Fish farm targets Yorkshire expansion after securing 15-year lease with Environment Agency

By Harrison Drury

01 Mar 2023

Costa Spring Hatchery Commercial Lease

One of the oldest fish farms in the UK has expanded with a third site after securing a 15-year lease with the Environment Agency.

The lease has enabled Costa Spring Hatchery Limited, a trout farm based in Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire, and Sinnington, North Yorkshire, to open a third farm in Pickering, North Yorkshire, and the business is already eyeing a fourth site to help it meet demand from the industry.

The three trout farms rear live trout that are supplied to recreational fishing lakes across the country as well as fingerlings supplied to other commercial trout farms. Its original Dunsop Bridge trout farm, which supplies brown and rainbow trout, was established in 1926.

Now one of the largest trout farm businesses in the UK, Costa Spring Hatchery supplies over 20 million fingerlings each year to support trout fishing in the UK.

Philip Mart, a director of Costa Spring Hatchery, said: “Recreational fishing remains the most popular sport in the country in participation terms and the demand for our trout is very high, so we’re delighted to have secured the lease with the Environment Agency for our third site.

“We have now set our sights on another location in Yorkshire to further expand the business and we continue to seek and recruit people interested in a career in trout farming because there is certainly plenty of work for them.”

Harrison Drury provided legal advice to Costa Spring Hatchery’s owners Philip Mart and David Jones in attaining the 15-year lease at Pickering. Our team had initially advised the pair on a management buyout of the business from the Birtwistle family in 2011.

Wendy Newbury, commercial property solicitor at Harrison Drury’s Clitheroe office, said: “It’s always a pleasure when a client returns to us for further advice when they are growing a business. Phil and Dave have a long history of trout farming in the region and their knowledge is unsurpassed. It’s no surprise their business continues to thrive.”

Philip added: “Wendy’s support has been instrumental in getting the business secured in Pickering and we are grateful for the speed and expertise she provided in organising the necessary paperwork and valuable advice to secure the lease.”

The new Pickering site is now the largest for the business and employs four full time staff and one part time worker. Owners Phil and Dave are seeking to grow its team at the site.

The Dunsop Bridge site employs four full time staff and one part time worker and its Sinnington farm is co-managed by the team at Pickering.

Latest news

1

Inspired reveal detailed discussions over third party cash offer inspired-500x500.png

Inspired reveal detailed discussions over third party cash offer

22 May 2025

2

Brabners bolster Lancashire's corporate team Nikki Whittle, Brett Cooper and Mark Rathbone

Brabners bolster Lancashire's corporate team

22 May 2025

3

Partner promotions at WNJ Stuart Mercer, left, and Matthew Johnson

Partner promotions at WNJ

21 May 2025

4

Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025 Dr. Emily Schweissinger - Evonik, Dr. Roland Hubel - Evonik, Dr Mike Murray - The Vita Group, Natalie Watson - The Vita Group, Chris Hupfeld - Coverstro, Dr. Annegret Terheiden - Evonik and Dennis Wagner - Covestro

Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025

21 May 2025

5

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley Paul Hardy

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley

21 May 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May
Freelancer Meet-Up May.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May

society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29
Artboard 15.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
29 May 2025 - 29 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Business Bike Club – June
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Jun 2025 - 03 Jun 2025

Business Bike Club – June

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin