/PRCWT/Guangzhou, January 12, 2023——Nestled in the south end of Radlett lies the little-known Battlers Green Farm, a tiny outdoor shopping village. It is not a typical out-of-town shopping outlet centre, but a charming, rural area with highly distinctive stores.
Battlers Green Farm Rural Shopping Village has grown over the past half-century and became a lovely farmyard shopping village. Offering a wide selection of shops, the village attracts hundreds of customers, not only from Radlett but also from Bushey, Borehamwood and London.
Despite being nestled away, the village is often bustling according to shop owners, and some famous faces are often spotted in and out of the shops. It additionally has fantastic reviews on TripAdivsor.
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As the place lies five minutes from High Street in Radlett, it was a must, especially since the weather was lovely on this particular day, for me to visit. As well as its ample free parking, the shopping village offers a unique shopping experience. But starting from the beginning, let's dive into a short history of the farm, as it has been here in Hertfordshire for half a century and has a unique past.
The history of Battlers Green Farm
Battlers Green Farm was opened in 1960 and over the past half-century, it has grown and gathered many allies. It has been a working farm ever since, which started out by catering for nearby village residents.
As the business grew, the current owner's parents began with a dairy herd and chickens, selling eggs, cream and milk from the back door. As the business expanded, they decided to open a single farm shop on the site, which still exists. The current owner, Paul Haworth, was only three when they secured holding on the farm.
Although the number of retailers has grown around the site, the Farm Shop remains the shopping village’s anchor store. The place stocks high quality foods including jams and chutneys, fresh crusty bread, homemade cakes; fresh fruit and vegetables; fine wines and a superb cheese selection, specialising in English farmhouse cheeses.
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Over the years, the family began to develop the outbuildings to expand on the success of the farm shop. A florist and fishmonger have been around Battlers Green Park since the late 80s. Spice Way shop, Destiny Rising and other shops opened around 1998.
Food and shops you can visit
The Bull Pen Tearooms has been around for many years however, in the last couple of years it had a makeover
Moving into present day, Battlers Green Park will surprise you with a magical charm. Whichever shop you decide to enter, everyone is very welcoming and open to talking to you. Something which does not often happen in the more popular outlets.
If you happen to get hungry while shopping in the Battlers Green Farm do not worry. There are plenty of options - starting with the earlier mentioned Farm Shop where you can get an easy snack, sandwich or something to drink. Another option is Reed's Fruiterers, you can get fresh vegetables and fruits in this shop.
Right next to it, you find Bagels + Schmear, which if you are a fan of bagels, this place is for you. Lastly, the main restaurant in Battlers Green Park is 'the Bull Pen'.
The Bull Pen, a restaurant and a tea room, was started in 1993 and housed in what was formerly the farm bull pen which had been built in the early 1900s. The restaurant offers breakfasts, quick snacks, farmhouse-style dishes and daily specials and all of that in a rustic room with old oak timbers.
Their tea room offers freshly made scones, a selection of decadent cakes and creamy meringues for a sumptuous afternoon tea. Battlers Green Farm offers many other services. There are several shops with women's clothing, Hertfordshire's family-run furniture shop, butchers, dog groomers and even a veterinary and cycle society.
The names and faces around the village
The farm shop offer a wealth of farmhouse style foods and special tasty treats
Spending a couple of hours in Battlers Green farm gives you a chance to fully explore the farm - and the place stole my heart when I took a visit myself. I was also fortunate enough to meet some of the business owners. Angie and Nina who work at Destiny Rising and are close friends with the owner Dana, admitted they have seen the farm's visitors change drastically over the years.
They said the village has been full of different people and new generations but other services in the local area have been dragging attention away. The pair has been working in the 'crystal' shop for over 20 years and said they see many Arsenal football players.
The reasons for this they believe is that the players, as well as other celebrities who visit, feel comfortable in the village as "nobody 'cares" that they are famous. An employee from a Spicy Way shop shared a similar opinion. For her, the farm is full of people who she's known for years, but only during the week.
As Radlett has a wide population of Jewish residents, they visit the farm only during the week. The weekend is often taken over by young couples who attend for a couple of hours.
However, it seems that not everyone agrees. Vicky, the owner of Reed's Fruiterers, shared her positive experience with the farm's attendees. She has been working in the shop for many years and in the last couple of years, she became an owner. Vicky said that every day is busy and every day it brings new customers.
On TripAdvisor there are nearly 150 reviews for the shopping village and the big majority state only the positives. One of the comments reads: "The Green grocers is amazing. Beautiful apples bananas and fruit
"Tony the guy who served me was amazing and pointed out any blemishes with the fruit and gave me some ripe bananas free
Amazing goodwill gesture." - Rhinos007, TripAdvisor, 5 stars
Another person expressed views and commented: "It is a situated in a very nice location with other shops around it and all in keeping with the style of barns. We went with friends for tea and luckily booked a table as it was completely pack out.
"Behind the restaurant is a field and there was a dog show on a that time. We had afternoon tea with scones, and currant buns with jam and clotted cream, service was very good, polite and quick and was reasonably priced. We personally enjoyed it and with that I would recommend it" - Roger S , TripAdvisor, 5 stars
