Long Barn

A wall of the most fantastic scent of lavender greets you as you unfurl yourself from the car at Long Barn. The farm’s products are much loved by retailers around the country so you may well have seen them on the shelves before, but this is the mothership.

Owners Richard and Jane founded the lavender-growing company in 2009 because of Richard’s passion for the fragrant herb. It has grown from farmer’s market stalls to a shop in town to the current rural space, just outside Winchester.

The steep-roofed barn stands on what was once a sheep-herding pen, and contains a wonderland of refined gifts, plants and homewares. The cafe at the centre has a very organic feel, with broad oak beams, hanging plants and small saplings dotted throughout, and food reflects whatever is at its prime in the garden, from Hampshire watercress to rhubarb and butternut squash. There’s a beautiful terrace too so on good days take your coffee outside to bathe in the sights and smells of the vibrant garden.