Future is unclear for popular cattle centre
Aug 14 2009 by Ben Guy, The Journal
A POPULAR Northumberland cattle centre faces an uncertain future after its owners put it up for sale.
Marianne and Richard Halford have put the Highland Cattle Centre, near Stocksfield, on the market after the running of the centre became too much for them.
The couple hope to sell the centre, which remains open for business as usual, as a going concern, but admit the future is uncertain.
Last summer Marianne, 60, was badly hurt when she was hit by a car in the centre car park, an accident that has ultimately forced them to sell up.
The injuries she sustained to her hip and knee, and a subsequent virus she picked up, have meant she has been unable to fulfil her normal role at the centre.
She said: “We are both of an age where we need to think seriously about what we are going to do.
“It will be a wrench, because it is beautiful here, but in some ways it is also a relief.”
The 59-acre centre, which has been open to visitors for the past three years, is visited by more that 30,000 people each year.
Around 10,000 of those visitors are tourists from outside the area.
It is on the market for £300,000, with all the equipment and animals, except the highland cattle, included in the price.
Mr Halford, 61, said he hoped a buyer could be found that would continue the hard work that had been put into building up the business. He said: “Business is fantastic, and that is part of the shame of it.
“We have spent three years working at it and it is really starting to come right, but we just can’t do it on our own.
“We would prefer to sell to somebody who would keep it as a highland cattle centre or a farm visitor centre of some sort, but that may not be the case.”
The Halfords employ two full time members of staff, as well as four part time employees.
As well as 90 highland cattle the centre also has alpacas, lamas, chip monks, rabbits, turkeys, goats and pigs.
Although the cattle are not included in the price, the couple, who live close to the centre, are open to offers for most of the animals.
