Becketts Farm Cookery School

Simon, our current managing director, is the third generation of Becketts to farm in Wythall. Simon’s grandfather, Albert, moved to Wythall from Shropshire in 1937 to take up the tenancy of a small farm at Forhill. He always took part in the community as well as being a farmer – he was for example a founder trustee of Wythall community centre – and so set a tradition which Becketts Farm follows to this day.

Simon’s father, Alan, expanded the family’s farming activities tremendously and it was he who initially developed Heath Farm, where Becketts farm shop and restaurant is now situated. In 1960, the farm was turned into a limited company.

Becketts’ business progressed from dairying to large scale egg production, but today, while still farming over 1,000 acres of cereals, it concentrates on connecting much more closely with people and enabling them to buy their food direct from a farm. Hence the continued development of the farm shop and restaurant and the refurbishment of derelict chicken houses into the commercial and industrial units for which there is so much demand in the district. In turn, these developments bring new and congenial employment to Wythall.

Beckett’s Farm is proud to be one of the largest employers in the district and to contribute in many other ways to the local area. For example, facilities have been developed for the growing local community such as a day care centre, football pitches and, more recently, a golf driving range.