Farm Stay UK puts £3.5 billion into the rural economy
Over the past 30 years, £3.5 billion has been added to the rural economy as a result of guests staying on farm locations through Farm Stay UK.
Through continual farm diversification of its 1,000 members who have developed new accommodation experiences such as shepherd's huts, eco-lodges, woodland hideaways, hay-bale houses and imaginative conversions of redundant farm buildings, Farm Stay UK's members have grown the farm accommodation sector through ingenuity, investment and innovation.
Thirtieth Anniversary celebrations began this week with a Kent Farmhouse Breakfast event attended by James Berresford, CEO of VisitEngland, who was welcomed by Farm Stay UK's Chief Executive Andy Woodward. Also in attendance were chefs, local food producers, representatives of Visit Kent and members of Farm Stay UK.
Andy Woodward comments: "Thirty years ago, when we launched as the Farm Holiday Bureau with the help of Farmers Weekly, we could have only dreamed of becoming the organisation we are today. We've welcomed new members each year and started our 30th year with 450,000 visits to our new website - it is a wonderful feeling knowing that this are potentially 450,000 pairs of feet through farm gates, each visitor helping to put money back into the rural economy and in turn helping the farming industry to survive. More and more of our members are looking ahead to offer unique experiences, putting them in a much better position to not simply survive, but flourish."
VisitEngland's Chief Executive James Berresford said: "Congratulations to Farm Stay UK on their 30th anniversary and for making such a valuable contribution to the rural economy. With new members, a great new website and its reputation for a fantastic full English breakfast, I'm sure Farm Stay will be successful for many more years to come."
Success for Inverness business breakfast celebrating 30 years!
On Monday 21 January, Farm Stay UK member and Deputy Director of Farm Stay Scotland, Rosanne MacKay welcomed local business members from around the Inverness area to Leanach Farm for a breakfast celebrating Farmhouse Breakfast Week and Farm Stay UK's 30th Anniversary.
Over the past 30 years, £3.5 billion has been added to the rural economy as a result of guests staying on farm locations through Farm Stay UK. Through continual farm diversification of its 1,000 members, Farm Stay UK's members have grown the farm accommodation sector through ingenuity, investment and innovation.
Host Rosanne served up a locally sourced breakfast on the morning, to guests including Farm Stay UK chief executive Andy Woodward and Scott Armstrong from Visit Scotland. "It was great to gather so many local businesses in one area to talk about the important issues surrounding Inverness and to celebrate 30 years of Farm Stay UK. Our guests enjoyed a delicious farmhouse breakfast sourced from the local area and stunning panoramic views of Culloden Moor," said Rosanne.
Picture shows from L-R Andy Woodward, Marion Oates (Regional Director of Farm Stay Scotland), Rosanne MacKay (Deputy Director for Farm Stay Scotland) and Scott Armstrong from Visit Scotland at the Scottish Farmhouse Breakfast
For more information about Farm Stay UK please visit www.farmstayuk.co.uk. To become a member please contact Andy Woodward on tel 02476 696909 or email andy@farmstayuk.co.uk.
For more press information, press trips, specific member details and images please contact Katie Burt at Positive PR on tel 01935 389497 or email katie@positivepr.co.uk.
Farm Stay News
- New research from VisitEngland highlights the star attractions of Farm Stay UK B&B properties
-
Dec 14, 2011
The team that assesses the star ratings at VisitEngland this week reported that farm specialist Farm Stay UK has overachieved in each at each level of the star rated categories for its 700-plus B&B properties, with cleanliness, hospitality and breakfast, which recently picked up four more regional food awards, coming out tops More...
- Farm Stay's Chief Executive To Advise Two National Tourism Groups
-
Dec 14, 2011
Andy Woodward, Chief Executive of award-winning farm accommodation group Farm Stay UK, has been appointed to Visit England’s Strategic Industry Advisory Group and the Board of the Tourism Alliance. More...
- Farm Stay B&B scoops North East England Tourism Award
-
Oct 07, 2011
Low Urpeth Farm has achieved Bronze at the prestigious North East England Tourism Awards in the Bed & Breakfast category. The multi award winning farm, which has been in the Johnson Family for over 190 years, has scooped 6 awards in the last 3 years for its high caliber food, accommodation and service. More...
- Do Farm Stay UK make the most delicious breakfasts?
-
Sep 30, 2011
Christine Ryder from Scaife Hall Farm, Blubberhouses, near Otley in Yorkshire has been named as one of three finalists in the Deliciously Yorkshire Breakfast Awards for 2011. The winners will be announced on November 14 at Rudding Park, Harrogate. The finalists are to be judged by an independent panel of more than 20 food connoisseurs, including Radio 2’s Nigel Barden, Stephanie Moon, Tim Bilton and former chef at 10 Downing Street Mathew Benson-Smith. More...
- Foodie breaks at Farm Stay UK
-
Sep 30, 2011
Staying on a farm this autumn has some very tasty benefits as many Farm Stay UK members are offering the chance to spend time foraging for mushrooms, blackberries, hazelnuts and sloes – and some members will be generous with a measure of countryside knowledge when it comes to making perfect Sloe Gin! More...
Share and Follow