The Little Farm Shed first opened a shop at 10 Market Place

Farm shop founded by two Somerset youngsters closes after three years

Paul JonesJanuary 10, 20260 Comment0

A FARM shop founded by two school girls delivering eggs to friends and family has closed due to “rising costs, reduced footfall, and an eerily quiet December”.

The Little Farm Shed, in Shepton Mallet, was established in 2023 after the efforts of friends Laurel and Rosie, who used produce from their grandfather’s farm to create veg boxes in a bid to save money for the Glastonbury Festival.

Having developed into a fully-fledged operation run by the Barnes family, the venture landed a free, six-month tenancy at 10 Market Place thanks to the Interim Spaces charity, offering fruit and vegetables to residents, including a home delivery service.

Following that rental, they moved next door – to 9 Market Place.

However, the pair have now announced they will not re-open following a post-Christmas break.

“We’re sad to announce that we have made the decision not to re-open The Little Farm Shed after our break,” the ‘Little Farm Shed Family’ said.

“Rising costs, reduced footfall, and an eerily quiet December compared to previous years have made things increasingly difficult to predict.

“Supermarkets selling vegetables for pennies, alongside an increase in free alternatives, have had a huge impact.”

They said they had hoped December would mean they could carry on through the quieter months of 2026, but “given the current financial climate, we felt it was best not to move forward with our planned renovations”.

They went on: “Nearly three years of 3am starts, late nights, and long cold days in the shop have taken their toll. Our children have spent every school holiday and weekend there, and as a family we’ve decided it’s no longer something we feel we can continue.

“We’ve made lifelong friends through The Little Farm Shed, and we truly appreciate every single one of you who popped in for a chat, kept us company on those long cold mornings, or lent a hand when we really needed it.”

However, they said the business would continue “quietly behind the scenes while we tidy up loose ends”.

“Thank you to those who supported us week in and week out, it has meant more to us than we can say,” they added.

“Please continue supporting Shepton’s independent cafés, bars, restaurants, shops, and the Friday market. This time of year is always hard.”