Cakes and Ale (and Cider)

We went for Tea & Cakes at Wing Hall this weekend. And if that sounds like a grand day out, well it was. Very grand!

Wing Hall is an impressive Victorian country house located in the lovely rolling Rutlandshire countryside between Oakham and Uppingham. It's a proper peaceful stretch of countryside too, and the family have exploited this by offering a range of holiday accommodation, most obviously through camping and caravanning in the grounds close to the hall. There's fishing for those that want it, and most importantly from our perspective, a terrific Farm & Village Shop and associated Veranda Cafe.

The shop specialises in a wide range of locally sourced produce, including one of our own favourites, the yummy breads from nearby Hambelton Bakery. It's one of those really useful 'little-bit-of-everything' shops, providing a genuine service to villagers as well as those using the campsite.

Then there's the terrific homemade cakes, generous slices of which can be enjoyed in the shop itself, or on the lovely garden terrace accompanied by the gentle cluck-cluck of free-range hens. We had Chocolate, and very moreish Carrot & Walnut. The Veranda Cafe opens at the weekend from Friday evening, and is fully licenced to serve local ales, wines, and our own Rockingham Forest Cider*. We'd obviously recommend the cider as a perfect accompaniment to the home cooking, and fully intend to try the experience for ourselves in the near future.

*The cider is also available for takeaway from the farmshop.