Farm of the Week: Taking tea in the heart of the farm

Perhaps it is fitting then that one of the region’s most well-known and successful farm shops is located on site.

Beadlam Grange Farm Shop, based at Pockley near Helmsley in North Yorkshire, is now known across Yorkshire and beyond, and the Yorkshire Post has lost track of how many press releases it has received from various organisations regarding the latest award it has won.

The farm is also home to a successful cafe and craft centre, all operating in the heart of the family farm.

Unlike many farm shops, which often tend to be situated in purpose-built accommodation far from the actual farm, Beadlam Grange Farm Shop and Tea Room is placed in the middle of the holding. As you drive to its door you pass cattle in the fields while inside the cafe you can see the cattle housed in their sheds.

Indeed the operation is based in a grade II listed building dating back more than 280 years.

Until a few years ago it was used to house cattle but following extensive refurbishment work by owners Mark and Jenny Rooke, the buildings are now used for their diversification business.

Operating the farm shop has seen something of a change to the way the family does business.

Mrs Rooke primarily looks after the farm shop and cafe while their son Peter looks after the farming side. Meanwhile Mr Rooke divides his time between the two. Peter is also starting to get a foothold in farming. As well as looking after things at Beadlam Grange, he is also in the process of getting his own animals.

Beadlam Grange, a 300-acre farm, remains very much a working one. All of its beef cattle now go through the shop, with the animals only leaving the farm to go through the slaughtering process at a local abattoir just a few miles away.

Mr Rooke rears a herd of limousin cattle, numbering about 70. All of the butchery is done on site at the business’s own butchers and is allowed to hang for three weeks before going on sale.

In addition there are 150 acres given over to wheat and barley while another 110 acres are used for grass, for producing hay and silage.

Meanwhile, a final 40 acres are used for the production of miscanthus, the increasingly popular energy crop.

The crop goes to Drax Power Station, providing another revenue stream for the business.

Mr Rooke’s family initially came to the farm in 1962 from Heslington when he was just six years old.

However a few years ago it was becoming apparent that the family were going to need to do something else if they were to continue in farming.

Given the farm’s location just off of the A170 the family knew that passing trade would be good enough to support a farm shop. However, Mr Rooke had just one stipulation.

“I said, ‘if we are going to have a farm shop then we are definitely going to have fresh meat’.

“I wanted to bring my cattle in here to sell. It’s worked well.”

Mrs Rooke agrees, saying: “People travel from miles around to get their meat from here.”

The couple didn’t go into it half-heartedly.

“We knew there were a lot of farm shops around and that we would have to do our homework,” said Mr Rooke.

“I think about animal welfare a lot.

“A beast that is looked after well makes all the difference when it comes to taste.”

Lambs are bought in from local farms, with the family focusing on the texel and charollais breeds. In total the shop has more than 160 suppliers.

Even the fresh herbs sold on site are grown locally in Northallerton, by Paul Turner.

The business is sufficiently busy to be home to up to 20 staff.

Mrs Rooke said: “The cafe has been another attraction, especially for families.

“What has really made things work for us is having such good staff.

“When you think about how it was in the beginning it really is amazing how much it has grown.

“Things really are a lot busier, I think people are fed up of supermarkets and want good quality fresh produce at a decent price.

“Everything about Beadlam Grange has been about supporting the local area.

“We both love meeting people, it’s not something you can do if you don’t cope well with the public, we enjoy looking after them.

“We are so well supported by the locals. We do have great customers and are very lucky in that sense.”

The practice of using old former agricultural buildings has continued in recent months with a former cattle store area now being used as a craft workshop.

Run by Caroline Burton, an experienced potter and artist, the centre, Hands On, is already attracting a great deal of attention from around the local area and beyond.

As well as pottery, felt weaving, wool spinning, and sculpture, Ms Burton also visits local care homes to work with residents on various craft activities.

The off-shoot business seems to be attracting more and more people.

“We just keep getting more people hearing about it,” said Ms Burton. “Children have been coming from all over the country.”

The farm was especially busy earlier in the month when more than 200 people visited for Open Farm Sunday.

A keen supporter of the event, Mr Rooke said: “It really exceeded our expectations.”

Visit www.beadlamgrange.co.uk for more information.