A little scoop of Yorkshire heaven

TUCKED down a short driveway half way between Masham and East Witton is one of Yorkshire’s most highly prized treaures.

Not a historic site or beauty spot but an ice-cream parlour offering no less than 30 delicious flavours made on the farm with Guernsey cow milk.

Since first diversifying into ice-cream some 25 years ago, family-owned Brymor has never looked back.

More than 250,000 people visit the farm each year making it a key tourist attraction for the dales.

Brymor ice-cream is sold in Morrisons, Waitrose and Co-op stores throughout the region and by 450 independent grocers, delicattesens and other retail outlets.

But it’s now looking to roll out the brand across the UK and is currently in talks with Morrisons about stocking Brymor ice-cream in stores outside of the region.

A marketing campaign is also attracting the interest of retailers as far afield as Guernsey (which managing director Robert Moore agrees has some irony) and leads are being followed up in Norfolk and Essex.

For Moore, getting ice-cream in shops outside of Yorkshire is a response to demand for visitors keen to keep on eating Brymor’s produce.

He says that as well as having a delicious product – unique in England as it’s made with Guernsey milk – customers love the fact it’s made on the farm.

“People from outside of Yorkshire are always asking us where they can get the ice-cream,” he says.

“After taking on a PR agency we started to realise that we really should be supplying outlets in other regions.

“We can meet demand here on the farm and already have distribution in place with Boroughbridge haulage firm Reed Boardall, who we’ve used for a number of years now.”

Moore laughs when telling me about the Guernsey contract, which sees Brymor ice-cream promoted as being made by Guernsey cows on holiday in Yorkshire.

“Originally the buyer wanted to sell it under his name, but realised that it was a good brand and selling point. We’re hoping it drives people to holiday here to see the cows.”

The business, which employs 15 staff including family, works hard to come up with new and exciting flavours – many of which are trialled on visitors to the farm’s parlour. However, vanilla is still a best-seller.

Visitors to the farm not only get to enjoy ice-cream but can see cows, calves and even chickens – a first time experience for many city dwellers.

Moore admits that business is weather dependent, but the parlour remains open throughout the winter.

Had Harrogate Council not refused planning permission to expand the Moore family’s original farm it could have all be so different.

“We were in a planning battle for about five years, which we eventually lost,” recalls Moore.

“It meant closing the shop down so we had to move. We looked all over the country – even in Devon – but eventually found this farm. Even though it didn’t meet all our criteria it’s proved the best move. And we’ve had nothing but full support from Richmondshire Council. They said Harrogate’s loss was its gain!”