“More cheese please,” says Mayor as Kelston company clears all the curdles

You had feta believe it – Metro Mayor Dan Norris donned his whites to learn the art of cheese making at Park Farm at Kelston.

The Mayor was the guest of Hugh Padfield, founder of the award-winning organic cheese makers, The Bath Soft Cheese Company. When Covid struck, the local business decided they could not just 'let it brie' but instead wanted to open up their farm to more people wanting to enjoy the great outdoors.

Now thanks to a grant from the West of England Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris, they plan to set aside a dedicated picnic field and rubbish collection points. They will also refurbish a shepherd’s hut to offer takeaway refreshments to walkers and cyclists exploring the riverside footpath which borders the farm.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “The Bath Soft Cheese Company is a fantastic example of a growing local food business with high environmental standards. Their produce is exceptional so it is no wonder they’ve won so many awards. I commend them for their exciting plans to expand the business.”

Owner Hugh Padfield said: “We have lots of hungry walkers and cyclists pass the farm and the funding we’ve received will help us meet demand for our produce and enable people to enjoy our beautiful surroundings. The whole business is built on the organic milk produced by our fantastic herd of mainly Holstein Friesian cows and our customers value our ethos of producing milk and cheese in a way that protects the natural world.”

The Bath Soft Cheese Company makes cheese by hand, using organic milk from the farm’s own cows.

To find out more about business growth grants and the other support available to SMEs, visit the West of England Growth Hub website.