Berry's big news is that we have taken on a new manager, Mandy Swift. She is in her fourth week and is still smiling! Mandy has been chucked into the deep end, coping with a very busy half term for her introduction.
We have had some terrific PR over the last month. A full page in the D&S on dining out and a feature in the Yorkshire Post. All that and we had the lovely Dales ponies stealing the show for a day while filming at Berry's for Escape To The Country. Everyone was offering to take Alistair his tea! The Dales pony Society has been commemorating 100 years.
We had lovely Autumn weather over half term and we were able to make full use of the scary woodland trail and had a jolly Saturday with storytelling, bun decorating and lots of dressing up. The animals had a great time on the farm tour being fed by witches, wizards and Dracula!
Our first bonfire was lit on a perfect Friday evening with no wind or rain, it was very chilly though. Craig, our chef, sold the pulled pork rolls and toffee apples and we all withdrew to the fire bowl once the fire had died down.
The steak night was a sell out with Colin Bailey returning to sing with guitarist, Toby Pearson. We had record numbers which bodes very well for the future 'Last Friday of Every Month' events.
The next 'Last Friday' event is a wine tasting evening on the 25th November which will discuss which wines are drunk with which game bird, alongside a 5-course taster menu. Firth & Co, from Northallerton are supplying the wine and an expert in the form of William Tilling will be doing the chat.
Tim is putting the final touches to our Folk night on Friday 27th January 2017. It will be a pie and peas night and I imagine quite a bit of ale.
With the change in the weather Flopsey is back in his cosy hutch.
The highland cows have said goodbye to their calves and have headed up the hill for some winter weather before returning to have their new calves in the spring.
Elspeth's chilly character is thawing towards a certain Swaledale tup, we hope for some pretty lambs in April.
Mango failed to get into pig with the Duroc boar, Braveheart this Summer, but is still managing to eat extra apples and chats all day about everything. We hope to take on a very pretty Berkshire sow called Duchess, she should be in pig and will farrow around February.
Its great to have Billy, the South Devon bull back in the barn after his Summer in the meadows. He hasn't forgotten about the hay feeding and scratching at regular intervals.
Usual panic about where the Christmas decorations are hiding, luckily we have plenty of Christmas trees and fairy lights so it's a good start.
After popular demand, we have relented and are open for business on Boxing Day, so have a break from the kitchen and get your walking boots on and let us do the cooking! We are opening for 1/2 a day on Christmas Eve, from 10am until 2pm and closed on Christmas Day.
I hope to see you for the run up to Christmas.
