Sussex's famous Tulleys Farm named Britain's best after double national awards win

The family-run attraction, famous for its Halloween events, pumpkin festivals and Christmas lights, has beaten businesses from across the country to claim two prestigious national titles.

One of Sussex's best-loved attractions has been crowned Britain's leading small and medium-sized business after scooping two major national awards.

Tulleys Farm, near Crawley, is known to thousands of families for its spectacular Halloween events, pumpkin festivals and Christmas light displays. Now, the popular West Sussex attraction has another reason to celebrate after being named Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year at the British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The family-run attraction also took home the Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award, making it one of just three businesses to secure a double victory at the prestigious ceremony.

The awards were presented at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Tuesday, November 10, in front of more than 1,200 business leaders from across the UK.

For the Beare family, who have called Tulleys Farm home since 1937, the recognition marks another extraordinary chapter in a story that began with a traditional Sussex dairy farm.

Nearly 90 years later, the farm has become one of the country's best-known destinations for seasonal events, drawing families and visitors from across the UK to the Sussex countryside.

Under the leadership of father and son Stuart and Sam Beare, Tulleys has become famous for its award-winning Shocktober Fest Halloween event, its colourful Pumpkin Festival, magical Christmas Light Festival and hugely popular spring Tulip Festival.

Despite its transformation, Tulleys has remained proudly family-owned, with the Beare family's agricultural roots stretching back nine generations.

And it wasn't just the farm's impressive transformation that caught the attention of the national judging panel.

Judges praised Tulleys for its creativity, innovation and strong family values, recognising the dedication of the people behind its attractions and the sense of community that runs throughout the business.

Describing Tulleys as an "outstanding British business", the judges highlighted how the family has successfully transformed a traditional farming enterprise into a nationally recognised attraction without losing the values on which it was founded.

The Family Business of the Year award also recognised the Beare family's commitment to its workforce, its local community and its ability to continually reinvent the farm for new generations of visitors.

Stuart Beare, owner of Tulleys Farm, said: "To be recognised as Britain's Leading SME and Family Business of the Year is an incredible honour, and something we're immensely proud of.

"Tulleys has been part of our family for generations, and to see how far we've come, from a traditional working farm to creating experiences enjoyed by families from across the country, is quite extraordinary.

"We've always believed in doing things differently, taking risks and creating experiences that people genuinely love. But none of it would be possible without the incredible people who work alongside us.

"These awards belong to the entire Tulleys family. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make the business what it is today, and we're excited about what comes next."

The recognition comes during a particularly special year for Tulleys, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of its famous Shocktober Fest Halloween event in 2026.

Over the decades, the farm has continued to introduce new attractions and experiences, becoming a firm favourite for Sussex families throughout the seasons.

Its Tulip Festival has also expanded beyond Sussex, with events in St Albans and Warwick, bringing a little of the Tulleys experience to other parts of the country.

From its beginnings as a traditional dairy farm to becoming a nationally celebrated visitor attraction, Tulleys Farm's latest achievement is another proud moment for Sussex.