Meriden MP visits The Barn at Berryfields

Saqib Bhatti MBE, member of Parliament for the Meriden constituency, visited The Barn at Berryfields in Solihull to discuss the businesses history and their plans for the future with business director Tom Barber.

Henrietta Brealey, CEO of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, and Samantha Frampton, head of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce, were also in attendance.

Joint directors and founders Tom, Joe and Will Barber are the fourth generation of their family at The Barn at Berryfields, having diversified over the last 20 years into retail, hospitality and leisure. Their award-winning Butchery and Bakery supply home-grown and home-reared produce into their A La Carte Restaurant, Tepee and garden area, and their events spaces including a function room and an events building where they host seasonal and private events.

The brothers said they are also very excited to be opening their 34 bedroom hotel in 2024 which will allow them to host visitors to the NEC and Birmingham airport and train station, and of course also be able to host visitors to their restaurant and events.

Saqib and Tom discussed how a reduction in VAT to 10 per cent for the leisure industry, bringing them in line with our European counterparts in France, Italy and Spain, would give the industry a springboard for growth, reinvestment in teams and infrastructure, and allow them to pass on savings to customers which would drive footfall and spend and ultimately support businesses, their local economy and the UK as a whole.

They also discussed how grant funding for businesses looking to invest in infrastructure would be incredibly well received as it would stimulate growth and job creation and ensure that businesses are expanding with sustainability at the forefront of their minds. Without grant funding some projects will not be able to include some 'nice to have' green technologies.

Tom Barber said: “We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming Saqib to our fourth-generation family business to talk about our fantastic team, award winning retail, hospitality and events spaces and exciting new projects such as our hotel, opening in 2024.

“It was a privilege to discuss opportunities and challenges faced by business on a local and national scale and for us to demonstrate how working with local suppliers and supporting our local economy has been a core part of our business' sustainable growth and development. We greatly appreciate Saqib's time and the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce for arranging this valuable visit.”

Henrietta Brealey said: "The Chamber have a key role to play in giving a voice to local business. We have a long track record of connecting our members with stakeholders to ensure that their needs and priorities are understood.

“I was delighted to join Saqib Bhatti MP for Meriden in meeting with Tom Barber and learning more about The Barn at Berryfields. The evolution of this 4th generation family-owned business to date, and further growth and diversification plans ahead, are a testament to its owners.

“As a past President of the Chamber prior entering politics, we have worked with Saqib for many years and were pleased to be able to share the Chamber and Tom's perspective on key areas for business from recruitment and skills to the cost of doing business, business support, transition to net zero and importance of British produce.

“Ensuring meaningful dialogue between businesses on the ground and political representatives of all parties is critical, particularly so in these fast-changing times."

Saqib Bhatti MBE said: “Championing the Hospitality sector is a priority of mine, especially within our constituency. Making sure that hospitality business owners receive the support they need is imperative to our economy and to the growth of the sector.

“I was so pleased to be able to visit The Barn at Berryfields, it is an exciting local business with a distinguished heritage that attracts a great deal of tourism to the area and is a wonderful example of an independent business thriving in the Meriden constituency.”

Pictured (L-R): Samantha Frampton, Tom Barber, Saqib Bhatti MBE and Henrietta Brealey