Our Story
Worminster Farm
Worminster Farm is a modern smallholding devoted to growing, making and enjoying artisan food and drink. We also have two holiday cottages and a studio / gallery space that we plan to use for a range of activities – from food tastings and workshops to photoshoots.
The farmhouse overlooks one of the most beautiful valleys in the heart of Somerset. We are entirely surrounded by nature and farmland that is home to beef and dairy herds, hill sheep and arable crops.
The paddocks around the farmhouse are home to our small flock of pedigree ewes and a few Oxford Sandy & Black pigs. We also keep honey bees and egg laying hens and ducks. Alongside the farmhouse, we have a generous kitchen garden with a large greenhouse, fruit tunnel and numerous fruit and nut trees. And, in the far corner of our top field, we have a second substantial no-dig production garden, with a large poly-tunnel and a fruit cage with with over 250 raspberry bushes and 100 strawberry plants, plus various currants and gooseberries.
We also have a specialist kitchen and fermentation room where we test and develop recipes. And @cultjar is based at the farm.
Our two holiday cottages are available throughout the year for anything from short weekend breaks to those attending workshops at the farm.
The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted us to develop Worminster Farm in this way. We’ve always identified huge importance in the provenance of our food and now seems more relevant than ever to treasure our relationship with farmers, growers and responsible food and drink producers. We’re all more aware of where and how our food and drink is produced and our impact on the land and environment.
A key consideration when setting up Worminster Farm was to ensure that the individual elements are all linked to the whole and work symbiotically, that we grow and make as much of our food as we are able to, and that as little as possible goes to waste. Of course, we also want to eat well and celebrate every ingredient, whether that is a foraged herb or honey from our bees, even our own charcuterie and pheasant from the local shoots. We'll never be entirely self sufficient but we are aiming to do our bit and in some cases more than this.
The Family
Family member Happy
The main farmhouse is home to our young family – visitors can expect to see our two children on their trampoline or running around the gardens. They also enjoy swimming in the natural swimming pond!
Peter previously owned a few high-profile restaurants and a small hotel in London, having worked in the restaurant and food retail world for over 25 years. Peter is now focusing on managing Worminster Farm and the development of @cultjar. He also runs a specialist consultancy providing support and advice to restaurateurs and food and drink retailers.
Pip owns a small chain of yoga, Pilates and dance fitness studios in London and is the driving force behind keeping the family fit and healthy, amongst a multitude of other things. Pip also enjoys winter dips in our natural swimming pond.
Phineus & Romilly - Phin (seven) enjoys climbing trees, football and riding his bike around the farm. Romy (four) is fearless with the animals and our greedy fruit picker. They both love ‘parenting’ orphan lambs.
Team
It’s a team effort
Byron Wheeler – is the head chef at Worminster Farm and @cultjar our food brand. He’s a vastly experienced chef, having worked with Alistair Little, universally acknowledged as the godfather of modern British cuisine, and built-up experience working at top restaurants in Bristol and more recently taught at the Waitrose cookery school. He’s also our neighbour and has his own farm. He’s lucky to enjoy a blissful 20-minute walk to work.
Joe Fox – has garnered brilliant experience as a chef having worked in some great kitchens, such as River Cottage and Landrace in Bath, but now he’s turned his skills to horticulture and is responsible for everything that we grow, underlining the strong link between the gardens and the kitchen.
Kate Simpson – oversees our social media, digital strategy and provides essential advice for our retail projects. www.somersalt.com
Will Heaton-Livingstone – was the farm manager at Hugh F-W’s River Cottage for over ten years and now runs www.willgrow.co.uk
Friends
We are surrounded by friends
Some of our current (and past partners), supporters, affiliates, suppliers and friends. Plus, a few brands and local businesses that we recommend.
www.scp.co.uk
www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk
www.melloview.co.uk
www.woottonorganicdairy.com
www.blackbeehoney.com
www.willgrow.co.uk
www.moveyourframe.com
www.untitledstudio.com