Church Farm Ardeley
Church Farm Ardeley

"Hi Rachel, thank you so much! Cant wait to show everyone! The group feedback about the day trip and the fantastic job you did was amazing! It truly meant a lot, thank you again! Hope we can arrange another visit in the near future!"

"Thanks for a brilliant camping weekend, great camping, awesome farm, fab fire and delicious food in the shop and pub, will be back next year with a huge group of us!" John Chapman

"Huge thanks for your support and hospitality today, I am certain we will use the facilities again." 

"Just wanted to say thank you so much for all your help in arranging this weekend for us. The field, venue, bonfires, butchers etc. all worked incredibly well for us and everybody who came along said what an excellent venue it was." 

"Counsellor Ashley has asked me to pass on his thanks to you all for making the counsellors tour a great success. Every business visited created more awareness of the excellent offer you all provide to the rural economy, tourism and quality produce. All our counsellors enjoyed the warm welcome and the time you all spent explaining and answering questions. The food was excellent and shows the quality we have available locally. The media were all very keen to follow up with the editorial in the Observer, Mercury, Axis and Hertfordshire Life, and we even had a representative from Jack FM join us along the way." 

" I just wanted to say thank you and the team for a fantastic weekend. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves despite the rain on Saturday. The fact we had use of Beards Oak was great and the whole experience made my 40th birthday celebrations so special. The kids had a great time too as they could run about to their hearts content without us worrying about them."

"Thank you for all your help in the lead up to put camping weekend. We had a fantastic time. The field was brilliant for us and the space enabled us to spread ourselves out and make as much noise as we wanted! It also enabled the bushcraft man to set up and have plenty of room to teach us various skills! Your staff also worked so hard to bring out the food and drink at lunchtime for us and there were lots of happy stomachs. The food was delicious! All the guests loved the farm, it has such charm and beautiful surroundings for us to camp in. Thanks again for your help."

"We would like to say thank you for supporting us with our event on Sunday and being around on the day."

"Fantastic...everyone taking part hasn't stopped talking about it"

"Thank you so much for your time on the day, you were always available to ask questions and get help, that means a lot to the organiser (me on this occasion!)." 

"Thank you for a magical weekend camping. Staff were so relaxed and welcoming and the farm was a wonderful place to stay. Hope to be back soon."

"We came and visited today. From 11 till half 4. Lovely place. Kids enjoyed it and lovely walk through the blue bell wood area. See you again soon. Thanks again for a great day."

"I have just eaten a dish cooked with your farm spinach, and I can't believe how great the difference was between it and those watery leaves I used to eat in the last few years as spinach (bought from the supermarket). I have since ordered a weekly box from you guys, and now eat your lovely, healthy stuff regularly. I wish you all the best, especially because the world needs more places like your farm, as corny as it sounds, that'll heal our planet!"

"We had the most amazing time the whole afternoon/evening, so thank you very much. Given that Kurt didn't want a party but did want to get his family together the trip around the farm followed by the buffet at the Jolly Waggoner worked out just perfectly and everyone really enjoyed themselves. I can't thank the staff at both Church Farm and the Jolly Waggoner enough for making his 40th celebrations a special occasion for us. You made us all feel so welcome and so well looked after, which was no mean feat considering that we'd spent the afternoon being spoiled at the Ritz on the Thursday before! The food was exceptional and we can't wait to come back for another helping. Thank you again so very, very much."

"Just wanted to say we have had another lovely weekend camping at the farm, the second this year. The location is brilliant, it is very good value for money and the activities around the farm are great for the kids. Last time we came was a music weekend which was also excellent, not so much for the music but for the camp fire and the straw fight the children had. We had breakfast in the snug this morning which was delicious and the meat from your delightful butcher was fabulous for cooking on the camp fire. Both trips have definitely been highlights of the summer for us. Thanks again, we will definately be coming back next year and will recommend it to friends."

"It was actually mine and my partner's first camping experience since we were kids, so a big risk to go and camp in the woods first go. However, from arrival to departure our experience was fantastic. The service has been exceptional right from when I made my first enquiry. The staff in the Farm Store were so friendly which is rare these days!

We walked into the woods and camped in there, it was a beautiful and clean place whilst still retaining the real feel of being remote! On Saturday morning, we went for breakfast in the cafe, which I have to say is probably the nicest fry up we have ever had. The food was amazing and so fresh! Another point is again how lovely the staff were, they were lovely people and the service second to none. 

All in all, we had a lovely weekend and I will definitely be booking again and recommending not only the farm but its location, friendly staff and amazing food."

To all you fabulous people who helped make our wedding day totally AWESOME! We had the best time ever and really appreciated all the hard work (and dancing) that you all did. Enjoy the summer on the best farm ever!"

"The cabin break was just what we wanted. We needed to squeeze in a totally relaxing but very short break over half term. We took the 700 bus from Hitchin to Cottered, had a beautiful walk mostly off road to the farm and bought our provisions entirely in the Farm shop. As always the food - especially your meat - was utterly delicious. We treated ourselves to two meals in the Jolly Waggoners."

"Just wanted to say a big Thank You for looking after us all yesterday.  It was lovely to hear lots of positive feedback from the families, and I think the pots were a great success – certainly there was plenty of paint splashed about!The parents were interested in the Rural Care project, and several said how nice it was to visit a ‘real’ farm.... There is already talk about doing something similar next year.....!"

"I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the staff that looked after us so well on Thursday 9th June. After the mix up with the booking it was so nice to be taken on the walk by a young lady who was very informative and then when we arrived back to see that the staff in the tea room had arranged tea and cakes, was really very kind. Would you please pass on our thanks to all. I am sure some of us will visit again. Yours sincerely Diana Eley president."

 

Thanks for supplying the bacon for the Bathway School Café at the Market. We managed to raise a profit of £1400 thanks to sponsorship like yours which will be a huge benefit to our children. We look forward to getting the veg box scheme running and working with you in the future. Alison Gaver

"Can I say first of all how much we enjoyed our visit. What a wonderful day out! I found the tour around the farm really interesting. I think I was expecting some kind of tame, prettied-up tourist farm, but what you provided was so much better and more interesting than that. I would like to bring the rest of my family back soon."

"I just wanted to say thanks again to you and your colleagues for the fantastic evening on Thursday. The food was delicious, and we really enjoyed the talk from Tim Waygood. It sounds like a very interesting business venture, and it was great to hear about the story so far."

"Many thanks for allowing us to camp at your site on Friday night (8th), we all had an amazing time. I have given feedback below with regards to the stay. I would have filled the small form in before we left but all my documents were pushed to the bottom of my bag when we packed up.

Feedback:-

Information Supplied - 4  (very prompt e-mail responses and very informative replies)
Welcome - 3 (only a short welcome as we arrived just as the heavens opened)
Facilities - 3 (we only used the toilet facilities during our stay, so cannot comment on anything else)
Surroundings - 4 (ideal location, easy to find - especially for myself who is not from the area. site well laid out and signposted)
Overall experience - 4 (would highly recommend this site to anyone)

Once again, many thanks for the superb level of service and for allowing us to camp. I hope to use your site again should I be down in the area.

Kind Regards
Greig Cardwel"

"We think it's fantastic that you have taken over the Jolly Waggoners! We are very interested in finding out when the relaunch is taking place as we will definitely be dining there with our friends.

Keep up all the good work - it is really appreciated by all our family!

Kind regards
Liz Fight"

"I just wanted to say a heart felt thank you for the wonderful day we spent on your farm yesterday. It was a brilliant experience all the staff and student placements were lovely, it was educational, fun and for the first time in a long time I felt like I had actually done something worthwhile and went home on a real high." Farmer's Apprentice Challenge [UIA Insurance LTD]

"I would like to say thanks for a lovely day spent on the peg-loom weaving course.Thanks to Susan for being so helpful & inspiring.We also had an excellent lunch & many thanks to all catering staff. I am now keen to take up pegloom weaving & would like to know if you sell your fleeces. Thanks again for a 5 star day."

"Thanks for a fantastic weekend, once again, the farm, the fire, the people all wonderful. Hope to keep coming thru the winter, depending on how hardy we are LOL." Sarah croft

"We visited the farm today and had a really lovely time - with excellent food at the cafe. We were told by the lovely girls in the store that there was a Halloween event brewing and wondered if I could get some more info, on the event and booking a lodge for the evening. 
Thank you so much for our experience today - we were all delighted and can't wait to come back. 

Kind wishes, Samantha"

"I am writing on behalf of the trustees, staff and volunteers of Crossroads Care to thank The Jolly Waggoner Pub, Ardeley and Oliver Heald MP most sincerely for your generous donation towards our work and acknowledge receipt of your cheque for the amount of £85.00. We are very grateful that you have chosen us to receive this gift and we will put it to very good use in the support of unpaid carers who need a break from their caring role.

Yours sincerely
Pam Minhas"

"At last has a new owner. Serving great local ales from Buntingford brewery and London pride etc. Fresh local organic food served with a smile and welcoming staff." Spanner Monkey [user display name] Stevenage.

"This afternoon we came for lunch at the Jolly Waggoners. Can I say what lovely people and the food was great. Thank you, we will be back soon."
Lorraine Willis

"We just wanted to say thank you for helping to make our stay at Church Farm so enjoyable. It goes without saying that the fantastic weather and glorious surroundings made a major contribution to everyone's enjoyment.  More importantly though, you and all the people we encountered working at Church Farm were so incredibly kind and helpful, going out of your way to make it as special as possible for us. Every single person staying or visiting were full of praise for Church Farm, and I know many will be visiting again, to shop, eat, walk and maybe camp!"

Wendy's 50th Birthday

"A sincere word of thanks to all for today's event- I think it went splendidly and we could not have wished for a better venue - so a special thanks to Wendy, Roger and Tim and all the staff at Church Farm. We were made so welcome and I, for one, have never had a barbecue in such a refined way- usually it is standing juggling paper plates and cups eating burnt food!  I shall never think of barbecues in quite the same way again." Farmer’s Crisis Network

"I just wanted to say thanks again to you and your colleagues for the fantastic evening on Thursday. The food was delicious, and we really enjoyed the talk from Tim Waygood. It sounds like a very interesting business venture, and it was great to hear about the story so far."

"Dear Mr Farmer, We picked some stones from your farm and painted them. At the bonfire we sold them and got £12. We would like to donate the money to the farm. Thank you for our lovely night under the stars. With love, Georgie (10), Drew (7), Joh Joh and Cath."

"I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the staff that looked after us so well on Thursday 9th June. After the mix up with the booking it was so nice to be taken on the walk by a young lady who was very informative and then when we arrived back to see that the staff in the tea room had arranged tea and cakes, was really very kind. Would you please pass on our thanks to all. I am sure some of us will visit again." WI Visit

"Many many thanks. Our Christmas meat order was delicious. The family all agreed that our Christmas meat and  the Turkey in particular was the best we have ever had (and it’s the first we've had from Church Farm !) All the very best wishes to all for 2011."

"Me and my friend along with our 4 children had a WONDERFUL time in both your Cafe and wondering around the farm.  EVERYONE we came across from the waitress, the shop keeper, the chef and assistants on the farm were SO forth coming to ask if we were ok or needed any help.  The waitress adapted the menu to suit our children's needs, the chef made sure we were aware we could help ourselves to jugs of tap water, the farm assistants were sure to assist us in seeing the best of the farm and happily assisted our navigation. I will highly recommend all my friends to pay you a visit with or without children and look forward myself to coming again soon."

"Thank you very much for a lovely morning yesterday. The children all enjoyed their visit and were full of it this morning!  We were extremely fortunate with the weather, which really helped the visit to be a success and we felt very welcomed by your friendly faces.  Some of the parent helpers were so impressed with the farm that they are talking about taking their children back for a visit some other time, especially as they are able to buy your own home produced food."

"The children (and teachers!) have arrived back full of mud and enthusiasm. Very many thanks for your hospitality.On a personal note, I had a lovely lunch in your tea shop on Sunday and am please to see that everything continues to go from strength to strength.  In these times of generally uncertain customer service, it is a real pleasure to be served by your cheery and obliging staff."

Farm Shop & Butchery

Farm Cafe & Tea Rooms

What our Visitors Say

"Hi Rachel, thank you so much! Cant wait to show everyone! The group feedback about the day trip and the fantastic job you did was amazing! It truly meant a lot, thank you again! Hope we can arrange another visit in the near future!"

"Thanks for a brilliant camping weekend, great camping, awesome farm, fab fire and delicious food in the shop and pub, will be back next year with a huge group of us!" John Chapman

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