H.R. PHILPOT & SON (BARLEYLANDS) LIMITED

What H.R. PHILPOT & SON (BARLEYLANDS) LIMITED does

H.R. Philpot & Son (Barleylands) Limited is a privately held, family-owned UK leisure and hospitality operator trading as Barleylands Farm Park & Village. Founded circa 1985 and headquartered in Billericay, Essex, the company runs a diversified multi-attraction estate anchored by the Barleylands Farm Park, a working farm converted into a visitor attraction featuring farm animals, rare breeds (RBST approved), daily activity programmes, indoor and outdoor play areas, and up-close animal experiences (farm animals, birds of prey, exotic species). The site additionally hosts The Village — a free-entry craft quarter of independent studios, boutiques, eateries (including The Magic Mushroom restaurant and Tiptree Tea Room), treatment rooms, and workshops — plus year-round touring camping, a multi-discipline equestrian centre (with a second stables site at Great Wakering), function room and showground venue hire, two football golf courses, and Noah's Park adventure golf (launched 2022). A dedicated educational programme serves schools, nurseries, SEND groups, and home educators via guided visits, self-guided visits, hatching programmes, farmer tours, and virtual outreach, earning it national award recognition. Newer additions include a day nursery & pre-school on-site (2024) and animal adoption programmes. The company monetises through daily admission tickets (sold via DigiTickets), an annual membership scheme at £8.50/month via direct debit (minimum 9 instalments), one-off animal experience and party packages, venue hire, camping and equestrian fees, restaurant and craft sub-tenancies, and nursery fees. Distribution is regional (Essex and surrounds), supported by First Group bus routes, an active social/email/seasonal events marketing mix, and partnership channels with Tiptree, Essex Agricultural Society, and RBST. The business is bootstrapped with no external investment, operates without a parent or subsidiary structure, and is led by the Philpot family with Chris Philpot serving as Director and Data Protection Officer.

Name

H.R. PHILPOT & SON (BARLEYLANDS) LIMITED

Legal name

HR Philpot & Son Ltd

Website

https://barleylands.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

H.R. Philpot & Son (Barleylands) Limited is a family-owned UK operator running Barleylands Farm Park & Village in Billericay, Essex, offering farm attractions, animal experiences, craft studios, camping, equestrian, venue hire, school educational programmes, and an on-site nursery to families, schools, and event organisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farm Park and Visitor Attraction

NAICS

Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (44424)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmstay Rooms (Working Farms/Ranches) (THAMABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor / Nature-Based Nursery & Forest Playgroups (EDACACAH)

Keywords

• Family farm attractions
• Agritourism services
• School educational visits
• Craft village marketplace
• Outdoor leisure experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

BILLERICAY

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Farm Park Entry Fees: Ticket-based admission to the farm park attraction with daily opening hours
2. Membership Subscriptions: Monthly direct debit membership at £8.50 per month providing unlimited annual visits
3. Animal Experiences: Paid animal encounter experiences including farm animals, birds of prey, and exotic animals
4. Venue Hire: Function room, showground, and commercial rental hire services
5. Camping: Touring and camping facilities open year-round
6. Equestrian Services: Arena hire and stables services at the equestrian centre
7. Parties and Events: Birthday party packages including farm parties, reptile parties, pottery parties, pony parties, and special event celebrations
8. Craft Village Retail: The Village hosts independent craft studios, boutiques, eateries, and specialist services with free entry
9. The Magic Mushroom Restaurant: On-site restaurant operation open Wednesday through Saturday
10. Animal Adoptions: Animal adoption programmes for various farm and exotic animals

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

H.R. Philpot & Son (Barleylands) Limited operates Barleylands Farm Park, a family-run farm attraction in Billericay, Essex, offering animal encounters, indoor and outdoor play, daily activity programmes, and educational farm visits. The site also includes The Village craft quarter with independent studios and eateries, an equestrian centre, year-round camping facilities, a day nursery, football golf, Noah's Park adventure golf, function room and showground hire, and a membership programme.

Product overview

H.R. Philpot & Son (Barleylands) operates a diversified leisure and hospitality business centred on Barleylands Farm Park in Billericay, Essex. The core offering is the Farm Park, a family-friendly agricultural attraction open daily (10am-5pm March-October, 10am-4pm November-February) featuring farm animals, rare breed conservation, indoor/outdoor adventures, and daily activity programmes. Adjacent to the Farm Park is The Village, a craft village with independent studios, boutiques, eateries, and workshops that operates with free entry Tuesday-Sunday. The business offers multiple revenue streams including Animal Experiences (up-close animal encounters), Football Golf (two adventure courses), an award-winning Schools & Groups Educational Programme with guided visits and virtual outreach, Camping facilities (year-round), Venue Hire (function rooms and showground), an Equestrian Centre with arena and stable hire, a Day Nursery & Pre-School, Animal Adoptions, Birthday Parties, and Noah's Park adventure golf. The company also offers a Membership/Annual Pass programme at £8.50/month. The portfolio operates under a single brand identity with distinct operational divisions serving families, schools, event hirers, and equestrian users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barleylands: The primary brand name for the farm park, craft village, and all associated attractions including the Farm Park, The Village craft studios, Football Golf, Camping, Equestrian Centre, and educational programmes.
• Noah's Park
• The Magic Mushroom
• Tiptree Tea Room
• The Village

Products and services

• Barleylands Farm Park A family-friendly farm attraction in Billericay, Essex offering animal encounters, outdoor and indoor adventures, daily activity programmes, and rare breed conservation on a working farm open daily to visitors.
• The Village Craft Quarter A craft village featuring independent studios, boutiques, eateries, treatment rooms and workshop spaces, open Tuesday to Sunday with free entry to visitors.
• Animal Experiences Up-close animal encounters including farm animal experiences, bird of prey experiences, exotic animal meet and greets, and animal feeding sessions, with farm park entry included.
• Football Golf Two adventure football golf courses providing outdoor recreational activity for families and visitors to the farm park.
• Schools & Groups Educational Programme An award-winning educational programme offering guided farm tours, self-guided visits, hatching programmes, workshops brought to schools, virtual outreach sessions, SEND visits, and home educator sessions for primary and secondary schools, nurseries, preschools, and home educators.
• Camping Facilities Year-round touring and camping pitches with various pitch options and amenities for families and individuals in Essex.
• Venue Hire Function room, showground, and commercial rental hire services for weddings, corporate events, team building, meetings, workshops, and commercial photography.
• Equestrian Centre Arena hire and stable facilities at both Barleylands and Great Wakering locations serving equestrian enthusiasts and horse riders.
• Barleylands Day Nursery & Pre-School On-site childcare and early education facility for young children, operating within the farm park grounds.
• Birthday Parties Birthday party packages including farm parties, reptile parties, soft play parties, pottery parties, bird of prey parties, and pony parties hosted at the Barleylands venue.
• Noah's Park Adventure Golf Adventure golf attraction within the farm park grounds offering family entertainment and outdoor recreation.
• Animal Adoptions Animal adoption programmes allowing visitors to financially support specific farm animals, birds of prey, and exotic species at the farm park.
• Annual Membership Pass Annual membership programme at £8.50 per month via monthly direct debit providing unlimited farm park visits, reduced-rate event tickets, and birthday party discounts.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TiptreecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTiptree operates the Tiptree Tea Room and Tiptree Pantry within The Village at Barleylands, open during village hours. Tiptree is a well-known fruit preserves and tea brand.
• The Magic MushroomcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-site restaurant operated by The Magic Mushroom, open Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner service. Located within The Village craft quarter.
• DigiTicketscoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital ticketing platform provider used for Barleylands' online ticket booking system, managing admissions, animal experiences, gift vouchers, and party bookings.
• Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBST approved Farm Park status; involved in conservation, breeding and promotion of rare breeds; shares facts about importance of rare breeds with visitors and schools.
• Essex Agricultural SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost events in partnership with Essex Agricultural Society including 'An Evening with Adam Frost' gardening event.
• First GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBus service provider with route 300 linking Barleylands with Chelmsford, Billericay, Basildon, Grays and Thurrock; number 100 bus connects from Billericay and Basildon stations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Busy Bees Nurseries: UK's largest nursery chain providing daycare and early years education. Relevant as Barleylands expands into nursery provision via the 2024 Barleylands Day Nursery & Pre-School launch.
• Haven Holidays: UK holiday park operator with touring, camping, and family entertainment facilities. Comparable on the camping/recreational vehicle accommodation vertical that Barleylands targets with its touring facilities.

Direct peers

• Cotswold Farm Park: Gloucestershire rare breeds farm park founded by Adam Henson with strong educational programming and conservation focus. Closest peer to Barleylands' RBST-approved rare breed positioning and school visit offering.
• Folly Farm: Wales-based family attraction combining farm park, zoo, vintage fairground, and indoor play. Comparable diversified leisure operator showing how farm parks can expand into broader family entertainment verticals.
• Pennywell Farm: Devon-based farm park with animal experiences, miniature pony centre, and craft activities. Comparable family-focused farm attraction with educational programming and on-site retail.
• Odds Farm Park: Established family-run farm park in Buckinghamshire offering animal encounters, indoor/outdoor play, and seasonal events. Direct UK farm park competitor with comparable target audience, ticketing model, and educational programming.
• Marsh Farm: Essex-based farm park offering animal experiences, children's activities, and educational visits. Direct regional competitor serving the same South East family leisure market as Barleylands.
• White Post Farm: Nottinghamshire farm attraction with animal encounters, adventure play, and educational visits. Comparable UK farm park operator with similar pricing structure and school programme offerings.
• Farmer Palmer's Farm Park: Dorset-based family farm park focused on younger children with animal feeding, indoor play, and themed events. Directly comparable on audience targeting, ticket pricing, and operational mix.
• National Forest Adventure Farm: Staffordshire farm attraction with animal encounters, adventure play, and seasonal events. Directly comparable UK farm park operator with similar multi-revenue-stream model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Barleylands
• Facebookfacebook.com/barleylands
• Instagraminstagram.com/barleylandsfarmpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/h.r.-philpot-&-son-barleylands-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 H.R. PHILPOT & SON (BARLEYLANDS) LIMITED