charles faram farms
BRINGING GROWERS AND
BREWERS TOGETHER
Charles Faram Farms Ltd is made up of independent family farms who work hand in hand with us on all aspects of hop growing and development.
This includes continuous improvement by reducing reliance on artificial fertilisers, reduction in crop protection products, increased bio-diversity and cover cropping and the use of alternative fuel and drying techniques.
Through constant collaboration and sharing of knowledge and best practice we work together to supply brewers around the world with the best of British hops.
Charles Faram Farms Ltd also follow our core values
Quality • Innovation • Respect • Community • Expertise • Reliability
MEET THE GROWERS
RB Phillips Hopmech Ltd
The Phillips family have been growing hops in Herefordshire since they moved to the area in 1850. Richard farms with his wife Lucy and their two sons Bertie and Sam, Lucy is also from long established hop growing family. Both brothers are carrying on the strong family tradition of hop growing into the sixth generation!
Richard is the Chairman of Charles Faram Farms and works very closely with the other grower members to coordinate the varieties and volumes that are required for forward contracts. He is also a great supporter of the hop variety development program and is keen to work with brewers to select the best new varieties for brewing.
Location | Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | Lower Eggleton Court and Tarrington |
Began | 1850 |
Managed by | Richie Phillips |
Varieties | Bramling Cross • Golding Pilgrim • Jester® Harlequin® |
Hop development | Member of the development team |
Hop hectares | 24.3Ha |
Other farming | Small amounts of grassing and combinable crops. |
Hawkins farming ltd
The Hawkins family have been at The Farm, Bosbury since the mid 1940’s but the earlier generations were based at farms in both Herefordshire and Kent. They very keen on experimenting with new varieties and new and sustainable ways of producing the crop. John and Henry Hawkins will be the sixth generation of hop growers and they take a huge interest in the hops.
Farms | The Farm & Millend Farm |
Began | Current location 1940’s |
Managed by | Sarah Hawkins & Matt Bailey |
Varieties | Golding • Progress • Sovereign •Pilgrim • Jester® • Olicana®• Harlequin® |
Hop development | Many Charles Faram trial varieties and soil/pest regenerative management methods |
Hop hectares | 30 Ha |
Other farming | Bosbury Herefords prime pedigree Hereford cattle |
R Hollamby & Sons
Richard and his son Doy Hollamby are the present family members involved with the hop growing here in the High Weald. Hops have been grown at Woodknowle since the 1600’s, where the traditional oast house is still used for drying.
Location | The High Weald, Sussex, UK |
Farms | Woodknowle |
Began | 1910 |
Managed by | Richard and Doy Hollamby |
Varieties | Admiral • Phoenix • Progress • Target |
Hop development | Member of the development team |
Hop hectares | 11.48 Ha |
Other farming | Some combinable crops |
Okells Organics
Unusually for British hop growing, this is a relatively new enterprise, and, rather perversely, started at the same time that many of the other English hopyards were being taken out, in the early 2000s. Sue is a farmer’s daughter, but trained as a physiotherapist, knowing the family farm would go to her brother. However, she subsequently bought a small farm for herself, initially planting half of it with cider fruit, for which Herefordshire is well known. Over time she built this up and is now in a farm partnership with her husband Frank, and daughter Olivia.
Location | Bosbury, Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | Bargains Farm |
Began | 2008 |
Managed by | Sue Okell, Frank and Olivia |
Varieties | Organic First Gold |
Hop development | – |
Hop hectares | 2 Ha |
Other farming | Cider fruit • Combinable crops • Eating apples • Vegetables • Livery yard |
J W Barrett
The Barrett family have been hop growers in the area for at least 4 generations. Jim has a wealth of experience and is often helping other growers with agronomy and even lending a hand in the kiln.
Location | Castle Frome, Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | Walsorpthorne |
Began | 1860 |
Managed by | Jimmy Barrett |
Varieties | Ernest • Jester® • Harlequin® |
Hop development | Many Charles Faram trial varieties |
Hop hectares | 6.3 Ha |
HG Pennington
The farm has been run by the Pennington family since 1961 when Tim’s father moved from a farm near Liverpool. The farm had previously been growing hops and the Pennington family have continued that ever since. Tim has 2 sons, Charlie (a Fabricator and Engineer) and Will (an Agricultural contractor) who are keen to follow in Tim’s footsteps.
Location | Madley, Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | Lulham Court |
Began | 1961 |
Managed by | Tim Pennington |
Varieties | Bramling Cross • Golding |
Hop development | |
Hop hectares | 8.16 Ha |
Other farming | Vineyard • Combinable crops • Potatoes |
Colin Pudge
John Perry Pudge’s father started hop growing in Dilwyn in 1892. John moved Brook House Kings Pyon in 1936 and hops have been grown by the family ever since. Colin is the current generation (4th) growing hops with his daughter Erin showing keen interest in becoming the 5th hop farmer.
Location | Kings Pyon, Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | Brook House |
Began | 1936 |
Managed by | Colin Pudge |
Varieties | First Gold • Sovereign • Endeavour • Faram Fuggle |
Hop development | Member of the development team |
Hop hectares | 9.3 Ha |
Other farming | Sheep • Cattle • Cider apples • Christmas trees |
CWL Wilson
Hops have been grown at Reeds Farm for Hundreds of years. In1972 the Wilson family purchased the farm and have been growing hops there ever since.
Location | Kent, UK |
Farms | Reeds Farm |
Began | 1972 |
Managed by | Alan Clark |
Varieties | Target • Pilgrim • Bramling Cross |
Hop development | – |
Hop hectares | 12.02 Ha |
Other farming | Sheep |
Edward lewis
The Lewis family came to The Haven in 1888 and have farmed there ever since. Edward and his son Ben work as a team to grow only Fuggles at this time, being a farm free from Verticillium Wilt.
Location | Dilwyn, Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | The Haven |
Began | 1888 |
Managed by | Ben Lewis |
Varieties | Fuggle |
Hop development | – |
Hop hectares | 2.55 Ha |
Other farming | Hereford Cattle • Cider apples • Combinables |
JS and CP Hawkins
Hops have been grown at Thinghill court and Claston for hundreds of years. James and his brother Paul started growing hedgerow hops 27 years ago and have become specialists in this field, they are the 3rd generation of the Hawkins family to farm this area with deep roots in hop growing. The next generation is showing great interest.
Location | Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | Thinghill Court and Claston |
Began | Unknown |
Managed by | James Hawkins (Jimmer) |
Varieties | First Gold • Sovereign • Faram Fuggle • Archer • Pioneer • Pilot • Boadicea |
Hop development | Many Charles Faram trial varieties |
Hop hectares | 42.1 Ha |
Other farming | Strawberries • Garlic • Turf • Combinables • Cattle • Chickens • Hazelnuts • Cider apples |
E B Walker & Co
The Walker family having been growing hops locally for many generations going back to the mid 19th Century. John and family started growing as hedgerow specialists in 1996 when First Gold was released. Ed, John and Sues son has returned to the farm, post college, and is actively involved in the farm and hop growing.
Location | Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | Tedney |
Began | 1920 |
Managed by | John Walker |
Varieties | Organic Sovereign • Organic Endeavour • Organic Experimentals |
Hop development | Many Charles Faram trial varieties |
Hop hectares | 6.9 Ha |
Other farming | Hereford Cattle • Sheep • Damsons • Cider Apples • Perry Pears • Combinables |
Tom Probert
With roots tracing back to the 1940s, Church Farm is a testament to the enduring legacy of hop farming through generations. Tom, a fourth-generation farmer, inherits a proud tradition of excellence, with his steadfast commitment to quality and sustainability, Tom manages Church Farm with a keen eye on the future, supported by his dedicated team.
Location | Weston Beggard, Herefordshire |
Farms | Church Farm |
Began | 1940 |
Managed by | Tom Probert |
Varieties | Bramling Cross • Goldings • Progress • Willamette • Hersbruker |
Hop development | – |
Hop hectares | 16.2 Ha |
Other farming | North Devon Cattle • Arable |
Stocks Farm
Stocks Farm, nestled in Suckley, has flourished for 60 years under the Capper family’s care. Richard Capper, the current owner and manager, continues this legacy with dedication, assisted by his wife Ali and their two children. Richard oversees the 200-acre farm, where they grow a large range of hops, such as Goldings and Harlequin ® and many different varieties of apples. Stocks Farm is also an important member to the Hop Development team.
Location | Suckley, Worcestershire |
Farms | Stocks Farm |
Began | 1962 |
Managed by | Richard Capper |
Varieties | Goldings • Pilgrim • Target • Phoenix • Olicana® • Jester® • Harlequin® • Godiva™ |
Hop development | Yes |
Hop hectares | 40.5 Ha |
Other farming | Apples |
Instone Court
The growing of hops at Instone court can be traced back 130 years and probably much further! Simon and Lenny are passionate about hop growing with Simon being a former Chairman of the British Hop Association and a Director of Charles Faram Farms. On the farm they grow many varieties of hop and are an important member of the Hop Development team, contributing a wealth of experience and willingness to trial new and exciting varieties.
Location | Herefordshire, UK |
Farms | Instone Court |
Began | 1919 |
Managed by | Simon and Lenny Parker |
Varieties | Admiral • Bullion • Ernest • Golding • Jester® • Emperor® • Opus® • Pilgrim • Progress • Target |
Hop development | Many Charles Faram trial varieties |
Hop hectares | 19.3 Ha |
Other farming | Chickens • Sheep • Hazelnuts • Cider apples • Cooking apples |