Who doesn’t like a little retail shopping at Bicester Village? It’s easily accessible, designer shops aplenty, numerous eateries and plenty of parking, so what if I told you in terms of a retail shopping village there’s a new kid on the block – Ben’s Yard in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
Just an hour on the train from Kings Cross, Ben’s Yard is waiting to be explored. It’s a place where guests don’t just visit, they experience a rural retreat that caters to their every wish. It’s a new haven for the whole family – sophisticated shopping, gastronomical delights, woodland walks, seasonal events and a playground the little people will love.
We were lucky enough to experience the magic of this rural delight on launch day. Rather than get the train we drove (an hour way) – There’s plenty of free parking, so whether you’re popping just for coffee and cake or for a full day of retail therapy, there’s no time limit on how long you can stay.
First stop, a little meander around Love Lane by Abi, a stylish and elegant home décor shop, brimming with exclusive, chic homewares all as beautiful as each other and all with affordable price tags, I just wanted to purchase everything!
Before wandering around the rest of the hand-picked independent retailers we stopped to refuel at Ben’s Yard Restaurant. The inside is a botanical haven, think greens and neutrals with vines and greenery draped from the ceiling, a calming oasis in which to enjoy everything from breakfast to early dinner.
The menu is a seasonally inspired delight with dishes that don’t just look divine, they tantalise your tastebuds at each bite. Beginning with a refreshing glass of Whispering Angel wine (my favourite) we then began with Truffle & Honey Baked Camembert to share along with Prawn & Mango Salad and Tomato & Mozzarella Salad – all the dishes were impeccably presented and infused with fresh flavoursome ingredients.
For mains, hubby couldn’t resist the Prawn Linguine with tomato, fire roasted peppers, chilli, basil and citrus, the chilli created a slight kick to the already delicious rich sauce. Seared Seabass served with pea, bacon & Stuntney Estate potato salad, rocket, and a pea & herb sauce was the other choice – the seabass was delightful and literally melted in the mouth with the flavours of the potato salad divinely fresh and flavoursome.
I really didn’t have room for dessert, but that wasn’t the case with hubby and he indulged in Crème Brulee, with Stuntney Estate shortbread, creamy and light, the perfect dish to finish with.
Pleasantly refuelled it was time to explore the rest of the enchanting shops in this village. Thatch & Roses is another favourite for me, a charming florist with some truly exquisite bouquets to choose from, not only is it a florist but it also sells an impressive selection of botanical accessories that will have you standing for hours trying to decide what to buy.
Freda & Bert has something for the whole family, the ideal shop to find unique gifts including scented candles, unusual gadgets, men’s grooming products, colourful children’s wooden toys, charming stationery and beautiful cards, another shop you’ll browse for hours in.
Of course us ladies are always looking to add to our wardrobes and Something About Rose will most definitely help us to do that. They have a fabulous collection of clothing, jewellery and accessories all at affordable prices, my only problem was I couldn’t decide between two outfits so I brought them both!
If you’re craving a beauty refresh, why not make an appointment at The Hair Company and if you can’t decide what to make for dinner, just before you leave why not grab some ingredients from Malloys Craft Butchery.
Fitness enthusiasts are not forgotten, as speedsters might prefer to power up the journey with a Spoke and Motor electric bike, there’s a thoughtfully created two-and-half-kilometre loop.
There are so many more areas to peruse, such as wildflower trails, woodland walks and of course the enchanting Ely Cathedral-inspired adventure playground.
They’ll be pop up shops and seasonal events aplenty, just keep an eye on the website. Without doubt the vision five years ago that the founders Alastair and Victoria Morbey had has well and truly been brought to life at this unique, rural, utopia – Ben’s Yard.
For more information, visit www.bensyard.co.uk.
