The first time I visited Macknade Faversham was the day before everything closed up for lockdown back in March 2020, after frequently hearing friends, colleagues and family gush about their experiences visiting and all the ‘lovely things’ one can find there. Macknade has rapidly grown from its small beginnings, a barn selling fruit and veg in the 90s, and has made even more leaps and bounds over the previous year since my last visit. Due to its sheer popularity and some clever innovation during lockdown, you can now find Macknade in Ashford and as of Autumn 2021, in Tunbridge Wells too. Fast-forward to June 2021, with blue skies overhead and the sun finally shining, Macknade Faversham, a striking white building with its name proudly written across the front, sat in front of me and promised an experience packed with scrumptious surprises.

Macknade is a family establishment and so much more than just a farm shop and café. The passion and love that has been poured into this family business – a result of 6 generations and 175 years’ worth of family farming, has helped mould Macknade into what it is today. The converted agricultural buildings house a foodie heaven, including a beautifully stocked farm shop, delightful eatery, their very own butcher, a delicious deli-counter, fabulous florist and as of this year, a brand new ‘food village’ which showcases hand-picked, independent food vendors for customers to try and enjoy in a sunny seating area. The farm shop itself offers a diverse range of vibrant local produce and upmarket international and, mostly Italian, products. Why Italian you might ask? No, it’s not just down to famously exquisite Italian cooking and recipes. Owner, Stefano, is himself half Italian and his parent’s unity of ‘Italy meets Kent’ plays out wonderfully in the products here. It is clear that every item has been painstakingly sourced and selected by a team of talented buyers and then arranged in the most enticing way, the appeal of which making it very difficult for even the choosiest of customers to walk away empty-handed.

Whatever it may be that takes your fancy, know that the journey from producer to plate has been carefully considered and you will not be disappointed. After meandering down the aisles and finding out all about Macknade’s specialist buying team, who research exotic products as well as up and coming local suppliers, such as Wasted Kitchen and The Beardy Baker, I sat down at a farmhouse kitchen table in Macknade’s spacious café. An authentic brick barn perched on the end of the industrial farm shop, guests can sit content admiring their surroundings, as happy and helpful waiting staff prepare their food and drink.

Matching up with the farm shop products, the café serves everything you can purchase on the premises too. You may get an overwhelming feeling, as you wander through the shop (as I did) that you might be missing out on buying something spectacular. This is one of the many reasons why you will want to make reoccurring visits to Macknade, and also why I recommend you really treat yourself when you choose from the menu, in order to get a real taste of what is on offer there. In need of a refreshing tipple after taking in the farm shop, I ordered an ‘Owlett Apple and Elderflower Fruit Juice‘, and my Dad, my accomplice on this trip, ordered an Old Dairy Blue Top Ale, both locally produced drinks typical of The Garden of England. Wanting to sample as much as we could in order to make well-informed purchases, we decided upon ‘The Best of Macknade’ and the ‘Antpasti’ platters to share. What a perfect choice they were too! An array of brightly coloured, perfectly arranged fresh delicacies, laid out on two platters before us, we happily tucked into a tasty selection of locally cured hams and cheeses, mouth-watering pickles and condiments, rich olives, flavoursome bruschetta, crunchy salad vegetables, fresh pitta and homemade humous.

History and family heritage have allowed Macknade and Italian-English founder Stefano, to create the perfect blend of Italian culture, fine food products and local Kent produce resulting in a collection of the finest and tastiest foods for your table. This, along with the ‘Best of Macknade’ platter, led me to the purchase of Italian brand, Le Tamerici ‘Pere Mostrada’ the perfect compliment to any of Macknade’s many kinds of cheese on offer, which, if you’re not local, can now be accessed by signing up to their ‘Cheese Experience Subscription’. A monthly box of deliciousness delivered directly to your door, containing the very best cheeses, handpicked by their talented cheesemongers.

Just next door to Macknade’s coffee bar at which you can try their esteemed house blend coffee, ‘Manaresi’, imported exclusively from Florence, you will find the pristine and perfectly arranged ​’Macknade Wine Shop​’, which, stocks meticulously chosen wines and spirits from all over the world and also champions local vineyards, brewers and distilleries, such as Chapel Down and Mad Cat Brewery. Amongst the vast collection of wines, we were also taken with the Maidstone Distillery ‘Ranscombe Wild Small Batch Gin’ and the Staibano Limoncello, which Stefano claims to be ‘simply the best limoncello’.

Whether you are seeking a rural shopping trip that is guaranteed to provide you with bags full of new favourite products and gifts for friends, a delicious dining experience or simply a good quality authentic Italian coffee, Macknade will fulfil your desires and more. Find Macknade Faversham conveniently placed on the outskirts of Faversham, just off the A2 with ample parking perfect for you to load your car with goodies.