The Hop Farm Family Park is a 400-acre (1.6 km2) Country Park in Beltring, near East Peckham in Kent, England, is over 450 years old, and has the largest collection of oast houses in the world.[1]
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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]
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] In their first year the Pollands reduced staff from 50 to 14 and suffered a drought, floods, a gas pipeline installation and the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. However they broke even, and in subsequent years their profits grew.[2]
A life-size recreation of a period village with street scenes, shops and genuine artefacts on display from the Victorian era to the 1970s.
Based upon the farm's original use to produce hops, the museum is located in the park's collection of oast houses and features exhibits and a film about growing and harvesting hops.
A wax museum of famous people, including politics and royalty, sports, television, film, theatre and music. There is also a torture cellar.
The main event is the annual War and Peace Show. 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 events such as European Championship Monster Truck Racing,[4] The Kent County Fair,[5] and Paws in the Park.[5]
The Hop Farm is also 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.[6] That year also saw Terry Wogan's Summer Proms staged there.[6]
Over the first weekend of July, the Hop Farm Festival can be found at the park. Starting in 2008, the festival has grown to a capacity of over 50,000 people, playing host to many internationally artists including Bob Dylan, Blondie, Neil Young, Primal Scream, The Fratellis and Florence and the Machine among others.
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