Our intrepid restaurant reviewer heads off the beaten track to discover a farmyard with a delicious secret

Friends kept dropping the Stalls Café into conversation… “You must go,” they kept telling me, so I duly set off for Sutton Mandeville.

A large sign on the A30 directs me into an impeccably clean converted farmyard. The Stalls Café is based in Chestnut Yard Studios, which lie at the heart of Strang Manor Farm; modern industrial units sit alongside grade II listed barns, all available to rent.

Too hot to sit outside, I step inside the converted old shire stalls. A long wooden table with benches either side is set within the stalls where shire horses once stood.

The menu is uncomplicated, and very reasonably priced. The cheese and tomato sourdough toastie I order arrives with a tray of condiments. There is a choice of milkshakes including caramel biscoff, vanilla and chocolate malt. In the specials drink list there is a V60 drop, a Polynesian Latte and affogato. I was too late for breakfast, but the Dorset muesli with yoghurt and Black Bee honey looked very tempting, or there were toasted ham and cheese croissants.

Maggie Kerr and Anna Strang are the inspiring duo behind The Stalls Cafe. Anna grew up on the farm in Sutton Mandeville and Maggie worked as a barista and restaurant manager in Melbourne, Australia.

The girls have been sailing the world working for non-profit organisations and studying ocean plastic pollution. They are both passionate about educating people about the evils of plastic and the damage it does to our natural world.

“We wanted to settle down,” said Maggie. “We have spent over 10 years working in yachting and we have always dreamt of running our own cafe, so we decided to set one up with the aim of bringing top-quality coffee in a sustainable way to the area. Our focus is on food miles and being plastic free”.

Maggie’s passion is evident. The coffee is delivered in large containers that are picked up and refilled, generating no waste. “We are keen to limit the food miles so we source as much as we can locally. The coffee is roasted in Andover and the Black Bee honey comes from next door.” They are also keen to support local art: large bright watercolours hang on the beams; the artist has her studio in the yard.

The Stalls is an idyllic spot to visit. Children are welcome, and the bowls of water on the floor are a clue that dogs are also invited.

In keeping with Anna and Maggie’s ethics, the café has a refill station, Miniml, selling refills of honey, cleaning products and milk.

by Katrina Ffiske