2 minute read
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
from CRG SIU April 2023
Park Farm Shop & Tea Room, Lancashire
With over three decades of success behind them including winning Gordon Ramsey’s F-word in 2007, Park Farm Shop & Tea Room is a family business in the truest sense of the word. From humble farming beginnings and through hard work, foresight and dedication, John Lees was able to buy Park Farm in Bury, Lancashire, in 1957.
The dairy farm specialised in milk, cream, eggs and beef but John was so much more than the stereotypical farmer, he was an entrepreneur at heart and was always on the lookout for opportunities to diversify and break new ground. With the farm local to the town of Walmersley and the now bustling foodie destination of Ramsbottom, John saw the coming potential of Farm Shops early.
In true pioneering style in 1990, John renovated an old cow shed and launched a new business stream for the family and Park Farm Shop was born. Thirty-two years later, the business now includes a Garden Centre, Farm Shop and a traditional Tea Room that seats and serves wholesome, home-cooked family recipes in a peaceful and comfortable location.
John is sadly no longer alive, but his spirit and legacy can be seen every day through his children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren, who continue to help the business flourish. His wife Margaret is 86-years-old and still the indomitable matriarch of the family – collecting tractor parts, helping on the farm and providing a keen eye in the kitchen to ensure Lees’ quality and zero wastage.
The Tea Room is licensed, employs 40 people, caters for events off-premises and has two private function rooms available on-site for larger parties.
“It’s not overly fancy but just great local ingredients, creatively and passionately prepared with love and loads of flavour, the Lancashire way. For example, a long-standing customer favourite for the children is our sublimely simple chopped potatoes, veg and gravy dish. We never got into the fancy coffee machine trend and our house-favourite remains a mug of milky coffee. Our customers love it” says Kathryn Walmsley.
“We freshly bake breads, pasties, pies and puddings, seasonal fresh fruit pies, cakes and tray bakes such as Mars Bar Slice, Tiffin, Caramel Candy & Lancashire school day favourites like Cornflake Cake! Our afternoon teas are locally renowned and our ‘no chip’ policy means customers get to enjoy our special roast potatoes, mash and our much-revered dauphinoise made with cream from the farm. My mum’s famous Whinberry Pie recipe – a local delicacy made using foraged whinberries - also helps set us apart.”
The family tragically lost Joan, the eldest of the Lees siblings in 2019 to cancer and have since raised £25,000 for Cancer Research.
“Our customers often give us old China cups and saucers, which we then use at special events. If they are able to, we ask attendees who use the special China to donate some change to Cancer Research. It’s been incredible how quickly the money adds up. Joan’s daughter Rachel now runs the Farm Shop and is part of the next generation of the family who are very excited to build on our father’s - their grandfather’s legacy” continues Kathryn.
“As we get most of our fresh goods from our farm or locally, it’s really
Judith and the boys the Country Range dry goods that we use the most. Whether it’s seasonings, spices, dry herbs or lasagne sheets, they never let us down, provide fantastic value and the quality is excellent.”
With the worst of the weather hopefully behind us, if you haven’t started already, it’s time to put your growing plans into overdrive. Rather than buying ready-to-go plants at the garden centre, save money and learn new skills by growing from seed.
April is the month when a huge percentage of our favourite salads and vegetables can be sown, either directly into the earth, prepared containers and pots, or into seed trays and propagators to germinate inside, ready to be planted outdoors in May.