Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn has been announced as a finalist for the Start-Up & Step-Up Business Award at the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, sponsored by Staffordshire County Council.

Founded in 2024 as a farm diversification project by parents Charlie and Tessa Giffard, Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn has delivered one of the most impressive start-up trajectories in the region. The business projected 50,000 visitors in its first year and has since welcomed over 160,000 across two years, with turnover growing from £102,000 to over £1 million. The food and beverage offering, which accounts for 42% of turnover, has been a particular point of difference, winning the Best Food and Beverage category at the National Farm Attractions Network awards in 2026.

With 80% of its 26 staff drawn from local villages, a 46% returning visitor rate, monthly SEN sessions, and an active sustainability programme including 25 trees planted and 100 metres of new hedging, Hockerhill has become an embedded part of its community, not just a visitor attraction.

Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “Hockerhill’s numbers are genuinely staggering for a business that has been open for two years. Over 160,000 visitors, turnover past £1 million, a national award for food and beverage, and a returning visitor rate of 46%. But what makes them stand out as a finalist is not just the growth, it is the way they have rooted themselves in their community from day one. Charlie and Tessa have built something special.”

The winners will be revealed at a gala awards ceremony at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Thursday 9 July 2026, followed by The After Party, a late-night celebration for finalists, winners and partners.

To find out more about the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, visit staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards.