It may be distinctly wintry, but Mackenzies Yorkshire Smokehouse, is a wonderful place to enjoy a warming meal or a hot drink in their cosy cafe. Their smokehouse and farm shop are set amidst the beautiful Blubberhouse Moor, near Harrogate.
Once revived and refreshed, you can enjoy a stroll around the farm shop and browse a couple of boutique shops, Pure Natural Therapy and Farm Interiors.
The farm shop has an extensive range of the finest smoked fish, poultry and game, and cheese to choose from as well as a long butchery counter with handmade sausages, home-cured bacon, and cooked meats.
There’s also a huge cheese and deli counter; an artisan bakery; loose-fill dry goods dispensers; and your orange juice won’t be any fresher than when you squeeze it yourself in-store. In the freezers, there’s a range of loose frozen produce, high-quality ready-meals, and exquisite desserts.
Mackenzie’s also stock vegetables and fruit, plus local produce such as yoghurts, cheeses, pies, and cakes. Breads are brought in from Baltzersens of Harrogate and I can never resist a cinnamon bun to take home.
They are fully licensed and offer fine wines, local and small-scale suppliers are well represented, including an outstanding choice of gins.
The café has recently reopened, and the menu seems to get bigger and better. As it has become so popular, I do recommend booking.
What’s on the menu? Whatever time of day you visit, you’ll find a wide selection of freshly cooked and locally sourced (where possible) food and there are always vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Breakfast Enjoy breakfast between 10am and 11.30am, choosing from a wide menu that ranges from a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausages, bacon, hash browns, tomato, beans and toast to a lighter bite of a toasted teacake.
There is a bottomless family brunch at the weekend with pancakes and Yorkshire honey plus Baltzerens cruffins!! Coffee & cake This will put you in the difficult – but very enjoyable – position of choosing from numerous cakes and bakes. All are made locally and delivered daily, and there is always a selection of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan cakes. Lunch Look out for winter warmers like chicken & mushroom pie – perfect with an accompanying glass of red wine or local beer. And if you want something lighter, there are sandwiches, toasties, soups, and salads. Children Younger visitors can choose from their own menu, or the kitchen is happy to serve smaller portions of the main menu – just ask. They can also have free pizza during the week for that after school treat.
And with all the usual pantry staples, Mackenzies Farm Shop is a genuine one-stop-shop. It’s in a beautiful Yorkshire Dales setting and has extensive free parking.
Mackenzies Farm Shop,
Wood Nook Farm, Hardisty Hill,
Blubberhouses, LS21 2PQ
01943 880369