The recent return of old farming diaries to the company has been cause for great delight, after 25 years out of the family. The Becketts Farm that you know and love today would not be here without the author of these diaries, Albert Edward Beckett. Albert moved his small dairy herd from Shropshire to Wythall in 1937. By doing this, he laid the foundations for this family business, which continues to thrive today under the ownership and direction of his grandson, Simon. During the 1940s-70s Albert kept four detailed day diaries, which have recently come back into the family’s possession....

Becketts Farm Shop is dedicated to helping those who help others and we are now offering a helping hand to our heroes on the front line! If you are a front line health or social care worker, or work for our excellent emergency services, then pop along to shop with us, bringing your ID card and enjoy 10% off your shopping. We would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone that continues to shop with us, the support from the local community and beyond has been amazing and we are truly grateful. NHS Police Service Ambulance Service Fire...

Top 10 easy and fun activities to do at home to keep your children entertained 1) Set up a treasure hunt. This activity is very easy to set up and you can hide as many or as little objects as you like around the house and in the garden for the children to then find! This will keep your children occupied for a few hours. 2) Enjoy your favourite movie! Choose a movie, pick a selection of your favourite treats and place them in your sweet bowl, close your blinds and switch off the lights and pretend you are at...

On 7th April 2020 the Beckett family celebrate a very important day. Company chairman, Alan Beckett celebrates his 90th Birthday. In true ‘This is Your Life’ style, here’s our ‘Big Red Book’ blog post. We’ve included some facts that may surprise you about our company chairman. Born in Halfway House, Shropshire in 1930, to Albert and Dawn Beckett, he was their eldest child and subsequently inherited, grew and shaped this family farming business into what it is today. Sadly, the present pandemic has meant that the celebratory parties and gatherings to mark the occasion have needed to be postponed. Nevertheless,...

Ways to be resourceful with the groceries you’ve got – reducing food waste It’s not all about pasta and rice With the absence of pasta and rice on the shelves, it would seem a great time to become more familiar with some other store cupboard essentials including pulses that you may not have cooked with before. Lentils are a great alternative as a carbohydrate, but they’re also high in fibre and protein. They’re fantastically versatile and can be used in place of mince in many different dishes like cottage pie, chilli and hot pots. They’re a cheaper option too, so...

Where the flour is sourced from We are proud to source our flour from Matthews Cotswold Flour, who are based just over an hour away in the beautiful Cotswold hills, in the village of Shipton under Wychwood near the ancient royal Wychwood forest. Like us, Matthews Cotswold Flour mill is a family run business and was first established in the 1860’s. The mill has been milling in the heart of the Cotswold Hills for over 100 years and Paul and son Bertie Matthews, the 5th and 6th generation, continue the family tradition. Matthews flour are proud, certified organic flour millers...

With lots of lovely hardy veg filling the shelves at the Greengrocers, we’ve been thinking about the importance of eating with the seasons. We’re talking about hearty stews on cold evenings, packed with plenty of fresh root vegetables. Then generously ladled into warm bowls with a side of buttery greens. Bubbling cauliflower cheese with extra mature cheddar and crispy bacon lardons. Roasted carrots and parsnips glazed with honey and mustard to accompany the Sunday roast. On these short winters days, nature knows how to help us produce great comfort food when we crave it most. We’re salivating over the idea...

Looking back to December last year, we want to take the opportunity to thank all of our staff and customers who got involved with fundraising. Our annual appeal for St Basils during December collects tonnes of essentials for this homelessness charity. We collect long life foods and toiletries for their accommodations in both Redditch and Birmingham city centre. The charity supports young homeless people, or those at risk of becoming homeless. The centres have long-term bedsits for young people to get back on their feet and the charity encourages residents to learn essential life skills. Your donations are given as...

Are you still on the search for a New Year’s Resolution? How about considering putting your money where your house is and committing to shop local for 2020? If you love where you live then set yourself the challenge to begin buying local more often. You don’t need to do everything all at once. Perhaps buy an additional item locally each week. Or build up a habit of visiting shops which you’ve never popped into to explore what they have to offer. Here are our top reasons why shopping local is the way forward for any savvy shopper. After all...

Christmas is a time for giving and Becketts have certainly done that this year. Throughout the year we try and support as many local charities, businesses, schools and sports clubs as we possibly can and here are just some of the great things, we have manged to do in 2019. Fresh Food The bakers have been busy baking our classic mince pie for weeks now, and it’s just as well, as we have donated over 500 mince pies alone to local charities, church groups and schools. We have also donated 600 free range eggs to the Birmingham’s Christmas Shelter this...

If there’s one thing for certain, across different households, in different families, no Christmas Day looks the same. Yes, we might all enjoy a carol service and/or a pint in our local on Christmas Eve, and yes there’s the presents, Christmas dinner, Christmas TV and endless amounts of Quality Street before an afternoon snooze on Christmas Day. But, each and every family has its own little quirks and traditions that make Christmas magical for them. I’ll never forget being caught out by not bringing a ‘table present’ to my in-laws the first Christmas I spent with them. I’d never heard...

Treat someone to a little bit of Becketts this Christmas with one of our top 10 Christmas Gifts. Sweet Treats Are you are struggling to find your secret Santa gift, or has one of your friends got a sweet tooth? Look no further than our large array of handmade sweets and chocolates in the Farm Shop! Step away from the usual branded sweet treats this Christmas and opt for one of these luxury gifts. Winter Warmers Nothing beats stepping in from the cold and enjoying a warming hot drink. From festive flavoured coffees and various Christmas collection tea ranges to gourmet...