(Image: TRIPADVISOR)
A café tucked away on a working County Durham farm has been hailed an "absolute gem" by visitors, with its pies, breakfasts and cakes among the dishes winning particular praise.
Knitsley Farm Shop and Granary Café is based at East Knitsley Grange Farm, near Consett.
Reached along a private drive, the café sits alongside a farm shop and has courtyard seating which can be used in good weather.
Despite the rural setting, it has developed a significant following.
The farm shop has a Google rating of 4.8 out of five from more than 1,100 reviews, while the Granary Café has 4.6 from more than 650 Tripadvisor reviews.
Knitsley Farm Shop and Granary Café is based at East Knitsley Grange Farm, near Consett (Image: TRIPADVISOR)
Tripadvisor currently ranks it number two among restaurants in the Consett area and has given the business a Travellers' Choice award.
Recent reviews suggest its food is the main draw.
A family who visited in August called the café an "absolute gem", singling out its pies as among the best they had eaten.
The cakes also impressed, with the customer particularly praising a salted caramel offering and saying they could not wait to return for a sit-down meal. Tripadvisor
Another visitor had a much simpler recommendation.
After trying one of the café's sausage rolls in August, they declared it "a must try" and "absolutely delicious".
They acknowledged prices were on the higher side but felt the overall quality justified them. Tripadvisor
Breakfast has also attracted strong feedback.
A couple making their first visit in June began by shopping for food in the farm shop before heading into the café.
The reviewer said the breakfast was "amazing", well presented and delicious, while describing the staff as equally impressive.
Another customer called Knitsley their "favourite place" after visiting for breakfast with friends.
They praised the welcoming staff and said the food arrived in around ten minutes.
The café has also hosted live music in its courtyard.
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One May customer recalled eating a hot pork bun while listening to a singer and gave the experience "10/10", recommending the special pies sold on Fridays and Saturdays. Tripadvisor
It is the combination of working farm, farm shop and café which gives Knitsley much of its destination appeal.
Rather than being positioned in a town centre or retail park, visitors travel down the farm drive before arriving at the shop and restaurant.