A few months ago I first visited the delightful and idyllic Hill Lands Farm, nestled in the picturesque South Downs National Park, and owned by Sarah Moore – designer, writer, and winner of ‘The Great Interior Design Challenge’, and Presenter of the upcycling and re-purposing BBC show, ‘Money for Nothing’. Sarah also finds time in her busy schedule to transform the farm’s beautiful barns and outbuildings to host pop-up events, with boutique styling and events company Hector And The Fox. I have always loved these events, with great attention to atmosphere, the warmest of welcomes and a visual delight – the team dress the barn beautifully and transform it into a rustic shop, filled with vintage finds, homewares and gifts, complete with delicious home cooked food.
Previous events have included vendors such as The Washerwoman, Liz Van Hasselt, and her fantastic fabrics, Clare Bosanquet who brings a huge haul of estate finds from her family’s ancestral home in Wales, wood crafter Andrew Byham who has demonstrated his woodworking and whittling spoons, woven textile designer Sarah Tyssen and her collection of Merino lambswool scarves and blankets, and Jessica Alice Design selling her vintage and country wares.
Hill Lands Farm is a proper old farm, complete with real mud, uneven floors, steps, and open fires. The events make for a thoroughly enjoyable destination day, perfect for the whole family, and dogs are very welcome too. There are lovely walks nearby in the picturesque Sussex countryside, you can visit The Royal Oak at the bottom of the lane, or simply shop, relax and enjoy the delicious food available from the Hector and The Fox team, serving great breakfasts, light lunches, and traditional style cakes, with heavenly hot chocolate, drip-filter coffee, and proper old-style pots of tea.
Words & Photos Stephanie Bateman Sweet – The Lifestyle Editor
Hill Lands Farm, Hooksway, Chichester, West Sussex
Sarah Moore and Hector & The Fox
