A Culinary Delight... The Bodnant Welsh Food Centre

The Bodnant Welsh Food Centre is a true culinary delight. Buy locally produced food in the farm shop including a butcher and bakery; eat at the Hayloft Restaurant or Furnace Tea Room or why not learn how to do it yourself at the Cookery or Wine School?

You will find it by Furnace Farm on the Bodnant Estate, which is itself located right in the heart of Conwy county, a lovely area that sits on the edges of the Snowdonia National Park, on the banks of the Conwy Estuary.

Furnace Farm itself is a beautiful location, being a range of stately stone farm buildings that date back to the 18th century. But the architecture is not the main reason that Furnace Farm attracts so many visitors.

No, that honour instead goes to the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre. This is a prime example of why Wales’ reputation as a nation of passionate foodies and culinary wizards has been growing lately. The Centre has won a multitude of awards for its fantastic produce, and it makes for a great place to visit, whether for a quick slice of cake in the tea room or for a longer stay in the farmhouse.

It would take all day to try and tell you about everything that the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre has to offer, but we are going to try anyway!

[First of all, it is good to remember that where possible the food and drink on offer here is both sourced and produced locally, so you know that any money you might spend is going to good hands. Now that you know that, let’s get stuck in.]

There is, of course, a farm shop. This is a showcase of all the best and brightest artisanal foods made in Wales, with half of all products coming purely from North Wales. A lot of it is even produced right here on the Bodnant Estate, including cheese, honey and lamb.

On site, you will find a bakery, which bakes a wide variety of traditional cakes, beautiful pastries and speciality breads every morning; a butchery, with an award-winning range of quality local meats; and even a dairy, with their own dairy herds producing a glorious selection of handmade cheeses and ice creams. All of these products end up in the farm shop, meaning there will be an awful lot of difficult choices to be made!

There is also an impeccably stocked wine cellar, with the stars of the show – of course – being the Welsh wines, but you can also take your pick from Welsh ciders, beers, and whiskeys, as well as from some premium varieties from all over the world. Feel free to ask for a taste (or two or three) before making your choice! Also, make sure not to miss the freshly-baked pies and the cold meats in the deli.

If you wish to try some of these local delicacies cooked to perfection, then you should spend an hour or two in the fantastic Hayloft Restaurant, where the award-winning chefs will be happy to knock up something special for you. Or for a lighter bite, head to the beautiful Furnace Tea Room and enjoy an afternoon tea or a cake. We recommend the traditional and delicious bara brith.

That’s not all, either. Visitors can also learn how to match foods with the correct wines at the Wine School, or learn the arts of the kitchen at the Cookery School. There’s even a kids’ version of the latter.
If you want to try the greatest foods and drinks that North Wales has to offer, look no further than the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre. Click here to find out what accommodation we can offer nearby, so you don’t have far to travel back once you’ve eaten your fill!