'Enhancing the visitor experience': Cannon Hall Farm posts bigger profits as turnover surpasses £14m
One of Yorkshire’s most popular family-friendly visitor attractions has recorded increased revenue and profits as it renewed a commitment to invest further in its facilities.
Cannon Hall Farm in the village of Cawthorne in the district of Barnsley, which is owned by the Nicholson family and has been open to the public since 1989, has just published its latest annual accounts covering the 12 months to end of January 2026.
The site, which has found national fame as the host location for Channel 5 show Springtime on the Farm, has reported a 4.2 per cent increase in turnover from £13.4m to just over £14m.
Operating profit increased by 5.7 per cent to just over £2m from a previous £1.9m.
Total profit for the financial year was £1.6m, up on the £1.5m recorded the previous year.
Dividends of £290,000 were paid to the directors for the period.
A future outlook statement published with the results said the family are confident in further increasing visitor numbers to the attraction.
It said: “The directors continue to monitor customer spending patterns and regional and national economic indicators, while exploring innovative ways to increase visitor numbers.
"The company will maintain its established policy of investing in new attractions and improving infrastructure, which the directors remain confident will drive further growth in footfall and revenue.
"As part of this ongoing investment, the company opened additional animal attractions, viewing facilities and outdoor children's play areas in spring 2026 to enhance the visitor experience.
"The directors are confident that continuing to improve visitor experiences, responding to customer demands and maintaining high-quality offerings will enable the company to sustain strong performance.”
It added that the business “is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties”.
The report said: “The principal business risks identified include the prevailing economic climate, exposure to communicable discases associated with agriculture, fluctuations in the residential property market and the retention of key staff.”
The attraction has won multiple awards over the years, including being chosen as the winner of the People’s Choice Award category at The Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards in 2022 following a public vote.
The site initially opened to the public in the late 1980s with an old farm building used as a tearoom and local youngsters having the chance to feed goats and lambs and has expanded over the years since then.
It is now home to hundreds of animals, features one of the biggest outdoor adventure playgrounds in the North of England, has a massive indoor play area and a popular local farm shop.
The Cannon Hall Farm website explains of the attraction’s history under the Nicholsons: “They developed the very first farm visitor centre of its type in the world – one that allowed visitors to watch with the farmers during their day to day work – which can be as varied as assisting in a birth, milking, shearing or tractor work- from the safety of a viewing platform.” The attraction employs hundreds of local people.