The Village Shop at the heart of the Bolton Abbey Estate has reopened following a major refurbishment, with a renewed commitment to local sourcing and a brand-new product range – including high quality produce from local suppliers and the Chatsworth Estate.
First opened in 1998, the shop has long served the local community, holiday cottage guests and day visitors alike. Its latest revamp ensures it remains a welcoming hub, whilst also introducing a fresh retail experience that champions Yorkshire producers and artisan craftsmanship as a convenient one-stop-shop for local people.
Following a three-day refurbishment, the shop now offers a carefully curated balance of fresh food and giftware, supported by new visual merchandising and an enhanced layout. A significant share of the food selection is drawn from suppliers within 30 miles, while all fresh items are proudly Yorkshire-sourced, including honey produced from hives on the estate itself.
New stock from the Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop is also now available at Bolton Abbey, marking the first time products from the much-loved, award-winning Derbyshire shop have been sold on the Yorkshire estate. These additions include favourites such as Chatsworth Heather Honey, Duchess’s Lime Marmalade with Pineapple, English Apple Juice and Duck Rillette.
Giftware, meanwhile, continues to celebrate the best of British makers, featuring handmade walking sticks, Abraham Moon throws, and laundry products from Little Beau Sheep. A strong creative thread runs through the shop’s offering, with items from regional artists and writers, such as Jenny Irving, Mandy Sutter and Paul Redshaw, as well as greeting cards by local photographer Audy Aughey.
A new ‘grab & go’ coffee bar has also been introduced, extending the offer to suit shoppers, walkers, cyclists and campers on the move. This complements the existing ice cream kiosk and aligns with the shop’s aim to serve both regulars and new visitors.
Heidi Beattie, Estate Director at Bolton Abbey, said:
The Village Shop has always held a special place in the fabric of Bolton Abbey, and this new chapter reflects our pride in the incredible artisans and growers located on our doorstep, creating an accessible and welcoming space for all.
We’ve set out to celebrate the delicious produce sourced from local suppliers throughout Yorkshire that share our commitment to quality and sustainability, with a particular focus on those within a 30-mile radius.
We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support of our customers and are looking forward to welcoming people within our community and beyond to share in the fantastic produce that our region has to offer.
Open daily from 10am to 5:30pm, the shop continues to serve as a vital resource for the Bolton Abbey community and a popular stop-off for visitors to the estate.
- The North Yorkshire estate of Bolton Abbey extends to some 30,000 acres in the Yorkshire Dales. This rural beauty spot is prized for its variety of terrain, with half of the area being moorland, as well ancient woodlands, newly planted deciduous plantations, rocky outcrops, valleys and waterfalls, with the five mile stretch of the River Wharfe as its lifeblood.
- This thriving estate is sustainably managed to protect its future and to encourage the diversity of wildlife and other inhabitants to flourish upon its land. The estate is home to no less than six sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) that are recognised for their unique habitats which support several breeding bird populations. In addition, there are 48 tenant farmers, around 80 rural businesses, fly fishers, keen walkers, tourists and local residents – the estate offers something special for all.
- Since it was first made accessible to the public by the 6th Duke of Devonshire in the early 1800s, generations of families, once fuelled by the Embsay and Bolton Abbey heritage steam railway locomotives, continue to enjoy this unique pocket of the British countryside.
- There are many amenities to enhance a day spent here, including tearooms, individual gift shops and other retailers, secure car parking and a network of accessible pathways catering for a variety of needs and abilities to explore the riverside and countryside. Visitors come from far and wide too to enjoy the estate, where flora and fauna are encouraged to thrive. Along with rare plant species and seasonal favourites such as bluebells, heather and wonderful fungi, remarkable animal species such as otter, roe deer, buzzard and kingfisher can also be spotted on a visit to the estate.
Devonshire Group
- The Devonshire Group brings together the charities, businesses and estates in the care of the Devonshire family, including Chatsworth in Derbyshire, the Bolton Abbey Estate in North Yorkshire, the Lismore Estate in County Waterford, and the Compton Estate in Sussex.
- The Group’s main enterprises span visitor, retail, food and drink and accommodation businesses, residential and commercial property and property development, and sustainable forestry and farming, employing over 1400 people in the UK and Ireland.
- The Devonshire Group is committed to preserving, restoring and enhancing the heritage assets in its care for future generations, and to being a significant contributor to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of its communities.
