Devon farm shop and cafe welcomes 'wellness' expansion

It's becoming a shoppers' destination

Located just outside Cullompton on Honiton Road, Fordmore Farm has long been a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike, with its fully stocked farm shop, on-site café and welcoming atmosphere.

However, the recent arrival of three exciting new businesses — Pure Hair and Aesthetics, Simple Beauty, and HD Fitness—has added an extra spark to this thriving community.

Overseeing Fordmore Farm's growing success is Dom Tuckett, the shop and butcher manager. He spoke about the farm's five-year journey and the challenges presented by the pandemic.

"It's been a different journey with Covid and lockdowns and everything, but seeing the site grow has been exciting. The customer base gets bigger and bigger. It's nice to see the regulars who have been with us from the start still coming and enjoying the site," he says.

Fordmore has become a focal point for local businesses, supporting as many small, local producers as possible through the farm shop. Dom and the team are now focusing on showcasing what the site offers. "Hopefully people can come out and enjoy the site with all the other businesses around here," he added.

One of the most exciting new arrivals at Fordmore is Pure Hair and Aesthetics, owned and managed by Claire Whale. Claire's journey to Fordmore has been one of growth and expansion, having originally taken over Virginia's hair salon in Cullompton town centre five years ago.

"We traded there for five years, opened up a second shop, and two years ago, we brought it all together. Now we've ended up here at Fordmore," Claire explained.

The need for more space and better facilities drove the move to Fordmore.

"Parking is amazing here, and the location is great. Hopefully, we'll get more clients," says Claire. The salon offers a full range of hair services, from bridal and wedding hair to gents' cuts and aesthetic treatments like laser hair and tattoo removal.

"We also do micropigmentation, and we're all Aveda in here, which is fantastic," Claire adds.

The team is excited to expand further, with Claire hinting at possibly bringing more staff on board.

She added that customers don't want to leave the new location, saying: "They come in and say, 'Oh my God, I'm so excited,' which is just what we hoped for. The Aveda brand and this wonderful location will help us grow even more."

Hannah Stone, owner and manager of Simple Beauty, shares a similar expansion story. Previously based in the town for 18 years, Hannah moved to Fordmore when the opportunity arose for her husband to open HD Fitness next door.

"James and Tom, the owners of Fordmore Farm, approached me with a vision for on-site hair and beauty space. It all came together from there," she explains.

Simple Beauty offers various treatments, including advanced skin care techniques such as micro-needling and Luminfusion facials, hot stone therapy, Indian head massage, and BIAB gel polish. The salon has even added a Bowen therapist to its team, further expanding its services.

"It's so much space and so clean and sharp. We're excited to be here," Hannah says.

The move has been well-received by clients, who enjoy the spacious and relaxing environment. Hannah encourages new and existing clients to come and see what Simple Beauty offers.

"It's great to be working alongside the other businesses here, and we all work nicely together," she says.

Next door to Simple Beauty is HD Fitness, a brand-new gym facility owned by Dan Stone. Dan, a firefighter, saw a need for a high-quality gym on the outskirts of Cullompton.

"We noticed there wasn't a facility in Cullompton that could cater to the growing population, especially with all the new housing developments going up," Dan explains.

HD Fitness offers everything from resistance weights to an Olympic lifting platform, with a fully functional area upstairs for group classes. Dan is thrilled with the response so far, with up to 150 members using the gym daily. "We've tried to create a safe and welcoming space for everyone," he says.

For Dan, the community spirit at Fordmore Farm is one of the best parts of running the gym. "The seniors come in for a workout, grab a coffee at the café, pop into the butcher's for dinner, and it's a full day out. It's lovely to see."

Their shared sense of community and collaboration makes the businesses at Fordmore Farm stand out. Alison Orme, national sales manager for Aveda, has worked closely with Claire at Pure Hair and Aesthetics and sees tremendous potential in this new setting.

"This is going to be an absolute catapult for her business. It's a stunning new premise that's sustainable and community-driven. It's a destination in itself," Alison says.

The farm continues to support the local community, providing a space for these businesses to flourish while offering a one-stop shop for visitors seeking relaxation, health, and wellness.

Dom remains hopeful for the future, concluding: "Hopefully, there'll be more scope for a bit more growth. We'll have to see what the future brings."