GET IN TOUCH

HOW TO CONTACT US HERE AT THE SALT BOX

FIND The Salt Box on the priory farm estate IN THE HEART OF THE SURREY HILLS

multi award winning cookery school and woodland dining just 30 mins train from London

CONTACT US

info@wearethesaltbox.co.uk

01737 902 912

What 3 Words Location

VISIT US

Red Oak Barn
Priory Farm Estate (Gate 3)
Sandy Lane
South Nutfield
RH1 4EJ
Surrey, UK

Meetings and viewings by appointment only

OFFICE HOURS

10:00 AM – 5.00 PM
Tuesday – Friday

Please note we are often running events and courses through the day and evenings, so may not always be available to answer the phone. The best way to get in touch is to pop us an email, or leave us a voicemail and we’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as we can.

thesaltboxuk

Wild Food Adventures🌲
Award-Winning Feasts Over Fire 🔥
Woodland Cookery School 🪓
NEW Online Fire Cookery Course 🪵
Book Now for 2021 📆
Surrey, GB

196 days (and counting) 🤯. That’s how many d

196 days (and counting) 🤯.

That’s how many days we’ve had our doors shut for events and courses over the last year (thanks Covid...).

This photo here was taken in February 2019, just days after we had confirmed plans to take things with The Salt Box up a notch, and move the business on to the Priory Farm Estate. Upgrading from our garden shed to a cosy barn and dedicated woodland glen was a monumental moment for us!

We are always trying to keep positive, but there’s no doubt the past 10 months have had some serious lows. We have always strived to create a business that is centred on community and gathering, so this time where we can’t physically gather together is tough - but we are determined to continue to stay connected and we are ever so grateful to all of you for sticking by us.

Whilst our face-to-face events may be closed, we are really loving the new challenge of our new Online Cooking Over Fire course - with new students joining us every day. Hats off to all who have joined us so far and braved the winter weather for a feast cooked over the fire. Pop us a message if you'd love to join.

We are counting down the days till we can have you all back beneath the trees! 🌲

Photo by @simon_weller 📸.

#thesaltboxuk #feastinspirerewild #wildfoodadventures #smallbusiness #smallbusinesssurrey #lockdownlows

A proper cup of coffee is at the heart of all our

A proper cup of coffee is at the heart of all our events and courses and we’re firm believers that @surreyhillscoffee is hands-down the best brew you can get. It’s definitely a firm favourite at our Breakfast in the Woods events!

We are delighted that Chris and Monika from Surrey Hills Coffee have made us a custom blended coffee for us, in their roastery based in the heart of the Surrey Hills. Our Salt Box ‘Barn Blend’ is medium roasted by hand at the roastery, perfect for a coffee break any time of the day.

The perfect companion for feasts over fire and outdoor adventures, our retro style mugs are durable, long-lasting and perfect for use at home as well as for camping and outdoor activities. Ideal for outdoor adventure lovers, they are big enough to enjoy your morning coffee, eat your breakfast in or sip a beer or two in around the fire.

Treat yourselves (or a friend) to our Enamel Mug and Coffee Set, available on our Online Shop.

[Coffee and mugs also available separately]

It’s been a long week for us all here at Salt Bo

It’s been a long week for us all here at Salt Box HQ, even for our young wildling 😉.

Happy Friday to you all - may the weekend bring you a little R&R after what has felt like a dark and somewhat moody week.

We’ll no doubt venture out on another walk in yet another muddy field, eat more meals than there technically are in a day, light a fire or three .....anyone else feeling like we’re in Groundhog Hog 🤷‍♀️?

Do share with us any exciting weekend plans you may have 💥!

Let’s talk about Venison 🦌. With hospitality

Let’s talk about Venison 🦌.

With hospitality’s doors very firmly shut, the commercial demand for venison has well and truly plunged, as deer from Britain’s largest herds are no longer needed - resulting in ever-increasing deer populations.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What so many people don’t realise is that the careful management of the UK’s deer population is absolutely ESSENTIAL for our ecosystem - an unmanaged deer herds poses a huge threat to our woodlands and our wildlife. Culling the female deer during the winter months helps keep numbers down, but this year - with demand so low, numbers are steadily rising.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Farmers and conservationists are ever-more concerned at the impact that deer have on crops and wildlife, including substantial damage to crops and a reduced diversity of the woodland due to a fall in numbers of species.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Many consider hunting venison a ‘blood sport’. But don’t forget there are NO natural predators out there to keep the deer population in balance, so as humans, we take on the role as part of managing our landscape. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A wide abundance of wildlife needs to be encouraged, and if one species becomes overly dominant then we are not achieving that. These are 100% wild, incredibly clever, beautiful animals for which we have a huge amount of respect - celebrating this incredible animal, and ensuring nothing goes to waste, is always top of our agenda. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Venison also packs a punch in flavour and is very good for you. A healthy, sustainable red meat - no cholesterol, full of antioxidants. And if you source it locally, minimal food miles. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Recently, it’s been great to see many of our fellow chef comrades delve deeper into hunting, sourcing and celebrating venison. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📷 @simon_weller
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#wildvenison #venison #wildgame #sustainablegamemeat #letseatwild #britishgamealliance #countrysidefoodtrust #wildgamerecipes

On rainy days like today, thinking back to our Sum

On rainy days like today, thinking back to our Summer Picnics brings a real smile to our faces! ☀️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A true highlight of 2020 was the launch of our Picnic Feasts, prepared by our team from the finest locally and seasonally inspired produce and enjoyed here in the beautiful meadows on the Priory Farm Estate.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We really really can't wait to launch a series of Picnics when the time (finally) comes that we can welcome you all once again. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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One of our picnic menus last year included 👇:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Burnt Carrot Hummus w/ Toasted Pumpkin Seeds⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sweet Basil Olives⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Chicken, N’Duja and Fennel Picnic Pie⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Smoked Duck w/ Wild Cherry Chutney⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Potted Rabbit⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Nettle and Crab Tart w/ Wild Garlic Seed Capers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Honey Pickled Vegetables⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Coal Baked Beetroot and Spring Onion Tabbouleh ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Fennel, Apple and Walnut slaw⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Homemade Sourdough Crackers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Chalk Hills Rye Bread⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Chocolate Cherry Plum Rye Cookies⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Who will you be bringing to a picnic this summer? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Photo by @henry.catling.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#picnic #throwback #summer #picnicfeast #outdoorgathering #picnics #thesaltboxuk #wildfoodadventures #prioryfarm #feastinspirerewild #picnichamper

When cooking over fire, using a gently smouldering

When cooking over fire, using a gently smouldering log is a really effective way to get some serious heat and a little extra smoke into the top layer of your feasts. Using long handled tongs, we take a log out of our fire and slowly hover it over the dish. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Particularly handy when melting cheese on a simmering pan of meatballs, or a platter of nachos! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
For more tips on cooking over fire, join our Online Cooking Over Fire Course 🔥.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Photo by @henry.catling.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#TopTipTuesday #grilling #cookingoverfire #overthefirecookery #firetips #firecookery #campfirecooking #techniques #smouldering #fire #feastoverfire #thesaltboxuk #tuesdaytips #tiptuesday #surreybusiness #outdoorcooking #nachos

Our BBQ Barn Blend is the perfect all rounder for

Our BBQ Barn Blend is the perfect all rounder for your feasts over fire, whether you’re flash grilling or cooking low and slow. This is our go-to seasoning for a little sweet and a little heat, hitting all the right spots!

A blend of smokey paprika, peppercorns, brown sugar, sea salt, celery salt, cayenne, garlic, mustard and cumin.

It works brilliantly stirred a Smokey BBQ Beans, smothered over pork belly or on your favourite steak.

[Available on our website, at @prioryfarm, @dorkingbutchery and @theguildfordbutchery. ]

Photo by @henry.catling 📸.

#bbq #bbqseasoning #bbqblend #houseblend #bbqlife #newproduct #thesaltboxuk #cookingoverfire #smokey #wildfoodadventures #madeinsurrey #surreybusiness #surreyfood #prioryfarm

Here’s Poppy with a tray of delectable Bees Knee

Here’s Poppy with a tray of delectable Bees Knees Cocktails, made by the team at @distillersofsurrey for a corporate client ‘back in the days’!

A simple combo of @distillersofsurrey Aromatic Gin, freshly squeezed lemon and honey. We may be biased, but the @prioryfarm honey from the hives just next to Salt Box HQ is a firm favourite! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Brightly flavoured and lightly sweet - just the kind of sunshine pick me up we could do with after a rather gloomy week! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Wishing you all a super weekend ☀️.

#fridayvibes #fridayfeeling #beesknees #cocktail #thesaltboxuk #honey #distillersofsurrey #surreybusiness #localdistillery #gin #gincocktail #cheers #throwback

Feasting together 🔥. We are all patiently wait

Feasting together 🔥.

We are all patiently waiting for that moment when we can safely feast together once again.

Keeping our fingers crossed that there will soon be a time when we can gather around a table with old friends and new - without distance markers, masks, hand sanitiser, self consciousness and a hint of fear.

Longing for that feeling of connection and warmth, and for the joy of tucking into a platter of food with your family and friends.

Until then, today we #throwback to a selection of our previous feasts, fond memories of very happy times with so many of you! The best is still to come 🔥.

#throwbackthursday #throwbacks #woodlandfeast #feastoverfire #supperclub #shareddining #suppertime #thesaltboxuk #wildfoodadventures #surreyfoodie #surreybusiness #beneaththetrees #outdoordining #smallbusiness #happymemories #shareddining #feast #experience #getoutdoors #dinnertime #tabledecor #prioryfarm

Have you met Flori 🙌? A core part of our small

Have you met Flori 🙌?

A core part of our small team, Flori joined Team Salt Box nearly two years ago, trading London’s finest kitchens between four walls for a spot cooking over our open fires.

Flori joined us with incredible experience in the kitchen, oodles of enthusiasm, energy and the most brilliant work ethic. More recently, with our doors closed for face-to-face events, Flori’s been beavering away at producing our products. If you’ve got a Salt Box jar in your kitchen cupboards, it was probably made by Flori!

Everyone on our small but mighty team plays a fundamental role. We know that building a team that fits our concept and the overall ethos is key to offering our final guests a wonderful experience. We believe in building a family, more than a group of working people. When the pandemic is finally behind us, we’re excited to grow our team further as we rekindle our fires.

Photo by @simon_weller 📸.

#meettheteam #teamwork #thesaltboxuk #wildfoodadventures #surreybusiness #smallbusiness #ourteam #goteam #surreysmallbusiness #cookingoverfire

For our very first #tiptuesday - what's the best w

For our very first #tiptuesday - what's the best way to light a fire when it’s been wet?

Even just a little drizzle can dampen your fire lighting success. We generally collect pencil lead thick twigs and sticks as primary fuel to feed the fire once the tinder is lit. But during the wetter months, dead standing primary fuel is no longer a viable option, so what can we do?

Make feather sticks!

Feather sticks are really useful when trying to light fires in less than favourable conditions. In its most basic form, it is a larger piece of dead standing wood which you carefully shave with a knife from near the top to the bottom, generating fine curls of dry wood still attached to the stick which the flame will feed off and grow.

By splitting a larger piece of wood, this can often reveal a nice dry core which can be turned into a feather stick. If the curls of your stick are fine enough it is possible to light the feather stick with a shower of sparks directly from your ferro rod.

Feather sticks don't need to be pretty, just functional. I find the safest way to make them is to first and foremost, use a super sharp knife. If your knife is sharp and the cut is nice and shallow then the knife should glide down the stick like butter. Here I've used the @togknives Higonokami black which is an incredible little Japanese, non-locking pocket knife.

Always make sure that you are cutting away from yourself to avoid any accidents. There's no need to rush this process, just take it nice and easy to begin with - it’s super therapeutic. If your knife snags, then just start from the top and adjust the angle.

I will only ever shave wood on one side of the stick, until I get around half way through. This means that our feather sticks will act as primary fuel giving our tinder something to feed off but the thicker part of the stick will also act as kindling.

We like to use two to three feather sticks per fire, whenever we struggle to find any dry primary fuel from dead standing wood.

#fire #firelighting #featherstick #campfire #campfirecooking #bushcraft #bushcraftuk #tiptuesday #tips #tipsandtricks #outdoors #nature #woodland #forest #knife #knifeskills #stick

In need of a good book?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

In need of a good book?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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With us all spending even more time at home this month, we’ve also pulled together a selection of reading lists of our favourite books. From wild food and fire cookery, to family foraging and fermentation - if you’re looking for inspiration for something new to read, or a gift for a loved one - browse our a selection of our favourites - just head to our 'Favourite Products' link on our website (link in Bio). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#recommended #ad #readinglist #bookinspo #recipebooks

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