Battlers Green Farm | Discover our Shopping Village in Radlett, Hertfordshire
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Battlers Green Farm, Common Lane, Radlett, Herts, WD7 8PH · T: 01923 856551 · E: info@battlersgreenfarm.co.uk
BOOK HERE FOR OUR OPEN-AIR CINEMA EVENT
Battlers Green Farm, Common Lane, Radlett, Herts, WD7 8PH
T: 01923 856551 · E: info@battlersgreenfarm.co.uk
Our History
The Haworth Family
Tom Haworth moved his family and their dairy herd from Lancashire to Radlett in 1960, with plans to create a new life in the South of England, at Battlers Green Farm. And they've been farming here ever since.
For three generations the family has worked to transform the site from a successful mixed usage farm, into the unique shopping village, foodie destination and vibrant community hub you see today.
Throughout the Years
1960
Tom Haworth and his wife Joan Eastwood move the family and dairy herd from Lancashire to Battlers Green Farm in Radlett, Hertfordshire. The dairy herd provides milk, chickens provide eggs and table poultry, plus the family farm pigs and arable crops. Pictured here, (from left to right), Tom, Eileen, John, and Edith while haymaking at the farm.
Between 1937 & 1963
Tom and Joan have four children; two daughters, Catherine and Jeanette, and two sons, John and Paul.
1960-1965
Joan establishes a shop selling milk, eggs and chicken from the back door of the farm house.
1970s & 1980s
From about the age of 13, John takes an avid interest in cattle and breeding. Dairy cattle stock is in high demand, with the family breeding and showing cattle. New technology for breeding is developing - including the introduction of embryo transfer. Milking is undertaken on the farm three times a day, at 4am, 2pm and 9pm!
1985
John becomes the Guinness World Record holder for the most offspring born as the result of a single flushing of one dairy cow!
1985
Paul meets and falls in love with Gillian Prett. The couple take an active role in further diversifying the farm's offering.
1985-1988
The family's egg and chicken enterprise continues to grow. At its peak, over 2,000 chickens were reared and butchered on site and sold at the farm shop, alongside 9,000 laying hens. This meant that around as many eggs had to be collected each morning, including Christmas Day)!
1986
Paul and Gill get hitched! Pictured here outside the farm in the winter of 1986 promoting their fresh eggs & cream.
1987
Following Tom's retirement, John takes over the dairy herd and Paul takes over the running of the farm. Paul also becomes owner/manager of the increasingly-popular farm shop, planning an expansion to better serve the local community.
1988
The expansion of the farm shop is completed by Tom, Paul and the farm team.
1988
Edwina Currie announces on live TV that ‘most of the UK’s chicken and eggs have salmonella’ leading to a 60% drop in sales overnight.
1988
The farm shop (now moved completely into the extension) sells lots of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as milk, eggs and chicken from the farm, plus a range of local produce and daily fare. Brimarks Butchers (who are still at the farm today) has a counter inside. Paul supplies and delivers produce in his Bedford Rascal van.
1989
John is involved in a road accident and sadly passes away. Tom comes out of retirement to help his son, Paul, to run the farm. Pictured here, Paul in the milking parlour hard at work.
1989
A florist, Heather's, opens up in a unit opposite the farm shop in the main courtyard as locals continue to embrace the retail aspects of the farm.
1990
The dairy herd is sold and replaced with a beef herd, which is much less labour intensive.
1990 & 1991
Paul and Gill's first child, a son, Andrew Haworth, is born in 1990, followed by their second child, a daughter, Jenny Haworth, in 1991. Pictured here with mum, Gill, in circa 1996.
1991-2000
The “retail” courtyard continues to grow in popularity and size, attracting a number of new tenants, including a furniture shop, Dutch Inspirations, Destiny Rising, Classic Framing and a pet shop. The farm's stables and tractor barn were located where Osprey is today. There was also a pine furniture shop and a fish shop (where the farm shop was originally located).
1992
By this time, the family has ceased rearing and selling chickens and eggs. The old sheds located at the back of the farm by what is The Timeless Garden Emporium today were used for rearing Christmas turkeys, available from the Farm Shop.
1993
Peter and Carmen (originally from Argentina, came to the UK and lived in Elstree. Peter worked in the Farm Shop & Paul and Gillian built the Bull Pen for them to open as a tearoom, named such as the building was originally home to the farm's bull. The Bull Pen tearooms occupied what the family refer to as the “old part” of what is now the current restaurant. The "cold kitchen" was where the current pot wash is now (the metal silo around the back) and the cake prep area was outside in the courtyard!
1995
Seeing the farm on solid footing, Tom leaves things in the capable hands of his son Paul and retires (for the second time).
2000
Brimarks Butchers, previously located within the Farm Shop, move into their own unit. AGA & Fired Earth move into the farm stables and tractor barn, currently occupied by Osprey London.
2003
The Bull Pen bans under 8s from the restaurant!
2004
Peter and Carmen retire from The Bull Pen. Paul and Gill take over with the help of a manager and the under 8s bad is swiftly removed! Roman and Ingrid are brought onboard as managers to help with the increasing popularity of The Bull Pen.
2004
Paul and Gill's third child, a son, Tom Haworth, is born.
2004
Gill takes on a more active roll in the Farm Shop. COOK frozen food is introduced and Battlers Green Farm becomes one of their first stockists.
2006
Tom Haworth passes away at the age of 75.
2010
The Haworth family celebrate 50 years at Battlers Green Farm with the first ever 'Music on the Farm' event.
2010
Paul focuses on diversification following the growing success of the retail aspect of the farm.
2010
Gabriel and Mary (current managers of The Bull Pen) join the team.
2010s
The family continues to explore alternative uses for the farm including a venue for live events including a music festival and car show. Gareth Gates headlined the second Music on the Farm festival in 2015, to celebrate the family's 55th year on the farm. All proceeds from the event went to charity, split between Macmillan Cancer Care and Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
2014
Andrew joins the family business to help his father, Paul, deliver his diversification and expansion plans.
2015
The first of many farmers markets takes place in The Yard at Battlers Green Farm.
2015
The Bull Pen hires Executive Chef, Paul Quinn, and together they plan evening openings. While popular, it was ultimately decided to remain as a day restaurant and open for private events in the evenings sporadically.
2015
Gill takes over managing Battlers Green Farm Shop and Carole joins the team. Together they begin offering a wider range of products, including freshly made cakes and savoury treats, plus gift hampers, alcohol, artisan cheeses and antipasti.
2018
The Bull Pen expands, going from around 40 covers to over 120. The works were done without closing the existing tearooms. Designs incorporated a “1 way system” for all used crockery to eliminate cross contamination. Larger walk in chillers, and additional ambient storage were built to cope with the additional customer capacity.
2020
COVID hits the UK. While much of the farm is closed as part of national lockdown measures, essential businesses remain open - The Farm Shop, Greengrocer, Butchers, Fishmonger, Vets and later Gyms also. The family develops the Business Park from old poultry sheds into state-of-the-art offices, later adding purpose-built units to further diversify the offering.
2024
Gabriel and Mary are made managers of The Bull Pen.
2024
The first 'Farm Festivities' event takes place at the farm, with choir singing, letters to Santa, live reindeer and complimentary mulled wine, cider and mince pies given to visitors to mark the festive season.
2025
Brimarks Butchers is named Best Butcher in the Watford Observer's Your Favourite Awards 2025, confirming what we've always known, that they're the best butchers around!
2025
The Haworths celebrate 65 years at Battlers Green Farm.