With Halloween and the half-term holidays on the horizon, it might be time to think about activities with the kids.
Pumpkins are a nice way to get into the ghostly spirit on 31st October, but where to find them? If you like, you can make a morning or afternoon of it, because there are plenty of places in Chester where you and the little ones can pick your own pumpkins. In this guide, we’ll run through your options:
Bellis Brothers Farm Shop
If you want to pick up your pumpkin direct from the source, there are few better choices than Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre. This award-winning establishment is located 9 miles from Chester, dates all the way back to 1860, and is known for its ‘Pick Your Own’ summer offering, when visitors can collect strawberries and other soft fruits.
However, this is Halloween we are talking about, and in October, the Bellis Brothers Farm Shop opens up its pumpkin patch to pickers. Kids will also be invited into the Spooky Maize Maze, a misleading mix of dead ends, twists and turns that is guaranteed to entertain your group. Advance booking is strongly advised for all visitors. Tickets to the shop are free, with a policy of one per vehicle, with paid entry for the pumpkins and maze entry.
Magical Malpas Farm
The Bellis Brothers aren’t the only show in town. Magical Malpas Farm, known as a hotspot for autumn picking, will have its own pumpkin patch and maize maze open throughout October. There aren’t just pumpkins on offer; you’ll also be able to take home a punnet of strawberries.
A little further out than Bellis Brothers Farm Shop (18 miles and 30 mins by car), this is a farm experience set in the Cheshire countryside. You are welcome to spend all day picking your produce, although wrapping up warm is advised.
It’s £2 for entry to the extensive PYO pumpkin patch and both spooky maize mazes (there’s a short and a long route). You’ll be able to take family pics at the photo village and have the opportunity to meet the sheep, goats and donkeys.
Tatton Park pumpkin patch at the farm
Now, we head deeper into Cheshire, not far from Manchester, in fact. Tatton Park is a historic 1,000-acre estate located in Knutsford, featuring a neo-classical mansion, award-winning gardens, a working rare-breeds farm, and a vast medieval deer park. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Chester.
On selected dates between 10th and 31st October, you can visit the pumpkin patch at Tatton Park farm. There’s an entry fee for the farm, and you can expect to pay £2 per pumpkin. The attraction is open between 11am and 4pm, with last entry at 3pm.
Entry to the Tatton Park Farm costs £11 for adults and £9 for children (aged 4 to 15). Toddlers under 4 years old and essential carers enter for free. A standard vehicle entry fee (£10 on weekdays, £11 at weekends) applies to all visitors entering the parkland by car.
The Lambing Shed, Knutsford
Just down the road from Tatton Park Farm, you’ll find another pumpkin-picking option.
The Lambing Shed Pumpkin Picking Festival has a patch with no fewer than 28 varieties of pumpkins, including traditional orange and even pink. You can also take a Halloween photo and grab some takeaway food from their on-site kitchen.
Cheshire Pick Your Own Pumpkin Frodsham
We spotted one more Cheshire pumpkin-picking location in Frodsham, towards Liverpool, about 25 minutes from Chester. This is a simple field located on Dobers Lane in the market town, and the patch is accessible for free.
You’ll find a wide variety of multi-coloured carving pumpkins, culinary squashes, and gourds. Pre-picked pumpkins are also available if you prefer not to venture into the mud. And if you want to go picking, bring your wellies. For this location, it is also recommended that you take along your own picking tools.