Stories are about people.
Cumbria might have more sheep than people – six times as many – but the Cumbrians certainly know how to deliver on camera.
Channel 4’s new series A Lake District Farm Shop tells all.
It’s based at Tebay Service Station, a motorway services business owned by a farming family, that cooks real food and sells prize local produce.
Without doubt… the best service station in Britain.
The films are excellent. Well shot, with good use of drones to capture things like Herdwicks up a hill and the beauty of autumn in the Lakes.
In episode one, to be shown tonight, we meet the characters.
Sisters Tina and Jayne have worked as cleaners at Tebay for more than 30 years. They tell us: “If we weren’t ‘ere this spot would fall apart!”
We meet master butcher Dave, who’s just bursting with passion and pride about his beef, lamb and mutton.
We meet the farmers, the cheese-makers, the bakers.
We meet Bing Cao, the young owner of Wabi Sabi, a Japanese restaurant in Ambleside. We go foraging in the Cumbrian woods with him and his wife as they hunt for mushrooms to fulfil his vision for the takeaway ramen kit to sell at Tebay.
We meet former Harrod’s buyer, now head buyer at Tebay, Alex who has the almost impossible job of choosing what food the service station sells.
‘I’m naturally a polite person but sometimes I just have say no,’ he says.
We meet the farmer John Dunning who saw the M6 motorway go through his land and had the gumption to set up Tebay Service Station in 1972. Smart.
Tebay is based at Orton, on the ascent from the Lune Valley. It is surrounded by wildlife and beauty. It is run by the Westmorland Family. It feels like a family. A Cumbrian family
This series bursts with Cumbrian characters.
Cumbrian pride. Top quality Cumbrian produce. Enjoy it.
A Lake District Farm Shop’s first episode was broadcast last night at 8pm and is now available on catch-up. The second episode will be on Channel 4 next Saturday.
More about A Lake District Farmshop
A Lake District Farmshop goes out with a zesty flourish. Read more here.
Read more about the documentary here.
Meet the record-breaking potter who stars in episode two here.
1.4 million people tune in to the first episode – read about the reaction here.
Meet the butcher and baker who star in the first episode here.
