Calcott Hall Farm is a family-run pick-your-own pumpkin patch and award-winning farm shop on the Ongar Road just outside Brentwood, Essex. Each October the McTurk family opens its fields for pumpkin picking and carving in the days around Halloween, backed by an award-winning, year-round farm shop, butchery and cafe. It is one of the most popular pumpkin days out in the Brentwood and Romford area.
About Calcott Hall Farm
The McTurk family has farmed at Calcott Hall since the 1970s, on land with a farming connection stretching back to 1890. What began as a 120-acre dairy farm is now a thriving destination: a farm shop voted the best in Essex at the 2018 Essex Life Food and Drink Awards, the Barnyard Cafe, an on-site butchery and fishmonger, and even the Brentwood Brewery. The seasonal pick-your-own events, sunflowers in late summer and pumpkins in October, sit on top of that year-round shop, so there is plenty to do whatever the weather.
Pumpkin Picking at Calcott Hall Farm
This is a proper pick-your-own patch: you head out into the field and choose your own pumpkins straight from the crop, with squashes also grown alongside. The farm grows its own pumpkins in a range of shapes and sizes for both carving and cooking, and on event days there is on-site pumpkin carving and face painting, which makes it a hit with younger children. Because the pumpkins are farm-grown on a fairly compact patch rather than a huge ticketed attraction, it has a friendly, local feel.
Things to Do on the Day
- Pick-your-own pumpkins and squashes straight from the field
- On-site pumpkin carving and face painting on event days
- Award-winning farm shop with local produce, butchery and fishmonger
- The Barnyard Cafe for farm breakfasts, baked potatoes, soups and hot drinks
- Children’s tractor-themed play area
- Late-summer sunflower field (pick for a charity donation, usually August)
Opening Times & Prices
The pumpkin patch is a short, concentrated event, typically running for the three days up to and including Halloween (in 2024 it ran 29 to 31 October, 10am to 3pm). Because the window is so narrow, it is worth planning your visit for a specific day and arriving early before the best pumpkins go. The dates change each year and have not yet been confirmed for the coming season, so check the farm’s Facebook page before travelling.
In recent years the patch has been walk-in with no need to book, and you simply pay for the pumpkins you pick; parking is free. We have not been able to confirm whether there is a separate entry charge, so it is worth checking with the farm before you go. The farm shop and Barnyard Cafe are open through the week (the shop Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday mornings, closed Mondays) if you want to make a longer visit of it.
Getting There & Visitor Information
- Location: Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9HS, on the edge of Brentwood and roughly 9 minutes from junction 28 of the M25. Romford is about 10 miles away and Chelmsford about 12.
- Sat-nav tip: the farm is accessed from the A128, not the A12, so follow the A128 even if your sat-nav suggests otherwise.
- Parking: free on-site parking, including disabled bays.
- Accessibility: the shop and cafe are wheelchair friendly with accessible toilets; the pumpkin field is open farmland and can be muddy in late October, so sturdy shoes or wellies are a good idea.
- Payment: card and cash accepted in the shop and cafe.
Contact
Address: Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9HS
Phone: +44 1277 264164
Website: calcotthall.com
Facebook: @calcotthall
Instagram: @calcotthallfarm
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I go pumpkin picking at Calcott Hall Farm?
The pumpkin patch is a short event around Halloween, usually the three days ending on 31 October, from 10am to 3pm. Dates for the new season are announced on the farm’s Facebook page in September or October, so check before you set off.
Do I need to book?
In recent years there has been no need to book the pumpkin patch, and parking is free; you just pay for the pumpkins you pick. As the picking window is only a few days, arriving early in the day is the best way to get the pick of the crop.
What else is there to do?
Plenty. As well as the pumpkin patch there is an award-winning farm shop, a butchery and fishmonger, the Barnyard Cafe, a children’s play area and, in late summer, a pick-your-own sunflower field in aid of charity.
How do I get there?
The farm is on the Ongar Road (CM15 9HS) on the edge of Brentwood, about 9 minutes from M25 junction 28. Note that access is from the A128 rather than the A12, so follow the A128 even if your sat-nav suggests another route.
More pumpkin picking nearby
- Pumpkin picking in East of England
- Cammas Hall Farm
- Foxes Farm Produce – The Pumpkin Patch
- Hurleys Pumpkin Forest
Cooking your pumpkin? Try Best Pumpkin Cookies Recipes for Home Cooks, How to Make an Amazing Pumpkin Risotto, Pumpkin Muffin Recipes to Make this Fall.