution for the extra milk that they produced and spotted a gap in the market for real diary ice cream and went into production and has grown into what we have today.

Getting to Cheshire Ice Cream Farm is quite easy and extremely well sign posted from the A41 Whitchurch to Chester road just follow the brown tourist board signs for the Ice Cream Farm. It's that easy even I can find my ways on the odd occasion that just me and the children go on our own.

The farm itself has beautiful surroundings and is overlooked by the twin peaks Beeston and Peckforton Castle so there is plenty to do in the area if you want to make a day of it, in addition you have some lovely country pubs and the Cheshire Candle workshops nearby.

Arriving at the farm there are a couple of options for parking, there are a few spaces within the farm itself, however, for the last four or five years it has always been far too busy when we have been to get a space here, but do not despair the farmer has set aside a field just across the road that is used as a car park and has plenty of spaces to cope on most days, but do beware we have ended up parking in the road on the grass verge before today due to the volume of visitors, especially if the sun is shining.

Now as the ice cream production and sales grew so did the facilities and attractions for the public and over the years we have always spent an hour or so on the farm dependant on the weather.

As you enter the farm on you right you find the entrance to the the Cheshire Farm Falconry via a turnstile gate where you can view the birds of prey in enclosures - it is worth noting that all birds have been captive bred. You can also pre-book to spend some time with 'hands on' experience with the birds; this must be done in advance. It is not a very large falconry but it is a pleasant walk through the garden by the lake and trees with a breeze and a bit of sunshine.

The Ice Cream Parlour

Today the farm offers over 30 different flavours of ice-cream and a small selection of sorbets and the flavours vary from good old vanilla to blackcurrant and liquorice,. You can even get Sherry Trifle and Christmas pudding flavours as part of the seasonal flavours that are available. I have not tried either of these yet but do intend to do so. To help you decide there is also a list of flavours around the central pillar in the ice cream parlour.

If you can't decide what flavour you wish to try you can ask for a free sample which is given to you on a plastic shovel (the type you used to get in the cinema or theatre that went with a small tub of ice cream). You may even be lucky and get to try a new flavour as they are tried on customer for feedback before being produced in any large quantities. Once you have decided what flavour ice cream to have you then have to choose between 5 cones or even have it with a waffle.

You can then either sit inside the ice cream parlour or take you cone with you and have a wander outside.

Plain cones currently priced at £1.50.
Tubs start around £3.75 for standard flavours but do increase in price for the luxury flavours.

Team Room & Gift Shop.

These kind of fall into one as although they are separate in that the tables are not mixed in with the gifts they are essentially one building spilt into two parts with no dividing wall.

The gift shop is not really much different for any other gift shop full of tat the really is not worth buying but you will anyway and very cramped. There are some locally made jams and preserves that are available to purchase but they are a bit pricy.

The tea room has ample seating and extends quite far back and although we have never eaten there the selection on offer appears to be good with home made cakes, sandwiches, soup, beans on toast, so nothing fancy but enough to keep you going if you plan on spending a long time here.

Farm Shop.

There is also a farm shop of sorts which sells local produce including fresh fruit and veg, fresh made sausages and burgers, jams, pickles and a small variety of drinks, a bottle of flavoured water cost £0.95 when we where there and it was a brand made with fresh juice and tasted nice. We have bought some port and apple burgers from the shop in the passt and again this week we bought some more and I have to say we have not been disappointed with the quality and taste.

Animal Corner

Aaah cute animals - these are located in the barn at the back of the public area and contains a pot bellied pig called Paddy, Pygmy goats who where a bit frisky on Monday and some of the smaller children around where asking their parents some probing questions. Llamas - beware they spit and you are up close and personal with them, one in particular always like to stand and stare you out and is quite intimidating. Right at the end of the barn are some Miniature Sicilian donkeys which are really cute. Outside there are bunnies and sometimes guinea pigs but only cute fluffy bunnies this time and we had a great time watching them fight over a piece of carrot.

Under 6's play area.

There is an enclosed play area for the little ones who can get a bit bored at times and although my two are far too old I did stick my head in to have a look. Though not overly furnished this is quite a basic play area with some ride-on toys, a slide and a few other bits, naturally parental supervision is a must.

Outdoor play area.

This was a new item added last year and is a testament to the ongoing development of this attraction. Basically this an adventure playground with the structure being able to cater for older and younger children, climbing frames, turrets, bridges etc - similar to what you would find in a decent pub that caters for families.

Viewing Gallery

From 3.30pm its milking time and you can watch the cows being milked, small children will need to be lifted up to see through the glass but this is always a good item of interest for the young ones, my two used to watch for ages when they where smaller.

There is also an area now set aside next to the viewing gallery where you can see new calves with their mums, they are in covered shelter with lots of hay and looked extremely happy. It was lovely to see the calves sleeping in the hay and it's a pity I can't add pictures so you could all see as well.

They main public area is well planted with lots of seasonal plants and there is some seating outside also. Toilets are also available and on the odd occasions that we have needed to use them have always found them in a clean condition.

Anyway back to the whole point of our visit - the ice-cream. This time we sampled between us a few flavours, I like to try a different one each time, though I do have some favourites. This time for me it was Ferrero Rocher flavour which was nice but not quite the flavour I was expecting. My daughter had chocolate cookie flavour and this contains large pieces of chocolate cookie and has a really good chocolate creamy flavour. My son sticks to the same couple of flavours but does want to try everyone else and he opted for honeycomb which is vanilla ice cream with large chunks of honeycomb and streaks of toffee in it and is delicious. For hubby it was Strawberries and cream which is one of my favourites, real strawberries and very creamy.

All ice creams we have tried have been of excellent quality, delicious and even unusual at times but never horrible in any way that you could not eat them. The rich creamy home made flavour does make them outstanding in taste and texture and I am sure you would not be disappointed if you tried them.

You can also purchase tubs of ice cream to take home with you and there is a large amount of flavours on offer. The more popular as also available in larger sizes and they also sell a range of diabetic ice cream and I always get mum one of these when we visit as a treat. We bought a few tubs this time, Baileys, Honeycomb, Rum and Raisin, Forrest Fruits and Butterscotch, make sure you have the space in your freezer before you leave. All purchases are well wrapped in newspaper to keep them cold and you can also purchase insulated freezer bags to take your purchases home also. For use the newspaper wrapping is sufficient with a 45 minutes drive approx.

Now don't despair if can't get there, Cheshire Farm Ice cream is sold elsewhere and you can call 01829 770995 to see if there is a local shop in your area that stocks this.

On the whole a great attraction with more than just going to buy an ice creamy two still enjoy coming here even though they are both now teenagers, maybe its just the ice cream that attracts my son but my soppy daughters really loves the animals and I am sure if she could would smuggle a few out and bring them home.

The Farm also caters for group visits including schools trips and coach parties.

Admission - Free

Opening Times -
1st April to 31st October - 10am to 5.30pm daily
1st Nov to 31st March 10.30 am to 5.00 pm daily except for Christmas and New Year.

The farm does shut for a couple of weeks early in the New Year dates and times can be checked directly with them at enquiries@cheshirefarmicecream.co.uk

For Birds of Prey experience day call 07888 730406 - Jimmi Hill

Full address
Cheshire Farm Ice Cream,
Tattenhall,
Chester,
Cheshire.
CH3 9NE

For more info visit www.cheshirefarmicecream.co.uk

Summary: A great place all year round.