Grimsbury Farm
Grimsbury Farm has long been a much-loved part of the local community, and we’re proud that South Gloucestershire Council has entrusted Brandon Trust with its future.
We know how deeply people care about this special place, and we’re committed to protecting what makes the farm so valued while opening up even more ways for local people to enjoy it.
Our aim is for Grimsbury Farm to be a place where everyone feels welcome – somewhere to connect with nature, learn new skills, spend time with family and friends, and feel part of a thriving community. By working closely with local residents, volunteers, and partner organisations, we’ll build on the farm’s strong foundations and help it grow, while creating meaningful opportunities for autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
Grimsbury Farm FAQs
We know many people will have questions about Brandon Trust taking on the lease at Grimsbury Farm, and we want to make sure you feel informed and supported.
These FAQs are here to answer the most common questions and help explain what this change means for the community.
We’ll share further updates over the coming weeks and months.
South Gloucestershire Council has chosen Brandon Trust to take on the lease and day-to-day running of Grimsbury Farm from 1 August 2026. The move is intended to secure a sustainable future for the farm while maintaining its role as a valued community asset.
The council wants to ensure Grimsbury Farm has a sustainable future and continues to serve local residents for years to come. Following community engagement and a selection process, Brandon Trust was chosen as the organisation best placed to take the farm forward while protecting its community focus.
Brandon Trust already has an established presence at Grimsbury Farm through the cafe it operates on site. It has experience supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people, strong links with the local community, and a vision that aligns with feedback received from residents about the future of the farm.
Yes. Grimsbury Farm will continue to be a welcoming, accessible community space for everyone. Public access will remain in place and maintaining the farm’s community role is a key priority for both South Gloucestershire Council and Brandon Trust.
No. The intention is to build on what already makes Grimsbury Farm special. It will continue to be a place for nature, wellbeing, education, and community connection, while continuing to provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
There are no immediate major changes planned for visitors. The focus is on continuity and maintaining what local people value about the farm. Any future developments will be shaped through ongoing engagement with the community and stakeholders.
Brandon Trust already operates the cafe on site and will continue to do so. The cafe provides employment and work experience opportunities for people with learning disabilities and are an important part of Brandon’s existing involvement at Grimsbury Farm.
Brandon Trust plans to expand opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people through learning, volunteering, employment, and skills development activities. This is a key part of the charity’s mission and future vision for the farm.
Yes. South Gloucestershire Council engaged with residents and visitors about what matters most to them about Grimsbury Farm and ideas for its future. Community feedback helped inform the selection process and Brandon Trust has committed to continuing engagement before and after the handover.
Brandon Trust will offer a range of opportunities for local people to get involved, including surveys, drop-in events, feedback opportunities, volunteering, and community engagement activities. Brandon has committed to co-designing the farm’s long-term future with local people.
No. Although Brandon Trust will take on the lease and management of the farm, South Gloucestershire Council will continue to support the site and work alongside Brandon Trust during the transition. Both organisations are committed to maintaining a strong ongoing relationship.
Brandon Trust wants Grimsbury Farm to remain an inclusive, community-focused destination where local people can connect with nature, animals, and each other. The charity also wants to increase opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people while developing a sustainable future for the site.
Grimsbury Farm is staying open, staying community-focused, and entering a new chapter with an organisation that is already part of the site and local community. The aim is to protect what people value most about the farm while creating new opportunities for inclusion, wellbeing, and community participation.
Farm opening times
From 1 August 2026, Grimsbury Farm will be open:
- Monday 9.00am – 4.00pm – access to the cafe and playground only
- Tuesday – Sunday 9.00am – 4.00pm
See below for cafe opening times.
Please be aware that smoking, vaping, and dogs are not permitted on site (including the car parks).
Grimsbury Farm Cafe
We run a social enterprise cafe – Barn Cafe at Grimsbury Farm. Brandon Trust has been involved with the cafe since it was created, initially alongside the Friends of Grimsbury Farm, until 2019.
The cafe provides opportunities for training and paid employment in catering and hospitality.
Our aim is to provide a working environment to support and develop transferable work and personal skills that will enable people to gain future employment.
We offer opportunities for individuals to grow and develop at their own pace and to their own level, and to promote a sense of pride and responsibility in what is achieved. We encourage the development of social skills for individuals to grow in confidence and to be able to live the lives they choose.
Trainees and Supported Employees
Our trainees and supported employees are at the heart of the service we offer; running a busy cafe, serving customers, not just from within the cafe but also in the beautiful tea huts serving afternoon teas, hosting parties and a range of events, and preparing orders for our popular buffets.
We make and sell delicious, freshly prepared hot and cold food and tasty homemade cakes. Our trainees are involved at every step and are supported to prepare and serve at the point of sale and dispatch to tables. Our trainees and supported employees are involved in menu planning and sharing ideas on promoting the cafe and new areas to develop.
The cafe provides a supported working environment and offers opportunities to develop transferable work and personal skills that will help individuals to gain future employment. We offer opportunities for people to grow and develop at their own pace and to their own level. Being part of a team with such outcomes, creates a sense of pride and responsibility in what is achieved. Social skills are developed through experience, so individuals grow in confidence to be able to live the lives they choose.
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Cafe opening times and menu
Opening times
- Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 4.00pm
- Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm
Menu details
- Menus change regularly through the seasons. Breakfast menu runs until 11:30am every day and includes traditional breakfasts, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, and granola bowls
- Lunch menu is served from 11:30am until 3.00pm and includes toasties, salads, burgers, jacket potatoes, and soup – all freshly prepared in house. Vegan and gluten free options available
- Drinks menu (takeaway available)
Facilities and accessibility
There is outside seating, including a picnic area and five lovely, wooden covered pods, two of which overlook the duck pond. Both the indoor seating and pods can be reserved. We welcome groups such as cycling groups, walkers, and social groups.
We are fully accessible with ground level entrance/ramp, and there are disabled facilities and baby changing facilities onsite.
Parties, buffets, hut hire and afternoon teas
Parties, buffets, hut hire, and afternoon teas, can be booked via our Facebook page or by emailing bt.grimsburycafes@brandontrust.org
You can also book by calling 07464 670309 or 07464 670257 or by visiting and speaking to staff.
Parties: £90 for 10 children – catered with children’s afternoon tea and two hours’ exclusive use of the tea huts.
Self-catering parties: £40 for two hours’ hire of the tea huts and garden. Food not included.
Deposit: £30, fully refunded on the day on return of a clean tea hut on time.
Buffets from £5.95 per person.
Afternoon teas: £18.95 per person for adults, £6.95 per person for kids. Price includes exclusive use of a tea hut.
Enquire about supported employment and trainee placements at the cafe
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