our story

OUR FAMILY HOME

Crabtree Farm is our family home, and an 18th century Grade II listed farmhouse located in area of outstanding natural beauty high up in the Kent Downs, on the outskirts of the rural village of Hastingleigh. We have a selection of modern rustic holidays lets: The two converted North & South Stables, the Granary, and a bell tent (available in the summer), all backing onto ten acres of beautiful open fields.

We’re a family of four – The husband Andrew (a Yorkshire lad originally from the small fishing village Filey), the wife Rachel (the jewellery designer of www.racheljacksonlondon.com from Leyland in Lancaster), two beautiful children River and Herbie, the pampered, long-haired Dachshund Rafferty and two cats Dotty and Ziggy.

Back in September 2019, we moved to Crabtree Farm having spent over 20 years living and working in London. We needed a change from the hustle and bustle of London, and wanted to create something new and exciting for our future. In addition to building upon our current holiday lets, we’re developing an environment in which families can stay together, cook together, and form new memories together with a focus on sustainability.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you into our home.

Andrew & Rachel

FOOD AND YOUR FAMILY

Starting out as a self-professed lover of food and now a qualified nutritional cook, I (Andrew) am the chef of the family. After a 20 years as a Creative Director, the arrival of our first born River helped to rekindled my passion for cooking, as well as giving me some sleepless nights to spend pondering the way ahead.

My family and friends soon became a great source of inspiration — and my harshest critics — as they tested my new healthy dishes. Encouraged by their feedback and eagerness to try more, in 2016 I enrolled in a Nutrition In Practice course at Leith Cooking School, and haven’t looked back.

In September 2019 we moved to Crabtree Farm and started to build upon the current holiday let whilst creating a stainable place to stay, cook and make new memories together. We believe that to sit down and eat as a family, is to eat better. The care and consideration put into the food you prepare for your loved ones is as important bonds you form when the time is taken to reconnect at the end of each day.

My love for cooking began at an early age. In the quiet fishing village of Filey where I grew up, my dad worked as a traditional fisherman. He’d often take me out on his fishing coble (a traditional fishing vessel ideal for launching and landing from sandy beaches) and together we would bring home wondrous foods like wild salmon, crabs and native lobsters. This tempered my developing palette to fresh, wholesome foods from a young age and I imbue all of my recipes with this appreciation.

Bruce Jenkinson (middle) Fisherman of Filey, North Yorkshire, England.

Since our first born River arrived, I find myself reminiscing often of my own childhood memories of food and how these have helped to shape my cooking style. Perhaps less fish-orientated, but certainly healthy, natural and practical foods.

During your stay with us you can be involved in a much or a little as you wish. We want to involve food, discovery, adventure in your time away from the monotony of day-to-day life, but above all else Crabtree Farm is a place to relax and enjoy. This is more than just another place to stay; it’s a place to experience.

Andrew with his new son, Herbie – March 2018