Commitment to the Environment AwardBack to Winners

Sponsored by KCC Low Carbon Kent & Bouygues

FRASERS

FRASERS is an award-winning restaurant with rooms, and a boutique wedding and events venue set on a 300-acre farm near Ashford.

The Fraser family first purchased the site in 1960 – then comprising of two farms – and focused on dairy and arable farming. But over the years it has looked to diversify; transforming itself from a solely working farm into a thriving hospitality business.

And it has done so with enviable environmental credentials at the heart of its ambition.

From high standards of insulation in its function room, to a ground source heat pump providing all the heating and hot water for both its restaurant and commercial kitchen; to a self-contained biological treatment works to minimise impact on the surrounding countryside, to locally sourced food to keep food miles to a minimum, it promises a ‘guilt-free experience’ for its growing customer base.

Even the farm has been lain to a low input grass system where suckler beef herds graze in the summer with sheep following for the winter months. The nitrogen inputs are minimal, resulting in a highly sustainable and low input method of farming. Any carbon emissions produced by the business are offset by the extensive grass land.

The farm is registered with the government’s Environmental Stewardship Scheme thereby executing low-impact, low carbon producing activities and in turn promoting the existence of a wide range of wildlife. The business’ stated ambition is to become carbon net neutral by 2025.

Hit hard, as all hospitality businesses were, by the pandemic, it diversified further – offering a Frasers At Home service, allowing customers to order a three- course luxury meal to be delivered to them at home as well as providing a home delivery service for its popular afternoon teas.

It also acted as a food hub for the local community, offering fresh produce and home-make goods.

Since re-opening in April, turnover has bounced back to pre-Covid levels and with strong advance bookings for next year, it is hoping to see a rise in business which will see revenues reach close to £1million for the 2022 financial year.

Finalists