{{Short description|Former recording studio in England, United Kingdom}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Ridge Farm Studio | logo = Ridge Farm.jpg | image = Ridge Farm Studio in 2015.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Ridge Farm in 2015 | type = [[Recording studio]] | founded = 1975 | defunct = 2003 | hq_location_city = [[Capel, Surrey|Capel]], [[Surrey]] | hq_location_country = England | key_people = Frank Andrews and Billy Andrews | industry = [[Music industry]] | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Ridge Farm Studio''' was a [[recording studio]] located in the village of [[Rusper]], England, near the [[Surrey]] and [[Sussex]] border. One of the earliest residential studios in the United Kingdom,{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} it operated for over twenty-five years and had artists, musicians, and [[record producer|producers]] from all over the world record and produce music there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.global-geneva.com/culture/arts/ridge-farm-a-haven-for-rock-legends|title=Ridge Farm: A Haven for Rock Legends|first=Edward|last=Girardet|date=6 September 2024|work=Global Geneva}}</ref>
The oldest part of the building, originally a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] farmhouse, and what was to become Ridge Farm Studio, was built in the mid-17th century and additions to the building were added over the centuries. The studio was surrounded by {{convert|12|acre|m2}} of land that included gardens, orchards, meadows and woodland.
==History== The studio was established in 1975 by Frank Andrews, a lighting technician who had toured across the UK with bands such as [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[ABBA]], and [[the Rolling Stones]]. Andrews returned home from tour to discover his parents had moved to a different place, which is where Ridge Farm Studio was born. He started the studio with his brother, Billy, as a quiet place for bands to rehearse.
Ridge Farm Studio did well enough that Andrews was eventually able to buy the property from his parents. It remained a popular location well into the 1990s, after the surge of [[Britpop]]. However, bookings eventually dwindled. [[Joe Jackson (musician)|Joe Jackson]] was the last person to record there in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Legend of Ridge Farm Studio|url=http://www.aahorsham.co.uk/content/ridgefarm|website=All About Horsham Magazine|accessdate=23 August 2014}}</ref>
The studio's clients included [[the Smiths]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The Smiths: Meat Is Murder Production Notes |website=Hi-Fi News & Record Review |publisher=AVTech Media Ltd |url=https://www.hifinews.com/content/smiths-meat-murder-production-notes |access-date=3 March 2026 }}</ref> [[Bad Company]],<ref name = KNAC>{{cite web|url=http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=5637|title=KNAC.COM Features – On Yer Bike with Studio Wizard Max Norman|accessdate=13 September 2008|publisher=KNAC.COM}}</ref> [[Queen (band)|Queen]],<ref name="KNAC" /> [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collecting-tull.com/Albums/TooOldToRockNRollTooYoungToDie_Remaster.html|title=Jethro Tull – Too Old To Rock'N'Roll: Too Young To Die|accessdate=13 September 2008|publisher=Collecting-Tull.com}}</ref> [[Rush (band)|Rush]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/HYFtourbook.htm|title=The Making of "Hold Your Fire"|accessdate=13 September 2008|publisher=2112.net |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080601060353/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/HYFtourbook.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 1 June 2008}}</ref> [[Ozzy Osbourne]],<ref name = "KNAC"/> [[Mew (band)|Mew]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Frengers – Recording |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=178&v=Efvm9Q7lM9Y |via=YouTube |publisher=Mew |date=2018}}</ref> [[Brainstorm (German band)|Brainstorm]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.micrec.lv/en/news/news/article.php?id=10942|title=Microphone Records – New "Brainstorm" album "Online" out now!|accessdate=13 September 2008|publisher=MicRec.lv}}</ref> and [[Gang of Four (band)|Gang of Four]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://matadorrecords.com/blogs/news/out-october-25-gang-of-four-songs-of-the-free|title=Out October 25: Gang of Four – Songs of the Free|publisher=Matador Records|accessdate=26 February 2026}}</ref>. It closed in early 2003, and it is now used as a facility for weddings, banquets and meetings.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.ridgefarmstudio.com/ Ridge Farm Studio]
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[[Category:1975 establishments in England]] [[Category:2003 disestablishments in England]] [[Category:Companies based in West Sussex]] [[Category:Recording studios in England]] [[Category:Former recording studios]] [[Category:Horsham District]] [[Category:20th century in West Sussex]]