Client Stories: Y Sied & Pumpkin Patch Cookery
Client Stories: Y Sied & Pumpkin Patch Cookery
We caught up with entrepreneur Lisa Fearn, owner of Y Sied and Pumpkin Patch Cookery to learn about her inspiring business journey and how LHP helped them free up time to grow their business.
When did you start Y Sied – how did it come about?
I’m originally from Carmarthen, after some time away I returned to West Wales in 2004 when I bought a smallholding near Nantgaredig with my husband Jonathan and 5 children. I first set up the ‘The Pumpkin Patch Kitchen and Garden’, a cookery and gardening school, in my kitchen at home and then expanded into ‘Y Sied’ in a renovated barn at my home in White Mill in 2019.
My aim was to link the growing and cooking of food and teaching where food comes from. As a qualified teacher, enthusiastic cook, gardener and experienced mother I wanted to share my skills with others. I started visiting schools across Wales helping to create school gardens in community projects and demonstrating cookery. I also ran classes events and workshops and corporate days from my new premises.
Demonstrating at London Borough Market was a real highlight and attending The Feast Marquee at Tatton Park RHS Show. I love wholesome, homemade food and teach traditional Welsh recipes. Discussing my secret ingredient in Welsh cakes with Chris Evans on Radio 2 was another career highlight.
As a regular cook on S4C’s daytime Prynhawn Da and Heno and on Radio Wales and Radio Cymru I took to writing cookery books. My first Blas/Taste (Gomer) in 2017, followed by Dathlu/Celebrate in 2018. I regularly demonstrated at food festivals and community events and recently expanded the business to include “Y Sied Goffi”, a café and shop in Carmarthen Town Centre and “Cegin Y Sied” a café in S4C’s HQ at The University’s creative digital centre at Yr Egin.
When did you join LHP and how did they help?
When I approached LHP in 2019 I needed to free up more time to focus on developing my business. It’s good to spend 80% of your time on the work you’re good at, and then eliminate the 20% others do better – it makes more financial sense. I got LHP to focus on my finances and it was a good move.
Director Janet Collins and her team at LHP advised and supported me on all aspects of business finance from my accounting software, to tax matters, company accounts and VAT returns. They took care of my monthly payroll and have been invaluable processing my furlough claims since Covid. They take care of all my personal tax affairs too.
It’s great knowing I’ve a fantastic and knowledgeable team looking after my figures.
What benefits have you seen since joining LHP?
Since LHP I’ve had so much more spare time to spend on growing the business and I have peace of mind that LHP has my back on payroll, tax and accounting matters. Other benefits include help with legal matters including invaluable advice and support.
Let’s Talk
If you find this story inspiring and need help with your business finances, let’s talk! Our team at LHP has 85 years’ experience in helping businesses thrive, adapt and grow and are based across 5 offices in South Wales including Carmarthen, Cross Hands, Haverfordwest, Tenby and Lampeter.
