Two Cocks with every reason to crow over new farmhouse

Venturing into the unknown, Michael Butcher, a magazine editor, and Phil Palmer, a marketing consultant, swapped their city jobs to embark on a career in farming after purchasing the 40-acre Christmas Farm, Enborne.
After buying livestock, the pair then went about setting up the Two Cocks Brewery, which has since won a string of awards for its ale.
Never ones to shy away from a challenge, Mr Butcher and Mr Palmer decided the next step was to replace the chalet-style property in Church Lane with a farmhouse fit for the 21st century.
The progress of the project was filmed by popular Channel 4 show Grand Designs and the finished programme was broadcast last week.
The farmhouse, which was clad with flint, features the largest domestic sliding door ever made in Britain, consisting of a single piece of glass weighing over a tonne.
The property was designed by East Ilsley-based architects TAATE and built by Greenham Construction.
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News, Mr Butcher said that they were delighted with the response to the programme.
“It has been a great experience. We have received some really positive feedback and lovey comments from people.
“It was strange, when they [the film crew] left. We were actually quite choked up, we kind of miss having them around.
“[Presenter] Kevin McCloud is a really nice guy and there is nothing he doesn’t know about what he does. He gave us some brilliant advice and ended up saving us a lot of money. They have got a permanent invitation to come back and see us.
“We lived in a caravan for almost two years while the new build was taking place, so I definitely think we have earnt this house.”
Although Mr Butcher confessed that they relished new challenges, he said that they had no intention of moving on: “It’s too nice down here to move. We’ve only been here for a couple of years now, but we feel like part of the community and it’s a lovely part of the country,” he said.
But he did reveal plans for a new venture early next year – to create a home-brewed bottled lager.
Sara Gardhouse, from TAATE architects, said: “We all sat around and tuned in from behind pillows – it was nerve-racking, but we are absolutely delighted by how it has turned out.
“The response has been overwhelming and we have received calls from all over the country. It is really nice of people to make the effort to get in touch.
“It was strange saying goodbye after three years of planning and designing, but we wanted to give them something really beautiful to live in, and I think we’ve managed to achieve that.”