Chocolate Brownie festive menu at Cobbs, Stratford — Festive lunch with a chocolate brownie?

LOCATION

Cobbs Farm drone shot — Cobbs drone shot

Four miles from Stratford-upon-Avon just outside the village of Snitterfield where Shakespeare’s father John, the son of a farmer, grew up. It’s a popular stop for cyclists and walkers as is located on the Monarch’s Way walk – the longest inland trail in England, a 214 mile from Stratford through the Cotswolds and ending at the Jurassic Coast.

THE LOWDOWN

Cobbs at Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the newer locations in the Cobbs stable. Established in 2007, there are three more in Englefield, Hungerford and Winchester. Stratford joined the trio in 2023.

It’s come a long way in eight years – the land was originally a fruit farm until 2017 when it underwent a huge redevelopment and was transformed into one of the finest farm shops in the county. It won the Muddy Award for Best Farm Shop in 2022.

The menu is legendary – simple but utterly delicious – offering breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, a cheeky Sunday lunch and plenty of coffee, cocktails, tea and cake in between.

Festive Afternoon Tea at Cobbs, Stratford

In the run up to Christmas come with your girlfriends and treat yourselves to a Festive Afternoon Tea, on until 4 Jan (£25 per person or £28 with a glass of fizz) and you can now enjoy two or three courses from their Festive Lunch, until 21 Dec (£28.95 or £35.95).

Don’t miss their array of fun seasonal events either.

Get into the festive spirit at the fabulous Christmas Maker’s Market, 29 Nov, a day filled with everything from mulled wine to mince pies,local craftsmanship, a face painter, Elf Balloon Artist and a visit from Father Christmas himself. Beautiful traditional Nordmann fir Christmas trees will also be on sale.

Polytunnel of Nordmann fir Christmas trees at Cobbs, Stratford

Families can enjoy A Magical Visit with Father Christmas on 13 and 14 Dec and retro vocalist Amy Price will be bringing a sprinkle of vintage glamour to a retro Christmas Soiree, 19 Dec, which includes a festive platter and a glass of warm mulled wine.

THE VIBE

Upmarket rural rustic. The black shiplap barn has been transformed into a contemporary one-stop shop.

Main features include: a farm shop brimming with local and seasonal products and a well-stocked eco-refill section, butchery, bakery, delicatessen – with homemade pies, pasties and quiches – lush café, (and an outdoor café kiosk in a converted shepherd’s hut), kids play area, polytunnels, farm animals and outdoor nursery.

Inside food and household items are stacked in market-esque open baskets and on the day I visit there’s all kinds of autumnal squashes and pumpkins. Displays are written on chalkboards and there’s loads of knowledgeable staff waiting to offer advice.

I really like the ‘What’s in Season Board’ and featured ‘ Supplier of the Month’.

This Christmas you can order your Christmas feast from their online shop for the first time including free-range turkeys, three varieties of quiche, jumbo sausage rolls, British cheeses and desserts such as homemade treacle and clementine tart.

The butchers is top quality with grass-fed beef and free range lamb, chicken and pork, all traceable and ethically soured. Outside there’s plenty of space to wander, polytunnels and PYO seasonal fruit such as apples and pears.

Gift shop at Cobbs Farm Shop, Snitterfield, Stratford.

There’s also a lovely gifts section great for Christmas stocking fillers, and birthday pressies. These cute Christmas tree decorations work just as well on on top of a wine-bottle!

Christmas decorations, Cobbs Farm Shop, Stratford

SUPPORT LOCAL

Foodie items from local and regional UK producers range from Stratford-upon-Avon honey to Slabb chocolate produced on-site, Wythall’s Love Lane Brownies and Merrylegs Apple Juice produced at a small market garden in Bidford-on-Avon and Worcestershire’s family-run Wychbold Fudge, plus there’s local free-range eggs and artisan breads. Cakes are on offer from bakers including Stratford institution Cookie Cottage, and Somerset’s popular Pullin’s Bakery – their artisan mine pies sold out last Christmas!

Shakespeare Distillery gin. Cobbs Farm Shop, Stratford

There’s wine from local vineyards like Welcombe Hills created just down the road. There’s also Shakespeare Distillery and Cobb’s own reasonably priced gin, vodka and soon to launch, tequila then whiskey in 2026, and various ales and ciders from local producers including Napton Cider. Low and no alcohol ranges are available too.

Cobbs own gin, Cobbs Farm Shop, Stratford — Cobb’s own gin range

SCOFF & QUAFF

I popped in midweek for a working lunch before the Christmas rush. You access the café-restaurant by walking through the farm shop. This is the danger zone, because all the produce looks soooo tempting.

The restaurant is cosy and understated with exposed beams, wooden farmhouse kitchen tables and chairs, and a pleasant outdoor courtyard. It’s light, bright, and stylish. Be warned, the secret is well and truly out, so if you want a guaranteed table at the weekend, you’re better off booking.

At the time of our reservation, the buzzy café was a hive of activity made up of mum and baby get togethers, working lunches, couples, groups of friends, and a few other people working remotely on laptops.

After ogling the menu, I went for an Autumn Shakshuka – a smoked paprika and chilli spiced stew with poached free-range egg on top with warm baguette, perfect for dunking. It was lovely and warming with just the right amount of ‘kick’ and available for breakfast and lunch.

Also popular I hear is the fully-loaded Breakfast Bap with sausage patty from Cobbs butchers’, the Autumn/Winter Nourish, Bowl, and Raclette Rarebit – a Cobbs’ cheese scone slab topped with a mix of raclette cheese, English cider & Dijon mustard, topped with thyme roasted tomatoes and a fried free-range
egg.

With so many great looking bakes to choose from I opted for a slice of the autumnal sticky toffee cake to go with my flat white – and not a soggy bottom in sight. Mary Berry would have done a happy dance.

KID-FRIENDLY

The laid-back vibe and outdoor spaces for grown up and kids make it a solid destination for families. The play area and farm animals are a big draw especially when all the baby animals arrive in spring – most recently lambs and ducklings. It’s not a petting farm but these are happy free-range pigs, goats, sheep and chickens living their best life. Kids are well-catered on the food front too with a Bambino’s children’s menu for breakfast and lunch and a mini-Sunday roast.

DOG FRIENDLY

Yes, well-behaved dogs are very welcome. Next to the main glass-fronted entrance there’s gourmet dog food, including a roast dinner dog bowl by award-winning ethical brand Sir Woofchester, plus treats and a bowl of water. Pups are welcome too in the covered seating area outside and you can order from the kiosk. It’s great for ‘walkies’ with Cobbs being on the pretty Monarch’s Way – make a stop at the café en route.

OUT & ABOUT

If you do want to venture out and you’ve got the kids with you then head for a walk, picnic or boat ride along the River Avon or look out for one of the RSC’s brill holiday workshops. Explore Anne Hathaway’s Cottage with its lovely woodland walks, the deer park and historic National Trust Tudor property at Charlecote or superb family-friendly Compton Verney with its woodland adventure playground and cool arty activities.

There’s watersports and horse riding at Wootton Park (and you can book in to stop overnight in a glamping pod too).

If you’re child-free for the day then catch a show at the RSC and stop at The Arden just a stone’s throw away – or if relaxation is the name of the game then check out Studley Castle with The Stables spa.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Families, coffee lovers, brunchers and remote workers looking for homely, unpretentious food. Cobbs Farm Shop and Café delivers foodie joy whether you’re going wild in the farm shop aisles or grazing in the stylish café/ restaurant. Countryside views and a farm to fork ethos ensures your treat is guilt-free and fresh as it comes. Caters for kids, veggies, vegans and anyone who is gluten-free.

Not for: Formal foodies looking for starched tablecloths and hawkish waiting staff. It’s an unfussy dining spot – and we’re here for it

The damage: Breakfast dishes start at £5.99, with a full English £14.99, and veggie and vegan versions £13.99, plus kids Little Farmer’s English £5.99 on the Bambino menu. The fully-loaded Breakfast Bap, is £10.99 and Autumn Shakshuka £12.99 – lunches are around the same price point. Reasonable for food of this quality.

Cobbs at Stratford, Kings Lane, Snitterfield, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 0QA.

Review: Lunch at Cobbs Farm Shop, Stratford-upon-Avon

You may also like