About Chestnut Dairies

Established in 1982, we are a family-run business based just outside of Hornsea, near Kingston-upon-Hull. Situated in the beautiful East Yorkshire countryside, our herd enjoy grazing in our open fields amongst our 200-acre farm. We are a farming family of five, headed by Eric and Sue Varley. Our children, Claire, Mathieu, and Danielle, now all make a meaningful difference to how we operate our farm and milk processing dairy! 

Stud Farm, Seaton

Our farm and dairy are nestled within the rural community of Seaton, Hull. Eric has lived here, on our 200-acre farm, since he was just seven years old. Growing up surrounded by open fields, familiar routines, and a deep love and care for his cows.

Eric and his wife Sue took over in 1974, they worked hard in challenging circumstances, balancing the running of the farm with the demands of a young family. With the price of milk paid directly to farmers so low, milking our cows simply wasn’t enough. We needed to diversify in order to keep our farm in the family, so Chestnut Dairies was founded! We invested in a pasteuriser and bottling machine to create a milk processing dairy that produces both fresh milk and cream products for local retailers and hospitality venues.

It is hard work, often requiring seven-day commitment, but with the support of our team of 20 to help both the dairy and the farm’s operations run smoothly, we have created a successful thriving operation.

At Chestnut Dairies, we not only have our own on-site herd, but we also support other local dairy farms. We have built a strong reputation with those in the area and continue to work with the surrounding farmers, giving fair prices for local produce.

The Herd

We pride ourselves on the welfare and longevity of our herd. We have 120 pedigree Holstein Friesian cows, and we still know each of them by name!

At Stud Farm, each cow produces around six to seven lactations during their lifetime, which is much higher than that of commercial farms. This is due to the care and devotion Eric and Mathieu have for our herd’s welfare, it’s the most important part of our farming ethos.

A herd of cows

Due to the improved genetics of our pedigree herd, we can produce 10,000 litres per dairy cow per lactation. In order to maintain a consistent profile of milk supply, we operate an all-year-round calving pattern, and all of the female calves stay here with us, to graze our lush pastures.

Our herd goes out to grass in mid-April and returns indoors in October. Over the years, Eric and Mathieu have seen huge improvements in the soil quality across the acreage. The silage produced on the farm from two to three cuts per year forms the basis of the herd’s winter diet, enabling us to maintain our milk quality in the colder months. 

Address

Stud Farm
Seaton,
Hull,
East Yorkshire,
HU11 5RJ

Contact details

Tel: +44 1964 535061

Company details

© Chestnut Dairies Ltd. 2026 Company No. 02488792 Registered in England.

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