The owner of a farm shop has confirmed he is to step down after 38 years - putting the popular site on the market.

Ashley Goodhew bought the Sandhurst Farm Shop, near Tunbridge Wells, in 1981.

Prior to that, he had farmed the apple orchards on the land to the rear and ran a soft fruit business.

But he has now decided to retire - putting the business on the market.

The BTF Partnership is handling the sale of the detached farm shop, five acres of land and barn, with a guide price of £495,000.

Mr Goodhew said: “Hopefully someone will carry on running the shop as it would be nice to see it continue, but the site also has a number of other possibilities.

"We will of course miss our regular customers, some of whom don’t live locally but always stop by. There is quite a bit of passing trade and we sell as much local produce as possible which all helps to reduce food miles and to support local farms.”

The shop also sells cut flowers, plants, juices, cakes and in the autumn local hop bines which are grown in the village.

Located on the A268 just outside the village of Sandhurst, the shop measures 890ft² includes a covered veranda and display area, main shop and display area, farm office, stockrooms and covered storage areas.

Hopefully someone will carry on running the shop as it would be nice to see it continue, but the site also has a number of other possibilities.

The agricultural timber framed barn is set well back from the road and extends to 742ft².

The whole site extends to approximately 5.67 acres and has been recently submitted in the Tunbridge Wells call for sites submissions for a future Local Plan to determine permitted development sites.

Alex Cornwallis at BTF Partnership added: “This is a fantastic opportunity and one that doesn’t come up for sale on the open market very often. This is a successful business and is situated in a great location in the High Weald of Kent near Cranbrook. There is significant potential with this site, and we anticipate there will be a lot of interest.”