We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Castle Farm has been awarded Small Farm Shop of the Year at the prestigious Farm Retail Awards 2025! This incredible recognition, given by the Farm Retail Association (FRA), celebrates the very best in farm retail across the UK, and we are honoured to have been chosen among so many fantastic farm shops.
What This Award Means for Castle Farm
Castle Farm is a fourth-generation, family-run farm in the heart of Kent, spanning 1,200 acres. Our farm shop is at the centre of our business, offering home-grown produce, including our famous hops and lavender, as well as a carefully curated selection of locally sourced farm foods and gifts. Seasonal events like our Lavender field events, Pick Your Own Sunflowers and Apple Picking bring visitors from near and far to experience the best of the farm-to-table lifestyle.
Winning this award is a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire team, who are dedicated to providing high-quality and locally sourced produce to our customers, as well as ensuring an enjoyable visitor experience. It also reflects the support of our wonderful community—you, our loyal customers, who make everything we do possible.
A Night to Remember
The awards were held at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham as part of the annual FRA conference, with food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden hosting the event. The Farm Retail Awards are particularly special as they are the only awards judged by fellow farm retailers, making this recognition even more meaningful.
We were up against some truly fantastic farm shops in our category, including Ardross Farm Shop in Scotland and Fordhall Farm Shop near Birmingham, both of whom are outstanding examples of independent farm retail and made for strong competition!
See below Phil (Shop Manager), and members of the family - Hazel, William and Caroline Alexander at the Awards evening.
Celebrating Excellence in Farm Retail
While we are overjoyed with our win, we also want to congratulate all the other fantastic winners who were recognised on the night, so much of this industry is about learning from one another and appreciating all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes of these businesses:
- Large Farm Shop of the Year – Darts Farm, Devon
- Farmers Market of the Year – Lenham Country Market, Kent
- Pick Your Own of the Year – Garson Farm, Surrey
- Farm Café/Restaurant of the Year – The Farm Table at Darts Farm, Devon
- Farm Shop Butchery of the Year – Millets Farm Butchers, Oxfordshire
- Rising Star Award – River Cottage Kitchen & Store, Devon
- Associate Member of the Year – Cress Co, Fife, Scotland
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Jo Mounce, Strawberry Fields, Devon
A huge thank you to the Farm Retail Association for their continued support of independent farm retailers, and to Cress Co for sponsoring our category.
Thank You for Your Support!
We are incredibly proud of this achievement and look forward to celebrating with you all at the farm shop! Thank you for being part of our journey and for supporting local, independent farming. Next time you visit, be sure to stop by and you can see the lovely Trophy on display!
Stay connected with us for updates on new produce, upcoming seasonal events, and more by following us on www.instagram.com/castlefarmkent/. See you at the farm!
