EVENTS DIARY
THE HOP SHOP EVENTS 2012
JANUARY - There are lots of beef and scrumptious pies as well as tasty recipes for cold winter days. Bird nesting boxes and feeders are on display ready for spring.
FEBRUARY - Hearts, red candles and cards are a decorative theme in the lead up to Valentine's Day. New stocks of gifts and cards arrive in the shop. Bookings open for the Aromatherapy Massages in July.
MARCH - There are lots of gift ideas to suit all budgets for Mothers Day.
Hop plants will be for sale outside the shop and by Mail Order.
Sat 17th March - honey tasting in the shop with our bee-keeper. 11.00am - 3.30pm
APRIL - Easter decorations are on display with lots of items on a chicken and egg theme, plus tempting Easter foods and chocolate treats. Remember to be patriotic and celebrate St George's Day with a tasty joint of beef.
MAY - Fresh local asparagus is available now until late June.
Herb and lavender plants are ready from now. Local strawberries arrive in the shop.
JUNE - The long-awaited Kentish cherries are ripe. (Don't trust any you see for sale before now - they're probably Spanish!).
From mid-June the lavender fields are turning purple and we start cutting our fresh lavender bunches. Pre-booked private group tours and open tours begin.
Please note we will be closed on the weekend of 23rd/24th June.
JULY - Our lavender fields are looking their best, there's fresh-cut lavender for sale daily and lots of plants to choose from. The scent of lavender fills the valley as the lavender is harvested and distilled for its oil. Tours of the lavender fields can be pre-booked on certain weekday afternoons.
.............................LAVENDER FESTIVAL WEEKENDS................................
Saturday 7th /
Sunday 8th: 10am - 5pm
Saturday 14th /
Sunday 15th: 10am - 5pm
Tours of the lavender fields and distillery. Food-tastings, bee-keeping display, farm beef-burgers, teas and cakes.
No entry charge. £2 parking charge for cars, £1 for motorbikes.
(Sorry, no coaches can be accommodated at the weekends.)
Please note, dogs are not allowed on the tours or in the buidings.
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGES: A unique experience in the lavender
fields.
We host this event when the fields are in full bloom at the Lavender Festival Weekends and on Thurs 12th and Fri 13th July.
Pre-booking is essential by calling us directly: 01959 523219. If you would like to give a massage to a friend you can purchase our Aromatherapy Gift vouchers online nearer the time.
AUGUST - Fresh hop bines are available from mid August to mid September. Harvesting of wheat and other arable crops is in full-swing on the farm.
SEPTEMBER - Hop bines are cut and dried ready for despatch throughout the year. The orchards open for Pick Your Own as soon as the Norfolk Royal and Cox apples are ripe in early September. (Check the newsletter for details of dates and opening times.) Local sweetcorn, Kentish cobnuts, Bramley apples and local pears are all for sale.
OCTOBER - The orchards stay open for PYO apples until Sunday 10th October. Our home-grown pumpkins are for sale - with lots of delicious culinary varieties plus traditional big Hallowe'en ones for carving.
NOVEMBER - Christmas is in full swing in the shop with lots of decorations, candles, foods, hampers and gift ideas. Start placing your orders for Christmas turkeys, geese, gammons and Castle Farm beef.
DECEMBER - Meat orders need to be finalised and Mail Order gifts despatched. Collection day for Christmas turkeys is 23rd December, after which we close until the New Year.