Owners of Wheelbirks ice cream parlour and cafe in Stocksfield have been secretly working away on their new project for months, covering it in sheets and drawing speculation from customers.
Earlier this month, a grand unveiling revealed the rustic hideaway, named The Cow Shed, which is currently full of Christmas sparkle.
Christmas gifts and decorations are accompanied by homeware items from designers such as Sophie Allport and Voyage.
But The Cow Shed is here to stay, and Lucinda Richardson of Wheelbirks has plans expanding way beyond Christmas for displays of gifts and cards throughout the year.
Lucinda’s husband, Tom, and his brother, Hugh, who are the fifth generation to farm at Wheelbirks farm, built the shed using reclaimed wood from a 100-year-old derelict sanitorium on Wheelbirks.
When Lucinda had the idea to create a shop in The Parlour, she brought regular customer and interior stylist Leanne Eccleston on board to help with the design.
Since Wheelbirks opened almost seven years ago, its success has grown considerably, and small gifts and cards have lined a few shelves, but Lucinda wanted to expand this area of the business.
“My hope is that as this develops and people get to know about it, people might one day come here to come shopping and then pick up a coffee or an ice cream while they’re here.
“It’s had an amazing response so far. We’re very thrilled with it,” said Lucinda.
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