Cornish Farm Holidays, Degembris Farmhouse Facilities

Ensuring customers are only served the freshest local produce is something the owners of a bed and breakfast in Cornwall have always strived for. It is only in recent years that this has become a relatively easy task.

Kathy Woodley has run the Degembris Farmhouse with her husband Roger for the last 34 years. It can be found in the village of St Newlyn East, near Newquay.

They used to serve evening meals until five years ago, but now concentrate on providing breakfast only to their guests.

Mrs Woodley said: "I think it's become much easier to get good local produce lately, because it seems such an in thing to serve.

"I've bought from small traders for years. We use a local butcher, George and Son, and they've got their own abattoir. He provides all our sausages and bacon.

"People say they haven't tasted anything as good for years. I really enjoy serving the breakfasts."

Another early morning essential she couldn't do without is local Cornish butter.

"We use a local branch of Lyhner Dairies for our butter portions and the taste is always commented on. All our eggs are free range from a local farm as well. The only thing that I don't use that is locally made is the bread. I can't seem to find a good local bakery close by anymore."

Mrs Woodley remembers a time when she used to be able to get a fresh loaf every day.

She said: "We used to have a butcher's van, a baker's van and a greengrocer who would come to the village each week. It was wonderful. That has stopped now but the trend does seem to be reversing. The other day I had a fish man come to the farmhouse. He brought lots of different varieties of fish."

An advantage of living somewhere like St Newlyn East is that local producers will deliver.

Mrs Woodley said: "If I am really busy and I can't get to the butchers then they will pop by and deliver it for more me. I suppose it is a little bit more expensive as you have to pay for delivery a lot of the time. I think it's worthwhile. The customers seem to like it so I won't be changing."

The warm welcome and good farm at Degembris Farmhouse has recently earned the Woodley's a Les Routiers award.

To be recognised by the organisation businesses have to be passionate about local and seasonal produce.

Mrs Woodley says she was shocked when she heard from an inspector. "I think we must have been recommended by a customer," she said. "It was a complete surprise and a rather nice one."