Whitehouse Farm for sale – to right person

Jun 19 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

ONE of the region’s best-known farm visitor centres is up for sale with a price tag of £2.05m.

Whitehouse Farm Centre near Morpeth, which has been welcoming visitors for 11 years, is for sale either as a whole or in three lots.

But Keith Slater, who set up the enterprise with his wife Sheila at their 40-acre former poultry farm, said they will only let the business go if they find the right buyer.

“If someone came along that we think is the right person to take the thing forward we would sell it,” he said.

“We would like a person who would feel that they could continue what we do and expand what we do in the way of employment, premises for workshops and who would like to expand the educational side.

“It would be better if that person was also Northern-based and had some of the North’s better qualities. If we can’t get the right party, we will reorganise ourselves as a family. We’ve got to have the right person. We’ve poured a lot of time and effort and money into it.”

Slater, who gifted the farm to his three children, first looked to alternative enterprises after the salmonella in eggs scare during the late 1980s.

“It was a poultry farm, then Edwina Currie said don’t eat eggs, which virtually ruined the business we had at the time,” said Mr Slater.

“We turned the place slowly into rented units and workshops, and gradually got back on out feet. Eleven years ago, the younger generation came in and did the farm park. We have gradually built it up from there.” The farm centre welcomes more than 110,000 visitors a year and employs 10 full time and 10 part time staff, topped up by 24 seasonal workers during the summer. The attraction accommodates school visits as well as the general public.

“We are very keen on the educational aspect of it. We really are staggered at how much people don’t know about food and this is coming more to the fore,” added Mr Slater.

His daughter, Fiona Teasdale, has been the centre’s managing director for three years. She said: “We have added a lot of indoor attractions It’s very important to lengthen our seasons and protect jobs. It has evolved a lot in the 11 years, we have added a lot, and we have recently acquired a zoo licence.”

More exotic creatures such as reindeer, wallabies, reptiles, a skunk, llamas and cockroaches have arrived at the centre following customer feedback asking to see more unusual animals. Traditional favourites such as horses, pigs, lambs and rabbits are still an important part of the centre, along with attractions including an adventure playground, soft play part, go-karts, willow maze, shop and cafe.

A number of business units continue to operate from the farm from kitchen company and a fireplace fitter to a complementary therapy centre. A small part of the farm remains a working sheep and cattle farm.

Mrs Teasdale stressed that the business would not simply be sold to the highest bidder.

“It has to be the right person. We could still be saying this in 10 years’ time.”

The sale is being handled by Youngs Chartered Surveyors. Spokesman Graeme Bruce said: “The property still offers significant scope for further development of both the visitor centre and the commercial property portfolio.”