Bellis Brothers: The story behind the farm shop success
The nation loves a good garden centre; whether its for a mooch around the homeware, selecting seasonal plants for the garden or stopping for a delicious lunch sourced from local produce.
And Bellis Brothers is no exception when it comes to quality service and unique shopping. In fact, the family-business has been operating for over 160-years.
Strawberries were transported by the tonne across the country (Image: Bellis Brothers Ltd)
It all started in 1860 when Charles Bellis planted a strawberry in his back garden called a Black Prince; a dark and sweet berry. In the years that followed, he quickly became one of the largest producers in the country.
Eighteen-years-later, the family bought the site which still operates in Holt today where they worked hard to transport tonnes of fruit to nearby towns. As transport links improved, the business grew.
The shop was opened in 1973 (Image: Bellis Brothers Ltd)
In 1973, it was Roger Bellis (fourth generation) who opened a small farm shop to sell the produce from the fields. Over the years, it has grown into the garden centre, restaurant, shop and pick your own experience people know and love today.
At the Leader, we spoke to the current director, Elizabeth Bellis-Marks who gave us an insight into why people keep coming back.
"We have worked hard over the years to keep diversifying", she explains.
"There's always something going on, and we love seeing families return throughout the year. It keeps things busy, and that's just how we like it!"
Strawberry field (Image: Bellis Brothers Ltd)
The garden centre springs to life from March onwards, welcoming visitors with plants, gifts, and gardening essentials.
Then, in June, the Pick Your Own season kicks off with strawberries and a variety of summer fruits and vegetables, a perfect family day out in the beautiful Welsh countryside.
October brings the excitement of Pick Your Own Pumpkins, always a firm favourite and one of their busiest times of year.
As the seasons change, they move into the Christmas period, selling trees, gifts and hosting a much-loved grotto and Breakfast with Santa which raise funds for Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham.
Garden centre, Bellis Brothers (Image: Bellis Brothers Ltd)
As for the success behind the business, Elizabeth says it all lies with the dedicated team who run it.
"Our fantastic team is another reason customers keep coming back.
"Many of our staff have been with us for years, and regular visitors really value the warm, familiar faces and the personal service they receive. Our team consistently goes above and beyond to make every visit special.
"We're proud to still be a family-run business, now five generations strong. Our roots run deep, and that sense of tradition and care is at the heart of everything we do.
"We were also one of the first farm shops in the country to evolve into a garden centre, something quite rare at the time. Nowadays, it often happens the other way around, with garden centres adding farm shops later on."
However, no business is without its challenges.
Bellis Brothers admits one of their ongoing struggles to overcome is the rise of the digital world and needing to adapt to such changing habits.
"We believe in the value of a genuine, in-person customer experience something that simply can't be replicated on a screen."
It's one of the reasons why the family are so proud of their 'Best Farm Shop in 2024' title which they received from the Garden Centre Association earlier this year.
This is the second year running the site has been selected for the award, making it even more meaningful to staff and customers.
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Customers are also eagerly awaiting an exact date for this year's berry picking. While it is yet to be confirmed, the team is aiming for mid-June.
In more recent years, the business has moved over to table top strawberries from field grown to allow for greater control over the fruit and to reduce reliance upon the weather, which is becoming increasingly unpredictable in the UK.
"The fruit is much easier to pick as you don't have to bend down", Elizabeth says.
"It is child friendly and easier for people with mobility issues. It also extends our Pick Your Own season into the summer holidays!"
So, whether you fancy a home-cooked brunch or you're keen to start your journey with gardening, why not visit and see for yourself.
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