Source: South East Farmer
In the modern world, though, farming in its simplest form is too precarious an occupation to fund the upkeep of this beautiful building as well as paying the bills and allowing the family to earn a living.
It’s why the family business headed up by Carola Godman Irvine and ably supported by her sons Matthew and Charley has diversified significantly over the past quarter of a century, with former dairy buildings now used as business units and Great Ote Hall and its surrounding gardens a popular wedding venue in the summer months.
The ambitious venture that is now set to take the business to the next level is a farm shop and restaurant complex, recently granted planning permission by an impressed Mid Sussex District Council.
As Carola herself explained: “Ote Hall would not have survived as a purely traditionally run farm without having already diversified with business units and as a wedding venue. The farm shop project is essential to future-proof the farm financially, now and into the next century.”
During challenging times for traditional farming and with sustainability and de-carbonising high on the agenda, more and more UK entrepreneurial landowners are looking at alternative ways to generate extra revenue streams. Rural diversification company Appetite Me explores the benefits of setting up a farm shop and provides a guide to getting started.
