When it comes to farm shops in Gloucestershire, names like Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm and Daylesford Organic Farm Shop often steal the spotlight. You might even think of the upscale Gloucester Services on the M5. But off the beaten path, nestled along the busy A419 between Stroud and Cirencester, lies a lesser-known treasure: Jolly Nice farm shop.
Upon my visit, I nearly missed the entrance and had to double back, a reminder that this unpretentious spot is a well-kept secret. The expansive site reveals itself beyond the muddy, authentic farm-style car park, featuring a farm shop on one side, a welcoming café and bar on the other, and a field in between complete with a lambing shed and a lingering Christmas ice rink.
The farm shop itself is surprisingly vast. Inside, you enter a miniature garden centre brimming with plants and pots, before discovering dome tents stocked with jam, condiments, risotto mixes, teas, coffees, biscuits, and much more. Fresh organic breads, including gluten-free options, sit alongside fresh produce, a deli, a butcher, and an array of home décor items like soaps, candles, and crockery. You can even squeeze your own fresh orange juice or fill up on luxury organic milk sourced from local Guernsey cows.
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The café is a cosy haven constructed within a large, domed tent adorned with fairy lights and warmed by a crackling fire. Despite seating for about 150, it feels intimate and inviting. The menu strikes a great balance between classic farm shop staples—like sausage rolls, bacon baps, and Scotch eggs—and heartier offerings such as toasties, hot seasonal soups, and gourmet burgers in brioche buns. The fully licensed bar showcases local wines, spirits, ales, and ciders, proudly noting the proximity of several breweries, including Stroud Brewery just four miles away.
I opted for a triple cheese and onion toastie, brimming with cheese sourced from nearby Somerset and Dorset farms, paired with an elderflower cordial from Devon’s Luscombe Organic. Served with a side of chips in a charming wicker picnic hamper, the meal cost £16.15—slightly steep for a toastie, but reasonable for the quality and setting. Compared to Daylesford’s Croque Madame at £22, it felt like a bargain.
My toastie was perfectly crisp with caramelised onions, and I barely made a dent in the generous portion of chips. After lunch, exploring the farm shop’s extensive selection revealed just how much Jolly Nice has to offer—far more than its modest exterior suggests.
While it might not warrant a full-day visit, Jolly Nice farm shop and café makes an excellent destination for a relaxed morning or afternoon out. It combines delicious local food, a warm atmosphere, and an impressive variety of products that make it easy to take home a little piece of this Gloucestershire gem. For those seeking authenticity beyond the usual celebrity-fuelled stops, Jolly Nice is well worth the detour.