Industry News

Hall Hill Farm near Lanchester, County Durham, is celebrating a huge win after being named Large Farm Attraction of the Year at the prestigious National Farm Attractions Network Awards.

The awards gala, held last week at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, brought together the UK’s top farm attractions to honour excellence in the industry.

With over 100,000 visitors last year, Hall Hill Farm has become a must-visit destination for families seeking hands-on farm experiences.

The family-run attraction, led by Ann Darlington and son Richard, first opened in 1981, and what started as a simple lambing event has grown into one of the UK’s most beloved farm experiences.

Over the years, Hall Hill Farm has won numerous regional and national tourism awards - but this is the first time it has been recognised as the best farm attraction in the UK.

Ann Darlington shared her excitement: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award. It’s a fantastic recognition of all the hard work that goes into making Hall Hill Farm a special place for our visitors.”

Richard Darlington added: “Winning Farm Attraction of the Year is the biggest honour in our industry! We’d like to thank our amazing team and our wonderful visitors for their support - we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Farmer Richard’s engaging social media posts and videos on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have also made him a fan favourite worldwide with over 400k followers.

Hall Hill Farm reopens on Saturday, 22nd February, when visitors can meet the adorable Pygmy goat kids and last year’s Highland calves, as well as celebrate with Ann & Richard.