Mead Open Farm

What Mead Open Farm does

Mead Open Farm Ltd is a privately-held, family-oriented farm attraction operating on a 30-acre site in Billington, Bedfordshire, UK. Founded in 1994 (one of the first open farms in the region), it combines a working farmyard with hands-on animal encounters (sheep, cows, pigs, goats, alpacas, ponies, rabbits, donkeys, poultry) and an extensive portfolio of indoor and outdoor play attractions, anchored by Shaggy's PlayWorld (over 13,000 sq ft of indoor soft play) and outdoor features including a 20ft SkyTrail high ropes course, 24ft climbing wall, go-karts, crazy golf, jumping pillows, and tractor rides. The company is operationally complex for its scale: it runs an award-winning on-site restaurant (Grainstore Kitchen, 130-160 cover capacity), a 1000-capacity Four-Acre Event Field, two holiday cottages (Brewery Cottage and Little Cottage) listed on Airbnb, and a year-round calendar of seasonal events (Lambing Week, Easter Circus, Dino Week, Summer Spectacular, Freaky Fun Fest, Halloween/Howl, Christmas).

The business model is direct-to-consumer, monetizing through eight distinct revenue streams: (1) day admission tickets (£11.95 weekday / £13.95 weekend with 20% online pre-booking discount via the Digitickets platform), (2) annual memberships (£99 adult / £8.25 monthly child), (3) birthday party packages (£24.95/child, 12-child minimum), (4) adult-only evening events (Adult Farm Nights from £29.95), (5) on-site food and beverage, (6) venue hire for corporate events and weddings, (7) holiday cottage rentals, and (8) structured educational school/group visits (£10.75/child). It also operates a mobile app for tickets, digital membership cards, and on-site navigation, with Firebase Analytics and Keen IO integration for usage tracking. Customer segments span families with children (primary), schools and youth groups, birthday party hosts, adults seeking evening entertainment, and event organizers.

The company holds an Animal Exhibition License (CB/LANW/19/058443), is registered as a private limited company (No. 9420451), operates a 10am-5pm daily schedule, and reports no disclosed parent company, external investors, or funding rounds, indicating founder/owner-operated independent ownership. Its catchment spans Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire within a single UK geography, with no international footprint.

Name

Mead Open Farm

Legal name

Mead Open Farm Ltd

Website

https://meadopenfarm.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mead Open Farm is a privately-held 30-acre family farm attraction in Bedfordshire, UK, combining hands-on animal encounters with indoor and outdoor play, seasonal events, on-site dining, venue hire, and holiday cottage rentals for families, schools, and event organizers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Leisure Attraction

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Agritourism Eco-Lodges & Farm Nature Stays (THAAAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farm Stays & Agritourism Lodges (THAMADAH), Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH), Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Family attraction park
• Indoor outdoor play
• Children's farm experiences
• Birthday party venue
• Educational school visits

Headquarters

HQ city

Billington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Day Admission Tickets: Standard admission tickets priced at £11.95 on weekdays and £13.95 on weekends, with 20% discount for online pre-booking. Includes access to all farm animals, indoor play (Shaggy's PlayWorld), outdoor play, and animal activities.
2. Annual Memberships: Subscription-based memberships offering unlimited visits: Adult £99/year, Child £8.25/month, Senior £95/year, Disabled & Carer £120/year. Includes discounts on events, food, retail, and friend referral pricing.
3. Birthday Party Packages: Full-service birthday party packages at £24.95 per child (minimum 12 children), including venue access, themed party room, meals, ice cream, animal feed, and party amenities. Optional extras include party bags at £5.95 each.
4. Adult Events (Evening): Adult-only evening events including Adult Farm Nights at £29.95/person (18+) featuring indoor/outdoor play, food, drinks, and entertainment. Group discounts available for 6+ attendees.
5. Food & Beverage: On-site dining through award-winning Grainstore Kitchen (130-160 capacity), PlayBarn Pantry, and outdoor satellite units. Uses local suppliers including butchers within 2 miles.
6. Venue Hire: Hire of Four-Acre Event Field (up to 1000 people) and Grainstore Kitchen Restaurant for corporate events, weddings, and private functions. Catering and alcohol license available.
7. Holiday Cottage Rentals: Two self-catering cottages available: Brewery Cottage (sleeps 5) and Little Cottage (sleeps 2-4). Bookings via Airbnb. Includes free Mead Open Farm entry during stay.
8. School & Group Bookings: Structured educational visits for schools at £10.75/child (minimum 20), with free adult ratios and activities including animal encounters, tractor rides, and play areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mead Open Farm is a 30-acre family leisure attraction in Bedfordshire that operates as a children's farm combined with indoor and outdoor adventure play. The farm sells day admission tickets, annual memberships, birthday party packages, school group visits, venue hire, holiday cottage rentals, and on-site food and beverage through the Grainstore Kitchen restaurant. Customers encounter farm animals (sheep, cows, pigs, goats, rabbits, ponies, alpacas, donkeys, poultry) and access play facilities including Shaggy's PlayWorld indoor soft play (13,000+ sq ft), SkyTrail high ropes, Giant's Rock Climbing Wall, Go Karts, Crazy Golf, Jumping Pillows, and seasonal special events.

Product overview

Mead Open Farm is a 30-acre family attraction farm in Bedfordshire offering a diverse portfolio of products and services. The core experience combines farm animal encounters (sheep, cows, pigs, goats, rabbits, ponies, alpacas, donkeys, and poultry) with extensive indoor and outdoor play facilities. Indoor attractions include Shaggy's PlayWorld (13,000+ sq ft soft play with giant drop slides) and the Magical Veggie Wood. Outdoor offerings feature SkyTrail high ropes course, Giant's Rock Climbing Wall, Topsy Turvy Towers adventure playground, Jumping Pillows, Go Karts, Crazy Golf, Digger Village, Shaggy's Cove water play, and Tractor Trailer Rides. The venue operates seasonal special events (Lambing Week, Easter Circus, Dino Week, Shaggy's Summer Spectacular, Freaky Fun Fest, Christmas), evening Adult Farm Nights events, birthday party packages, school/group educational visits, venue hire (Grainstore Kitchen restaurant and Four-Acre Event Field), holiday cottage rentals (Brewery Cottage and Little Cottage), and an Annual Membership program. On-site dining is provided through the award-winning Grainstore Kitchen restaurant. The business also offers a mobile app for navigation, timetables, and digital membership cards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grainstore Kitchen: Award-winning on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with locally sourced food including halloumi burgers, loaded jacket potatoes, bacon cheeseburgers, and children's menus.
• Shaggy's PlayWorld
• Shaggy's Summer Spectacular
• The Howl
• Adult Farm Nights
• Freaky Fun Fest
• Brewery Cottage
• Little Cottage

Products and services

• Day Admission Tickets Standard day admission tickets providing access to all farm animals, indoor play (Shaggy's PlayWorld), outdoor play, and daily animal activities. Priced at £11.95 online on weekdays and £13.95 online on weekends, with walk-up pricing higher. Includes all 16+ outdoor rides and attractions.
• Annual Membership Subscription-based annual membership providing unlimited visits throughout the year plus benefits including 10% retail discount, 5% food/drink discount, discounted event tickets, free/discounted friend tickets, animal food at £1, and exclusive member events. Available as Adult (£99/year or £8.25/month), Child (£8.25/month), Senior (£95/year, 60+), and Disabled & Carer (£120/year or £10/month) tiers with 12-month commitment.
• Birthday Party Packages Full-service children's birthday party packages at £24.95 per child (minimum 12, maximum 25 children). Includes 90 minutes of farm access, 60 minutes in themed party room, meal and ice cream for each child, animal feed bags, Bluetooth music station, party hats, and return admission vouchers. Additional adults £12 each.
• Adult Farm Nights Evening events for adults aged 18+ held on Saturdays in July and August. Tickets from £29.95 per person include indoor/outdoor play access, animal feeding, food from the restaurant, silent disco, foam party, and access to a fully stocked bar. Group discount of £27.95 per person available for groups of 6+.
• Christmas at Mead Open Farm Annual festive seasonal event featuring Father Christmas grotto, Make a Bear Workshop, toy selection, gingerbread decorating with Mother Christmas, Magical Forest walk, Pudding Club Show, Reindeer Food Factory, Alpine Village, and Christmas HQ immersive adventure (launched 2025). Pre-booking required.
• Shaggy's Summer Spectacular Annual summer event from 18th July to 31st August featuring zorbing, silent disco, foam parties, water play, and daily animal activities. Shaggy's Summer Pass at £35 per person provides unlimited visits during the summer period with access to zorbing, foam parties, silent disco, Shaggy's Raceway, SkyTrail, rock climbing wall, and all farm attractions.
• Brewery Cottage Three-bedroom semi-detached self-catering holiday cottage accommodating up to 5 guests. Features master bedroom with ensuite, twin room, single room with pull-out bed, fully equipped kitchen, sitting room with open fireplace, patio area, gardens, central heating, and WiFi. Friday start date. Includes free Mead Open Farm entry during stay. Listed on Airbnb.
• Little Cottage One-bedroom self-catering holiday cottage accommodating 2 guests (up to 4 with sofa bed arrangement). Features double bedroom, fully equipped kitchen, sitting room, enclosed garden, central heating, and WiFi. Friday start date. Includes free Mead Open Farm entry during stay. Listed on Airbnb.
• School and Group Educational Visits Structured educational farm visits for schools, nurseries, preschools, and youth groups including Scouts and Girl Guides. Includes hands-on animal activities, pony grooming, bunny hopping, tractor rides, and access to indoor/outdoor play areas with picnic spaces. Pricing from £10.75 per child with one free adult per five children. Minimum 20 paying children. Badge sessions available for Scouts and Girl Guides at £10 per person (minimum 10 children).
• Four-Acre Event Field Venue Hire Outdoor event venue hire holding up to 1000 people. Available May to September. Includes water point, covered alcohol license until 1am, and dedicated parking. Suitable for corporate events, weddings, and ticketed public events. Caterers must hold five-star hygiene rating.
• Grainstore Kitchen Restaurant Hire Private event hire of the award-winning Grainstore Kitchen restaurant. Capacity of 130 for sit-down meals or 160 for buffet. Includes food/drink packages, entertainment options with light-up dance floor and DJ, and access to indoor play. Fully licensed until 1am.
• Grainstore Kitchen On-site Dining Award-winning on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and snacks with locally sourced food including halloumi burgers, loaded jacket potatoes, bacon cheeseburgers, and children's menus. Accommodates dietary requirements and all 14 major allergens. Additional on-site food options through PlayBarn Pantry and outdoor satellite units. Uses local suppliers including butchers within 2 miles.
• Shaggy's PlayWorld Indoor Play Huge indoor soft play area totalling over 13,000 square feet featuring 2 giant drop slides, a 4-lane Astra Slide, swinging ropes, play frames, and zigzag chicanes. Included in standard admission.
• SkyTrail High Ropes A 20ft aerial high ropes obstacle course providing birds-eye views of the farm with climbing, balancing, and swinging elements. Height restrictions apply (1m accompanied, 1.2m unaccompanied). Weather dependent, open weekends and school holidays from February to October.
• Giant's Rock Climbing Wall A 24ft outdoor climbing wall attraction with height restrictions (1.1m minimum, 1m accompanied by adult). Closed-toe shoes required. Weather dependent, open weekends and school holidays from April to October.
• Outdoor Play Attractions Outdoor play area with various attractions including Topsy Turvy Towers adventure playground, Jumping Pillows (two giant inflatable pillows including one for under 5s), Go Karts, Crazy Golf (9-hole course), Digger Village, Shaggy's Cove Sand & Water Play, and Tractor & Trailer Rides. Shaggy's Pirate Ship & Water Play added in 2024.
• Animal Activities Daily interactive animal experiences including Bunny Hop (rabbit handling), Pony Grooming, hand-feeding goats in undercover barns, and seasonal Bottle Feeding Lambs/Goats. Animals include sheep, cows, pigs, goats, rabbits, ponies, alpacas, donkeys, chickens, and ducks. Included in standard admission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% savings for online pre-booking vs walk-up pricing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Bedfordshire Down Syndrome Support Group (BDSSG)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Chosen charity for 2026. Mead Open Farm provides special days out, hosts fundraising events, and raises community awareness for the local charity supporting children and families affected by Down syndrome.
• KidsOutminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Charity partnership for Colour Dash event. Mead Open Farm hosts the charity run fundraiser with proceeds benefiting KidsOut. Each participant encouraged to raise minimum £10 sponsorship.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sundown Adventureland: Nottinghamshire theme park targeting families with young children, featuring rides, indoor play, animals, and themed attractions. Comparable as a family day-attraction with bundled play + animal experiences, though heavier on rides than Mead Open Farm.
• Barleylands Farm Park: Essex farm park combining animal experiences, indoor and outdoor play, seasonal events, and on-site F&B. Directly comparable in business model and target market (regional family days out), with similar year-round event programming.
• Cotswold Farm Park: Gloucestershire farm park founded by Adam Henson, offering rare breed animal encounters, adventure play, camping, and seasonal events. Comparable as a destination farm park with diversified revenue streams including on-site accommodation.
• Odds Farm Park: Family farm park in Buckinghamshire offering hands-on animal encounters, indoor and outdoor play, and seasonal events. Operates the same day-visitor-plus-membership-plus-events model as Mead Open Farm and serves a directly overlapping Buckinghamshire/Bedfordshire catchment.
• Pennywell Farm: Devon-based farm park focused on small animal encounters, hands-on activities, and family entertainment. Comparable niche family farm park targeting the same all-weather family day-out use case, though smaller in scale than Mead Open Farm.
• White Post Farm: Nottinghamshire family farm attraction with animal encounters, indoor and outdoor play, and seasonal events. Comparable in scale, target market, and product mix to Mead Open Farm's family day-visitor offering.
• Hobbledown Heath: Surrey-based farm-themed adventure park combining animals, immersive themed play areas, and events. Directly comparable as a farm-anchored family attraction with indoor/outdoor play, though with a heavier themed-entertainment slant.
• Marsh Farm Country Park: Essex-based family farm attraction with animal interactions, indoor soft play, outdoor adventure play, and seasonal events. Closely comparable operating model and product mix (animals + indoor/outdoor play + events) to Mead Open Farm, though slightly larger in scale.
• Folly Farm: Pembrokeshire (Wales) family attraction combining zoo, farm, indoor and outdoor adventure play, and on-site accommodation. Comparable diversified family-attraction model with a similar blend of animals + play + lodging, though at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Center Parcs UK: UK family short-break operator combining forest lodges with extensive indoor and outdoor activity facilities (subtropical swimming, soft play, adventure sports). Comparable as a broader family leisure and short-stay brand competing for the same household leisure budget, though at much larger scale and with national multi-village footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MeadOpenFarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/MeadOpenFarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mead-open-farm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mead Open Farm