Marmite!! Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent_messenger/news/2013/march/6/hop_farm_ceases_trading_short.aspx One of Kent's biggest tourist attractions is set to cease trading - just months after a festival organiser went into liquidation. It has also been badly affected by recent bad weather. The Hop Farm Country Park in Paddock Wood has said it is likely to stop trading shortly. But it has vowed to honour all previous bookings, such as weddings and other events. The announcement comes after organisers of the annual Hop Farm Festival went into liquidation last year, owing millions to acts and other creditors. The Hop Farm, which stages the event, is believed to be owed more than £150,000 after the collapse of the festival firm. A spokesman for the Hop Farm today said: "We are entering into a situation where basically the business side of the Hop Farm - Hop Farm Limited - is likely to cease trading shortly." The spokesman couldn't confirm when that would be, but said it was "a matter of time". He said the Hop Farm had contacted its suppliers, partners and clients to forewarn them of the situation. But the venue, which is mothballed anyway during the winter months, was "essentially not operating". He could not confirm how many staff were employed at the site, either full- or part-time, but he said the venue would honour all bookings. The spokesman could not give assurances over the future of the Hop Farm Festival in July - which has been an annual event. He did not rule out the possibility of the event going ahead. The Hop Farm has long been one of the county's top tourist attractions, boasting the world's largest collection of iconic Victorian Oast houses. It has a history which spans nearly five centuries from its origins as a working hop farm. Now the venue sees more than half a million visitors through its doors each year. Stetching over land the size of 100 football pitches, The Hop Farm Family Park attraction hosts the museum Yesterdays World, with more than 1,000 artefacts dating back to the 1900s. Wednesday, March 06 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Now all we need is for Rex to buy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted March 6, 2013 Author Share Posted March 6, 2013 Now all we need is for Rex to buy it! May be that was his big plan :cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Jobs shame for the staff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Johns Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 (edited) Hop farm Ltd has now called in an insolvency company, as its now declared itself as bankrupt http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Hop-Farm-Paddock-Wood-close-company-enters/story-18345743-detail/story.html#axzz2MrqnRgJl Edited March 8, 2013 by Nick Johns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdog Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 If they had not tried to charge W&P for damage that did not happen, things might be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 It would seem Greed has Prevailed?................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.303fan Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 What damage? bit of grass that got churned?? i still think about the poor man that drowned (not the first drowning according to my partner) that should have been fenced off by the hop farm. the water problems was poor drainage, no need for drain ditches to flood. i hope that the town gets by as with the show moved and the hop farm closed its rough to survive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I must admit, I have little sympathy. Too much greed involved. Shame about the jobs at the bottom end tho'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 (edited) the water problems was poor drainage, no need for drain ditches to flood. What drainage, the Hop Farm is on a flood plain.. http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?value=TN12+6PY&submit.x=13&submit.y=13&lang=_e&ep=map&topic=floodmap&layerGroups=default&scale=9&textonly=off Edited March 7, 2013 by Marmite!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 It would seem Greed has Prevailed?................. Exactly, but I seem to remember getting a short rebuff from some quarters when I suggested that the prices were extortionate. I take it Rex didn't have much control over the pricing at Hop Farm then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 Exactly, but I seem to remember getting a short rebuff from some quarters when I suggested that the prices were extortionate. I take it Rex didn't have much control over the pricing at Hop Farm then? After Rex sold his share it the Hop Farm I don't think he had much say in a lot of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Johns Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Hop Farm trading ltd Notice of creditors meeting http://opencorporates.com/data/8664251 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 I guess W&P moved because this was on the horizon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 I guess W&P moved because this was on the horizon? Rex has stated why the show moved.. The the final nail in the coffin for the Hop Farm was probably the loss of the W&P Show. The journey to War and Peace Revival – from the heart by RexIt is reassuring to see the amount of talk about War and Peace, which underlines the incredible affection this show is held in. It has been a major part of mine and Barbara’s lives for 25-years and has given us some of our best memories, some of our toughest times and introduced us to some amazing and wonderful people. Many of these people we are delighted and proud to be able to call friends and it is only thanks to our involvement in War and Peace that we have these people in our lives. But after 25-years at the Hop Farm we sadly regret that the relationship between both management teams has broken down irreparably. This year we were left with the strong feeling that we were constantly working at odds with the Hop Farm management and that what we wanted to do with the Show was completely opposite to what they wanted. I had such a fondness for The Hop Farm – having been an owner with my close friends Brent and Fiona Pollard for a number of years - that it is doubly sad for me. It had been felt by many for a couple of years that the Show was becoming a little staid, so after a summer of considerable thought and discussion with my team, we came to the conclusion that it was time for a new start at a new venue. It was time to close The War and Peace Show that we all knew and loved and move on. Once this decision was made, the entire War and Peace team – including both the office staff and Officials – felt rejuvenated and excited at the prospect of building something new, something even better. We all loved and enjoyed the War and Peace Show so it was important to keep this momentum and maintain the incredible feeling of community that it brought. It was a lengthy, exhausting and worrying few months finding a new location – after all this had to be right. We had so many “non-negotiable” needs that the list of locations available was all too short. We’ve visited fields and event sites, talked to the military and estate agents, and were despairing of ever finding the right location. We found one site we really liked, only to have our ideas dashed when the owner changed his mind. Then we found Folkestone Racecourse. We tried not to become too excited – there was so much riding on this that we couldn’t get it wrong. The permanent facilities are much better than those at the Hop Farm – with plenty of toilets, a large restaurant with a grandstand view of the show ground, several bars and lots of lovely grass and tarmac. The acreage available to us is greater than we use at the Hop Farm and with many acres of adjoining farmland, expansion is always possible. There are several entrances to get various types of vehicles in and out – public, trade and vehicle exhibitors will each have their own entrances - and there is even an accommodation block for our Officials! For our Living History participants - there is plenty of space and we’ll be able to have an area for those that need to dig and those that don’t. The local area has such an enormous military history that it is perfect for the new War and Peace Revival. Right in Hellfire Corner, ten minutes up the road is Ashford, famed as a WW2 transport hub. RAF Lympne is practically around the corner and the Racecourse site itself was better known as RAF Westenhanger during WW2. Ten miles in the opposite direction is Folkestone, from where millions of soldiers departed for the battlefields of WW1 France, and further along the marshes is the proposed location of Hitler’s Operation Sea Lion invasion of Britain, while Dover, Ramsgate, Canterbury, St Margaret’s Bay and many more historic locations are just a short drive away. With the decision made on the site and designs being started, a last minute name change gave us our new show, and The War and Peace Revival was born. The websites were bought, Twitter feeds acquired and Facebook name changed. Meanwhile talks were continuing with people including the local council, which is very supportive of our new show. Knowing the impact our old show had on Paddock Wood and the surrounding area, they are keen to help us with the new venture – this will be a very positive step in Shepway’s regeneration programme and we are delighted to also have the full support of Kent County Council and Visit Kent. This move to the new venue and launch of the new show gives us the opportunity to introduce aspects that we’ve never had before with the old show. I will be drawing upon our Officials to help with this and in fact we’ve already started with some major plans. There were many things we wanted to introduce but weren’t able to at the Hop Farm due to budget issues or structural layout. For example we’ve wanted to increase our Vintage element for some time so now we have the chance. Working with Terry Elliott we will be introducing a Vintage Village which will cater for the more glamorous side of our audience! Home Front re-enactment will be another expanding area, showing the impact of war on civilians and the breadth of roles they were required to fulfil. Of course we know that the location is key for both our visitors and exhibitors alike. From the Dartford Tunnel it is just another 24 miles further on for visitors north of there, or 28 miles further from Clackett Lane on the M25 – and apart from the last mile its motorway all the way! The amount of time it would take you to get the 9 ½ miles from J4 of the M20 to the Hop Farm you would be nearly to Ashford. The access is far simpler than at the Hop Farm, with the new venue being just one mile off junction 11 of the M20 and having ample parking. For rail travellers there is a mainline train station right next door – in fact you could hop over the fence and be straight into the showground – not that we recommend it! And of course it is much closer for visitors from the continent. The Channel Tunnel Terminus and Eurostar are just 10-minutes away and the ports of Folkestone and Dover are also very close. Our friends at DFDS Seaways have confirmed they will extend the special War and Peace travel rates to the new War and Peace Revival. Now that we’re doing this on our own, the responsibility will stop firmly with War and Peace for toilets and showers. No longer will we be reliant on our venue for facilities that were often sub-standard. However we do need visitors and exhibitors to respect this and these facilities and treat them as you would your facilities at home. Our team is totally committed to bringing our loyal visitors and exhibitors an exciting new show, which will be as well-organised as my former show. The entire team is behind this new event and we are all looking forward to it and to welcoming our friends both old and new to this new show – and hopefully reaching a wider audience at our amazing new venue. Updates will be posted regularly going forwards from here. We realise that without you there is no show and we want to ensure that we include you in everything we’re doing between now and July. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask them – you know our email addresses and phone numbers. With its closure, we’re now in talks with a publishing company to produce a 30th anniversary book to chart the history of The War and Peace Show. So on behalf of Barbara, Georgie, Andrea, Alison, Paul and all the Officials, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and for bearing with us over the next year while we move forwards with this new show. Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas, a joyful New Year – and an incredible visit to the brand new War and Peace Revival! Best wishes Rex Cadman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Rex has also written a piece in the latest "Westernhanger Chronicle" on the topic of the Hop Farm closure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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