The new ice cream shed, Berry’s at Abbey Farm House, officially opened on Saturday, April 19, and is owned by Lesley Berry, who formerly ran the popular Berry’s Tearoom in Brampton.
Lesley decided to close her popular Brampton tearoom in January 2025 after nine years in business; however, she has now returned and has brought her well-known shakes to Berry’s new home in Lanercost.
“I started at Abbey Farm House just by chance. Charlotte Graham who runs Abbey Farm House Lanercost B&B, popped in to Berrys before I closed my business to look at the coffee machine I was selling, and it all started from there,” Lesley said
She invited me for coffee and offered me a job helping out, as I had no idea in what direction I wanted to go after running Berry’s for nine years.
“I was a bit lost to be honest, and she saved me in more ways than she will ever know.
“Charlotte said, did I fancy opening an ice cream shed in her summer house over the summer season, and bought a whippy ice cream machine.
For Lesley, Berry’s at Abbey Farm House, is a way for her to reclaim her happiness and move away from the ‘upsetting place’ that she was left in after closing her tearoom in Brampton.
Now, her new ice cream shed is up and running, and Lesley is excited for what the future may hold.
She said: “All I want to do is be happy and make a living, and I think I have found that here in the most truly wonderful setting, with Charlotte, it’s lifted my spirits and pulled me out of an upsetting place.
“Most popular are most definitely the shakes and the whippy ice cream, no one does that round here, well, not like I do.
“The response has been terrific, I have missed my old regulars from Berry’s, and most have sent messages, and quite a few so far have popped in.
“Early days, but I’m excited and happy to see where this will take us.”
