Catering firm is a grower
FARMER Ted’s Christmas extravaganza is back for the third year running and the eight metre Christmas tree is already up for all to see.
People can book their tickets online now for the Farmer Christmas attraction which will be open to the public from Saturday, November, 26.
The family attraction is the festive follow-up to the popular Farmaggedon Hallowe’en event at Farmer Ted’s in Downholland.
Owner Mark Edwards said: “We’re bringing excitement and merriment across the area from Lancashire to Liverpool and beyond.
“It’s always a great time of year and we’re really looking forward to it. It’s great to see the children come in all excited.”
At this year’s event visitors will start their journey at the Elf School, where children can take part in plenty of Christmas activities.
Mark said: “The elves were training for their Elf School on Monday night and Santa made a special visit to make sure he was happy with the preparations.
“He brought Rudolf along with him and four real life reindeer for the event.”
On leaving Elf School, visitors will be taken to the Magical Christmas Forest on Farmer Christmas’s Tractor Express, encountering elves, reindeer and all their friends along the way until at last they reach Santa’s Workshop.
The elves will be on hand to snap photographs in the Christmas carriage or in the snowy igloo and photographs will be available to purchase from the Great Hall.
The organisers are upping their game at this year’s event with the addition of a Santa’s sleigh and although the attraction is indoors that doesn’t mean it won’t be snowing as Mark has ordered a snow machine to ensure a white winter wonderland.
Visitors will be given a “boarding card”, which allows them to wander through the halls into the Elf School and the special 4D cinema.
The event will be running until Friday, December 23 with entry times varying from 10am to 7.30pm.
The experience will last approximately an hour and a half and there will be plenty of parking space available.
Mark added: “Remember to be good because otherwise you won’t get a present from Santa!”
Tickets, including a present, cost £6.75 for children under one, £13.95 for children over one and older and £8.75 for adults.
There is also an option available for under-ones to enter free without a present.
Tickets must be pre-purchased and can be bought from www.farmerchristmas.com or by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 736 0151.
A number of days have already sold out. MELLORS Catering Services, the contract caterer based at Lancashire Manor in Pimbo, has topped a list of the top 20 fastest growing food service companies in the UK.
The family-run firm is a new entry in the 2016 report, in second place with a growth rate of 47.1%.
Created and owned by local businessman Mark Timmerman the firm has increased its number of catering sites by 70% to 199 in the past 24 months and has further expansion plans.
Jenna Massingham, HR manager, said: “Employing talented people and looking after them as well as providing a bespoke service for our clients is key to our success.
“We have also recently been accredited to The 5% Club, a national charter that promotes hiring graduates and apprentices within its workforce. We are very proud that 16% of our staff make up these numbers.”
Mellors Catering Services has been trading for 21 years and employs more than 1,100 people throughout the North.