National Trust visitors’ summer spending paints a picture of rainy holidays fuelled by sandwiches, cakes and ice cream

Top summer stats and highlights

• 477,596 ice creams enjoyed by people
• 47,400 ice creams enjoyed by dogs
• 647,000 sandwiches sold
• 1,794,000 portions of cakes and bakes sold, 385, 653 of which were fruit scones
• 2,600 umbrellas sold, compared to 3,800 pairs of sunglasses
• An age-old family curry recipe is a firm favourite with National Trust chefs and visitors
• 995,321 cups of tea enjoyed – can Bank Holiday visitors help break the 1 million mark for this summer?
• Every drink and snack bought at a National Trust place supports vital conservation work
• As millions prepare to enjoy the last long weekend of summer, the National Trust looks back at what has been a bumper season for ice creams, scones, cakes, curry, adventures and umbrellas.

Many people across the UK have not let periods of unsettled weather and rain stop them from experiencing nature, beauty and history this summer. Since June the National Trust has welcomed 7.5 million visitors to historic houses and estates, gardens and nature reserves with many more visiting the countryside and beaches it looks after.

From the beginning of June to the middle of August visitors consumed a whopping 647,000 sandwiches with the three most popular choices being egg, tuna and cheese and ham.

Visitors weren’t shy when it came to sweet treats either with the conservation charity selling an incredible 1,794,000 portions of cakes and bakes, 385,653 of which were fruit scones. Accounting for 21% of the cakes and bakes sold, the fruit scone was by far the most popular sweet treat in National Trust cafes and tearooms this summer.

Outside of scones, the top five most popular cakes and bakes were: chocolate brownies, coffee and walnut cake, classic sponge cake, lemon drizzle cake and flapjacks. And a British summer day out wouldn’t be complete without a good brew – National Trust visitors drank an impressive 995,321 cups of tea.

Clive Goudercourt, Development Chef at the National Trust, said: ‘It doesn't surprise me that cakes and bakes are a bestseller. Our visitors love to have a sweet treat when they're out and about. Some of the classics like Victoria sponge are firm favourites, although the vegan chocolate sponge also does well year-on-year. Another popular snack, and one of my personal favourites is the double chocolate, pistachio and sea salt cookie. It has perfect combination of sweet and salty with a slight bitterness from the dark chocolate, and a light nutty flavour.’

Ice creams were also a hit with people and dogs alike. The charity sold 477,596 ice creams to visitors this summer, as well as 47,400 pots of ice cream specially formulated for dogs.

‘If all of those ice cream scoops visitors enjoyed this summer were laid end-to-end, the line would stretch around 1,500 miles,’ said Clive. ‘That’s almost double all the coastline looked after by the National Trust!’

The National Trust’s chefs and food and beverage staff have also been busy creating lots of new savoury dishes this summer. Clive’s favourite is the Kedleston chickpea curry, which was added to National Trust menus in July as the charity celebrated South Asian Heritage Month. The recipe for this dish has been in the family of Simran Sandhu, the Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer at Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, for generations. Simran worked with National Trust chefs to develop the dish because she wanted the menu at Kedleston Hall to reflect its historic connection with India through its collection created by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905.

Simran said: ‘I grew up having this curry and I’m going to be 60 this year. My grandma told my Mum how to cook it, and my Mum passed it on to me. My Mum would normally make this curry on Sundays and all my cousins used to invite themselves around because they loved it so much. We’d have it with puri (a puffed chappati), creamy yoghurt and freshly made mint chutney.

Simran doesn’t know how long the recipe has been in her family, but it originates from the Punjab region of northern India. ‘I really wanted to see Kedleston’s history and Indian communities in the UK represented by the food served in the café. I’m passionately connected to my roots, and food is such a strong binding factor for people. After all, curry is a national dish.’

Simran worked Kedleston’s Head Chef Georgia Williams to create the recipe (linked below), which until that point had been passed down by word of mouth. The secret ingredient is tea, which enhances the flavour and colour of the dish. ‘It’s a warming and hearty curry with exactly the right blend of spices, and the perfect dish to enjoy if you have come back from a long walk in the countryside.’

This summer was not only characterised by people’s appetite for freshly made food but also their appetite for adventure. The National Trust Adventure Map, highlighting routes and trips encompassing National Trust sites across the UK, was the charity’s bestselling book this summer with more than 3,000 copies sold since it was released in May.

Meanwhile, sales of sunglasses and umbrellas pointed to a wet summer with sporadic sunshine. National Trust shops sold more than 2,600 umbrellas and 3,800 pairs of sunglasses across June and August.

Peter Maidment, Retail Manager at the shop at Studland Bay in Dorset, said: ‘It’s been a funny old summer for us here in Dorset with two glorious weeks, one in June and another in July. Otherwise, it’s been a bit hit and miss with no real pattern to the weather. I never knew whether people would be buying brollies or parasols. However, we are trading well against last year and when the sun is out so are the crowds, boosting sales of hats, sunglasses and body boards.

‘The view from the shop window is just stunning. I love bringing in all the beach stock from the front deck at the end of the day and just looking out at the sea.’

Maddie Brine, Retail Manager at Stourhead in Wiltshire, said: ‘This summer has been great fun with lots of happy faces and laughter. Stourhead in the summer is beautiful. The garden is in full bloom, and I love looking at the trees reflected in the lake.

‘This year has been busy for our plant centre, with visitors wanting to take a piece of Stourhead’s gardens home with them. The shop is usually the last place visitors stop, so I often get to hear all their stories about the day and what they enjoyed most.’

The National Trust expects to welcome thousands of people to places in its care across England, Wales and Northern Ireland this August Bank Holiday. Children and families can enjoy Summer of Play, with garden games and imaginative play zones, at more than 190 sites. Special events range from archery sessions at Chirk Castle, Wrexham, to unique theatre performances like Peter Pan at Hatchlands Park, Surrey and a dazzling sunflower display and competition at Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire.

And with mixed weather predicted, there’s always the café... What’s more every drink, snack and gift bought at a National Trust place helps protect places of nature, history and beauty for everyone, for ever.

ENDS