Our Story
From our farm to your fork...
One old fashioned village pub, one un-modernised mixed livestock farm...
like they used to be... Trying hard to honour the past in a fast moving world.
In 2016, the Carden arms had fallen on tough times and in a sorrowful way. Closed and in need of total renovation. Local Didy, bought the old place and restored the Grade II listed 18th-Century Coaching Inn to the charming place it is today. Standing proud at the head of the village of Tilston. It started its life as a true working man's drinking hole. Over the years, it absorbed the next house along and even the stables at the end. Like many 18th-century pubs, it's laid out in a sprawl of nooks and crannies riddled with a character of age.
Good, honest fayre, supporting sustainable farming
Homegrown native breeds are our secret weapon that graze across our ancient meadows and orchards, just a stone's throw from the pub. Embracing a slow, natural way of life where nature thrives alongside our organic farming methods. We use no chemicals or sprays on our land or animals. Our meat is nutrient-dense and produced to the highest of welfare.
Pond restoration within ancient meadow.
'Traditional Hereford' cattle, 'Balwen' lamb and 'Large Black' or 'Oxford Sandy & Black' pigs are registered with the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST) and our beef is accredited by Pasture For Life (PFL), raised on a pasture-only diet. We produce the absolute finest and tastiest slow grown meat. Our Alan diligently manages and tends to the cattle, moving them daily to fresh pasture.
Paddy (left), Alan (right)
Native 'Oxford Sandy & Black' orchard reared pork.
'Balwen' Sheep
Our lucky free-range native pigs live in an old orchard, feasting on windfall and acorns as they slowly mature. Paddy ensures their comfort, providing straw-bedded mobile trailers where they snuggle up at night. Our 'Balwen' flock are a smaller prettier sheep native to the hills of Wales that flourish and fatten well on our conservation grazing.
Farm meadow walk
Traditional clydesdale 'Milly'
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