Frome Market Cafe is very excited to be shortlisted in the Farmers Guardian ‘Marts the Hearts’ 10th Anniversary awards for ‘Market Cafe of the Year’ In 2023 the decision was taken to take the market cafe back in hand after many years of being leased out and Frome Market Cafe was reborn. Kate Isgar agreed to come onboard and take on the management of the cafe. Kate, a beef & sheep farmer, also ran her own outside catering business alongside her farm. Kate and the team have transformed the cafe turning it into the hub of the market. Food miles is the Cafe’s top priority so if the food in the cafe isn’t made by Kate, it is locally sourced. FCN, Farmerados and the Rural Crume Unit are all in regular attendance in the cafe. The cafe can hold over 200 guests and hosts functions & corporate events throughout the year.

Gisburn Café was thrilled to be nominated for the Café of the year award. The café is run by Ashley Thomas, a local farmer’s daughter, along with her hardworking team. Together they create a friendly, fun and welcoming atmosphere which is truly the hub of the auction, making it a popular meeting spot for many to enjoy. They offer an ever popular full breakfast menu as well as a wide variety of homemade lunches that go beyond the traditional auction fare but, it wouldn’t be an auction cafe without their weekly sell out roast dinners! They offer a delicious selection of cakes, with the jam and cream scones being a particular favourite. The café is dedicated to supporting local farmers and businesses when sourcing their fresh produce, with beef and other products sourced through the auction mart. The auction is proud of their onsite Field Nurse hub, which the café provides complementary refreshments to show their appreciation for the team that supports so many.

Our café is open on all sale days, proudly serving homemade dishes made with as much locally sourced produce as possible. Whether you're starting your day with a full English breakfast, a breakfast roll, or one of our freshly baked fruit scones, there's something for everyone. We also offer a range of hearty options throughout the day, including sausage rolls, quiches, cakes, hot lunches, fresh salads, and comforting puddings. Our wonderful team always aims to provide a warm welcome and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere—filled with laughter and good company. An ideal place for friends old and new to meet for a weekly catch-up. As the Autumn breeding sheep sales approach, our small but mighty kitchen shifts into high gear, going from preparing around 100 meals a day to over 1,000! Our mission is simple: to make sure every buyer, seller, and growing number of outside visitors are well fed and watered with quality home cooking at fair prices.

I have been running Middleton Mart Cafe for 13 years with the help of my fantastic hardworking team of girls without whom it wouldn’t be possible. I also help to run the family farm and feel that gives me a good connection with our customers. I truly believe that the farmers who produce our food deserve to be well fed when they go to the mart and I really hope that’s what we do We serve hearty farmhouse meals with our home roasted ham, homemade sausage and steak pies being some of the popular options alongside all the homemade cakes and sweet treats The mart cafe is a social place for both working and retired farmers and we always greet them with a smile and a warm welcome

The Market Café at Monmouthshire Livestock Centre is run by a small dedicated team of staff led by Steph Savidge. They pride themselves on giving a warm welcome to their wide range of visitors which not only includes market vendors but also many retired farmers, community groups and the local school.  Meals are freshly prepared to include a daily special, with all meat supplied from a local award winning butcher and fresh vegetables from a local supplier. A wide range of homemade cakes and desserts are always available which can be enjoyed in a warm, friendly atmosphere.

We are delighted that Frome Livestock Market has been shortlisted for ‘Market of the Year’ in the Farmers Guardian ‘Marts the Hearts’ 10th Anniversary awards 2025.

We are totally overwhelmed by this honour and it is testament to the agricultural community that supports Frome Market. We have a hardworking team of over 40 members of staff who work tirelessly to make sure the market runs safely and smoothly on market days. 

Frome Market is renowned for its friendly atmosphere, customer service and ambition and considers all these as major factors to the markets success. 

We are also very privileged to have Frome Market Health Hub, a bespoke health clinic being built at the market to assist in the health care and well being of our rural community, which is very important to us. 

This wouldn’t have been possible without vital funding from the Richard Oatley Foundation. 

Nock Deighton proudly operates a thriving livestock market in west Wales, deeply appreciative of the continued support from both vendors and purchasers since the reopening of Carmarthen Mart in March 2022.

The market has quickly re-established itself as a vital hub for the agricultural community, offering a consistent and diverse schedule of sales. Weekly markets feature dairy cattle, calves, barren cows, store cattle, and all classes of sheep, ensuring regular opportunities for trade and livestock movement.

In addition, monthly sales cater to more specific needs, including breeding cattle, weaned calves, and TB-restricted cattle, supporting farmers with tailored solutions.

The mart also hosts seasonal machinery sales, providing a platform for the exchange of essential farming equipment. With its comprehensive offering and strong community backing, Carmarthen Mart continues to grow as a trusted and dynamic marketplace under the stewardship of Nock Deighton.

Melton Mowbray Market are delighted to be nominated for this award. Situated in the heart of town, our Mart has been going for over a thousand years and continues to evolve to meet the changing customer needs of the next millennium. We have trebled in size since the Covid pandemic, drawing in customers from all four corners of the Country - deepest thanks must go to these clients for our continued growth and success of our weekly and special sales.

Farmers come for the friendly, quality and fair service, delivering top prices for every kilo. They come for the responsiveness of the small, young and dedicated team, particularly during the ever-changing Bluetongue Zones, where timely communications and adjustments allowed trade to thrive despite the restrictions. We offer a great social atmosphere where they can enjoy all the Market & Stockyard have to offer, including other attractions of Melton Mowbray on the doorstep.

Penrith & District Farmers Mart LLP is very proud to have been nominated for the “Marts the Hearts Auction of the Year”.   

In 2002 when our landlords threatened to close Penrith Auction a group of local farmers came together to challenge this threat.  The action was successfully overturned, and the partnership was formed which now has over 300 members of what has become a huge success story.  

Several of our key staff have given 24/7 devoted service to the cause and greatly deserve to be acknowledged.  Turnover has grown from complete stagnation to a total sales value in the last financial year of £80 million.  

Our opening remit was to be “farmers working for farmers” providing an essential service to the rural community of Cumbria and beyond.  We are proud to have delivered our initial challenge and can rightly claim to be the “mart at the heart of the farming population of this district”

Ruthin Farmers Auction are extremely honoured to have been nominated for this Award.

In the heart of the Vale of Clwyd, we are proud to provide our extensive Services throughout the Calendar year.

These include a large range of Sales from Prime to Store, Breeding and Pedigree as well as the Bi Annual Sheepdog Sale, Pony & Cob Sale and our ever-growing Machinery Sale.

Our experienced and knowledgeable Managers, Office and Yard Staff with the support of our Directors strive to offer the best possible Market experience for all of our Customers and Visitors.

We are committed to the importance of Livestock Markets throughout the UK, not only as a place to trade but also as a hub for rural life. Our Livestock Market is somewhere weekly stories are shared, often lightening the load, supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our rural Community.

We continue to strive to innovate and develop the business, moving with the changing times in order to safeguard the future of our vital services for future generations.

I'm Dafydd Davies, an auctioneer at Farmers Marts, Dolgellau Market, and I feel honoured to be shortlisted for the ‘New Auctioneer of the Year’ award. I began working for Farmers Marts at 16 as a drover, and after completing my university studies, I returned to start my career as an auctioneer. I now have the privilege of working as the Livestock Market Manager. Over the years, I’ve done my best to support the local farming community—whether that’s helping to secure fair trade, encouraging the next generation, or being a consistent and approachable presence at market. I’m very grateful to Farmers Marts for the opportunities and support they’ve given me throughout my journey, and to the farmers and colleagues who make the job so worthwhile. Being nominated is something I truly appreciate, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to an industry that means so much to me.

I started at Darlington in 2022, and since then I have introduced a rearing calf sale of which has gone from strength to strength. I strive to maintain strong sale momentum and secure the best outcomes for vendors and buyers alike.

Having grown up around farms in the local area I am fully aware of the importance of the local auction marts and the support that it can provide to the farming community both with their livelihood and social connections.

Although selling in the rostrum is my passion, it’s only a small proportion of the role of an auctioneer. It is vital to build strong relationships and trust with customers. Visiting farms is a part of the job which I really enjoy and gives me the opportunity to build on existing and new customer relationships. 

As I continue onto my third year at Harper Adams University, I aim to consistently develop my knowledge and skills, to progress and grow within my profession.

Matthew Middleton grew up on and around farms close to Skipton, always having a keen interest in livestock and auction marts. From a young age, Matthew, now 29, harboured a long-held aspiration and overriding desire to become an auctioneer and could often be found practising his potential future skills at any and every opportunity.

Since becoming a trainee auctioneer in 2021, he has learned the trade from the bottom up and is now considered a key member of the team at CCM, regularly selling in all sections of the mart.

Matthew takes great pride in his role and strives to perform to his best ability every day and in every way. Although he thrives off the adrenaline of being in the rostrum, he equally loves the social side of the role, carefully nurturing and building relationships with customers and taking the time to understand each individual's requirements. Since he has been given a chance at his childhood dream, Matthew has gone from strength to strength and is excited about what the future holds

Growing up on our family farms both in Devon and in Cumbria, I dreamt of being a livestock auctioneer. From a young age I have loved the “buzz” of the market and the atmosphere is something I have always wanted to be a part of. From the age of 16, I started working for Kivells at Exeter Livestock Market in the school holidays where I helped at their busy breeding sales droving ewes from their pens to the sale ring. After leaving school I joined the rearing calf section and I also started helping on the cull ewe section sorting and penning sheep. As time progressed, I moved full time to the sheep section under the wing of Director and Lead Sheep Auctioneer Russell Steer and am now a trainee sheep auctioneer with experience of selling all classes of sheep in a market that last year sold in excess of 250,000 head.

I am very grateful to North West Auctions for giving me the opportunity to join their team following a YFC auctioneering competition two years ago. After starting by selling miscellaneous items at farm sales and then taking charge of the rearing calf sales, I have since been fortunate enough to sell most classes of sheep, cattle and pigs whilst more latterly being involved in several pedigree sales at J36. Autumn sales are upon us and I look forward to playing a pivotal role in these again this year, the quality of stock that is presented and seeing a years’ worth of hard graft come to fruition for our vendors gives me huge satisfaction. Livestock farming and stockmanship has always been my passion so to work for people who are equally as enthusiastic about the industry is a pleasure and through honesty and hard work I hope to establish the trust of both vendors and buyers in years to come.  

Raised on a hill farm in County Durham, I enjoyed regular visits to Hexham Mart and as a child I dreamt of becoming an auctioneer. I loved the atmosphere and the buzz of sales and was passionate about supporting the agricultural industry in the North Pennines.

Following A-Levels which were studied at home during lockdown, I joined Hexham Mart as an Apprentice Auctioneer and began selling at farm sales, learning the ropes at machinery and tool sales before moving on to selling Store Lambs and Cast Ewes.

By the age of 19 I was leading successful Friday Sales, selling Breeding Sheep and starting my own Ram Sale which peaked recently with a £7000 career highlight. I love achieving the best possible prices for farmers whilst maintaining positive relationships with buyers.

I’m currently studying at Harper Adams, and as a proud agricultural ambassador, I often conduct charity auctions and attend community events.