Coxs@Spencer's Farm Shop

Cox’s at Spencer’s Farm Shop at Wickham St Paul, between Halstead and Sudbury, is a family-run farm shop with seasonal picking on site. From late September to 31 October you can choose your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch to carve at home. From 1 November to 24 December the farm sells Christmas trees, pot-grown from small trees up to large commercial sizes, alongside tree stands, fruit and traditional wreaths, decorations, wrapping paper and cards. Each Easter the farm runs an Easter egg trail.

The shop sells fresh fruit and vegetables, much of it sourced from local farms, including soft fruits, asparagus and a range of apple varieties in season, along with meat supplied daily by a local butcher, bread from a local baker, and quiches, pies, cakes, scones and sausage rolls made on site. Carter’s Café next to the shop serves cooked breakfasts, light lunches, afternoon teas and a Sunday roast, and the café and veranda can be hired for private functions. Harper Rose Flowers has a permanent space inside the shop. Outside there is an enclosed children’s play area with goats and a goat bridge, and a mini crazy golf course at £3 per person or £10 for four players.

The farm is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm, and closed on Mondays.

What visitors say

The farm shop sells fruit, vegetables, meat, cakes, plants and flowers, and the cafe serves breakfast, lunch and Sunday roast. The scones are warm and light, and portions generous. The staff are friendly and the shop clean. The fresh fruit looks good but lacks flavour, spoils quickly, and is pricey for the quality. The cafe kitchen closes earlier than the hours shown online.

Pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries and cherries were a draw, but recent visits found the picking overgrown with weeds and nettles, and strawberry picking has since stopped. The play area, farm animals, tractors and crazy golf keep children busy, though the equipment is wonky and the garden awkward for wheelchairs. Parking is gravel, flat but tight for some pushchairs and wheelchairs.