Neston Park Farm Shop

Bath Road, Atworth (01225) 700881

Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm

IT'S sunny, so we should eat outside and Neston Park Farm Shop, recently overhauled by the food-loving people behind Hartley Farm in Winsley, seemed the ideal place to pick up some picnic provisions.

The timber and glass building, in a lovely spot and fronted by a pretty garden and play area, has a spacious cafe and large shop, with a range of tempting produce including homemade pies, tartlets, terrines and antipasti such as olives, artichokes and dips.

We wanted bread and some bits to go with it so a loaf of nutty spelt from the Bath-based Bertinet bakery (£2.50) was the perfect partner for Manuka Salmon Pate (£3.54), a 2014 Great Taste Award winner that blends hefty chunks of salmon with Greek yoghurt, lemon juice and chives. A pot of organic Thai rice salad (£1.50) made us feel virtuous (and it was reduced) – a satisfying mix of brown rice, carrot, toasted nuts, onion and green beans in a tangy coconut and lime dressing.

Elderflower Bubbly and Ginger Beer (£1.79 each) from the Somerset-based Bradley's Quench went into the basket as well, alongside two deliciously sweet 'doughnut' peaches (50p each) that served as dessert.

Food always tastes better in the garden but I'd have been more than satisfied with that platter on a wet and windy Wednesday.

At £12.12 it was considerably more pricey than a Sainsbury's meal deal but who cares when it might be raining tomorrow?

Andrea Ball