Farm's converted shed has a second new role

Jun 9 2009 By Karen Dent, The Journal

PART of a farm diversification originally set up as a classroom for children has now diversified again – into a conference centre.

The Barn at Beal visitors’ centre – just off the A1 opposite Holy Island – opened the room as a classroom, but there were problems with transport funding to bring children to the centre.

Rod Smith, who owns the centre and farms the adjoining land, said: "Because of what happened with the schools and not being able to fulfil the potential of the room, we thought, what else can we do with it?

"We had everything in place. We had an added classroom/conference room available anyway."

The room, which is inside what was originally a mid-19th Century cart shed, is equipped with an interactive whiteboard, laptops and broadband.

Mr Smith is hopeful that the room, which can hold up to 40 delegates at once, will begin to pay for itself in the next few years.

He says the business has been building up steadily – which is just the way he likes it.

"We’ve always tried to do one thing at a time," said Mr Smith. "We started as a coffee shop, then a visitor centre and we have evolved. I’m really happy it is slowly building up. I would rather do it slowly."

The conference room is already securing repeat businesses from a number of local companies and organisations and, recently, members of the Royal College of Defence Studies used the venue during a trip to the North East.

The centre benefits from its position overlooking the coast across to Holy Island and the other facilities that have been built up at the Barn at Beal. Mr Smith added: "You can move about, get some fresh air and we can offer something different.

"We are trying to push that side across."

The conference venue is part of the complex that Mr Smith had been planning for a number of years and it has just marked its first anniversary. As a farmer, he is keen to use the tourist attraction to educate visitors about food and farming.

Locally-sourced produce is used in the restaurant and coffee shop, and there is also a nature walk and bird of prey centre.