KEEN foodies are invited to a free tasting day at Rumwell Farm Shop to help officially kick off the countdown to Christmas.

The venue is hosting the Taste of Rumwell event on Saturday (October 28) from 9am until 4pm.

Anne Mitchell, partner at the award-winning farm shop and café, said: “We’d love it if people joined us on Saturday, when we’ll be hosting our free tasting event featuring many of our finest products, as well as those from a selection of our suppliers too.

“We’ll be showcasing our own homegrown and reared produce, as well as our Made at Rumwell range and some of our 2023 Taste of the West award-winning products.

"To add to this, we’ll be welcoming many of our suppliers on-site too. Admission is free.”

The event will be in the new Rumwell Orchard extension and includes stalls hosted by the farm shop’s gluten free kitchen, deli, bakery, jam kitchen and butchery teams, as well as stands featuring many of its suppliers and producers.

Mrs Mitchell added: “Among those attending are House of Sarunds Confectionery, which makes wonderful chocolates, Heritage Charcuterie, Dryad Gin, which is a new small-batch gin made on the Quantocks, and Devon farm cider makers Sandford Orchards.

“Tolchards, which supplies our Rumwell Orchard bar, will be bringing some Prosecco and potentially some other alcoholic drinks for people to sample too.

“Our award-winning café team will also be providing samples of hot chocolate and our bakery will be offering tasters of its mince pies, Christmas cake and rock cakes.

“Come along and sample some sweet and savoury products and chat to the teams who make them to find out more.

"It promises to be a wonderful day of tastings, which will be a great pre-amble to our official countdown to the festivities.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to give you plenty of ‘food for thought’ when it comes to planning your festive spread whether you’re hosting on December 25 or doing the Boxing Day buffet.

“Bring your little ones and they can have a go at decorating a pumpkin or ghost shaped biscuit to take home for Halloween too. £2 per biscuit with proceeds to our Charity of the Year, Age UK Somerset.”