Image on Food

Image on Food in our holiday cottages

One of the most satisfying parts of what I do is meeting other business owners as my guests, that have developed their own enterprises from nothing too. One of my longest standing and loyal guests is Sarah Hall Hopcroft. Sarah and hubby Neil first came to stay in one of my holiday cottages some years ago and they keep coming back for more! Other than loving to see them and their mad dog Alice every time, their visits are eagerly anticipated by the team here as Sarah always brings delicious gingerbread from her company Image on Food

I’ve been hard at work for the last 6 years or so renovating, converting and building my holiday cottage business here in sunny Suffolk but Sarah has been hard at work for around thirty years building her business! I don’t she needed planning permission for her first gingerbread house though!

Sarah Hall-Hopcroft - a regular guest at our holiday cottages

Sarah and Neil first stayed in the Granary Barn and loved it so much they keep coming back. It’s really rewarding getting to meet so many people when they choose to stay in my holiday cottages and the lovely thing about my business is that I meet people who are in a great mood and ready to chill out and enjoy themselves. I see shoulders drop and smiles appear as they arrive to escape from rigours of normal work and business routine. Sarah and Neil were no exception and I remember very clearly chatting in the garden of the Granary with them that summer when they ventured to stay here with us in Suffolk for the first time

They have been back so many times since and have stayed in most of my holiday cottages now I think, with the Granary being their favourite. It’s been great getting to know them and since that first holiday they have added Alice to the family, not to mention having stayed with extended family in Woodfarm when Sarah’s daughter Gemma was expecting and now they are grandparents!

This is Alice enjoying the heritage coast on her first holiday here

Alice as a puppy on her first visit to our Suffolk holiday cottages

She’s grown a bit since then!

Alice - a regular doggy holidaymaker at our Suffolk holiday cottages

Image on Food is a really encouraging success story, having been started as a little sideline in Sarah’s bakery in the late eighties and now the brand has developed hugely. Based in Shropshire, their first big break came when they started to supply the Ironbridge Gorge Museum. Before that it had been a novelty sold within the bakery. Since then they have developed and expanded their range, winning awards along the way such as the Marks & Spencer’s Better Made in Britain Award and being short-listed for a BBC enterprise award!

They have developed their customer base considerably too and have subsequently supplied BHS, Heals, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and also high volume supplies to John Lewis and Waitrose! They seem to be going from strength to strength and now, in the pinnacle of their acheivements Sarah has despatched a box of Easter chicks to Suffolk for our holiday cottage guests to enjoy! Now they can relax!

Image on Food at our luxury Suffolk holiday cottages

We had our photogrpaher Carl Lamb here during their last short-break the other week so I got him to shoot some of this months gifts! Having enjoyed Image on Foods gingerbead for a number of years now, it was nice to see them being photographed in my holiday cottages. A fitting setting I think!

Image on Food at our luxurious Suffolk holiday cottages

Here the chick was joined by some other countryside friends

Image on Food at our luxury holiday cottages Suffolk

Not only can you enjoy their wares with a cuppa in Waitrose, they supply loads of independent retail outlets and coffee shops and deli’s. I always smile when I see them in the smaller places

In addition to the range across the country they also offer a personalised gift service via their website so why not like them on Facebook and check out what they have on the Image on Food website. There are gifts for him and her, babies, kids, mums and dads, wedding gifts and also to the corporate market

Looking forward to their next visit. The gingerbread has nothing to do with it!

Reasons to Stay at Woodfarm, Suffolk

We happen to think what we have on offer is pretty bloomin' good. However, we thought you might like a bunch of reasons to stay, other than we think you should!

beach huts
all accommodation

Brilliant beaches! Suffolk has an incredible Heritage Coast, with great beaches, all in easy reach of us.

dog paw print
all accommodation

Dogs stay FREE, and we don't just tolerate them, we welcome them! We've built our reputation on this, and we're proud of it!

fence
at the barns

Pawesome, fully-enclosed two acre Pooch Paddock for your Dogs to go bonkers and make new friends in.

dog biscuit
all accommodation

Free Doggy treats, Dog bowls, and Dog towels. Our furry friends even get Woodfarm branded poop bag holders!

trophy
all accommodation

Visit England Gold Awards coming out of our ears, as well as their coveted ROSE Award for Service Excellence.

thumbs up
all accommodation

Well in excess of 1,000 Five Star Tripadvisor, Facebook & Google Reviews. Over 25% of our guests come back!

hot tubs
all accommodation

Private Hot tubs with seven of our eight Barns and Cottages. The ultimate in relaxation, just because you're worth it.

boots
all accommodation

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Yes, plural. Two AONB's on our doorstep! Suffolk Coast & Heaths, and Dedham Vale.

river walks
on the barges

Stunning river walks directly from your gangplank on either Barge! Wildlife and breathtaking scenery in abundance.

Fetch the latest news!

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This blog post introduces you to a video that I shot to answer the common question of “Do we have vacuum cleaners for guests?”. It’s also part of our You Ask, We Answer series, where …

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