The Hop Farm Country Park
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The Hop Farm Country Park is a 400 acre Country Park in Beltring, near Paddock Wood in Kent, England, is over 450 years old, and boasts the largest collection of oast houses in the world.[1]
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[edit] History
Until 1997 the hop farm was known as The Whitbread Hop Farm and was owned by the Whitbread brewery. Originally a working farm, the brewery opened it up to visitors and it proved a popular attraction.
As Whitbread were seeking to move out of the brewing trade, they began looking for new owners in the 1990s.[2]
[edit] The Pollards
In 1997 Mohamed Al-Fayed wanted to buy the hop farm to stable his Shire horses, and another rival wanted it for a rare breeds centre, but Brent and Fiona Pollard were successful in their purchase, at a cost of 2 million pounds (beating their nearest rival by £5000).[2] Unfortunately, due to mis-management, the business was in trouble; turnover was around £700,000 a year and in 1995 losses were £1.5 million.[2]
Their first year was filled with problems. They reduced staff from 50 to 14 and had to endure a drought, floods, a gas pipeline installation and the outbreak of Foot and mouth disease. Despite all this they managed to break even, and in subsequent years their profits grew.[2]
[edit] Events
The main attraction is the annual War and Peace Show which is organised in conjunction with the Kent Messenger newspaper. First put on in 1982, it has grown to be the largest military vehicle show in the world, with 10,000 enthusiasts and over 3,500 vehicles attending.[3]
In addition to this, the park hosts a number of motoring events - European Championship Monster Truck Racing,[4] The Garden of England Motorcycle Show,[5] and a number of classic car and other motoring events.[6]
The Hop Farm has also become known as an outdoor music venue. In 2006 a concert starring Craig David should have launched the Tunbridge Wells SpaFest, to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of the town but it was called off due to local complaints, and a substitute concert was staged at the Hop Farm.[7] That year also saw Terry Wogan's Summer Proms staged there.[7]
On Sunday 6th July 2008 a one day festival is taking place at the venue. Headlining this show is legendary rock artist Neil Young. Organisers of this event have also worked with festivals such as Glastonbury. The difference with this festival is its "returning to basics" with no commercial advertising, no VIP area and no registration for tickets, after organisers found that many concert goers felt these processes ruined a 'gig experience'.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Time Travel Britain: The Oasts of Kent.
- ^ a b c d Kent Online: Pollarding helps Hop Farm to grow taller.
- ^ Military show apology after noise. BBC News.
- ^ Monster Mania: Events.
- ^ The Hop Farm: Garden of England Motorcycle Show.
- ^ The Hop Farm: Events.
- ^ a b BBC News: SpaFest launch concert cancelled.
