What Darts Farm does

Darts Farm is a privately held, family-owned farm shop and food lifestyle destination established in 1971 by Ronald Dart as one of Britain's first pick-your-own businesses (Pic Fresh) and now operated by his sons Michael, James, and Paul Dart from a single site in Topsham, Devon. The company has evolved into a vertically integrated farm-to-fork estate that combines a working farm (Ruby Red Devon cattle, 71-hive apiary, heritage orchard, wetlands, pick-your-own fields) with a curated food hall stocking own-produced and 300+ regional artisan products, a dedicated Master Butchery using 40-day dry aging, the in-house Cow & Cacao bean-to-bar chocolate and gelato operation, a cidery run in partnership with Sandford Orchards using a 100-year-old Stowe cloth press, and the integrated 18-acre Pebblebed Vineyard producing award-winning English sparkling and still wines via the traditional Champagne method.

The business generates revenue across more than ten material streams: in-store food retail and hampers, seven on-site eateries (The Farm Table with 2 AA Rosettes, The Yard Restaurant, Cow & Cacao Café, The Fish Shed, The Shack, The Terrace Bar, plus a Cidery & Tastings Bar), a full-service wellness spa (infrared sauna, Elemis treatments, laser, HIFU, massage, nails), the Energy Hair salon, an Energy Studio for Pilates and yoga, outdoor leisure (bike hire, fishing ponds, Maize Maze, Sunflowers for Hospiscare, farm walk, animal corner), paid event and ticketed experiences (vineyard tours, Live Sessions, collaborative chef dinners), corporate and wedding hospitality at The Farm Table, and national e-commerce for hampers, wines, meat boxes, gift cards, spa vouchers, and food subscriptions. External tenants (Cotswold Outdoor with Runners Need, Orange Tree, AGA Shop, Fired Earth, RSPB, The Flower Shack) extend the destination without inventory risk.

Darts Farm serves individual consumers across Devon and the wider South West plus tourists and event visitors, with a notable corporate gifting segment, a wholesale channel for Pebblebed wines, and surplus-produce donations to local charities including Foodcycle Exeter. It does not operate technology platforms or proprietary software; the moat is anchored on craft production methods, a curated 300-producer supply ecosystem, 55-year brand heritage, and a destination-style physical location with limited direct substitutes in the South West.

Name

Darts Farm

Legal name

Darts Farm

Website

https://dartsfarm.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Darts Farm is a family-owned farm shop and food lifestyle destination in Devon, UK, serving individual consumers with vertically integrated farm-to-fork retail, award-winning restaurants, a wellness spa, outdoor leisure, and a national online shop for hampers and wines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Speciality Farm Shop & Agritourism Destination

NAICS

Meat Retailers (44524), Meat Retailers (445240), Breweries (31212)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charcuterie & Cured Meats Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAE), Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI), Butcher Shops & Meat Markets (CRAHAHAB)

Keywords

• Farm shop retail
• Artisan food hall
• Agritourism destination
• English sparkling wine
• Speciality butcher

Headquarters

HQ city

Topsham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Farm Shop & Food Hall Retail: Sale of fresh produce, artisan foods, meat, cheese, charcuterie, chocolate, gelato, seasonal vegetables, and drinks through the physical farm shop and food hall. Products include own-produced items (raw honey, gelato, chocolate, meat) alongside curated goods from 300+ local and regional artisan producers.
2. Hampers & Gift Products: Curated hampers sold online and in-store covering occasions (birthday, celebration, corporate, wellness, wedding, thank you, Christmas) and categories (food, drink, chocolate, cheese & charcuterie, steak, dine-at-home). Also includes gift cards (physical and digital) for store and online use.
3. Hospitality & Eateries: Revenue from multiple on-site eateries: The Farm Table (AA Rosette restaurant, lunch and supper, booking required), The Yard Restaurant (casual all-day dining, walk-in), Cow & Cacao Café (brunch, pizza, gelato), The Terrace Bar (cocktails, pizza, live music), The Shack (takeaway coffee and food), The Fish Shed (fresh seafood and fish & chips), and Cidery & Tastings Bar.
4. Pebblebed Vineyard Wine Sales: Single estate wine production across 18 acres and 22,000 vines. Sells award-winning sparkling (white and rosé) and still wines by the bottle and case online and through the Drinks Cellar. Also generates revenue via paid vineyard tours and tastings (May–September) and combined tour + Farm Table lunch/dinner experiences.
5. Events & Experiences: Paid ticketed events including Pebblebed Vineyard Tours & Tastings, Live Sessions on The Terrace Bar, Run Club, masterclasses, The Farm Table X The French House collaborative dinners, and seasonal festivals. Also free community events.
6. Bike Hire: Hire of adult and child bikes, electric bikes, tandems, trailers, tag-a-longs, child seats along the Exe Estuary Trail. Hourly and full-day pricing tiers.
7. Fishing Permits: Fishing pond access sold as 12-hour and 24-hour tickets for adults and concessions. Pond stocks include Carp (including 30lb specimens), Perch, Bream, and Trench.
8. Wellness Spa & Treatments: Full-service spa offering infrared sauna and steam room sessions (with introductory 20% first-time discount), spa days, Elemis face and body treatments, massage, manicures and pedicures, waxing, laser hair removal, HIFU, microneedling, ear piercing, and teen treatments. Also sells physical and digital spa gift vouchers.
9. Energy Studio (Pilates & Yoga): Mat Pilates and yoga classes led by instructors Kate, Hazel, and Hannah. Revenue from drop-in sessions (£14), founding class packs (10 classes for £100, valid 3 months), and 10-class packs (£120).
10. Wellness Retail & Home/Lifestyle Products: Sale of homeware, garden products, flowers, AGA/cookware, jewellery, accessories, and skincare through The Orange Tree, Flower Shack, and Home & Garden departments. Also wellness hamper gift sets sold online.
11. Hen House Poultry Sales: Sale of rare and heritage breed chickens, ducks, and quails (and related keeping equipment) through The Hen House. Breeds include Amber Rock, Rhode Rock, Blue Maran, Light Sussex, Devon Blues, and more.
12. Charitable & Community Donations (Indirect Revenue Driver): Community events (Maize Maze donations for MND Association, Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers for Hospiscare, Pumpkin Fest) drive footfall and brand loyalty, indirectly supporting retail and hospitality revenue. Over £269,766 raised for local charities in 11 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Darts Farm operates an award-winning farm shop and lifestyle destination in Topsham, Devon, combining a Food Hall (butchers, deli, Cidery, Cow & Cacao chocolate and gelato, Drinks Cellar), seven on-site eateries (The Farm Table, The Yard Restaurant, Cow & Cacao Café, The Fish Shed, The Shack, The Terrace Bar), a wellness spa, hair salon, and Pilates/Yoga studio. Production is vertically integrated, including an 18-acre Pebblebed Vineyard, 100-year-old Stowe cloth press cidery, bean-to-bar chocolate operation, 71-hive apiary, and Ruby Red Devon beef butchery with up to 40-day dry aging. The business sells nationwide via shop.dartsfarm.co.uk for hampers, wines, meat boxes, gift cards, spa vouchers, and food subscriptions.

Product overview

Darts Farm is a diversified agricultural estate and retail destination in Devon, England, operating as a multi-channel business combining a working farm with award-winning food retail, restaurants, wellness services, and outdoor activities. The core offering centers on the Food Hall featuring artisan produce from the farm and local producers, supported by seven on-site eateries including The Farm Table (Two AA Rosettes), The Yard Restaurant, Cow & Cacao Café, The Fish Shed, The Shack, and The Terrace Bar. Production operations include Master Butchers with Ruby Red Devon cattle, a Bean-to-Bar Chocolate operation (Cow & Cacao), Artisan Gelato, The Sandford Orchards Cidery, and Pebblebed Vineyard (18-acre single-estate wine producer). Wellness offerings comprise the Wellness Spa with laser and HIFU treatments, Energy Hair Salon, and Energy Studio for Pilates and Yoga. Retail divisions include Home/Lifestyle/Gifts, Cotswold Outdoor with Runners Need, and The Flower Shack. Outdoor attractions feature farm walks, wetlands with bird hides, bike hire, fishing ponds, a maize maze, pick-your-own sunflowers, and play areas. The business also operates an online shop and offers curated gift hampers, food subscriptions, and gift vouchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pebblebed Vineyard: Award-winning single estate vineyard producing sparkling and still wines, located in Devon with tours and tastings available May-September.
• Cow & Cacao
• The Farm Table
• The Yard Restaurant
• Energy Hair
• Wellness Spa

Products and services

• Darts Farm Food Hall An award-winning food hall bringing together freshly handpicked seasonal vegetables, raw honey, small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate, farmhouse cheese, charcuterie, and craft beverages sourced locally and from the farm. Serves individual consumers, families, and tourists visiting the Topsham destination.
• Master Butchers A professional nose-to-tail butchery service offering Ruby Red Devon beef dry-aged up to 40 days, alongside lamb, pork, free-range chicken, bacon, sausages, and online meat boxes. Targets individual consumers seeking traceable, locally reared meat.
• Darts Farm Delicatessen A deli counter specialising in British farmhouse cheese and artisan charcuterie sourced from small-scale traditional producers. Serves walk-in customers looking for premium deli items.
• Cow & Cacao Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate crafted on the farm from ethically sourced cacao beans, using a six-stage process (sourcing, roasting, cracking, granite conche grinding for up to 55 hours, aging, tempering). Sold in the Food Hall and online.
• Cow & Cacao Artisan Gelato Small-batch artisan gelato made on the farm with local organic milk and cream from Riverford Dairy, slowly churned with less air and lower fat/sugar than traditional ice cream. Flavours include Dart Raw Honey, Pistachio, LittlePod Vanilla, and signature bean-to-bar chocolate.
• Pebblebed Vineyard Wines Single-estate English sparkling and still wines from an 18-acre, 22,000+ vine vineyard on the Budleigh Pebblebed heathland, produced using the traditional Champagne method. Sold by the bottle and case through the online shop, Drinks Cellar, and wholesale trade channel; also offered as part of paid vineyard tours and tastings.
• Sandford Orchards Cidery at Darts Farm Small-batch Devon traditional cider crafted in partnership with Sandford Orchards using a 100-year-old Stowe cloth press and a 40-variety heritage Devon apple orchard. Sold through the Cidery & Tastings Bar and curated hampers online.
• The Yard Restaurant A farm-to-table restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, serving hearty farmers' breakfasts, gourmet sandwiches, seasonal soups and salads, and homemade Devon scones. Walk-in casual all-day dining for individuals, families, and tourists.
• The Farm Table Restaurant An award-winning restaurant (Two AA Rosettes, FRA Best Farm Restaurant 2025, Good Food Guide 'Britain's Best 100 Local Restaurants' 2024) focused on fire-cooked cuisine using ingredients from the farm and local artisan producers. Open for lunch and supper, with corporate and private hire event planning.
• Cow & Cacao Café An on-site café featuring brunch, sourdough pizzas, seasonal salads, and handmade artisan gelato, serving as the public face of the Cow & Cacao bean-to-bar chocolate operation.
• The Fish Shed A fishmonger and fish-and-chip shop offering fresh, line-caught seafood from local fishermen, with cooked fish available for takeaway. Walk-in service for individuals and families.
• The Shack A takeaway outlet serving Roastworks coffee, homemade cakes, Chunks pasties, sourdough pizzas, and Cow & Cacao artisan gelato. Targets visitors wanting quick, quality food and drink on the move.
• The Terrace Bar A bar overlooking the Exe Estuary offering cocktails, local tipples, Pebblebed wines, wood-fired pizzas, and live music sessions during summer. Targets evening visitors, weekend diners, and event attendees.
• Drinks Cellar A drinks department in the Food Hall curating locally crafted spirits, craft beers, real ales, West Country ciders, and English wines from independent producers. Sold via in-store tasting and online.
• Darts Farm Wellness Spa A full-service day spa offering infrared sauna and steam rooms, laser treatments, HIFU, micro-needling, Elemis face and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, massage, ear piercing, and teen treatments. Spa days and physical/digital gift vouchers also sold.
• Energy Hair Salon An award-winning hair salon offering professional styling, colouring, restyling, and bridal hair services using premium products including Kerastase. Founded in 1998 by Nathan and Geoffrey Plumridge as an established luxury hair brand.
• Energy Studio (Pilates & Yoga) A boutique wellness space offering mat Pilates and yoga classes led by expert instructors (Kate, Hazel, Hannah), with studio-grade equipment included. Pricing via drop-in (£14), founding class packs (10 for £100, valid 3 months), and 10-class packs (£120).
• Hampers & Gift Collections Curated gift hampers spanning birthday, celebration, thank you, wedding, cheese and charcuterie, chocolate, steak, wellness, corporate, and dine-at-home occasions, plus gift cards (in-store and online). Sold through the online shop and in-store.
• Food Subscriptions Artisan food subscription boxes delivering curated selections of local and seasonal produce directly to customers' homes via the online shop.
• Pebblebed Vineyard Tours & Tastings Paid guided tours of the 18-acre Pebblebed Vineyard and winery hosted by winemaker Alex, including tasting, farmhouse cheese and charcuterie, and a glass of wine. Standard tour £30 per person; combined tour plus Farm Table lunch/dinner £65 per person (Thursdays lunch, Saturdays dinner). Available Thursday and Saturday, May to September.
• Bike Hire Hourly (3-hour AM/PM) and full-day hire of adult bikes, child bikes, e-bikes, tandems, trailers, tag-a-longs, and child seats, with helmets and locks included. E-bikes require passport or driving licence. Located at the start/finish of the Exe Estuary Trail.
• Fishing Pond Permits 12-hour and 24-hour fishing permits (adult and concession) for on-site fishing ponds stocked with Carp (including 30lb specimens), Perch, Bream, and Grass Carp. Tickets purchased at Farm Shop tills within 1 hour of opening, with a 50% surcharge for late purchase.
• Maize Maze A seasonal maize maze attraction with clue sheets and sweet prizes for visitors, raising funds for charity including the MND Association in 2026. Sourced by school, family, and tourist visitors during the summer season.
• Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers for Hospiscare An annual pick-your-own sunflower event supporting Hospiscare, having raised £73,235.91 over 17 years, including £11,500 in 2025. Seeds donated by Pearce Seeds. Tickets via the website.
• Play Area & Animal Corner A children's adventure play area with an Animal Corner featuring Poll Dorset ewes, Saddleback pigs, and Ruby Red Devon cattle for families visiting the destination.
• Farm Walk & Wetlands Nature trails and wetland areas featuring grazing Ruby Red Devon cattle, a bird hide for wildlife spotting, a 40-variety heritage orchard, the 71-hive apiary, and insect hotels. Free access for visitors.
• The Hen House Poultry Sales Poultry outlet offering rare and heritage breed chickens, ducks, and quails (Amber Rock, Rhode Rock, Blue Maran, Light Sussex, Devon Blues and more), along with housing equipment and advice. Supplied via partner Taylor Made Poultry.
• Darts Farm Online Shop E-commerce platform at shop.dartsfarm.co.uk enabling online ordering of hampers, Pebblebed wines, master butcher meat boxes, gift cards, spa vouchers, event tickets, and food subscriptions for delivery across the UK.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £269,766 raised for local charities over 11 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sandford OrchardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA small-batch cidery has been created in partnership with Barny Butterfield, founder of Sandford Orchards, housed within The Farm Table restaurant. Sandford Orchards uses Darts Farm's 100-year-old Stowe cloth press to craft cider, collaborating with other cidermakers, brewers, winemakers, and spirit makers. The partnership also includes a heritage orchard planted with 40 native Devon apple varieties selected by Barny for preservation and cidermaking.
• Geoff Bowen (Pebblebed Vineyard Founder)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoff Bowen founded Pebblebed Vineyard in 1999 and passed away in 2018. His legacy was continued by integrating the vineyard into the Darts Farm family, expanding from the original plot to 18 acres and 22,000 vines. Darts Farm has honoured his wish for Pebblebed's legacy to continue as part of their business.
• Foodcycle ExeterminorOthersDarts Farm donates surplus fruit and vegetables to Foodcycle Exeter every week. Foodcycle volunteers use the produce to cook free three-course meals for people in the community experiencing food poverty, simultaneously tackling food waste and social exclusion.
• Loo Loo's CakesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDarts Farm has partnered with Loo Loo's Cakes, a Devon-based cake maker, for celebration cakes at The Farm Table. Recommended for birthday and private hire events.
• Taylor Made PoultryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDarts Farm partners with Taylor Made Poultry to offer rare and heritage breed chickens, ducks, and quails for sale at The Hen House. Taylor Made Poultry supplies the poultry stock, which Darts Farm retails to customers.
• Pearce SeedsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPearce Seeds donated sunflower seeds for Darts Farm's Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers event, which raises funds for Hospiscare. The partnership enables the charitable activity without cost to the charity.
• Riverford DairyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDarts Farm sources local, pasture-rich, organic milk and cream from Riverford Dairy for use in Cow & Cacao's small-batch gelato production.
• Small-Scale Cacao Growers (Various Origins)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDarts Farm's Cow & Cacao bean-to-bar chocolate is crafted from cacao beans sustainably sourced from small-scale growers in rare origins around the world. These grower relationships ensure ethically and economically sustainable sourcing.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Daylesford Organic: UK premium organic farm shop and destination with cafes, cookery school, and online retail. Closest direct peer: similar provenance-led positioning, vertically integrated own-farm production, multi-category farm shop + restaurants + online commerce.
• The Newt in Somerset: Premium Somerset farm estate combining working farm, farm-to-table restaurants, wellness spa, hotel, and retail. Comparable as a multi-revenue farm destination with experiential positioning in the South of England.
• Riverford Organic Farmers: Devon-based organic farm with field-to-fork produce, restaurants (Riverford Field Kitchen), and a national organic veg-box subscription. Directly comparable given shared Devon location, farm shop model, and supply relationship via Riverford Dairy to Darts Farm.
• Trevaskis Farm: Cornwall farm shop, restaurant, and pick-your-own destination on a working farm. Closely comparable in product mix (farm shop, restaurant, PYO, butchery) and South West destination positioning.
• Hambledon Vineyard: England's oldest commercial vineyard, producing traditional-method sparkling wine with on-site tours, tastings, and hospitality. Comparable English single-estate vineyard with tours and direct-to-consumer wine sales.

Emerging players

• The Ethicurean: Bristol-area farm-to-table restaurant and smallholding producing own vegetables, preserves, and natural wines. Comparable on farm-driven provenance cuisine and natural-wine angle (intersects with Pebblebed's craft positioning).
• Sandford Orchards: Devon-based craft cidermaker using the Stowe cloth press at Darts Farm in partnership. Direct operational partner and comparable craft-cider producer with shared Devon distribution and brand association.
• Farmison & Co: UK online premium meat retailer specializing in heritage-breed, dry-aged beef, lamb, and pork with provenance storytelling. Comparable on premium butchery positioning, online meat-box commerce, and nose-to-tail ethos.
• Pump Street Bakery: Suffolk-based craft bakery and bean-to-bar chocolatier with online retail and food-hall presence. Comparable as a small-batch craft food producer with a similar premium provenance positioning and direct-to-consumer model.

Broad incumbents

• Nyetimber: England's leading sparkling wine producer using the traditional Champagne method across multiple estates. Comparable as an award-winning English wine producer, though operating at significantly larger scale than Pebblebed's 18-acre single estate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DartsFarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/dartsfarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/dartsfarm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Darts Farm