Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall turns his River Cottage farm into a takeaway in latest Covid lockdown

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall turns his River Cottage farm into a takeaway after being forced to close in latest Covid lockdown

  • The farm on the Devon and Dorset border is to serve-up three-course dinners 
  • The 100-acre site was forced to close earlier this month due to new lockdown
  • Site usually hosts cooking classes as well as wedding receptions and parties
  • But the takeaways will only be for locals, who will have to pick-up from the farm 

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is to launch a takeaway service at his River Cottage farm in a bid to beat tough new lockdown restrictions.

The 100-acre farm on the Devon and Dorset border is to serve-up chef-prepared three-course dinners during lockdown.

The farm-to-fork focused site – which usually hosts cooking classes as well as wedding receptions and parties – was forced to shut its doors earlier this month due to the new restrictions.

However fans of the celebrity chef – whose River Cottage farm project shot to fame in a Channel 4 series – will only be able to enjoy the tasty takeaway if they are local.

Those wanting to tuck into the meals, which include options such as organic beef goulash and white onion, quince and pumpkin seed soup, will have to pick-up the takeaways from the Axminster site.

A post on the farm’s Instagram page announcing the scheme said: ‘Well, here we go again!

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is to launch a takeaway service at his River Cottage farm in a bid to beat tough new lockdown restrictions.

The 100-acre farm on the Devon and Dorset border is to serve-up chef-prepared three-course dinners during lockdown

The 100-acre farm on the Devon and Dorset border is to serve-up chef-prepared three-course dinners during lockdown

‘Following the Government’s announcement of another lockdown, River Cottage is sadly forced to close its doors and farm gates throughout January.

‘Since we heard, we have been busy rearranging all the events that will not be going ahead this month to ensure our guests will still get to visit.

‘And in further positive news, we are also going to be offering a takeaway service from River Cottage HQ on Saturdays.

‘Thank you for your patience in these tricky times, and we hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well.’

The farm-to-fork focused site, which features in the celebrity chef’s Channel 4 show ‘River Cottage’, had to close its doors earlier this month when the latest measures were announced. 

The farm had only just reopened shortly before Christmas having been hit hard by restrictions.

It had been in Tier 2 and had been welcoming guests from December 2.

Now it will have to rearrange everyone imminently booked on its cookery courses.

The farm also has a BnB and hosts weddings and parties, which now cannot go ahead.

Named the ‘Supper Club’, its takeaways are £20 a head and this week there are several mouth-watering options on offer.

Named the 'Supper Club', its takeaways are £20 a head and this week there are several mouth-watering options on offer

Named the ‘Supper Club’, its takeaways are £20 a head and this week there are several mouth-watering options on offer

Punters can tuck into carrot, caraway, quince and thyme soup with organic lemon and garlic granary bread, slow-cooked organic lamb and apricot tagine and sticky toffee pudding with treacle toffee sauce and creamy River Cottage organic yoghurt.

A description on the River Cottage website reads: ‘The Supper Club is a three-course meal, prepared by our talented chefs and available for you to enjoy in the comfort and safety of your own home.

‘The food will be freshly-prepared and available for you to collect and reheat to help make your Saturday nights at home a little bit special.

‘These meals will be the same high quality and delicious organic food you would expect from River Cottage HQ.’

Fearnley-Whittingstall’s brand also runs a restaurant in Axminster but others in Winchester and Bristol have closed.

The chef has also been forced to furlough members of his team.