Heart of England - Shropshire

OUR FARM SHOP

Our Farm Shop provides an outlet for a range of excellent foods which are sourced locally. They have low food miles, full traceability and great taste. Seasonality, freshness and high standards of production are important to us.

In the Battlefield 1403 Kitchen, we produce an extensive range of ready meals, soups, desserts, cakes and traybakes. We use our own beef and lamb (when available) produced on the estate and prepared by our butchers – in many of our meals in both the shop and the cafe.

You will notice that anything we make in our kitchen and sell in the shop is branded as ‘From the Kitchen’ – which means that it is prepared and made in our own kitchen. We produce an extensive range of ready meals, soups, desserts, cakes and traybakes.

We have tried to create a welcoming and comfortable retail environment which provides a relaxing and enjoyable shopping experience. We offer a good range of our own and local produce together with carefully selected books on cookery, livestock, gardening and the battlefield and other local heritage.

As we also have the 1403 Exhibition on site, we offer a small range of related souvenir gifts including children’s bows and arrows, key rings and Knights of England and Mediaeval Princess playsuits. Our own postcards featuring aspects of the farm are also available.

OUR CAFÉ

The name Sparrow, while no longer the family surname, remains an important link to the past generations who worked hard to create the Albrighton Estate. The café is therefore named in their memory.

Meals, snacks and cakes are freshly prepared to order in our kitchen using ingredients from the shop and other local sources. Morning, lunch and afternoon menus give a variety of choice. There is also a children’s menu, again made in our kitchen using local ingredients.

Sparrow’s Cafe introduces a new menu at different times of the year to utilise seasonal produce but the firm favourites such as Battlefield Beef and Shropshire Ale Pie, are always available! These changes in menu are also reflected in the range of ready meals prepared for sale in the shop.

Most of our seating area is easily accessible by wheelchair but we suggest you call us to book a table should you require one on the ground floor. Otherwise there is no need to book unless your party is of more than six people.

We are also able to cater for special events during the day and will always try to meet your requirements. We can cater for business meetings, lunches and parties just call us to see how we can match your expectations.

Hot food from the menu is available until 4.30 pm each day (3.30 pm on Sundays) but drinks and snacks are available until 5.30 pm (4.00pm on Sundays).

THINGS TO DO

We have lots for you to do at Battlefield 1403, from Archie Sparrow’s new trail, to walks around the Battlefield, the Church and the Medieval fish ponds. A key is available from the shop to sign out if you wish to enter the church. Our exhibition and our falconry centre are also available to visit. Why not make a day of it and have lunch at Sparrow’s Café?

OUR EXHIBITION

This is a visual explanation of The Battle of Shrewsbury which took place in 1403 – hence our name! The Battle of Shrewsbury was fought between King Henry IV and a rebellious faction led by the Percy family in 1403. The significance of the battle lies not just in its political ramifications as precursor to the Wars of the Roses but also in the fact that it was the first time that the English longbow was used on both sides.

EVENTS PROGRAMME

•    Friday 23rd March – Pudding Club

Join us in the Battlefield cafe and enjoy a light deli starter before moving onto the main event… the puddings! There will be a selection of different desserts for you to choose from, all self-service as much as you can eat. £25 per person including a welcome drink.

Call 01939 210 905 to book or email info@battlefield1403.com, full payment will be taken at booking due to high demand and limited tickets for this event.

•    Saturday 21st April – Plant Hunters Fair

Specialist Plant Fairs at Beautiful Gardens and Countryside Locations.These fairs make a wonderful day out full of inspiring ideas for you to take back with you to your own garden.

Hosted at Battlefield 1403 from 09.30am – 4.30pm  FREE ENTRY

•    Saturday 28th April – Field to Fork at Harper Adams University

Battlefiled will be showcasing some delicious food and sharing our ethos towards food at this perfectly titled event “Field to Fork”. This event hopes to highlight sustainable, low food miles, traceable food from businesses throughout Shropshire.

•    Saturday 26th May – Cider and Sausage Evening

Cider and Sausage evening returns with a selection of Battlefield’s finest home-made sausages to taste. Small tasters will be available along with more sausage dishes to purchase on the night. We will also be welcoming a great selection of local Cider producers to supply tasters and offer cider on tap and bottled to purchase (other drinks will be available to purchase).

There will be live music and plenty going on to entertain, cider, sausages, music and laughter, sounds like the perfect evening out!

Booking required – more information to follow. Please email info@battlefield1403.com for more information.

•    Saturday 9th June – Family Fun Day & Scarecrow Competition

In its fourth year this event promises to be a day of fun for the whole family, donkey rides, bouncy castles, face painting, nature trails and many other activities. No need to get tickets as it's FREE just turn up and enjoy yourselves!

Scarecrow Competition - Don't miss out on our Scarecrow Competition! A chance for your kids to do something creative, fun and interactive with their friends and family. A chance to win some prizes, take fun pictures and see your scarecrow in pride of place around the estate!

Application forms available from our café or email info@battlefield1403.com.

•    Friday 20th July – Pudding Club

Join us in the Battlefield cafe and enjoy a light deli starter before moving onto the main event… the puddings! There will be a selection of different desserts for you to choose from, all self-service as much as you can eat. £25 per person including a welcome drink.

Call 01939 210 905 to book or email info@battlefield1403.com (link sends e-mail), full payment will be taken at booking due to high demand and limited tickets for this event.

•    Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th August – Harvest & Heritage Event

Two days of tasters, demonstrations and experiences courtesy of some our finest suppliers and producers. Battlefield 1403 will be offering up a wide variety of home made food, ready meals, cakes, breads, and more. Along with a selection of food and drink producers on the Saturday day to sample and delight in the local produce and meet like minded, passionate about food.

Sunday day will showcase a variety of arts and craft producers, from books to bunting and everything in between!

Saturday 25th evening will be a charcuterie and wine evening, featuring two of Shropshire’s most promising young producers, Will of Shropshire Salumi who will be pairing delicious Shropshire produced cold meats and salamis with Tom’s (Tom of Paso-Primero) Shropshire based (Spanish Produced) red and white wines….what a delicious combination. This evening will be a sit-down, dinner style evening with food also being provided from the Battlefield 1403 kitchen. Ticketed event – more information to follow.

•    Friday 12th October – Pudding Club

Join us in the Battlefield cafe and enjoy a light deli starter before moving onto the main event… the puddings! There will be a selection of different desserts for you to choose from, all self-service as much as you can eat. £25 per person including a welcome drink.

Call 01939 210 905 to book or email info@battlefield1403.com (link sends e-mail), full payment will be taken at booking due to high demand and limited tickets for this event.

•    Saturday 24th November – Christmas Taster Event

Food and drink tasters and samples throughout the day, Carols with a local Shropshire Choir, a visit from Santa himself, gift ideas, arts and crafts and more.

Free to enter.