Bird and Carter reopens farm shop cafe after Covid lockdown closure

New and returning customers flocked to Bird and Carter, at Chilhampton Farm, Wilton, after its café was reinstated on Wednesday, February 7.

Owners Joff and Annie Bird, who have been in business together for 18 years, had to close the café during the first lockdown due to the restricted space.

But almost four years later, the café has returned and Annie, 43, said the team feels "straight back at home".

The menu consists of breakfast and lunch dishes using locally sourced ingredients from the business' built-in farm shop.

General manager Ashley Major with owners Annie and Joff Bird outside Bird and Carter. (Image: Newsquest)

Joff, 48, understands the importance of high-quality ingredients while keeping the price of meals at Bird and Carter less than £20.

He explained how one of his goals for the café is to create direct connections between what is served on customers' plates with items they can find on the farm shop shelves. 

A loyalty card system allows customers to collect stamps after spending money in the café and claim 20 per cent discount off their entire bill in the shop.

Bird and Carter is also aiming to fill a gap in the market and become a destination spot serving a good breakfast near Salisbury.

The team at were consulted about the possibility of the café reopening on Tuesday, January 30, just eight days before the soft launch.

 "We also asked our customers and they said it was a no-brainer. Now we’re on day three and we would be mad not to continue. It’s in our blood to do this," Annie said.

Owners Joff and Annie Bird with general manager Ashley Major. (Image: Newsquest)

General manager Ashley Major, 62,  left his job as a fishmonger at Premier Fish to join the team in June 2023.

Mr Major has a background in retail and said the opportunity to get involved in the hospitality side of the business is “very exciting”.

“In any business you have to listen to the public. Demand can push you in a direction and it’s important to listen what the public want.

"The positivity from people about it reopening has been great,” the Tisbury resident added.

The seating area was previously used as a storage room. (Image: Newsquest)

Bird and Carter opened an outdoor tent café at Fonthill Bishop just one week before lockdown began. This became the hospitality arm of the business while the Wilton site focused on retail, Annie said.

She hopes customers will continue to support the farm shop: "We don't want to lose what we have created in that shop."

Joff and Annie met on the ski slopes in the French Alps and shared an interest in good food. 

They eventually decided to open Bird and Carter in Fish Row, now Maul's Wine and Cheese Bar, before moving to Wilton in 2012. 

Annie Bird and assistant Melissa Allen, who joined the business 14 years ago. (Image: Newsquest)

Melissa Allen, 38, started in the Salisbury deli and has worked as an assistant for 14 years.

Admitting she missed the café after it closed, Melissa said: “We always had some really lovely regulars and a lot of them came back.”