Occombe Farm Reopens Under New Owners

Occombe Farm Reopens Under New Owners

After nearly a year of closure, a popular visitor site has reopened under new ownership.

Occombe Farm was bought by Greendale, its new owners, last month from Torbay Council.

It reopened on Wednesday, welcoming visitors back to its farm kitchen, play barn, outdoor play areas and nature trails.

Director Tom Schwenn said it was "absolutely amazing" to see people out in force, adding: "We're asking people to bear with us – there's lots of exciting changes and fun things coming up in the near future."

Torbay Council took over Occombe Farm and surrounding areas, parts of which are a Site of Special Scientific Interest, when the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust was liquidated in 2025.

Scwenn said his team would be "redeveloping the whole site" with new leisure facilities including a pedal area, gym, farm shops and glamping for visitors.

Just weeks before the reopening, a fire ripped through the old cookery school at Occombe Farm.

The fire service said four crews from Torquay, Paignton and Newton Abbot ensured the flames did not spread to surrounding grassland, but the building was "completely destroyed by the flames".

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