There’s everything from a cheesemaking experience to a chocolate masterclass and the chance to produce your own gin.
Planning a trip to Devon with your group? Well, you’re in luck because there are some delicious activities available to smaller groups who are into their food and drink. Here are a few for starters (and mains, and dessert):
Cheesemaking experience with Quicke’s Cheese
With a unique behind-the-scenes experience day, the Quicke’s team will reveal how they craft world-class cheese. Quicke’s crafts outstanding cheese from pastures that have been in the family for 15 generations, spanning 450 years. Within a Quicke’s Cheese Tour, your group will hear about the intriguing history of the Quicke family, watch cheesemakers expertly craft each truckle by hand, meet the clothbound cheddars and learn about the traditional skill of grading cheese.
Then your members can work up an appetite with a guided tour (up to 20) of the farm before a seasonal two-course lunch featuring Quicke’s Cheese at The Beer Engine. Group discounts are available.
Chocolate masterclass with Darts Farm’s chocolatier
Join Darts Farm’s in-house expert chocolatier, Louise, to learn everything you need to know about chocolate; from origin to chocolate making.
You’ll get hands-on making your own box of artisan truffles, gain an understanding of Darts Farm’s bean-to-bar chocolate making process; from roasting, cracking and winnowing to conching, aging and tempering to create the best, single origin chocolate and learn how they sustainably source their cacao beans from small scale growers.
The classes are aimed at small groups (up to 12 people) and the team can also look at tailoring events for organisers.
A vineyard tour at Darts Farm’s Pebblebed Vineyard
Located on the edge of Topsham, just outside of Exeter, you can book onto one of the tours between May and September to discover the secrets behind crafting English sparkling and still wine. To finish, you’ll be invited to tuck into a selection of delicious Darts Farm artisan cheese and charcuterie, put together by their award-winning Deli team; whilst looking out over the vineyard.
The tours usually have a capacity of 24, however Darts Farm treat each request individually. Private tours are available for groups of 14 or more.
Salcombe Distilling Co. Gin School
Take charge of a mini copper pot still to develop and distil your very own 70cl bottle of gin at Salcombe Distilling Co.’s waterside distillery in Salcombe.
Create your own gin recipe by choosing from a range of citrus, herbal, floral and spice botanicals or get imaginative and experiment by bringing your own. During distillation, you will sample and name your creation before bottling your gin and placing it in a presentation box with a personalised bottle label.
Salcombe Distilling Co. also offers exclusive private group bookings for up to eight guests (one per still) or 16 guests (one still between two).
Brewery Tour at Salcombe Brewery Co.
Salcombe Brewery Co. was founded in 2016 and in its short history has built a strong reputation for award-winning beer.
A visit to the brewery for a tour is the ideal opportunity to learn more about their ales, how they are created and, of course, how they taste. The 90-minute brewery tours start with a welcome drink in the taproom followed by the chance to ask the experts on any beer-related topics. It then finishes in the taproom where your group can enjoy a flight of Salcombe beers.
