Helen Pile
Joint owner
Daughter of founder John Pile. She joined the tenancy in 2002 and runs the farm with her husband Rod and their sons Joe, Noah and Gulliver.
Middle Farm
Middle Farm is a 625 acre family farm at West Firle, East Sussex with raw Jersey milk from its pedigree herd, an award winning farm shop, butcher, tearoom, cider barn and open farm.
Middle Farm is a 625 acre working family farm on the South Downs at West Firle, near Lewes in East Sussex, farmed by the Pile family for over sixty years and now run by Helen and Rod with their sons Joe, Noah and Gulliver.
The farm keeps a pedigree Jersey herd, all named after apples and pears, and describes their raw milk as a hug in a glass, free from interference and additives, with apple pomace from the farm's daily pressing in the cows' diet.
One of the country's first farm shops opened here in the 1960s and now offers more Sussex produced food and drink than any other, beside a butcher's shop selling additive free meat reared at Middle Farm and on local Sussex farms, a cosy tearoom, and a cider barn holding a national collection of over 100 draught ciders and perries. The open farm welcomes families every day to meet the Jersey calves, sheep, goats, pigs and chicks.
What they sell
- Raw Jersey milk
- Additive free meat
- Sussex cheeses
- Cider and perry
- Seasonal fruit and veg
- Homemade puddings
Plan your visit
- You can visit in person
- No delivery
Meet the farm team
From the community
4.5
From 1058 Google reviews
7 September 2026
Good range. Notting Hill/Islington prices but then there’s the best apple juice ever and some fabulous cheeses and crackers and fruit.
7 September 2026
Lovely farm, great for pre-schooler children in particular. Not as large as some farm attractions but very good value for money and the cafe and farm shop were really nice and there was plenty of hand washing facilities and picnic spots.
6 September 2026
Went to the cafe yesterday for lunch with my husband. Ordered a pastie, piece of cake, a toastie and 2 coffees. Waited half an hour then the coffees, cake and pastie came out. I asked what about the toastie? Was told it just coming, 15 mins later still no toastie, so asked another waitress, she said, I'll go find out. She never came back. I had finished mine and after a 55 minute wait the toastie, still hadnt come. Then my husband went in to ask for a refund at which point the toastie finally came out! Too late! We wanted to eat together! The excuse was they were busy. Well, that maybe so but the communication was awful and no cafe or restaurant serves half a tables ticket! I think there is experience and maybe maturity missing in this cafe.
