Beyond the Postcode: John Allen on Touring as a Sound Engineer and Building the Burn Hill Herb Company

Hosts Caroline Verdon from Under The Mast and Erin Towey from HD8 Life introduce Beyond the Postcode, a podcast about people who live or work in HD8, and interview guest Jon Allen of the Burnt Hill Herb Company. Yes Farnley Tyas is just outside HD8...but it's close enough for us ;)

Jon describes his former career as a sound engineer touring extensively across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East, including Prince’s last European tour, noting the long hours and how touring makes family life difficult, including losing a tour to attend his brother’s wedding.

He explains how conversations with chefs and a love of Scandinavian smoked fish led him to cold-smoke trout and eventually farm his own fish. After moving to the HD8 area due to his wife Roxanne’s job, he built an aquaponics system that recirculates water to raise trout and grow seasonal produce.

He discusses developing products from trimmings, partnering locally, plans for a “Sushi Club” kit, recommends Ashley Jackson’s “Framing the Landscape” near Holmfirth, and shares three playlist picks: Natalie Cole, Big Daddy Wilson’s “Neck Bone Stew,” and Status Quo’s “In the Army Now.”

00:00 Welcome to HD8

00:18 Meet Jon Allen

00:36 Life on Tour

01:12 Artists and Highlights

01:56 Prince and World Tours

03:28 Choosing to Settle

04:40 Touring Sacrifices

06:42 Food Sparks a Pivot

08:08 Why Farnley Tyas

09:15 Aquaponics Explained

11:06 Cold Smoke to New Products

12:50 Sushi Club Idea

14:11 HD8 Top Tip Walk

17:13 Postcode Playlist Picks

20:51 Wrap Up and Next Episode