Cattows Farm

Cattows Farm turns a family-run Leicestershire farm into a country destination that brings together food, farm products, and seasonal activities. A visit can start in the store or restaurant and continue outdoors, depending on the time of year: fruit, flower, and pumpkin picking, animal encounters, and private celebrations all form part of an offering that goes beyond shopping for groceries.

The family’s history in Heather dates to 1899, when the Ludlam family began working farmland in the village. The family acquired Cattows Farm in 1972; at the time, the operation included dairy and beef cattle along with wheat and barley fields. The farm shop and tea room opened in 2005 as the property began welcoming visitors more regularly. That transition brought farming into a public visitor experience without erasing its rural roots.

Restaurant & Kitchen is a place to have breakfast, coffee, or a meal overlooking the Leicestershire countryside. The menu combines main dishes, lighter bites, and homemade desserts, as well as a Sunday lunch. Food is prepared on site, and guests can use the outdoor terrace, licensed bar, and step-free entrance. Hot meals are served until midafternoon, a useful detail for planning a visit that includes other activities on the farm.

The farm store carries preserves, jams, chutneys, and home goods, including greeting cards, room fragrances, wax melts, and products branded with Cattows Farm. The business says the store is in a period of transition, so its selection may change. Alongside the shop, the farm’s fields offer seasonal picking activities; its website highlights seasonal fruit, sunflowers, and pumpkins.

Pick-your-own activities make the agricultural calendar part of the visit: families can follow the fruit and flower seasons and return when pumpkin harvest arrives. Cattows also features a small herd of Highland cattle, with related experiences and products. Activities depend on the season and availability, so the farm is best understood as a changing destination throughout the year rather than the same attraction in every season.

For celebrations, the property offers weddings in a setting of meadows and open countryside, with outdoor ceremony options such as tipis or marquees and day-of coordination. It also has rooms for family occasions, wakes, and corporate meetings. These options make use of the rural setting and extend the farm’s role beyond its restaurant and store.

Cattows Farm also lists festivals and events on its calendar, but it states that independent companies organize them and that inquiries should go to each promoter. The farm itself runs seasonal activities and its food, store, and celebration services. It is in Heather, Leicestershire, where working farmland and visitor amenities come together at one destination.