A new farm shop and café is opening on the outskirts of Honiton offering a lush green haven for a selection of fine refreshments, or a fun day out with the little ones.

Heron Farm in Weston is the product of a lifelong dream for the Helliwell family, who moved there in 2018.

Back in June of last year, Honiton Nub News enjoyed an exclusive tour of the vineyards and were invited back for a sneak preview in the run up to the grand opening of the café and farm shop; with adjoining kitchen garden, mezzanine function space and bespoke children's play area.

Peter and Christine have worked solidly on bringing their vision into being, and despite the adversity of a global pandemic, are excited to finally announce an opening date on 2 September 2020.

"Due to the situation everything has been delayed several months," they explained.

"We were supposed to open in June, so have missed the whole summer and are now having to operate on a reduced capacity.

"It's been tough and very stressful at times, there's no denying it - but we're just excited now and can't wait for people to come and share it with us.

"We've had a lot of support from the community to get us to the point we're at now and are grateful to so many people.

"We're also fortunate that we've got a lot of outdoor space - that always was the plan - but it works in our favour even more now."

People visiting Heron Farm can enjoy vineyard tours, locally sourced food and drink prepared by a top chef; plus gardens and orchards full of rare and beautiful plant species.

It is perfect for children, who will love exploring the fairy trail and seeing the animals; including the world's smallest breed of sheep, chickens and the soon-to-arrive Pygmy goats.

"Local, or hyperlocal, is a huge part of what we do. We use local suppliers, local tradesmen and local produce on the menu and in the shop," they continued.

"Our café will serve a proper breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea - plus organic, locally roasted speciality coffee."

The menu will be relatively simple and seasonal, with the focus on quality - incorporating produce from their own garden.

They added: "We know a local fisherman who is going to be supplying us with the catch of the day, so our chef is going to be quite creative with the specials."

Get in touch for information on booking parties, functions and vineyard tours and check the Heron Farm website for all the latest news.