Everything you need to know about Daresbury Ice Cream Farm

Located on Newton Lane, the ice cream farm was set up by Claire Whitlow in 2011.

It is based on Penkridge Lake Farm – which has been in Claire’s husband Matt Whitlow’s family for several generations.

The family wanted to do something different with the milk on the farm and with Claire’s experience in the food and drink industry and her passion for locally made produce, Daresbury Ice Cream Farm was born.

Claire works at the farm shop alongside her sister-in-law Emma Whitlow who helps to make the ice cream on site as well as helping with the day-to-day running of the business.

Claire and Emma Whitlow work at the shop

The ice cream is made using the 270 cows on the site – which are milked twice a day.

The process of making the ice cream begins with Matt and his team retrieving the milk and carrying it across the farmyard to the shop, which is located in the end of a calf shed.

The next stage of the process carried out by Claire and Emma is to pasteurise the milk to make it safe.

They pasteurise it along with other ingredients such as sugar and stabiliser.

Milk from the farm's cows is used to make the ice cream

Using a small machine, the pair make batches of ‘milky mix’ by hand which is where different flavours are added in.

After overnight pasteurisation, the mix is then turned into ice cream and made into batches.

Emma Whitlow helps to make the ice cream on site

Claire said: “One of the things about us here at the farm is that we like to try and use many high quality ingredients and as much natural and local produce as we can.”

The two-person team even puree some ingredients themselves, such as raspberries and strawberries.

The ice cream farm stocks a core range of six flavours that tend to be available all of the time and are often the most popular choices – such as honeycomb, vanilla and chocolate.

The shop stocks 12 flavours

In total there are 12 flavours stocked at the shop at a time, with six rotated either on a weekly or monthly basis and the type of flavour varies depending on customer requests, trends, and inspiration in the seasons.

“We will look for inspiration in the seasons so for example when get can get them seasonally, we do a lovely gooseberry and elderflower product or a rhubarb and custard that is made with fresh rhubarb,” Claire said.

Since opening, around 70 different flavours have been made at the farm.

Six flavours are rotated either weekly or monthly

Daresbury ice cream is also supplied to a number of local businesses – with some in Lymm, Stockton Heath and Moore.

And the business can also cater at events such as weddings with its ice cream bicycle.

Raspberry ripple is a favourite at the farm

Like many small local businesses, the pandemic was tricky at times for Daresbury Ice Cream Farm.

Claire said: “Do you know what, it has been a tricky couple of years trying to navigate through all of the changes and requirements.

“Initially we shut things down. In the first lockdown we almost completely shut down the business temporarily because it didn’t feel ethical to have people coming out to the middle of the countryside when we were told to stay at home.

Daresbury Ice Cream Farm is located on Newton Lane

“And then we had to find new ways of work so we set up an online shop where people could order products to click and collect and come and pick it up outside.

“We had all new processes we had to put it place.

“So it is really lovely this summer to have things almost back to normal in a pre-pandemic style.”

And although it is quieter at Daresbury Ice Cream Farm in winter months, Claire and Emma try to make the season special.

Matt helps with the production of the ice cream

“We always try to make a real feature of Christmas – so for us, Christmas is always quite a special time,” Claire added.

“We have a range of special flavours for Christmas and we also do ice cream cake and desserts that people can order.”

The business also offers tasting packs that work great for gifts as well as providing an exciting flavour range -varying from mince pie through to cherry and amaretto.

Since launching the business 11 years ago, Claire has built great relationships with her customers.

Claire set up the business in 2011

Talking about working at the farm shop, Claire said: “It is lovely for me.

“We have a great relationship with all of our customers.

“We have a lot of loyal customers so it is really nice talking to them and seeing their families change over the years.

“It is nice to be able to put a smile on customers' faces through the ice cream.”

Husband and wife Matt and Claire Whitlow