Open Air Business May 2016

ISSUE 1 | May 2016 | www.openairbusiness.com 

BUSINESS 

FUNCTION VENUES 

Business Models 

For Wedding Venues 

The Power of Light 

EVENTS 

Diversifying 

for Outdoor 

Events 

Compliant 

Caterers 

ACCOMMODATION 

Planning for Glampsites 

VisitEngland Glamping Scheme 

Weather Watch 

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WELCOME 

Welcome 

Introducing Open Air magazine 

A NEW LAUNCH is always exciting, but a 

new launch into an emerging market is 

particularly special. The outdoor hospitality 

market is a diverse one and, until recently, 

has been dominated by purely outdoor 

events. However, the emergence of luxury 

camping and an increase in the demand 

for outdoor weddings and other functions 

means there is every reason to create a 

magazine to encompass all. 

For the purposes of editorial clarity, 

Open Air has three sections – Function 

Venues, Accommodation and Events - 

each of which has significant commonalities, and not simply due to the 

vagaries of the British weather! Many operators have cross sector interests, 

providing a venue, outdoor accommodation and/or events. Indeed, having 

talked to many suppliers, it is apparent that the same products are sold 

across the board; from professional services (such as insurance and planning 

consultation) to tents and marquees, and toilets and shower facilities. Even 

cut up aeroplanes have a market that spans the breadth of the industry, so I 

am told by one advertiser! 

Open Air’s editorial mission is to provide expert information on subjects 

pertinent to each area of the outdoor hospitality market while showcasing 

successful businesses with detailed interviews. Furthermore, it will examine 

relevant products and services to help function venues, glampsite operators 

and event organisers make the best purchasing decisions. 

Most exciting of all is the undeniable growth in this industry. Having 

attended the Farm Business Innovation Show in November last year I was 

enthused to see how many landowners are looking to their greatest asset 

to maximise business potential. Farmers, country estate representatives 

and the smaller scale, but equally important, ‘pony and paddock’ owners 

congregated at the NEC for an event which continues to grow year on year. If 

ever there was evidence that outdoor hospitality is the place to be that was it! 

I do hope you enjoy Open Air. Please do feedback, letting us know what 

you think, where we could improve and what you would like featured. Also, 

should you wish to continue receiving free issues, please do help out with our 

circulation audit by returning the free subscription card or completing the 

online registration form at www.openairbusiness.com. We will be publishing 

Open Air 10 times a year so look out for the June edition in a few short weeks! 

PUBLISHERS 

Tally Wade - tally@openairbusiness.com 

Steve Rix - steve@openairbusiness.com 

EDITORIAL TEAM 

Richard Kruger - richard@openairbusiness.com 

Tally Wade - tally@openairbusiness.com 

ADVERTISING SALES 

Antoinette Marley - 01892 677721 

antoinette@openairbusiness.com 

DESIGN 

James English - 

www.jamesenglishdesign.co.uk 

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Find more expert advice online: 

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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 3

INSIDE 

Contents ISSUE 

#1 | May 2016 

WEALDEN TIMES / DAVID MEREWETHER 

DAVID GUTTRIDGE 

JOLLY DAYS CAMPING 

LAYLA MAY PHOTOGRAPHY 

Cover photo Tipi Guru. 

Focus on: Canvas 

Structures 

page 40 

6 News - A new glamping 

accreditation scheme; 

Aeropods touch down 

9 Industry Talk - How to stay 

one step ahead of the British 

weather 


15 Case Study - Open Air talks to 

Coton House Farm, a wedding 

venue with rural charm 

16 Wedding Business Models 

- Isabel Smith presents 

three business models for 

wedding venues 

20 Light Fantastic - The power 

of lighting and how to use it 

to increase sales 

23 Party Potties - 

Everything you need to 

know about specifying 

portable toilets 

26 Product Focus - Eight luxury, 

portable toilet options 

ACCOMMODATION 

29 Case Study - John and 

Kerstin Wolgast talk about 

their first year as Glampsite 

owners 

32 Your Planning Plan 

Planning advice from CLA 

rural surveyor Richard 

Goodwin 

36 Stamp of Quality - 

VisitEngland’s new Glamping 

scheme benchmarks and 

rewards quality 

40 Under Canvas - Know your 

Gers from your Geodomes 

with Tim Rees’ tent choice 

checklist 

44 Product Focus - A choice of 

luxury tents for Glampsites 

EVENTS 

47 Case Study - A feel good 

festival co-founded by 

Catatonia’s Cerys Matthews 

48 Estate Events - How country 

estates can maximise 

revenue by embracing events 

54 Care Free Carering - Finding 

a compliant caterer couldn’t 

be easier or (cheaper) with 

NCASS 

58 Stage Specifics - Jane 

Russen advises on selecting 

and positioning an outdoor 

stage 

62 Product Focus - Get ready 

to rock with this staging 

selection 

64 Classifieds 

66 Comment - Ian Hamilton 

grinds his axe concerning 

the term ‘Glamping’ 

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The latest news from the world of outdoor hospitality 

New Glamping Accreditation 

IN RESPONSE TO the changing face of the glamping 

industry over the past 10 years Visit England, the 

national tourism board, has upgraded the criteria 

for accreditation and brought in benchmarking on 

quality and the opportunity for providers to obtain 

an accolade for exceptional quality. 

“Quality accommodation is a critical element 

of the visitor experience and is integral to our 

national strategy which outlines our commitment to 

championing quality and excellent customer service 

in England,” said Viscountess Penelope Cobham 

CBE, Chairman of VisitEngland. 

“In the past 10 years the growth in the glamping 

sector has been phenomenal. We are pleased 

to announce our new Glamping Scheme which 

replaces our Alternative Accommodation Scheme. 

Following feedback from operators and research 

into the latest trends, we have updated the criteria 

for VisitEngland’s glamping accreditation and 

introduced a new Gold Award for those who offer 

exceptionally high quality facilities and services.” 

Glampsites that wish to participate in the 

scheme will receive a visit from an independent, 

professional Quality In Tourism assessor. Glampsites 

that score 60% or more in the assessment will 

become accredited and be able to use the 

VisitEngland marque in promotional material. For 

more on the Glamping scheme turn to pages 36-38. 

KNEPP WILDLAND SAFARI 

Online Guidance for CDM 

NEW GUIDANCE EXPLAINING how regulations which manage the health and 

safety of construction projects apply to the entertainment industry has been 

published. The online resource, created by the Health and Safety Executive 

(HSE), aims to clarify what those working in the events sector need to do to 

comply with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 

(CDM 2015). 

The guidance was drawn up in consultation with the industry and illustrates 

how roles and duties under CDM 2015 can be applied across four main areas 

in the sector: live events such as music festivals and sporting occasions; 

exhibitions, trade fairs and conferences; theatre and performing arts; and TV, 

film and broadcasting. 

It is hoped the new guidance will “dispel any myths” surrounding how the 

regulations should be applied in the events sector, said Carl Hagemann, Chair 

of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) Sports Grounds 

and Events Group. 

“There has been a demand from within the entertainments industry for 

this guidance,” explained Hagemann. “It clears up how CDM 2015 applies to 

common events’ construction tasks, such as erecting temporary structures. 

We hope this helps to ensure the continued safety of events and their 

construction, and that it also enables the regulations to be applied in a way 

that allows the events industry to prosper.” 

The new guidance on the application of CDM 2015 in the entertainment 

industry can be viewed at www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/cdm-2015/index. 

htm. The online resource includes case studies of construction projects in 

the events industry which successfully complied with CDM 2015. The HSE 

recommends that it be read in conjunction with another of its publications, 

L153: Managing health and safety in construction. CDM 2015 can also be 

viewed in full at www.citb.co.uk/cdmregs. 

GETTY IMAGES 


The Aeropod 

Touches Down 

DAPPR AVIATION HAS unveiled its first Aeropod 

constructed from an Airbus A320 passenger jet. Having 

flown for the national airline of El Salvador as well as 

two different Turkish carriers, the aircraft was due to be 

cut up and scrapped when it was recovered by DappR 

with the ambitious plan of converting it into unique, 

high quality offices, buildings and event spaces. 

“It’s been a tricky job but we’re delighted. Combining 

quality workmanship and beautifully engineered 

aviation parts externally makes it eye-catching and 

distinctive,” said David Palmer of DappR. “Focussing on 

build quality inside really gives the feel of the first class 

cabin. When we initially had the idea most people, 

including many of my friends, thought we were mad! 

What’s exciting is now that they’ve actually seen the 

first Aeropod they love it. 

“We’ve had so many great ideas for different uses; 

enquiries from glamping sites, for poolside relaxation 

areas and viewing platforms as well as some asking 

whether we can supply Aeropod to take to shows and 

events. We were even asked if we could make a sauna.” 

The company, based near Bury St Edmunds in 

Suffolk, plans to purchase additional planes as the 

business takes off. DappR also makes unique furniture 

and art from up-cycled aircraft parts including fire pits, 

barbecues, benches and other pieces ideal for outside 

use. “Everything is unique and distinctive and, being 

made from aviation grade materials, won’t rust or rot,” 

remarked Palmer. www.dappr-aviation.com 

Bye to Big Deposits 

THE COMPETITION AND Markets 

Authority (CMA) has advised over 

100 function venues that insisting 

on large deposits and applying 

cancellation charges could breach 

consumer law. It recommends 

venues change their terms where 

necessary. 

The letters inform the businesses 

of when their terms are more likely 

to be fair under consumer protection 

law, including the following: 

· a deposit is just to reserve the 

goods/services and is no more 

than a small percentage of the 

total price 

· advance payments reflect the 

business expenses and leave 

customers with a reasonable 

amount still to pay on completion 

· customers do not lose large 

advance payments if they cancel, 

in all circumstances 

· businesses set sliding scales of 

cancellation charges so they cover 

their likely losses directly from the 

cancellation 

The CMA has sent the letters on 

behalf of the Consumer Protection 

Partnership (CPP) which has been 

considering the use of advance 

payment and cancellation terms 

by businesses in their consumer 

contracts. 

Nisha Arora, CMA Senior Director, 

Consumer, said: “Planning a 

wedding or any large event can be 

stressful. Consumers are particularly 

vulnerable when they are focussing 

on preparing for a special event 

and have paid significant sums 

up-front. Businesses need to treat 

their customers fairly and should not 

require unjustifiable, non-refundable 

deposits or impose unreasonable 

cancellation charges which could 

mean customers lose a significant 

amount of money if they change 

their mind about the venue or have 

to call off the event. 

“Clear and fair terms benefit 

consumers and businesses, help 

to prevent disputes and provide 

protection should things go wrong. 

Unfair terms, even when a contract 

is signed, are not legally binding 

and we encourage any businesses 

which use advance payments and 

cancellation charges to review their 

terms to ensure they comply with 

consumer protection law. 

“We have worked closely with 

Trading Standards Services and 

consumer advice bodies to help 

businesses improve their practices 

and ensure they comply with 

consumer protection law. Many 

businesses in this sector comply with 

consumer protection law and engage 

in good business practices, but we 

urge others to raise their standards. 

Businesses that use unfair terms risk 

enforcement action.” 

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INDUSTRY TALK 

Forecast for 

SUCCESS 

Jim Bacon believes that the outdoor hospitality industry can use modern 

meteorology to help minimise risk, maximise guest experience, plan 

resources and match visitor expectations to the weather of the season 

ALL TYPES OF outdoor activities are 

affected by the weather and it’s no 

surprise that weather is often one of the 

most talked about things at any time of 

the year. How can we face that challenge 

and leave our businesses better informed 

and protected from hazardous weather 

conditions like floods, squalls and even 

snow? 

There is clearly a day to day variation 

in our weather and that is where the 

traditional forecasts can help. Rather than 

insufficient information being available 

the main problem is that there is probably 

too much to choose from. As well as all 

our favourite radio and TV sources, the 

internet brings weather from literally 

dozens of slightly different forecast 

models and forecast organisations. 

However, it can still be difficult to plan 

ahead with such a wide selection of 

information. 

One answer is to use a collection of 

models called an ‘ensemble’ to produce 

an ‘ensemble mean.’ That is to say, 

an average of all the slightly different 

outcomes in the virtual model world of 

weather which should capture a good 

estimate of the likely conditions. I’ll return 

to ensemble forecasts later. 

“FORTUNATELY THE 

BRITISH ISLES IS BLESSED 

WITH A VARIETY OF 

DIFFERENT CLIMATE ZONES 

SO EVERYONE CAN PICK 

THEIR PREFERENCE” 

The only problem is that using an 

average of anything can hide the 

extremes. In the world of outdoor 

hospitality this can be quite dangerous. 

However, we can deal with this by 

making some statistical assessments 

of the spread of data around the edges 

of the data range and then discuss 

how these might impact on businesses 

specifically. For example, is there a risk 

of severe gusts which could damage a 

tent or marquee, heavy rain that could 

flood a riverside campsite or perhaps 

sharp frosts which may damage water 

standpipes in the winter? 

Quite often the weather influences 

people’s choices of where to go for their 

holidays, outdoor events and open 

air functions way before they have to 

contend with what it does to them 

once there. Fortunately the British Isles 

is blessed with a variety of different 

climate zones so everyone can pick their 

preference. As a general rule, the average 

weather will provide a good flavour of 

when to select a break or event in one 

part of the country compared to another. 


INDUSTRY TALK 

GETTY IMAGES 

“…A GOOD 

START IS TO 

LOOK AT THE 

MANY FREE 

SITES ON THE 

WEB AND 

THEN TAKE AN 

AREA AVERAGE 

FROM 

MULTIPLE 

FORECASTS” 

THERE TO HELP 

Returning to the forecast part of 

meteorology, I would like to tell you a little 

about the type of information now available 

to help the outdoor hospitality manager 

cope with the day to day swings of weather 

so often found in the British Isles. 

Firstly there are multiple models which 

represent the weather by the hour to allow 

the best use to be made of opportunities for 

outdoor tasks. Therefore a good start is to 

look at the many free sites on the web and 

then take an area average from multiple 

forecasts. The use of multiple forecasts is 

what we in meteorology call an ensemble 

forecast - a collection of forecasts. An 

ensemble is usually the same model of the 

atmosphere run multiple times with slightly 

different starting conditions. The idea being 

that it will explore all of the reasonably 

possible outcomes and is especially useful at 

longer timescales where you want answers 

about the weather a week to 10 days ahead. 

The reason these longer range forecasts 

are so difficult is because, as you move 

forward through time, each step of the 

model’s calculations add a small amount of 

error (this is due to the fact that the starting 

conditions are not measured everywhere). 

This imperfect representation of the real 

weather at the beginning of the forecast 

means that there will be an error at the end 

of each time-step (these are quite short 

actually, just a few minutes) and this error is 

then built into the starting conditions for the 

next time-step. You can imagine that at the 

end of a 10 day forecast there will be quite 

Many of our UK regions have some 

identifiable golden weather periods in the 

year. Knowing these can help in the planning 

of advertising campaigns, ensure visitors 

come when the weather is likely to be 

best and promote a good feel about their 

experience. Encouraging visitors when it’s 

typically poor weather, however, can only 

lead to negative sentiments. 

Tying in to local weather data allows 

a facility or venue manager to build up a 

sensible month by month view of what has 

happened in the past. Even coarse data for 

a whole region can allow the obvious key 

months to be identified for your location. 

It is worth building a weather timeline 

of typical weather patterns for your venue 

month by month and designing activities 

accordingly, including maintenance 

periods. It is worth investing in a weather 

station on site (they are very affordable 

nowadays) in order to collect data over a 

period of time. After a while you’ll be able 

to add weather hazards which have caught 

you out in the past, so you’ll know when to 

pay particular attention to the forecasts. 

GETTY IMAGES 


a significant error involved. However, all is 

not lost, because by running the ensemble 

collection you can obtain a measure of the 

variability and use this to plan for outcomes 

which could adversely affect your business. 

SHOWERS 

Where a forecast talks of showers, these are 

quite often middle of the day and afternoon 

events so you can find several hours of fine 

weather in the summer from sunrise, before 

the showers start, in which to complete 

essential outdoor maintenance tasks. 

Another point worth remembering is that 

showers are quite difficult for the models to 

predict and it’s best to assume it’s an area 

thing, whereby the shower description is 

best treated as a guide, rather than it will 

definitely fall over your venue. Equally, in 

showery weather, the model placement of a 

shower over you may in fact turn out to be a 

few miles away. 

So, how is any of this helpful? Well, it’s all 

about minimising risk. There will be days 

when none of the models you might find 

on the web have any showers in them, in 

which case you can safely plan for outdoor 

events. However, if showers are likely, 

even if they appear at a distance, then 

it may be necessary to provide cover for 

the open air concert goers or hen party at 

your glampsite for example, rather than 

gamble on their luck. It all makes for a 

better experience and reduces negative 

sentiment. 

WINDS 

Apart from the issue of getting wet there 

is always the problem of strong winds. 

These are usually well forecast by the 

modern mathematical models, especially 

the familiar lows and highs on the weather 

map. Forecasts of strong winds caused 

by these large scale weather features are 

sufficiently accurate to enable forward 

planning by as much as a week or more to 

ensure that precautions are taken. A 10 day 

windspeed probability forecast will allow 

you to plan maintenance work, including 

the use of tall equipment such as cherry 

pickers. 

Sudden, squally winds are a much 

tougher question for meteorology: those 

of you running outdoor events or activities 

have doubtless been alarmed by strong 

gusts in otherwise fairly benign conditions. 

A lot of these difficult weather events are 

caused by small scale features, usually 

shower clouds or the passage of an active 

weather front. This is something which 

can be monitored using radar displays or 

satellite images. It is important to be alert 

to the danger posed by a sudden increase 

in gustiness since many outdoor occasions 

are festooned with inflatables, be they 

bouncy castles or advertising blimps. This 

is where the monitoring of radar data can 

be vital in minimising risk. You may be 

interested to know that, over rough terrain, 

the gust speed can be twice the mean 

windspeed. 

2016 OUTLOOK 

So, what’s out there to start your 2016 

season off? Regarding longer term 

forecasts, we have to look at things which 

change on very different timescales. For 

example, the unusually warm waters of 

the Pacific, the El Nino, are set to cool 

to below average by the summer. This 

reversal will doubtless change weather 

systems bordering the Pacific but it may 

also have a lesser role to play on this side 

of the Atlantic. There are even some longer 

term changes in ocean temperatures, over 

decades, which can influence the chances 

of record breaking global temperatures. The 

present thinking is that 2016 will become 

one of the warmest ever recorded making 

a run of three record or near record annual 

global temperatures. There is plenty to 

think about on many different timescales. 

GETTY IMAGES 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Jim Bacon has been a meteorologist since 1968 and is still thoroughly fascinated by all things weather. He was one of the founding 

directors of Weatherquest, a private weather forecasting and consultancy company operating in market sectors ranging from 

water, energy and transport to agriculture and horticulture. It also provides the media with forecasts for newspapers, radio and 

TV. The service provides comprehensive detailed web portals including five and 10 day, and monthly forecast content accessible 

24/7. The portals also show the latest rainfall radar images and lightning activity. A forecast hotline is available on 09065 777675 

(call rate £1.50 per min, staffed 6am to 6pm). Use this to get the latest advice if you are trying to manage a special outdoor event. 

Contact Jim at jim.bacon@weatherquest.co.uk 


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CASE STUDY 

PHOTOS BY LAYLA MAY PHOTOGRAPHY 

Coton House 

Farm 

A casual wedding reception 

venue with bunting, Pimms 

and thoughtful lighting 

Coton House Farm is a small, working establishment rearing Aberdeen Angus 

cattle, sheep and hogs. It also runs a livery yard and riding school for the 

disabled. Situated in the picturesque village of Whittington, near Lichfield, 

Staffordshire, it offers a traditional, country marquee wedding reception venue 

catering for up to 220 guests. Owner Darren Martin talks to Open Air.


What made you decide to start 

your wedding venue business? 

We were visited by Princess Anne 

for our work with the Riding for the 

Disabled Association (RDA). We had 

set up a marquee for the occasion 

and it was then that we started 

to ask if people were interested 

in using it for weddings: we were 

inundated! That was the start of 

the business really. Currently we’re 

converting the barns into two 

different sized wedding venues, 

both with one or two acres of 

outside space. People love to be 

looking at horses, sitting on hay 

bales, being private. 

We operate in the summer. We 

try to avoid polluting the area 

with lighting: it’s all achieved very 

naturally so people can appreciate 

the countryside. We use 

solar lighting and low 

lighting LEDs, turning them 

on and off at salient times so it’s 

not continuous. For example, the 

mains lights are lit for safety 

when guests arrive or leave but 

turned off during the event itself. In 

so doing we manage the impact on 

our surroundings and change the 

social atmosphere. The last thing 

you want to see are lines of street 

and car park lighting! Do it our way 

and everyone can see the night sky 

and stars. 

What facilities for outdoor 

functions do you offer? 

The people who stay overnight 

are those attending a wedding or 

having a function at our venue. 

There are accommodation options 

around and about but some people 

want to enjoy the countryside as 

much as possible while they’re 

here. We have some enclosed fields 

for camping and have allowed for 

camping trailers and caravanettes. 

Of course, being a riding school, 

we have the necessary 

facilities such as 

toilets and showers 

although they’ve not 

been set up specifically for 

campers. 

What services do you offer? 

Barry Gwilt is our own experienced 

chef who has worked mainly 

in Hong Kong and America. He 

sources the produce from our farm 

or farms up to five miles away. 

The food chain couldn’t get much 

shorter! Our free range hogs, 

the beef and the turkey all come 

from our farm. The local butcher 

is a relative of ours so everything 

is done very nearby. As regards 

the animals, they are all kept far 

away from the marquee and the 

house itself. However, the horses 

roam neighbouring fields to the 

marquee: guests like to watch 

them. 

How did you research and source 

your marquee? 

In trying to work out which 

was the best structure to 

have I began on the 

internet then


called many companies. My choice 

was not the cheapest but the 

prettiest, the most durable and 

the one which provides what we 

need - a warm, safe area which 

can be adapted to different tastes. 

Sometimes we extend our marquee 

for catering and bar units. For 

example, we recently included the 

cellar look with proper taps and 

coolers for a ‘real’ pub experience. 

What are your plans for the 

future? 

We’re open for business during 

July and August and have about 19 

weddings booked for each month 

this year. We could be open year 

round, holding weddings every 

month. We are at a crossroads: 

do we want to be a permanent 

wedding venue or do we want to 

be a farm that provides a wedding 

facility? We’re concerned that the 

character of Coton House Farm 

would be lost if we were to make it 

just a venue. An accountant would 

say go for the wedding venue route, 

but farms and the countryside are 

about a way of life. 

How do you work with your 

customers to make their event 

unique? 

I always say to the bride and 

groom to be, if you’re looking for 

chicken and white wine sauce 

then you’re best off at a hotel. 

Here it’s like Ma and Pa Larkins’ 

wedding (The Darling Buds of 

May), all bunting and Pimms and a 

casual atmosphere. Sometimes it’s 

difficult to get people inside for the 

speeches and cake because they 

simply want to sit in the sun, on the 

hay bales, in the fields. Fortunately, 

during fine weather, the marquee’s 

sides can be opened bringing the 

ADDRESS BOOK 

outside in. Formalities need to be 

run delicately with no rigid timings. 

This can be slightly annoying for 

the chef but it works for the guests. 

How do you publicise yourself? 

Facebook, that’s it. We’ve been 

booked out with Facebook ever 

since we made a page. For many 

service providers (cakes, tables, 

flowers, etc) Facebook is their sole 

advertising: they get far more hits 

on their Facebook pages than they 

do on their websites. As we are a 

unique venue and guests’ reviews 

have been so good we don’t need 

to advertise anywhere else. 

What challenges have you faced? 

Employing the right people - 

people that actually want to work 

- has been our only real challenge. 

A prime example is when we 

employed a wedding planner who 

was paid very well but couldn’t 

cope with the volume of work. 

Today we seem to manage it quite 

well ourselves. Once you have the 

“SOMETIMES 

IT’S DIFFICULT 

TO GET 

PEOPLE INSIDE 

FOR THE 

SPEECHES 

AND CAKE 

BECAUSE THEY 

SIMPLY WANT 

TO SIT IN 

THE SUN...” 

right people in the right places 

everything is fine. We have about 

40 people working for the venue 

now (including bar staff, catering 

staff and cleaners) and it’s all going 

well. 

Do you operate in any other 

outdoor hospitality sectors? 

My wife and I host about one 

wedding fair every season. We 

don’t charge for local service 

providers to have a stand but we 

do check them out first to ensure 

visitors meet people who provide 

excellence. Larger companies have 

wanted to exhibit too but we prefer 

to work with small businesses and 

manage things ourselves, so we can 

maintain standards. 

Do you enjoy the business and 

why? 

It’s fun! It’s hard work and can be 

very tasking but when you see each 

wedding day, that it’s different 

and such a success, the feeling is 

fabulous. 

MARQUEE HIRE 

Blithfield Events - 01543 417504 

www.blithfieldevents.co.uk 

MARQUEE MANUFACTURER 

Tectonics UK - 01962 736316 

www.tectonicsuk.co.uk 

DRINKS SUPPLIER 

Baby Bottles Ltd - 02476 361518 

babybottlesltd.co.uk 

GROUND PROTECTION 

Grass Mats Ltd - 0330 124 2750 

www.grassmats.co.uk 

TOILET FACILITIES 

Follys Luxury Toilet Hire - 01782 680630 / 

www.follysluxurytoilethire.co.uk 

and Portakabin - 0845 3565656 / 

www.portakabin.co.uk 

PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL 

Brown Bear Photography & Wedding 

Stationery - 07713 158579 

INSURANCE 

South Essex Insurance Brokers - 

01708 850000 / www.seib.co.uk 

DETAILS 

A. Coton House Farm, Whittington, 

Staffordshire 

T. Darren Martin 07402 712143 

E. farmmarquee@aol.com 

W. www.facebook.com/ 

cotonhousefarmcountrymarquee 



Wedding 

Business 

Models 

A lot of landowners overlook the enormous potential offered 

by the wedding industry, writes Isabel Smith 

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES 

GONE ARE THE days when a wedding reception 

was simply hosted by the nearest hotel or local pub. 

Modern couples want something different that will 

wow their guests and look great in photographs – 

and they are prepared to pay a lot of money for the 

right venue. The fact is your summer gardens, rolling 

farmland or family home could easily be transformed 

to wedding heaven, and you will have the joy of 

hosting couples on the happiest day of their lives. 

However, if you’ve never worked in the wedding 

industry before the idea of suddenly pitching 

yourself as a wedding venue might seem a little 

intimidating. After all, you have to market yourself 

somehow, apply for umpteen licences and face the 

prospect of dealing with demanding bridezillas! 

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be as 

daunting as it first sounds. Running a wedding venue 

is nowhere near as difficult or scary as you might 

imagine. All you have to do is choose the business 

model that suits you best and follow a few basic 

rules. The trick is to make your venue work for you. 

Here’s my guide. › 


VENUES 

MODEL ONE: DRY HIRE 

This is the best business model for 

beginners. You simply offer your space 

to brides and grooms and then work 

with a select group of external suppliers 

who will do all the hard work to make 

your venue wedding-ready. To get 

started, simply set up a website with 

some key details about your property 

(photos, availability and contact 

details). Then get in touch with your 

local wedding planners and marquee 

companies and let them know that 

you are in business. As time passes you 

will be able to update your facilities 

(eg. adding an outdoor power supply 

or water source) and you can build 

a preferred supplier list that your 

clients can use. You can then gain extra 

revenue by charging your suppliers a 

commission for each successful referral! 

› For: There is very little initial 

investment needed and you can 

scale up your business over time. 

› Against: You will need to market the 

business yourself and there will be 

a certain amount of administration 

work involved when it comes to 

scheduling, arranging site visits and 

drawing up contracts. 

MODEL TWO: 

DEDICATED CONTRACTS 

If you really don’t want to deal with 

multiple brides and suppliers then this 

option might suit better. Rather than 

publicly advertising your venue, you sign 

an exclusive contract with one of your 

suppliers (usually a marquee company 

or a caterer) and hand over all sales, 

marketing and operations to it. In return, 

it pays you per event for use of the space. 

› For: This is a simple, stress-free way of 

making money from your land on your 

terms. 

› Against: By offering a more limited 

service you won’t be able to charge as 

much. You may also deter some clients 

if you are unable to offer the sort of 



GETTY IMAGES 

flexibility that modern brides crave. 

MODEL THREE: 

FULL OPERATIONS 

In this model you will become a full-on 

wedding venue. You will undertake all 

your own marketing, sales and contract 

work and you will work closely with 

suppliers – even creating a bespoke 

menu and wine list with them. On the 

day itself you will probably need to be 

there to oversee everything and make 

sure the bride and groom are being 

looked after, and you may need to hire 

extra staff to provide the best possible 

level of service. 

› For: This model definitely offers 

the greatest opportunity for money 

making since you are managing 

everything yourself. As your reputation 

grows you can start to charge more for 

your services. 

› Against: There is a huge amount of 

work involved. However, you can hire 

an experienced consultant to guide 

you through this process to help avoid 

expensive mistakes, learn the skills you 

need and streamline your marketing 

activities. 

ADDITIONAL REVENUE 

If you are already using your venue as a 

wedding location there are a few things 

you might consider in order to further 

your wedding-related income. 

› Products and services: this can be 

something as small as offering table 

centrepieces, lanterns or fairy lights for 

the evening. Or it may be a big-ticket 

item like an ice-cream tricycle or a 

petting zoo for the kids. 

› Partnerships: if you are looking to 

diversify within the wedding sector 

you need to keep your eyes open 

for new networking opportunities 

around your area. For instance, make 

links with transport companies, spas, 

accommodation and nearby activities. 

These relationships allow you to go the 

extra mile for your guests and take a 

commission from referred sales. 

› Shoots: either for the weddings 

themselves or for photo-shoots within 

the wedding industry. This is a visual 

industry and people are fighting it out for 

great spaces where they can photograph 

their designs. 

› Alternative wedding plans: there is 

no such thing as a traditional wedding 

any more. Couples want to put their 

own stamp on their big day and it can 

really pay to be flexible and open to 

alternative ideas. Consider offering full 

weekend packages, camping facilities, 

festival-style receptions, a late licence for 

evening events or ceremony-only deals. 

FIVE RULES FOR SUCCESS 

DO YOUR RESEARCH 

1 This may sound obvious but it’s 

worth stating. The wedding industry 

is full of its own quirks and foibles, 

so take your time and get to know 

it before diving in. Visit a few other 

venues, ask plenty of questions 

and introduce yourself to as many 

suppliers as possible. 

BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR 

2 TARGET MARKET 

Of course, you want to attract the 

rich and famous but your venue may 

be more suited to local weddings 

instead. By trying to woo higher-end 

clients you could end up alienating 

your real customer base and, 

ultimately, go about losing money. 

Start small and gradually grow your 

business – word of mouth is the best 

marketing tool of all. 

WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL 

3 No matter what sort of venue 

you’re running you’re going to 

need permission from the council. 

For a start, you have to have an 

entertainment licence, otherwise 

there will be no dancing late into the 

night! You might also need to apply 

for a licence to serve alcohol or for 

planning permission to expand your 

venue or change its use. 

GET INSURED 

4 Public liability insurance (for you 

and all your suppliers) is a must. You 

might also need to take out extra 

insurance policies to cover natural 

disasters (such as flooding) or power 

outages (which could lead to food 

losses or cancellations). 

CHOOSE YOUR SUPPLIERS 

5 WITH CARE 

No matter which business model 

you choose, the suppliers you work 

with will be the key to your success. 

Make sure they share your values, 

respect your property and sign formal 

contracts for every eventuality. 


Isabel Smith has spent 10 years in the wedding industry as one of the UK’s top wedding planners and business consultants. 

Isabel’s expertise spans marketing, sales and operations. She helps new vendors launch and assists established businesses 

should they find their sales falling. 

www.isabelsmithconsulting.co.uk / www.isabelsmithweddings.co.uk 


Weather services for 

outdoor events 

Speak to a forecaster 

09065 77 76 75 

Calls cost £1.50/min plus network access charges 

weatherquest.co.uk 

@weatherquest_uk | /Weatherquest


GETTY IMAGES 

Fantastic 

Light it and they will come! So says Ronnie Brown 

PHOTOS BY BLACHERE ILLUMINATION UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE 

LIGHTS WORK. THEY can create 

a statement, an atmosphere 

and even safety, whether you 

are lighting a small venue or an 

entire street. Done well, lighting 

can completely transform a venue 

or an event. I usually give three 

examples of when and where 

lighting really works: Walt Disney 

World, Blackpool and My House. 

OK, I use lighting for fun but the 

other two use it for the return 

they attract so abundantly. Now 

these examples may be a little 

extreme but they show what is 

possible. Blackpool spends in 

excess of £2.2m each year and 

attracts 3.7m visitors during the 

two months of the Illuminations. 

That’s a lot of ‘Kiss me Quick’ hats, 

not to mention revenue taken 

for taxis, hotels, pubs and clubs, 

etc. As for Disney? Well, the extra 

photographs taken of guests in 

front of the Castle paid for the 

lighting in the first year (in excess 

of $1m). 

Now, don’t rush out and buy 

the Rolls Royce just yet. These 

attractions have a head start on 

most of you guys, but the concept 

remains the same. It is a simple 

strategy to take the opportunity 

that Christmas presents, as well as 

dark afternoons and evenings, and 

use it as a marketing tool. Build on 

it year-by-year, event-by-event and 

you too can achieve the success of 

a Blackpool or a Disney (albeit on 

a smaller scale). I would suggest 

that your lighting display is part of 

a bigger marketing plan; lights may 

be a good starting point but should 

not be the end. 

And lights are not just for 

Christmas. Some products can 

be used for different events. Tree 

lights on a summer evening create 

a wonderful ambience. There are 

also a number of lighting ‘motifs’ 

for summer displays. 

You can light during the day; you 

just have to be aware of the big 

yellow thing in the sky. If the sun is 

in full effect it can seriously affect 

your lighting display’s impact so 

be clever about the positioning of 

your installation and create some 

darker areas for contrast. 

Back at my house, in the run up 

to Christmas one year, I planned 

some research into a couple of new 

products I had received. I wanted 

to see how they came out of the 

box, how they went up, how they 

lasted a Scottish winter, how they 

went back in the box (they never go 

back in the box). A day or two after 

GETTY IMAGES 



LIGHTING TERMS 

› LED – when compared to old 

style bulbs, ‘light emitting 

diodes’ are by far the most 

energy saving solution 

› Lumens – a measure of light 

output. The higher the lumen 

the brighter the light 

› Colour Temperature - a 

method of describing the 

colour characteristics of light, 

usually either warm (yellowish) 

or cool (bluish). It is measured 

in degrees of Kelvin (°K). 

› String Lights – highly versatile, 

strings of lights can be hung, 

strung, twirled or wrapped 

› Ropelight - a decorative 

lighting fixture featuring small 

light bulbs linked together 

and encased in a PVC jacket to 

create a string of lights 

› Curtain Lights – these feature 

“OF COURSE, THE BIGGER THE BUDGET, THE 

MORE YOU CAN ACHIEVE BUT CREATIVITY CAN 

PRODUCE FANTASTIC RESULTS WITHOUT 

BREAKING THE BANK.” 

installing them outside I noticed 

a car drive up to the house, then 

another and another, then up to 

25. I live in a cul-de-sac so don’t 

have passing traffic. Wow! That’s 

the power of lighting. 

WHAT DO YOU NEED? 

There are loads of lighting options 

from singles, strings, projections 

and uplights for trees/buildings to 

lasers, floods, festive motifs and 

even for underwater. Choosing the 

correct product for the effect you 

are trying to create is paramount. 

Some may want to call in a lighting 

professional to help (this can 

be free advice from a reputable 

lighting supplier). 

Certain basics are required, for 

example mains power is most 

a top cable from which a 

number of strings of lights can 

be hung vertically. Great for 

lighting buildings 

› Watts - in lighting, a watt is 

used to measure how much 

electrical power is used by a 

light fitting 

› Amps - the basic unit of 

electric current 

› Transformers – these can be 

used to alter the voltage going 

through a circuit to a suitable 

level or make lights dimmer or 

brighter 

› DMX - a system of controlling 

‘intelligent’ lighting fixtures 

and dimmers 

› Projection Mapping - a 

projection technology used to 

turn objects, often irregularly 

shaped, into a display surface 

(such as a building) for video 

projection 

GETTY IMAGES 

common although solar power, 

batteries or even a generator 

can be used. There can be much 

cabling involved so consideration 

of how this should be hidden will 

help create the magic. 

You needn’t be an expert to 

specify lighting but knowledge on 

the length of lighting strings and 

what power is required to light 

them is useful. Lighting products 

can be mains voltage (230/240V), 

low voltage (110V) or extra low 

voltage (12 or 24V). Low and extra 

low voltage products will require 

a transformer to suit the input 

voltage. 

LIGHTING DESIGN 

There may be specific rules for 

your area so it is always best to 

check with your local planning 

department before undertaking 

a large installation. As a rule of 

thumb, if your lights are temporary 

then there is no need for planning 

permission. 

What makes a beautiful 

installation? This is difficult to 

answer definitively since beauty 

is in the eye of the beholder. To 

start the design process you could 

involve a consultant to avoid 

costly mistakes and there are a 

number of reputable companies 

that would provide this service. 

For a smaller project or event you 

may want to experiment with a 

few strings of lights or colourwash 

lights. 

You don’t need to spend a lot 

of money to make an impact. Of 

course, the bigger the budget, 

the more you can achieve but 

creativity can produce fantastic 

results without breaking the bank. 

Neither need you buy; lighting 

products can be rented on a daily, 

weekly, monthly and yearly basis. 

ABOUT RONNIE BROWN 

“I want to sell light bulbs 

like my Dad,” said Steven 

Brown aged five. That 

was my son’s response 

to the question, ‘What 

do you want to do when 

you grow up?’ When I 

get asked the question, 

‘What do you do?’ a smile 

will always appear on 

my face. It is interesting 

to see people’s reaction 

when I say, “Christmas 

Lights - not the ones 

you have in your house, 

but for towns and 

cities, events, the odd 

theme park and iconic 

buildings.” 

I’ve been saying this 

since 1987. Of course the 

client list wasn’t as well 

known back then. But as 

time went on the towns 

and cities we worked 

with became some of the 

biggest in the UK. 

I was first introduced to 

Blachere Illumination 

in 1996 and became 

a distributor for them 

that same year. It was a 

no brainer; the product 

range and the quality of 

design and manufacture 

were light years ahead 

of any of the suppliers 

in the sector. In 2001 

Blachere bought a major 

share-holding in my 

company Wonderland 

Illuminations and 

we became Blachere 

Illumination UK Ltd. We 

supply anything from a 

single string of lights to 

a fully designed themed 

display and all points in 

between. www.blachereillumination.co.uk 


ZooLoos 

os’ luxury range of portable, 

vacuum toilets, ts 

showers and 

washrooms. 

Give guests the VIP (Very Important Portables) treatment. Reserve your luxury loos today. 

+44 (0)1258 840233 | info@zooloos.co.uk 

Ensure your guests 

have the best!! 

• Luxurious eco-friendly modular 

vacuum toilet facilities 

• Bespoke and stylish 

• Ideal for all prestigious corporate 

and private outdoor events 

• Covering the UK 

Tel: 0345 459 0589 • www.classicalloocompany.com • enquiries@classicalloocompany.com 



Party Potties 

Ensure your portable toilet provision is spot on with 

Jon Stebbings’ advice on specifying party loos 

PHOTOS BY: SITE EQUIP WWW.SITE-EQUIP.CO.UK 



Tardis-style portable toilets 

are a budget option 

PHOTOS BY: SITE EQUIP WWW.SITE-EQUIP.CO.UK 

AN ABSOLUTE ESSENTIAL in any 

outdoor event’s infrastructure is 

the provision of toilets. There are 

two main types of portable toilets 

for events: Tardis-style units, 

known as such in the industry 

for their resemblance to Doctor 

Who’s time-machine, and trailermounted 

units. Tardis units are 

the most basic portable toilet 

featuring a single re-circulating 

chemical action. They are a 

‘budget box,’ ideal for smaller 

functions. However, your guests 

may hold ill-conceived ideas 

about them as they are likely to 

have found one in a less than 

ideal condition somewhere. 

The other, far more glamorous 

option is the trailer-mounted 

system that can either be plugged 

into a water supply, use a vacuum 

flush (which can also refresh 

the air in the trailer), or be a 

recirculating chemical system 

like the Tardis unit. This type of 

portable toilet is much larger 

and contains a combination of 

cubicles, handbasins and urinals. 

Trailers range between 10 and 25 

feet in length, with units being 

supplied in many configurations 

of cubicles, cubicles with 

handbasins and urinals. They will 

need power, although if mains 

supply is not available a generator 

can usually be hired as part of the 

package. 

Generally speaking, trailermounted 

toilets start with 

1+1 units - one cubicle with a 

handbasin for women and one 

for men. Larger trailer-mounted 

units can accommodate three 

ladies’ cubicles and 10 urinals, 

or three cubicles for ladies with 

three cubicles and two urinals 

for gentlemen. It is also possible 

to incorporate baby change 

and disabled facilities. The 

configurations really are endless 

as is the scope for decoration and 

optional extras such as internal 

and external finishes, attendants, 

toiletries, music and even DVD 

players. 

There is, as one might expect, 

a wide difference in the quality of 

trailer-mounted units. The most 

basic units are to be found at 

festivals and less grand events, 

while the more top-end units 

are supplied to weddings and 

other up-market gatherings such 

as corporate events and as VIP 

facilities at festivals. 

CALCULATING TOILETS 

Public events, such as music 

festivals and county shows, 

have guidelines for calculating 

the number of toilets required 

published in the Purple Guide (a set 

of instructions for health, safety and 

welfare at public events produced 

by the Events Industry Forum). 

For a private, more intimate affair, 

however, you may want to be a little 

more generous. For example, where 

the Purple Guide recommends 

one toilet per 100 people, wedding 

guests will probably be happier 

with one cubicle per 10-25 people 

to avoid queueing. So, if you have 

a mixed group of wedding guests 

numbering 100, you might want to 

go for a trailer offering two female 

cubicles, one male cubicle and two 

urinals. 

Trailer-mounted units supplied 

with hot handwash basins can be 

non-mains connected as they come 

with fresh water supplied, which 

is heated either from the on-site 

power supply or by a generator. 

Portable toilet units should always 

be delivered to an event in a 

scrupulously clean condition, with 

the supplier operating to stringent 

Health and Safety and British 



Standard regulations. 

Portable toilet hire should cost 

around £200 for the supply of 

both a ladies’ and a gentlemen’s 

Tardis portable toilet, with prices 

for the hire of a trailer-mounted 

unit ranging from £500 to £1,000+ 

depending on the specification 

and whether it has been provided 

by a local hire company or a larger 

regional/national supplier, in 

which case transportation charges 

will need to be taken into account. 

Many suppliers now offer themed trailer units 


John Stebbings is 

passionate about 

helping people to find 

the very best private 

dining experiences at 

venues throughout 

the UK. When he isn’t 

assisting PAs in locating 

the perfect venues for 

their events his interests 

include keeping his 

Parson Jack Russell 

terrier out of mischief 

whilst on walks, eating 

with friends and family, 

feigning knowledge of 

wine, listening to music 

and discouraging slugs 

from his vegetable 

garden in the summer 

months. www. 

privatediningrooms. 

co.uk 

TOP 10 TIPS 

Decide how many guests will be attending the event to determine 

1 the number of units required. If in doubt, ask your supplier; most 

have ‘toilet calculators’. 

Remember that the caterers and ancillary event staff will need 

2 to use the loos too so add these to your calculations. For larger 

parties where, staff numbers are greater, it is important to supply 

them with their own facilities. 

Ensure a level site. This is an essential requirement for obvious 

3 reasons that would be both indelicate and unnecessary to 

mention! 

Check if the location of the venue has a power supply. If not, use 

4 a system that can be run from a generator and add this to the hire 

package. It is worth noting that Tardis-style units do not need power 

although you will need to light them somehow if they are to be used 

at night. 

Check if the venue’s location has a fresh water supply as this will 

5 inform your decision on which type of system you can use. 

Decide if disabled and/or baby changing units are 

6 

7 

necessary. 

Decide if an attendant is required to clean and maintain the loos. 

Attendants can often be supplied by the hire company for an extra 

charge. 

Determine whether an interim service will be required. For more 

8 than one event at the same venue, such as when a wedding is 

taking place on the Saturday with a further reception on the Sunday, 

it may well be necessary to empty and replenish the units for the next 

day. 

Decide which type of loos are required. As explained above, 

9 different portable toilets are more appropriate for different events 

and demographics. 

Think inventively. Many suppliers now offer ‘themed’ units 

10 which add a talking point and some fun, or you can get 

creative yourself with accessories and luxury toiletries. Alternatively, 

go uber-luxury and really make a feature of party toilets by 

positioning them inside a dedicated marquee to which you can add 

pendant lights, carpet, a dressing table area and full length mirrors!

FUNCTION VENUES | PRODUCT FOCUS 

Portable Toilets 

A selection of portable toilet blocks available for outdoor function venues 

LUXURY LOOS 

ZooLoos 

01258 840233 

www.zooloos.co.uk 

To mark the occasion in style, 

pamper your guests with 

luxury portable toilets and 

washrooms that are a flush 

above standard hire loos. 

With their advanced vacuum 

technology that purifies 

the air with every flush, 

and luxurious washrooms 

dressed with designer beauty 

products, our stylish loos are 

the luxurious alternative to 

dingy portable toilets. We 

also use the cleanest, most 

eco-friendly flushing system. 

We understand events occur 

in all styles and sizes, so 

naturally, our portable loos, 

washrooms and powder 

rooms can be tailor-laid. 

That’s not forgetting they can 

also be uniquely styled for 

your event. 

LUXURY TOILETS 

AND SHOWERS 

Loos For Dos 

0845 123 2901 

www.loos.co.uk 

A multi award winning toilet 

and shower hire company 

based in Hampshire, offering 

a full range of luxury and 

contemporary units across 

the South of England. All 

our units are finished to the 

highest standards. They 

arrive on site fully stocked 

with quality consumables 

and carefully set up by 

our fully trained engineer. 

Optional extras include 

mains connection of units, 

long term hire, generator 

hire, attendant services 

and out of hour’s delivery / 

collection. Our aim is simple 

- to bring glamour to loo and 

shower hire. You can expect 

us to be professional, friendly 

and fun to work with. 

THEMED TOILETS 

Site Event 

01256 384134 

www.site-equip.co.uk 

Site Event is a family run 

company established 

for nearly 30 years and 

is arguably the longest 

established portable toilet 

hirer in the UK, having 

imported the first ever 

cubicles from the US. It 

constantly builds upon its 

wealth and experience in 

the sector by innovating 

the saturated portable 

toilet industry. Through 

the production of the now 

famous ‘themed’ toilet 

trailers it has founded 

a sister company ‘Site 

Build,’ which is taking 

off building luxury toilet 

trailers across the globe. 

Forever progressing and 

innovating, Site Event 

is at the forefront of 

the industry and well 

respected among peers. 

MODU-LOO 

Classical Loo Company 

01307 818190 

www.classicalloocompany.com 

We specialise in the 

provision of stylish modular 

vacuum toilets, ideal for all 

high class outdoor events 

throughout the UK. Our 

innovative alternative to 

the usual toilet trailer is 

designed to be installed 

in any covered area and 

is especially suited for 

restrictive locations 

(1m wide access). 

Modu-loo’s eco- friendly 

design, minimal water 

requirements and nochemical 

use makes this 

the ideal choice. As a family 

owned business we pride 

ourselves on the quality of 

our facilities and the service 

and commitment we offer. 

We ensure outdoor event 

toilet provision is taken care 

of with the minimum of fuss 

but the greatest of care. 


FUNCTION VENUES | PRODUCT FOCUS 

LOGIC RANGE 

Event Washrooms 

0800 2800 247 

www.eventwashrooms.co.uk 

The Logic modular solution 

is a totally flexible toilet 

system that boasts both the 

highest standard in luxury, 

and an ability to be installed 

in places not accessible to 

standard trailer and modular 

toilet technologies. Each 

component is standalone 

making movement possible 

into low accessibility venues. 

Whether you require a single 

cubicle and a vanity unit for 

your event for 20 guests, or 

you’re planning a ball for 

5,000, we can accommodate 

your needs. Features include 

an oak exterior finish, oak 

and travertine interior, glass 

wash basins and LED lighting. 

Can be connected to mains 

drainage or use its own 

standalone system. 

TRULY MOBILE 

ExcLOOSive Event Hire 

01283 575749 

www.excloosive.co.uk 

We are a long-established, 

family run company that 

specialises in mobile toilet 

and portable shower hire 

facilities. The toilet units are 

completely self-contained, 

needing no mains connection, 

and can be situated almost 

anywhere, making them 

truly mobile. These units are 

very popular with wedding 

venues and really do provide 

a superb environment for 

guests. In addition to the 

mobile toilet units that we 

hire, we also offer a full range 

of services to help your event 

run smoothly, including 

attendants if required. Our 

professional and friendly 

service will ensure a care free 

day for yourself and your 

guests. 

BOUTIQUE RANGE 

Just Loos 

01962 867808 

www.justloos.com 

Our range includes luxury 

trailer toilets, themed 

luxury toilets and designer 

modular washrooms that 

can be set up in marquees. 

The boutique range is 

perfect for weddings and 

features a beautiful dark 

oak exterior plus a very 

modern and contemporary 

look on the inside. The 

ladies units are adorned 

with large pictures of 

Marilyn Monroe, Audrey 

Hepburn and Sophia 

Loren as well as vibrant 

pink doors and coloured 

lighting. For the gents 

units there is a James 

Bond theme with red doors 

and coloured lighting to 

complete the look. These 

units are self-contained, 

only requiring a 13amp 

power supply. 

BESPOKE & LUXURY 

Peagreen Manufacturing UK 

0800 6343 546 

www.peagreentoilets.co.uk 

Looking for something 

unique? We offer a 

completely bespoke 

service for your temporary 

facilities. If you want 

something extra special 

then we can turn your 

ideas into reality. 

Commissioned by leading 

blue chip companies on 

market leading projects. 

As one of the UK’s leading 

manufacturers of mobile 

temporary facilities for 

events of all types, we can 

offer you a solution that will 

meet your requirements. 

We are best known for our 

luxury re-circulating and 

vacuum toilet trailers and 

shower facilities. We can 

advise you on any build 

project you may have. 

Stylish, practical, reliable 

and durable. 


Glamping Pods | Outdoor Kitchens | Meeting Spaces 

Made from aviation grade aluminium, engineered to fly at 30,000 

feet and finished to the highest standards to your individual 

specification; Aeropods are unique and distinctive 

• Made from upcycled 

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• Options include heated floors 

and a wide range of finishes 

• Can be made to any length with 

a 2m standard depth 

• Easily transported 

01359 271 876 / 07774 750152 

www.dappr-aviation.com 


ACCOMMODATION 

CASE STUDY 

Gooseberry 

Field Campsite 

A connection with guests keeps bookings rolling in 

Gooseberry Field Campsite is a glamping holiday business based in Pluckley, in the 

heart of Kent. It is owned and run by John Mills and Kerstin Wolgast, two ageing, post-punk hippies 

who last year managed to finally escape from a hectic lifestyle in the City to a simpler, more relaxed 

way of living with chickens, farmland and open fires. John and Kerstin talk to Open Air.

ACCOMMODATION 

What glamping accommodation 

do you offer and why did you 

choose it? 

We offer canvas bell tents. Our initial 

idea was to have one of everything 

- a bell tent, a yurt, a tipi - but the 

market seems to be in bell tents 

right now; they have proved to be 

the most popular. The benefit of 

having a bell tent is that it’s like 

being in a beautiful, boutique hotel 

room, with loads of space and lovely 

decoration. During the day or if 

it’s raining they are a good place 

to spend time in, not like normal, 

cramped, damp tents. We also invite 

guests to bring their own bell tents 

and pitch up on our camp-site, 

something that has proved popular. 

Not many sites offer this option; it 

seems like we’re filling a niche in the 

market. We found that the tipi just 

didn’t get many bookings so we’re 

using it as a communal space this 

year. 

Why did you decide to start a 

glampsite and when did you first 

open? 

We have a smallholding providing 

organic produce and a healthy 

way of life for the family. Running 

a campsite merged really well with 

our ethos of a natural lifestyle, 

rearing rare breed pigs and 

chickens, making our own jam, 

cider and sausages. The key for 

us is that it’s a small site; we only 

have six units. We’re not interested 

“WE HAVE A 

SMALLHOLDING 

PROVIDING 

ORGANIC 

PRODUCE 

AND A 

HEALTHY WAY 

OF LIFE FOR 

THE FAMILY” 

in making it bigger, creating more 

work or more stress for ourselves. 

2015 was our first full year. 

Throughout all of the first winter we 

prepared the site and then opened 

in March. We had guests staying in 

March, even though it was so cold! 

Most brought their own bell tents; 

ours started to be booked more in 

April. 

How would you describe your 

‘style’ or unique selling point? 

We like to connect with our guests. 

We have big bonfires on Saturdays, 

offer communal cooking spaces on 

the terrace and, even if we are not 

actually interacting with the guests, 

they can see us working on the 

smallholding. We’re starting to get 

lots of return custom. 

How did you research the 

business? 

We carried out detailed research 

into booking websites, such 

as CoolCamping and PitchUp. 

Kerstin is experienced in sales and 

marketing so she could delve deep 

into the website analytics and that 

has really paid dividends. 

Tell us about your location 

and site 

We’re near to Ashford International 

rail connections and have close 

driving links to the M25 and the 

M20; London is only about 90 

minutes away. Having said that, 

when you turn off those roads, we 

are very much in the countryside. 

We’re close to the coast and 

seaside towns such as Whitstable, 

Hythe and Folkestone too. We’re 

very convenient for those living in 

the South East. Gooseberry Field 

offers quiet solitude close by, not 

an eight hour drive to Scotland 

to find peace and quiet. Through 

personal experience we were sick 

of campsites with cold showers and 

dirty toilets. We wanted to build 

big, beautiful facilities; a nice place 

to be. 

What challenges did you face 

regarding planning? 

We started off sticking to the 28 

days permitted development rules. 


ACCOMMODATION 

Now, after our first season, and with 

the support of council planners, 

we’re in the process of becoming 

a full time summer campsite. My 

advice to other businesses is to 

start slowly, to try one thing at a 

time, to stay within the planning 

boundaries, and to ask advice from 

anyone you can. We’ve found that 

small business developers and the 

council’s advisors and officers are 

very easy to work with. Since we are 

small and simply adding tents to a 

working agricultural smallholding 

it’s easier for everyone to handle. 

ADDRESS BOOK 

How do you publicise yourself? 

To a large extent we rely on 

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, 

and recommendations from last 

summer’s guests have been really 

helpful. We are already 20% full for 

this summer. Campsite booking 

websites take a commission 

and we question whether this is 

affordable for a site such as ours, 

operating on small revenues. If the 

booking website is asking for 10- 

15% of the cost that’s a large slice 

of our profit. 

How did you choose your interior 

decoration? 

Much of it was stuff we had 

already; we’ve bought quite a 

few rustic items over the years 

on our travels to Namibia and 

Sweden and we have started using 

those for the campsite. Then we 

searched the internet for what 

was practical and good value. We 

wanted each tent to be individual 

so that guests could book a certain 

style; each of the six are equally 

popular. We’ve used nearly every 

known bell tent available in the 

UK however we are just now 

negotiating a sole supplier. We 

designed and built the BBQ/pizza 

oven using second hand bricks 

from a friend. Again, we designed 

and built the washroom and WC 

facilities. 


To be honest the whole process 

has been fun although our first 

season was a steep learning 

curve. For example, how best to 

clean all the tents on handover 

days initially proved a headache. 

We’ve now tweaked our hours 

and management to better 

suit what is required and make 

everything more efficient. We’re 

both experienced in running our 

own businesses so this is not our 

first set-up and that makes a world 

of difference. We don’t have any 

fear in creating new products, of 

selling or marketing. We knew 

what we wanted in terms of 

natural environment and convivial 

atmosphere. We just got on with it. 

Do you enjoy the business and 

why? 

Yes, very much. It’s a pleasure to 

work seasonally. We look forward 

to opening in April and then to 

closing in October when we can 

enjoy free time, a chance to do 

some travelling and, of course, 

some sales for the business. It’s a 

great lifestyle. 

What’s your advice to those 

entering the industry? 

Just go for it! That’s really the best 

way. You could talk about it forever 

but you’ve just got to go for it. 

BELL TENTS 

SoulPad - 0800 3899 193 

www.soulpad.co.uk 

TIPI 

Hummingbird Tipis - 07889 288 982 

www.hummingbird-tipis.com 

WEBSITE 

1&1 - www.1and1.co.uk 

BOOKINGS 

Anytime Booking - 01326 574660 

www.anytimebooking.co.uk 

ADVERTISING 

CoolCamping - www.coolcamping.co.uk 

Airbnb - www.airbnb.co.uk 

INTERIORS 

Boutique Camping - 020 3394 2986 

www.boutiquecamping.com 

Second Nature - 

www.secondnatureonline.co.uk 

HOT TUB 

HotTubSauna - 020 3514 3896 

www.hottubsauna.co.uk 

FIREPITS 

Lloyd & Co Blacksmiths – 07966 728 966 

www.lloydblacksmiths.com 

HAMPERS 

Pluckley Farm Shop - 

01233 840400 

www.pluckleyfarmshop.co.uk 

DETAILS 

A: Gooseberry Field, Pluckley, Kent 

T: Kerstin Wolgast 07788 237 588 

W: www.gooseberryfieldcampsite.com 

E: info@gooseberryfieldcampsite.com 


ACCOMMODATION 

Your Planning Plan 

Richard Goodwin, rural surveyor for the Country Land and Business Association’s 

(CLA) Midlands region, discusses planning for those seeking to enter the exciting 

and potentially rewarding world of glamping 

FAR FROM THE holiday experience 

of soggy sleeping bags, cramped 

tents and communal facilities, 

glamping is all about providing 

outstanding accommodation – 

ranging from shepherds’ huts and 

gypsy wagons to opulent yurts and 

geodesic domes – in spectacular 

locations. Glamping is a great way of 

diversifying to yield a good income 

from land and can bring relatively 

fast returns on investment. So it’s no 

surprise that many landowners are 

choosing to maximise the potential 

of their property by creating sites to 

host would-be glampers. 

So, you’re considering the 

glamping route but where to start? 

Your location, and the way in which 

it impacts on your potential site, 

is as pertinent to the final decision 

as the accommodation, facilities 

and services you aim to provide. 

Access to and from, proximity 

to attractions and local shops, 

even the opinions of neighbours, 

all are vital when evaluating 

the suitability of your site. Then 

there are the practicalities: the 

availability of utilities (water and 

sewage, gas, electricity, internet 

connectivity); business rates; the 

expected occupation and operation 

periods; the choice of permanent 

or temporary structures; Health & 

Safety regulations; and, not least, 

whether planning permission is 

required. 

Where should you be looking for 

information regarding the need, or 

otherwise, for planning permission? 

For starters, a little legwork is 

required in investigating the type 

and location of existing tourist 

accommodation. The discovery 

of nearby glamping facilities may 

initially quell your aspirations but 

will certainly provide precedent 

evidence for a planning application. 

Your second port of call will be the 

Local Plan Policy which sets out the 

strategic priorities for development 

of an area and gives guidance on 

what will and won’t be permitted. 

Paramount to planning 

permission is National Designation. 

Certain areas of countryside can be 

‘designated’ which means they have 

special status as protected areas 

due to their natural and cultural 

importance. There are restrictions 

on activities and developments 

that might affect a designated or 

protected area, eg. building new 

houses or roads. If protected area 

restrictions apply you might need 

to do certain things such as: obtain 

permission from the local council 

and Natural England; carry out an 

ecological survey; and, carry out an 

Environmental Impact Assessment. 

DO YOU NEED PERMISSION? 

So, do you need planning 

permission? The key issue is to 

decide whether a temporary 

structure constitutes ‘development’ 

in which case planning permission 

is required. A development can be 

either a ‘building or engineering 

operation’ or a ‘material change in 

the use of land.’ However, in some 

cases in which planning permission 

is required it is deemed already to 

have been granted, under a General 

Permitted Development Order. In 

these permitted development cases 

no application is needed. 

What constitutes ‘building and 

engineering operations’? Each case 

will turn on its individual merits 

but courts, in judging whether 

something amounts to a ‘building 

operation’, have consistently 

looked at three main factors: 

size; permanence; and, physical 

attachment. This approach was 

endorsed by the Court of Appeal in 


ACCOMMODATION 

a case that concerned the erection 

of a large 40x17m marquee within 

the grounds of a hotel. The Court 

held that the marquee, which was 

erected on the lawn “...every year 

for a period of eight months was, 

due to its ample dimensions, its 

permanent rather than fleeting 

character and the secure nature 

of its anchorage, to be regarded 

as a building operation. The 

annual removal of the marquee 

did not deprive it of the quality of 

permanence. Permanence did not 

necessarily connote that the state 

of affairs was to continue forever or 

indefinitely.” 

The same tests were applied 

in the High Court where it was 

held that poly tunnels covering a 

total area of 30-40ha, in place for 

up to seven months of the year 

and attached to the ground with 

metal hoops, did involve a building 

operation. It seems clear that the 

erection of a large marquee, or 

any such substantial structure, 

for several months of the year is a 

building operation and is, therefore, 

development requiring planning 

permission. 

However, a structure which is 

smaller, less permanent, and/or 

not substantially attached may not 

constitute a building operation. It 

will depend on the individual facts 

of each case. Three months could 

be enough to create ‘permanence’ 

if the structures are very large but a 

small- or medium-sized structure, in 

place for a few months and held in 

place by weight rather than fixings, 

may not. Any significant ground 

preparation works for a temporary 

structure could in themselves 

constitute a building or engineering 

operation requiring planning 

permission. 

In addition, development can 

consist of a material change in 

the use of the land. Even where 

a temporary structure is not a 

building operation, planning 

permission would be needed if its 

use amounted to a material change 

of use. For example, a marquee for 

one or two private parties in the 

garden of a house should not be a 

change of use because such parties 

are incidental to the enjoyment of 

houses and their gardens. However, 

a marquee regularly hired out 

commercially for a number of 

parties, or used for retail purposes, 

probably would amount to a 

material change of use because 

these are essentially a business use. 

Conversely, a hotel using a marquee 

for parties would probably not 

involve a material change of use. 

YOUR APPLICATION 

If you do need planning permission, 

when submitting your application 

it will help to include details of 

the economic benefits, in terms of 

income to the area, employment 

and potential benefits to other local 

businesses. 

Planning application fees vary 

widely depending on the size of 

the proposed operation and the 

works required. As an example, to 

change the use of a piece of land to 

tourism would attract a fee of £385 

per 0.1 hectare. Your local planning 

authority can provide an accurate 

figure, and the Planning Portal has 

a full list of fees. 

After submission the local 

authority will publicise the 

planning application to members 

of the public and consultees, such 

as the local parish council, the 

Environment Agency, tourist boards 

and any agencies responsible for 

designated areas. After receiving 

these responses and comments 

the authority will then produce a 

summary of the application along 

with its decision to approve or 

refuse it. 

JOLLY DAYS GLAMPING, YORK 

“ANY 

SIGNIFICANT 

GROUND 

PREPARATION 

WORKS FOR A 

TEMPORARY 

STRUCTURE 

COULD IN 

THEMSELVES 

CONSTITUTE 

A ‘BUILDING 

OR 

ENGINEERING 

OPERATION’ 

REQUIRING 

PLANNING 

PERMISSION” 

WHEN MIGHT PLANNING 

PERMISSION NOT BE REQUIRED? 

If the land is to be used for a 

limited time period and the activity 

will have minimal impact upon 

the area, it is possible planning 

permission and licences would not 

be required. Scenarios in such cases 

would be: tent pitches for no more 

than 28 days of camping within the 

year; a single caravan on a piece of 

land for no more than two nights, 

up to 28 days a year; more than 

three caravans on a piece of land 

over five acres for no more than 

28 days; and, if the site is occupied 

and supervised by an exempted 

organisation such as the Camping 

and Caravanning Club. 

WHEN MIGHT A SITE LICENCE BE 

REQUIRED? 

A caravan site is defined as any land 

on which a caravan is stationed for 

human habitation together with 

land used in association. Subject 

to permitted development rights, 

a caravan site, therefore, requires 

both planning permission and a 

site licence before it can operate. 

A site licence has to be applied for 

separately, following the granting 

of planning permission. While 

planning permission attaches to the 

land, the site licence is held by the 

occupier and is non-transferable 

without the prior consent of the 

local authority. Licence conditions 

are likely to cover the following 

issues: boundaries; spacing 

between caravans; roads, gates 

and footpaths; hard standings; 

fire fighting appliances; storage of 

LPG; electrical installations; water 

supply; drainage and sanitation; 

refuse disposal; parking; recreation 

space; notices, etc. 

WHAT IF MY SITE IS IN A 

DESIGNATED AREA? 

A glamping site may be permitted 

in a designated area (Green Belts, 

Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 

Areas of Outstanding Beauty, 

National Parks, etc) in exceptional 

circumstances. Proposals in these 

areas may require higher standards 

of design, layout and landscaping 

and preference may be given 

to small sites over large sites. 

So, pre-application discussions 

with the local planning authority 

are encouraged to resolve any 

potentially contentious issues. 

If planning permission or a › 


ACCOMMODATION 

Certificate of Lawfulness for an 

Existing Use (CLEU) has been 

issued, a site licence must be 

issued. 

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS IF MY 

SITE IS DESIGNATED A ‘CERTIFIED’ 

SITE? 

If your land is approved by an 

exempted organisation it is 

possible planning permission and 

licences would not be required. 

For example, the Camping and 

Caravanning Club holds exemptions 

from Natural England which allows 

it to certify small caravan and 

campsites for use by club members. 

Once certified you would be able to: 

accommodate up to five caravans 

or motorhomes and 10 tents at any 

one time including glamping pods; 

be open all year round if you wish, 

or you can specify your opening 

months; and, keep all of the site 

fees. Certification can be for full 

sites (caravans, motorhomes and 

tents/pods), caravan only sites and 

also tent only sites (also suitable 

for sites where access is particularly 

poor). However, whether the 

member is camping in a tent, 

caravan, motor caravan or trailer 

tent, they may only camp on your 

site for a maximum of 28 days at a 

time. 

If you are not next door to 

a licensed site, there’s a good 

chance you would qualify. You will 

need at least half an acre of fairly 

level land and safe access and 

egress from the site. A certified 

site officer will assess this for you 

but the assessment is based on 

approximately 100m of clear view 

in either direction. It doesn’t matter 

if you have a narrow or single 

track lane either, provided there is 

good visibility and enough passing 

places. The facilities you will need 

to provide before a certificate is 

issued are: a drinking water tap; a 

rinsing water tap (for swilling out 

toilet cassettes); dry waste disposal 

(something as simple as a bin that 

can be emptied regularly); and, a 

chemical disposal point. 

WHAT IS THE CERTIFICATE OF 

LAWFULNESS OF EXISTING USE 

OR DEVELOPMENT (CLEUD)? 

If you have already erected 

temporary structures without 

planning permission you can seek a 

CLEUD under s191 of the 1990 Act. 

After four years (for ‘operational 

development’) and 10 years (for 

‘material changes of use’) a CLEUD 

must be granted automatically, 

even if the activity was not legal. 

In some cases this may be a better 

starting point than a planning 

application, which the LPA of 

course has discretion to refuse. The 

application of this rule to temporary 

structures can be uncertain but 

the CLA is aware of cases in which 

CLEUDs have confirmed the 

legitimacy of temporary structures 

and uses over a wide area of land. 

USEFUL CONTACTS 

THE COUNTRY LAND AND BUSINESS 

ASSOCIATION (CLA) 

www.cla.org.uk 

CAMPING AND CARAVANNING CLUB 

www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 

PLANNING LAW 

1. Town and Country Planning 

Act 1990: this contains the 

legal provisions for planning 

as a whole including the use 

and changes of use of land and 

buildings. www.legislation.gov. 

uk/ukpga/1990/8/contents 

2. The Caravans and Control 

of Development Act 1960: this 

sets out the requirements for 

the system of licensing caravan 

sites by local authorities (on 

which some of the planning 

requirements are based). www. 

legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/ 

Eliz2/8-9/62/contents 

3. The Caravans Sites Act 1968: 

this Act amended the definition 

of caravan contained in the 

1960 Act. www.legislation.gov. 

uk/ukpga/1968/52/contents 

4. Town and Country 

Planning (General Permitted 

Development) (England) Order 

2015 (GPDO 2015): Part 5 

Caravan sites and recreational 

campsites. www.legislation. 

gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/ 

contents/made 

It is important to note that the 

local planning authority can take 

enforcement action if there is a 

breach in planning law. In such cases 

it is possible to apply for retrospective 

planning permission and, if this is 

denied, appeals may be made to the 

planning inspectorate. 

A well constructed, accurate 

planning application will make the 

whole process easier, and I would 

strongly recommend taking advice 

before submitting your application. 

As well as talking it through with a 

membership organisation such as 

the CLA, you will find most planning 

officers happy to advise you on the 

best way to proceed before you 

commit time and money on your 

application. 


A qualified chartered 

surveyor with 

considerable 

experience of 

diversification in 

rural areas, Richard 

Goodwin MRICS 

advises CLA members 

on all aspects of 

land management. 

A farmer’s son, he 

graduated from 

Harper Adams 

University with a 

degree in Rural 

Enterprise and Land 

Management before 

qualifying as a 

Member of the Royal 

Institution of Chartered 

Surveyors. 

ABOUT THE CLA 

An independent and 

authoritative source 

of advice for owners of 

agricultural and rural 

land, no matter how 

much or how little, 

The Country Land and 

Business Association 

(CLA) brings a century 

of experience to 

members considering 

diversifying their core 

business to benefit 

from new market 

opportunities such 

as glamping. The 

CLA is best placed to 

advise on planning 

law as well as guiding 

members through 

the maze of current 

funding opportunities. 

www.cla.org.uk 

PROTECTED AREAS 

www.gov.uk/check-your-business-protected-area 

LAWFUL DEVELOPMENT 

www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/next/ 

lawfuldevelopmentcertificate 


PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT 

NEWAND AMENDED 

PROVISIONS FOR 2016 

Thelatest tranche of newprovisions and amendments to the Town and Country(General Permitted 

Development (England) Order 2015 (GPDO) increases the scope of permitted development further with the 

following nowinplace:- 

CLASS O–OFFICES TO DWELLING HOUSES 

(amended to allowdevelopmentonorbefore30May 2019.) 

CLASS P–STORAGE OR DISTRIBUTION CENTRE TO DWELLING HOUSES 

CLASS PA –LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE TO DWELLING HOUSES (newprovision). 

CLASS Q–AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS TO DWELLING HOUSES 

CLASS R–AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS TO FLEXIBLE COMMERCIAL USE 

All of the above provisions aresubjecttovarious restrictions and prior approval of the Local Planning Authority. 

Acorus can undertakeanassessment of your building/s,identify possible uses and their suitabilityfor 

conversion and howtoachieve this development through the planning system. 

BEFORE 

AFTER

ACCOMMODATION 

THE DANDELION HIDEAWAY: WWW.THEDANDELIONHIDEAWAY.CO.UK 

Stamp of 

The new Glamping Scheme from VisitEngland is the 

first independent accreditation of Glamping industry 

standards in the UK 

KNEPP WILDLAND SAFARIS: WWW.KNEPPSAFARIS.CO.UK

ACCOMMODATION 

CLASSIC COTTAGES: WWW.CLASSIC.CO.UK 

AS ENGLAND’S NATIONAL tourist 

board, VisitEngland provides 

accreditation for over 25,000 

businesses, including 24,000 

accommodation providers, in the 

leisure and tourism industries. 

Assessors visit premises, 

sometimes staying overnight, 

and grade them against a set of 

standards drawn up to represent 

best practice in all aspects of guest 

experience. 

VisitEngland has a vital role 

in improving quality standards 

in UK tourism. Through its 

accreditation schemes it aims 

to drive up standards and help 

operators develop their product 

in line with what visitors want 

by benchmarking (eg. what 

is luxury?) and celebrating 

excellence by awarding accolades 

to outstanding businesses. The 

assessors also give advice on 

legislation, and a range of business 

support including how to improve 

and respond to online customer 

reviews. 

VisitEngland set up an 

Alternative Accommodation 

scheme over six years ago. At this 

time the glamping sector was less 

well defined and a refresh of this 

scheme was needed to reflect the 

massive changes in the industry 

and the high standards being 

achieved by many operators. As 

a consequence the criteria for 

their assessment changed. So in 

2015 the scheme was looked at 

again and amended to reflect the 

changes in a rapidly expanding 

market. Scoring was introduced, 

with an overall score of 60% 

required to be awarded the 

accreditation and although no 

stars are awarded, those operating 

at the ‘top end’ can aspire to the 

new VisitEngland Gold Award. 

The new Glamping Scheme 

was launched in March 2016 and 

a comprehensive Standards Book 

has been produced, which sets out 

the criteria for accreditation. 

DEFINING GLAMPING 

Glamping can be many things, 

and as such expectations from 

accommodation can vary 

enormously from one visitor to 

another. One person’s ‘vintage, 

upcycled, quirky romance’ is 

another person’s ‘roughing it 

without any mod cons.’ Some 

visitors will expect electric points 

and heated toilet facilities, 

whereas another might be 

disappointed if they aren’t 

totally ‘back to nature’ using a 

composting toilet in the middle 

of the woods. In an industry 

with such scope, the Glamping 

Scheme asks providers to look 

at everything, starting with their 

online marketing to ensure the 

description of the site and the 

accommodation do not mislead or 

over-promise. 

Assessors will look at websites 

to ascertain if the information 

given is clear and accurately 

reflects the experience on offer. 

They will also check that guests 

are fully informed of everything 

that could impact on their stay. For 

instance, are the logs for heating 

“THE NEW 

GLAMPING 

SCHEME WAS 

LAUNCHED IN 

MARCH 2016 

AND NOW 

INCLUDES 

CRITERIA 

THAT 

GLAMPSITES 

ARE GRADED 

AGAINST” 

and cooking provided free? If not, 

how much will they cost? Will it be 

cold at night? Will guests need to 

bring wellies if it rains? Is the toilet 

far from the accommodation? 

What if they need to get up in the 

night? Is the nearest shop/pub 

within walking distance? 

These sit alongside the more 

standard requirements in terms 

of key considerations of health 

and safety issues, public liability 

insurance, cancellation policies, 

etc. 

WHAT DOES AN 

ASSESSMENT INVOLVE? 

To become accredited under the 

Glamping Scheme, providers 

are visited once a year by a 

professional assessor from Quality 

In Tourism. They start by reviewing 

online marketing material for 

the businesses and will then 

either pre-book or make an 

unannounced day visit. 

THE DANDELION HIDEAWAY: WWW.THEDANDELIONHIDEAWAY.CO.UK 


ACCOMMODATION 

KNEPP WILDLAND SAFARIS: WWW.KNEPPSAFARIS.CO.UK 

They will conduct the 

assessment by scoring all key 

areas against a set of criteria 

including washing facilities. 

They will present a copy of the 

Pink Book, a VisitEngland advice 

guide on things like cancellation 

policies etc, and provide a 

written report after the visit 

with the score, summary and 

verbal feedback. Assessors will 

look carefully at a glampsite’s 

location, its accommodation and 

the standard of customer service. 

The assessment is objective and 

will take into account unique 

aspects of the business and 

score it in this context. The aim 

of the assessment is to provide 

feedback, share best practice and 

raise standards without taking 

away any of the character, style 

or uniqueness of the business. 

If the site achieves a score 

of over 60% then VisitEngland 

accreditation will be awarded. 

There is also an opportunity for 

a Gold Standard accolade for 

sites offering top quality facilities 

and experiences. The assessor 

will also provide a full debrief 

and accompanied walk-round if 

requested. 


Pam Foden is the 

Head of Industry 

Development for Visit 

England, England’s 

national tourist board. 

Accommodation 

is accredited for 

Visit England by 

an independent 

assessment service, 

Quality In Tourism. 

Please visit www. 

qualityintourism. 

com or call 0845 300 

6996 for a free guide 

on the Glamping 

Scheme, and hints and 

tips to help you get 

accredited. 

WHY JOIN 

VISITENGLAND? 

› Market your business using 

the VisitEngland marque 

› Tell your customers that 

you have been checked by 

a national tourist board 

› Work towards a Gold 

Award accolade 

› Benefit from hints and tips 

from assessors 

› Make use of advice on 

legislation and marketing 

trends 

During the assessment 

visit, an assessor will 

make quality judgements 

across all aspects of the 

customer-facing business 

and will award a score 

from 0-5 for each element. 

0 = unacceptable 

1 = poor 

2 = disappointing 

3 = good 

4 = very good 

5 = excellent 

Marks awarded (out of 5) 

INFORMATION & ARRIVAL 

Pre-arrival information 4 

Arrival information 4 

Extra touches on arrival 5 

EXTERIOR 

Exterior look and condition of the unit 4 

Grounds and setting 5 

BEDS 

Quality and condition of beds 4 

Quality and condition of bedding 

and bed linen if provided 4 

BATHROOMS 

Quality and condition of shower room/ bathrooms 4 

Quality and condition of WCs - if separate 3 

KITCHEN 

Quality and condition of all cooking equipment 4 

Quality and condition of all crockery, cutlery, glassware 4 

LIVING SPACE 

Quality comfort and ease of use 5 

LIGHTING & HEATING 

All interior and exterior areas 4 

HOUSEKEEPING & CLEANLINESS 

Grounds & gardens 5 

General accommodation 5 

Shower room/bathrooms 5 

Toilets (if separate) 4 

Kitchen/cooking areas 5 

TOTAL SCORE 78/90 

% SCORE 87% 

PASS YES/NO Yes 

GOLD AWARD YES/NO Yes 

At the end of the visit the assessor can 

calculate a percentage score for the site and for any individual 

accommodation that might be eligible for an award. In order to 

achieve a VisitEngland Accreditation, the overall percentage score 

has to reach 60% or above. To be eligible for a Gold Award the 

percentage score needs to be a minimum of 80%. 


Your own private bathroom right 

next to your tent or caravan 

Studies show that campsite users wish 

to have more privacy and luxury. A large 

target group, who don´t go camping right 

now (or any more), are likely to become 

interested again if they had access to 

en-suite facilities. 

An investment in CampPlus private campsite 

facilities has an attractive payback period 

because of the increase in turnover and 

occupancy. 

You will be creating an affordable luxury for 

your guests and enhance the atmosphere of 

your campsite. 

THE ADVANTAGES: 

❤ Higher turnover and occupancy 

❤ Short payback period 

❤ High quality – long lifespan 

❤ Freestanding units = easy 

to set up and move 

❤ Very compact 5'3" x 6'5" = 

33ft², yet very spacious inside 

❤ Durable and low maintenance 

❤ Easy to clean 

❤ Lots of options and extensions 

Tel. 0031 186 769 054 info@campplus.co.uk www.campplus.co.uk 

Glamping & Safari Tents 

All of our structures are handmade at our 

Gloucestershire factory using the highest 

quality performance materials. 

We have over 25yrs experience in the design 

and manufacture of bespoke marquees and 

Glamping structures. 

Visit our website and give us a call to discuss 

how we can help you enter the rapidly growing 

market of Luxury Camping. 

0 1 4 5 3 7 6 7 1 7 1 

www.bondfabrications.co.uk 

enquiries@bondfabrications.co.uk 

WWW.OPENAIRMAG.COM 39

ACCOMMODATION 

SPECIAL FEATURE: TENTS 

Under 

Canvas 

A breakdown of canvas glamping options with Tim Rees of Quality 

Unearthed, an agency specialising in quirky holiday accommodation 

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY QUALITY UNEARTHED UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE 

GLAMPING IS A somewhat curious term 

derived from ‘glamorous’ and ‘camping’ 

and doesn’t really do justice to this 

popular leisure activity. Glamping is about 

facilitating time spent within nature’s stimuli 

while in sheltered comfort, which often 

comes in the form of unusual construction. 

There’s certainly a distinct difference 

between one’s awareness of the weather 

while sitting in a canvas structure compared 

to a more traditional brick built building. 

Listening to rain pitter-patter on the roof, 

as a log burner roars away, is a fantastic 

sensation. 

In the last two to three years there’s been 

increased interest in setting up glamping 

sites. Higher demand for offbeat locations 

has gone hand in hand with an increased 

provision of unconventional structures. 

Interestingly, as more have entered the 

glamping market, we’re seeing a growing 

polarisation in standards. Increasing 

numbers of sites are appealing to the mass 

market by placing multiple, relatively cheap 

glamping units within a small space. Equally, 

increasing numbers of sites are working 

towards top end, five star luxury with high 

levels of privacy and servicing, and a price 

tag to match. 

One key change is the way guests look for 

glamping holidays. Five years ago Google 

search phrases tended to be very short–tail 

or generic such as ‘glamping UK’, ‘yurts 

UK’, ‘tipi holidays England’ or ‘tree house 

holidays’. Notice how the searcher is not 

driven by the location but rather the abode 

type itself. Now we are seeing more specific 

phrases such as ‘yurts in Devon’, ‘tree houses 

near London’, ‘glamping on Gower’ and 

‘safari tents New Forest’: the searcher’s 

confidence in finding something more 

specific has grown. This means operators 

are no longer able to rely on a cool structure 

in the middle of nowhere. If your location 

isn’t already a place people want to travel 

to you’ll have to work that much harder to 

entice them with an even cooler place to 

stay. 

In this article I’m taking a look at some 

of the more obvious canvas glamping 

options, with a few wild cards thrown in. 

Note that although glampsites are now 

also making use of more permanent pod or 

lodge type structures, canvas structures are 

not to be written off. They are an excellent, 

affordable way for landowners to enter the 

luxury, outdoor accommodation industry. 

Your choice of the following will depend 

on location, budget and inspiration. The 

key aspects I will consider today are the 

price, maintenance and infrastructure 

requirements, seasonality and what to look 

for from a good supplier. 

GOOSEBERRY FIELDS CAMPSITE 


ACCOMMODATION 

BELL TENTS 

You’re more than likely to have seen bell tents 

at festivals. These are very simple structures 

consisting of a canvas (shaped loosely like 

a tipi) and a central pole. Guy ropes pull 

the canvas out from the centre creating 

a moderate living space. The height is 

established by the central pole. Sizes 

are given as the diameter of the tent and 

range from about 3-6m. In my opinion 

bell tents are a short-term addition to other 

existing structures as they tend only to be 

suitable for the summer months. 

Seasonality: Late Spring to early Autumn 

Maintenance: Cleaned and dry stored when not 

in use 

Price: £400-£900 for a 5m bell tent 

What to look for: Quality of canvas, canvas 

treatment (anti-mould, water repellent, UV stable, 

etc), a sewn in ground sheet with quality stitching, 

good zip quality and air vents (these tents can get 

hot on a summer’s morning) 

PHOTOS BY GOOSEBERRY FIELDS CAMPSITE 

TIPIS 

Some might argue 

that tipis, with 

their striking profile, 

kicked off the glamping 

holiday movement some 

20 years ago. Traditionally 

placed on the earth, I would 

suggest they be placed on a platform due to the UK 

weather. Preventing water from entering can be an issue 

and tipis should be sited away from areas susceptible to 

high winds. They vary in design more than may first meet 

the eye and erecting them requires some familiarity. 

Seasonality: Late Spring to early Autumn 

Maintenance: Dry winter storage space will be required 

Price: £1,300-£2,000 for a good quality 14ft tipi 

What to look for: Canvas quality and surface treatment, 

wood quality, quality of zips (or the traditional toggles), 

advice on their erection 

PHOTOS BY GOOSEBERRY FIELDS CAMPSITE 

YURTS 

Most commonly associated 

with Mongolia, where they are 

known as ‘Gers’, yurts were 

also used all the way across 

to Eastern Europe. Yurts are 

more stable than tipis, with 

greater usable cubic space 

(based on the same footprint). 

Step into a yurt and you can 

stand up almost straight 

away; the same cannot be said for a tipi. A platform is essential on which 

to sit a yurt. Be mindful of how the water runs off the canvas and off the 

platform. It is helpful to build a raised floor inside the diameter of the yurt 

(and most canvas structures) so that if water does run in it doesn’t affect 

the space where guests walk. 

Seasonality: With insulation a yurt can be four season, however 

keeping them dry when no one is occupying them makes this difficult. 

Realistically these are three season 

Maintenance: Dry winter storage space will be required. Some yurts have 

a sacrificial outer cover that needs replacing each year 

Price: £3,000-£7,500 for a 5m diameter yurt 

What to look for: Canvas quality, wood quality and how much wood is 

used in the latticing of the khana (walls). Consider the height of the walls 

and windows

ACCOMMODATION 

SAFARI TENTS 

Where we were seeing a surge of yurts being 

erected four years ago now it is the safari tent 

that is on trend. Safari tents have much more 

space than other canvas structures and are 

commonly divided into living and bedroom 

spaces, often with bathroom facilities within the 

footprint making them particularly appealing to 

families and groups. These should be sited on a 

platform, ideally away from windy areas although 

the guy ropes on safari tents are pretty strong 

making them surprisingly sturdy structures. 

Seasonality: These can be left erected year 

round if occupied 

Maintenance: It is advisable to lower and store 

safari tents for the winter if they are not inhabited 

Price: £4,000-£8,000 for a 5x7m safari tent 

What to look for: Canvas quality, reinforced 

straps and twin layers (ie, a roof canvas and 

a separate internal canvas structure to give 

additional sound proofing and insulation) 

GEODOMES 

The less common 

of the canvastype 

structures, 

geodomes are 

usually made of 

PVC (with opaque 

and translucent 

panels) or canvas. 

Pioneered by 

Buckminster Fuller, 

they have a space age 

appearance and receive mixed 

reactions. They offer huge internal 

space for their footprint which is 

directly related to their height. You can 

make use of this by adding a second 

mezzanine floor although be aware 

of how the structure stands out in 

the landscape. Geodomes should be 

positioned on a raised platform. 

Seasonality: Like a yurt these 

can be four season if kept dry 

in winter although are more 

likely to be three season 

Maintenance: Geodomes 

often come with a type of 

plastic cover to help with 

longevity although canvas 

covers are also common, 

particularly with smaller domes 

Price: £2,500-£7,000 for a 5-6m 

geodome 

What to look for: Canvas/PVC 

quality (particularly at the seams). 

Check what material is used for the 

supporting structure (wood/plastic/ 

metal) and how well it is joined 

together (rudimentary nuts and bolts 

on flattened poles versus engineered 

attachments) 

PHOTOS BY THE DOME GARDEN 

My advice would be to choose a 

structure, or variety of structures, that 

suit the length of the season you’re 

aiming to offer at your glampsite. 

This is by no means an exhaustive 

list, and of course there are other 

non-canvas structures you could 

consider including shepherds huts, 

pods, tree houses, buses, aeroplanes/ 

helicopters, dry docked boats, 

shipping containers, and many more! 

If you want to welcome guests all 

year round it is possible with canvas 

structures so long as they are well 

positioned, insulated and safely 

heated (a whole other subject) for 

the duration. For shorter season 

structures there is the matter of 

disassembly and storage to be 

considered but this is offset by 

significantly lower cost when 

compared to more permanent pod 

or lodge type structures. There is also 

the charm factor that goes along with 

a canvas glamping experience. The 

fun really comes when you start to 

consider interior treatments: this is 

where you can really add to a visitor’s 

experience and differentiate yourself 

from the crowd. 

In conclusion my advice would be 

to be creative; the more attention 

to detail you put in the more of an 

inspiring experience your guests will 

receive. It is also very important to 

consider how many units you can 

manage – changing 20 beds two or 

three times a week is a lot of work and 

your costs will increase the more help 

you need. Whatever you decide, enjoy 

the process and give me a shout if you 

need any help! 


Tim Rees is the managing director of Quality Unearthed, a specialist agency promoting some of the best alternative holiday 

abodes in the UK. Having spent a number of years living in unusual places and working on off-grid homes, Tim spotted an increase 

in demand for holidays offering a more grounded, back to nature experience. He started Quality Unearthed in 2010 and can 

personally recommend each holiday represented for its accommodation, location and overall experience. 01348 830922 / 

www.qualityunearthed.co.uk 


ACCOMMODATION 

Providing luxury bell tents perfect for: 

info@boutiquecamping.com 

+44(0)203 394 2986 

boutiquecamping.com 

• Camping 

• Outdoor summer play rooms 

• Garden lounge areas 

• Festivals 

• Weddings and much more! 

Available for both hire & purchase. 

LUSHNA Villa Air 

Hotel bed in the open nature 

FRESH AND MODERN DESIGN 

wooden frame with waterproof canvas 

BRIGHT AND AIRY BEDROOM IN NATURE 

king size bed with the view 

ALL THE COMFORTS 

lighting, AC/DC plugins, mosquito net 

EASY TO SET UP 

eco Ground Screw Foundations 

www.glamping-lushna.co.uk / info@lushna.com / +386 30 440 330 


ACCOMMODATION | PRODUCT FOCUS 

Tented Structures 

Some of the best solutions for glamping under canvas 

CRUA GREAT LOJ 

Crua Outdoors 

+353 (0)87 9115 092 

www.cruaoutdoors.com 

The Crua Great Loj is a 

one of a kind, lodge-style 

tent that ensures comfort 

and durability, no matter 

the setting or conditions 

outside. Within the Thermo 

Tent product line, it features 

both thermal and acoustic 

insulation. More than just 

a tent, it’s roomy enough 

for a dinner party and bunk 

beds, but tough enough 

to withstand the harshest 

of elements, all the while 

allowing guests to get a 

quieter night’s sleep. Our 

safari cabins are custom made 

so they can be manufactured 

to your preference and to 

accommodate any number 

of guests. The Great Loj is the 

essence of what glamping 

should be. 

SANDSTONE BELL TENT 

Boutique Camping 

020 3394 2986 

www.boutiquecamping.com 

Available with single door, 

double door or quad 

door, this luxury bell tent 

with heavy duty zipped 

in ground sheet (540g per 

sqm) has a new secondary 

mosquito door, with thicker 

guy ropes and extra strong 

pegs. It also features 285g 

per sqm 100% natural 

cotton canvas which is 

mould, rot and water 

repellent, and treated for 

UV colour fastness. Our 

exclusive Bell Tents provide 

you with prominent luxury 

and comfort. Available in 

an array of colours and 

patterns, our tents also 

come with four zipped 

windows and air vents 

at the top to allow more 

airflow. 

SAFARI TENT LEASE 

Glamping Solutions 

01234 862125 

www.glampingsolutions.co.uk 

We offer financing from an 

approved manufacturer of 

Safari tents and wooden 

lodges. You can start your 

glamping business from as 

little as £82 / week. Safari 

tents are available in 4 or 6 

person capacity and feature 

steel frame construction, 

540gsm polyester, fire 

retardant, anti-fungal 

sides, a 700gsm polyester/ 

PVC roof and 450gsm clear 

PVC windows. The package 

includes everything needed 

to start earning including 

indoor furniture, stove, 

boiler, toilet and sink, 

mattresses, first inventory 

and wooden floor and 

terrace. Electrical supply 

points can be added at 

extra cost. £16,750 plus 

installation (approx. £1,500) - 

£82 / week over five years. 

AUTHENTIC YURTS 

The Authentic Mongolian 

Yurt Company 

07785 246641 

www.mongolianyurts.co.uk 

Long established family 

yurt importing business; 

we have been working 

with the same Mongolian 

supplier for 10 years and 

ran our own yurt glamping 

site in Wales for 9 years. 

We pride ourselves on 

honest, no pressure 

advice - even the BBC 

chose us for technical 

advice on The Archers yurt 

retreat storyline! Grab a 

bargain… We are moving 

warehouses and have a 

6m/19’ diameter yurt with 

green woodwork available 

for £5,000 (normal price 

£5,772). Fully insulated 

with 100% wool felt. We 

also stock lots of spare 

parts - roof poles, walls, 

doors and covers in a 

variety of colours. 


ACCOMMODATION | PRODUCT FOCUS 

OUTDOOR HABITAT 

Tipi Guru 

07889 288982 

www.tipi.guru 

After a decade of being 

dedicated solely to the 

manufacture and supply 

of authentic tipis, you’ll 

probably have seen one 

of our tipis somewhere; a 

festival, film, magazine or TV, 

and you would be correct in 

thinking that we must have 

our craft perfected by now. 

We are uncompromising in 

our use of quality materials, 

the attention to detail, 

care and honour with 

which we contribute to the 

continuation of the tipi’s 

long history. Give us a call for 

sales or private / commercial 

event hire (luxury furnished 

and unfurnished). We are 

installation specialists and 

offer free consultation and 

advice. 

SHIKAR TENT 

Bond Fabrications 

01453 767171 

www.bondfabrications.co.uk 

We are often asked to 

create something special 

or unique and offer a range 

of safari lodges and tents 

as well as the beautiful 

boutique-style Shikar tent. 

Based on a traditional 

Indian design, it is perfect 

for the glamping market 

and provides comfortable 

holiday accommodation 

for up to 4 / 5. If you have 

something specific in 

mind or would just like 

to have tents made in a 

different colour then do 

chat with us. Embarking 

on a glamping business 

is an exciting and often 

challenging time and we 

take great pleasure in 

supporting our clients 

through that journey. 

Use code 

OPEN AIR at checkout 

for free shipping in May 

FEMININE CURVES 

Lotus Belle 

0117 971 0483 

www.lotusbelle.co.uk 

No accommodation 

better embodies the term 

‘Glamping’ than the Lotus 

Belle. It’s ‘glamorous 

camping’ so that’s staying 

in a tent, right? With its 

elegant simplicity and 

feminine curves the Lotus 

Belle is hard to resist, but 

it’s much more than just 

a good looking tent. It’s 

remarkably easy to pitch; 

a one person job that 

takes barely 20 minutes. 

Once pitched, the 5m 

model has an astonishing 

18sqm of standing space 

inside. The clever design 

boasts all the portability 

and usability of a standard 

bell tent while affording 

the roomy luxuriousness 

of a yurt at a price point 

that really turns your 

head. 

VILLA AIR 

Lushna Glamping 

+386 30 440 330 

www.glamping-lushna.com 

A bright and airy bedroom 

in nature. Lushna Villa 

Air is a unique structure 

with a fresh and modern 

design. This wooden tent 

offers all the comforts 

missing from traditional 

tents and features a king 

size bed (or two singles), 

lighting, AC/DC plugs and 

a mosquito net. Ideal for 

summer destinations, it 

is easy to set up without 

prebuilt foundations, 

minimising damage to 

the environment and 

disruptions, even during 

the high season. Units 

can be delivered fully 

equipped with furniture, 

lighting, mattresses, 

bedding even house 

numbers or names, 

meaning they can be put 

straight into operation. 


Event Hire Equipment 

Pre & Post Event Support 

Nationwide Coverage 

CALL: 0845 601 5427 

www.winnerevents.com 

WE ARE NOT AN AGENCY - WE OWN AND OPERATE 350+ ATTRACTIONS IN HOUSE 

MAKE YOUR NEXT EVENT MEMORABLE BY SELECTING 

ONE OF THE UK'S LEADING EVENT SUPPLIERS 

We specialise in supplying inflatables and attractions for all ages ranging from Inflatable zones to Team Building days, It’s a 

Knockout competitions, Motorised Activities, Casino Tables, Fun Foods, Catering and Infrastructure hire, Fun Fair Rides plus so 

much more! 

We own and operate over 350 attractions, creating quality and bespoke events that you will love. As we own all our attractions 

we can save you money, time, paperwork and stress. 

There is no need to contract multiple suppliers for your event as we can supply everything you need in one place! 

Apart from saving you money this means you can be sure of the highest quality event without the worry that one or more 

suppliers will let you down! Enjoy your event and let us do all the hard work for you. 

Our experienced and dedicated event managers will guide you through the planning process and be on hand to make your 

event run as smoothly as possible. 

WWW.SIMPLYTHEBESTEVENTS.CO.UK 0800 019 3908 SALES@SIMPLYTHEBESTEVENTS.CO.UK 


EVENTS 

CASE STUDY 

The Goodlife 

Experience 

A family friendly festival with originality at its core 

The Good Life Experience takes place at Hawarden Estate, Flintshire, North East 

Wales, from 16-18 September. This is an event with therapeutic qualities - good food, a focus on wellbeing 

and the gifts of the outdoors. You can expect a low impact and sustainably responsible event, with 

locally sourced entertainment, foods and artisan beers. Co-founder Charlie Gladstone talks to Open Air. 

Describe your event 

Our aim for The Good Life 

Experience is to create a feel-good 

festival with a difference. It draws 

the best of literature festivals, 

music festivals and food festivals 

into one outside event: it’s all 

about passion and discovery. We 

wanted to include a strong aspect 

of craft, by which we mean not 

hippy, woolly jumper crafts but 

exciting, charismatic, modern 

people making things. This year 

we have 40 makers: blacksmiths, 

potters, boat builders, weavers, 

mosaic makers, printers, axe 

specialists and more. We’re 

combining contemporary and 

heritage, hoping visitors engage, 

in a modern way, with objects that 

have been around for thousands of 

“WE WANTED 

OUR FESTIVAL 

TO BE AN 

EXPERIENCE, 

NOT JUST 

SOMETHING 

TO LOOK AT...” 

years. All of our makers run handson 

activities. We want to give 

visitors the chance to invest some 

time and effort to make something. 

Almost all of these activities are 

included in the ticket price, but if 

people are taking away something 

substantial like a canoe paddle 

there may be a charge. This part 

of the festival has been the most 

startling aspect of our success. 

How many people do you 

attract? 

There are four founders and we are 

about to enter our third year. In 

the first year we had 1,800 guests, 

4,500 the next year and we are 

optimistic about growing further 

this year and making the whole 

thing more financially viable. 

What is The Goodlife Experience’s 

history and when/how was it 

conceived? 

In a post-2008 world, when 

everything came crashing down, we 

all felt the need to enrich our lives in 

ways other than working, shopping 

and staring at our phones. That 

would mean more family time and 

more engagement with our hands, 

food, music and books. We wanted 

our festival to be an experience, not 

just something to look at; a festival 

of original ideas and activities, not 

a mimic of any other event held 

in the UK. The founders have a 

robust knowledge of the areas and 

aspects to include. For example, 

Cerys Matthews (leader singer of 

alternative rock band Catatonia) is 

hugely helpful on the music side. 


EVENTS 

My wife and I had lived in the 

Highlands for 20 years. We loved 

the wild and remoteness for our 

children to grow up in. The whole 

family was keen on excitement, 

danger and the outdoors. That 

echoes in our festival where we 

try to create a family friendly 

environment. It’s a place where the 

children are allowed to run a bit 

wild – an accidental philosophy of 

the festival! They can climb trees 

and hay bales, roll down slopes, 

take tea in a café solely for children, 

staffed by children, and enjoy all 

the fun of a 1930’s fairground. 

What about the necessary 

permissions? 

Licenses are evolving every time 

we grow and change; we are still 

involved with planning specialists 

now. We hope that we are gaining 

more credibility with the local 

councils as we grow. They are 

reticent and wary, even if we’re not 

a rave with 4,000 raucous young 

people! You have to be on the ball 

and make sure everything you do 

is ticking all the boxes because you 

won’t succeed without the support 

of the council. 

How have you planned the 

layout of the event and what 

structures do you use? 

All the activities are held under 

cover which differentiates us 

from many other festivals. The 

bigger tents - our biggest is the 

biggest you can get hold of - are 

all traditional canvas. There’s 

much looking at a plan, moving 

things to accommodate people, 

changing the layout to suit 

different purposes and, of course, 

allowing for hills and flat areas. 

We change the layout every year 

so it’s fresh and fun to explore. 

We create nooks and crannies 

which visitors can think only 

they have discovered and that 

they can enjoy with their friends 

and family. Expectations are 

high, unrealistically so, as huge 

festivals with massive budgets 

like Glastonbury are held as a 

benchmark. 

How did you research and 

source your marquees, stage, 

bars, etc? 

My sister is the full-time site 

manager so she does much of 

the leg work. However, it’s really 

a combination of building things 

ourselves and, like all business 

decisions, we kind of follow a 

lead: one arises and we follow it 

and that leads to something else. 

There’s a lot of “I know a guy who 

does that!” 

What entertainment do you offer 

and how did you choose and 

source it? 

This year five or six household 

name chefs are coming. They’re 

not charging anything as they 

enjoy the experience and know 

we don’t have that much money! 

You need to be very persuasive 

and believe in what you’re talking 

about and selling. Everyone needs 

to benefit from working together 

whether financially, in kind or 

in future earnings. We’ve been 

lucky in our bookings and have 

some good friends and contacts 

as a result. We have a speaker’s 

tent where anyone - historians, 

politicians, authors, adventurers - 

can talk on any subject. If we feel 

someone is interesting then we 

reckon they will be interesting to 

others. We don’t have VIP areas: 

performers have to mingle!

EVENTS 

What provisions do you make for 

power, lights, sound and toilet 

facilities? 

For loos and showers we try to do 

the best we can within the budget. 

As inveterate festival goers our 

experience helps us to judge. We 

buy in the power and lighting from 

people we have used in the past – 

that’s one less headache! 

How do you publicise the event? 

We don’t spend on advertising. 

We’ve received some very good 

press - Sky News, Jeremy Vine’s 

radio show, the Mail on Sunday’s 

You magazine, The Telegraph - 

which has been really helpful. 

However, social media and 

Instagram are, without question, 

our strongest publicity aids. 

With social media it’s the level of 

engagement that is important, not 

numbers of followers. 

What ground protection do you 

use for cars and footfall? 

The land belongs to us and we 

care about it. We do everything 

we can: well managed land will 

always recover. 

What challenges have you 

faced? 

Inevitably the biggest challenge 

is financial. It can take years to 

make an event financially viable, 

stable and profitable. We’ve also 

faced logistical challenges. For 

example, how to get hundreds 

of people into a space when 

they all arrive at the same time. 

Preparation is the answer. 

What advice could you give to 

someone entering the outdoor 

event industry? 

No business is easy: success 

depends on whether you’re ready 

to work hard. Although exciting, 

being an entrepreneur is a brutal 

way of living! Yes, it’s a lifestyle 

choice yet, if we can make it 

succeed then we’ve created a 

business in just a few years. Am 

I completely exhausted after? 

Absolutely! Do I wish for a simpler 

life? No, thank you. 

ADDRESS BOOK 

TENTS 

Posh Frocks & Wellies - 01829 751979 

www.poshfrocksandwellies.co.uk 

LIGHTING 

Event Equipment - 01829 289888 

www.eventequipmentltd.co.uk 

HEAT AND POWER 

Event Equipment (see above) 

SOUND AND STAGE 


CATERING 

Quickhire - 0151 6326945 

www.quickhire.co.uk 

FLOORING 


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DETAILS 

Date: 16-18 September 

A: Hawarden Estate, Flintshire, 

North East Wales 

T: 01244 784122 

W: www.thegoodlifeexperience.co.uk 

E: info@thegoodlifeexperience.co.uk 


EVENTS 

Estate Events 

Simon Foster, director of Commercial Heritage, Savills, looks at how owners of historic 

houses and rural estates might maximise their revenue streams 

WEALDENTIMES.CO.UK/EVENTS / WWW.DAVIDMEREWETHER.CO.UK 

THE NATIONAL CONTRIBUTION of historic 

houses – economically, culturally, socially 

and through education – is enormous. Of 

1,550 Historic Houses Association (HHA) 

houses and gardens, nearly 60% open their 

doors to the public, welcoming 13m visitors 

a year. They are key drivers for tourism and 

economic activity, often in remote rural 

areas where there are few alternatives. 

These special places are also central to 

our local identity, character, history and 

life. More than half of HHA houses host 

and support charitable and community 

events. They are embedded in their local 

communities and economies. However, 

these are very uncertain times for historic 

houses and gardens. Competition to attract 

visitors with reduced disposable incomes 

has increased; at the same time, costs 

have also risen. The legislative and tax 

framework for private owners is tougher 

and the challenges are considerable. Many 

historic house businesses face threats to 

their very survival. 

Yet all is not lost. Over the last 50 years or 

so historic houses throughout the UK have 

found creative ways to generate income 

to supplement traditional estate activities 

such as farming, forestry, game shooting 

and property lettings. Historic houses such 

as Chatsworth, Blenheim Palace and Leeds 

Castle attract many hundreds of thousands 

of visitors each year and are among some 

of Britain’s most popular tourist attractions. 

Hundreds more owners do the same, but 

on a much smaller scale. 

In recent years, these houses have also 

become popular venues for weddings, 

parties and corporate events and any spare 

capacity is often filled with other activities 

such as film, TV and photographic location 

work. The most commercially minded 

owners and managers are developing their 

businesses to maximise revenue: their 

properties are expensive places to maintain. 

However, it is not easy to run a profitable 

historic house business. 

The impact of commercial activity inside 

the house can be significant. Not only do 

hoards of visitors and high-spirited wedding 

guests cause wear and tear on the delicate 

fabric of the house but life for the family 

living there can be challenging. Savills has 

clients who have been woken in the night to 

find a disorientated and inebriated wedding 

guest standing at the end of their bed! It’s 

sometimes hard to see the funny side. 

It’s not surprising, therefore, that many 

owners have looked for alternative ways 

to generate significant income by allowing 


EVENTS 

CASE STUDY 

Hole Park 

A quick Q&A with 

Edward Barham, 

owner of Hole Park in 

Rolvenden, Kent 

GETTY IMAGES 

public access to their rural 

estates. A music festival in the 

park, for example, can produce as 

much, if not more, income than 

six months’ of visitor opening, 

while a well-conceived glamping 

enterprise can produce a healthy 

financial return from a relatively 

small capital investment. In both 

cases, these enterprises can be 

managed at arm’s length, with 

limited financial risk and virtually 

no impact on family life in the 

main house. 

Large outdoor events, such 

as festivals, concerts, country 

fairs and ‘Tough Mudder’ type 

endurance runs, for example, 

are good income generators 

for both the estate and the 

local economy. Regional 

accommodation providers and 

suppliers of essential services, 

such as portable loos, skips and 

generators, will benefit from the 

arrival of a major new event. A 

high profile function can also help 

raise the profile of a rural estate 

and provide it with national 

recognition. Savills’ clients at 

Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, 

for example, recognise that 

their brand awareness was 

significantly enhanced when The 

Big Chill music festival moved to 

the estate over 10 years ago. 

Of course there are downsides 

too. A large, outdoor event can be 

very disruptive to local residents: 

increased noise and traffic may 

be a problem. It is essential that 

landowners and event promoters 

do everything possible to keep 

local residents informed and 

limit the impingement. Recent 

wet summers have also had 

an impact. The intense activity 

during set up and clear up can 

cause damage to the event site if 

the weather is bad. The ground 

usually recovers over time but 

disrupted sward can cause major 

headaches if it is in sight of the 

following weekend’s wedding 

guests. 

Most of Savills’ clients prefer 

a relatively risk-free approach 

to outdoor events and promote 

their estates via external 

promoters who take the financial 

risk and pay the landowner a 

fixed venue fee or share of ticket 

revenue. While this is clearly 

much less risky than paying for 

and promoting one’s own events 

(Goodwood’s Festival of Speed 

and Revival are good examples 

of how to do it well) landowners 

need to ensure that the event 

and promoter are reputable 

and that any association will 

enhance the profile of the estate 

as a whole. They also need to 

ensure that they have a robust 

agreement to protect them 

from cancellation and potential 

breaches of the agreement 

terms. 

In many cases historic houses 

are increasingly seen as the 

backdrop to other commercial 

activities. Even the larger stately 

homes cannot rely solely on 

visitors to the house. The most 

successful historic houses create 

a visitor destination that is more 

than just the house but also the 

events held in its grounds. 

“A MUSIC 

FESTIVAL IN 

THE PARK, 

FOR EXAMPLE, 

CAN PRODUCE 

AS MUCH, IF 

NOT MORE, 

INCOME THAN 

SIX MONTHS’ 

OF VISITOR 

OPENING” 


Simon Foster is the 

director of Commercial 

Heritage at Savills, a 

special property service 

providing strategic, 

commercial and practical 

advice to owners, trustees 

and managers in the 

historic house and rural 

estates sectors. His team 

has experience in tourism, 

events and leisure 

including outdoor events, 

weddings and receptions, 

camping, glamping 

and caravanning 

enterprises as well as 

event management and 

contract negotiation. 

www.savills.co.uk/ 

services 

Hole Park is a 2,500 acre estate 

with 200 acres of classic parkland 

in the Weald of Kent and has been 

owned by the Barham family 

for the past four generations. 

Attracting visitors to its gardens, 

which are a mix of formal design 

and more naturalised planting, 

the house itself remains a private 

family home and therefore not 

open to the public. Hole Park 

holds several events throughout 

the year including: the Hole Park 

Cross Duathlons (a combination of 

running and mountain biking); the 

Dirty Dozen Races (incorporating 

obstacles and always lots of mud); 

Invasion Kent (Napoleonic battle 

re-enactments); the Wealden 

Times Midsummer Fair; the Kent 

Game and Country Fair; as well as 

many caravan and camping rallies. 

www.holepark.com 

Why did you decide to hold 

events at Hole Park? 

The downturn in the fortunes of 

agriculture forces all dynamic 

landowners to look at other ways 

of earning money from their land. 

Being blessed with an attractive 

200 acre parkland, and in an area 

that is short of venues to host 

outdoor events, once we had 

attracted one fair here, other 

organisers noted that and have 

beaten a path to our door.

EVENTS 

Are there any events that you 

wouldn’t consider holding? 

I prefer events when the public go 

home at 18:00 (six o’clock) and then 

we can relax. We have never yet 

had a music festival and I am quite 

keen not to do so on hearing what 

goes on from my children. Equally, 

the litter can become a very real 

problem at such events, I am told. 

We have trouble enough with it at 

our more sedate ones! 

Do you arrange any of your own 

events or use outside event 

companies? 

Predominantly we provide the 

venue as Licensor and leave the 

organisation of the often specialist 

event to the Licensee to put on 

the fair or event that they want. 

This means my financial exposure 

is limited and I don’t risk using 

skills I don’t have! I am also sure 

that the events are much better 

run and more varied because of 

this decision. That said we are 

promoting an event with the 

Napoleonic Association this year, 

which will see us acting as the 

organiser and promoter. This is a 

first for us. 

Do you hire the venue for a flat fee 

or take a cut of the ticket sales? 

Usually a flat fee. We have tried 

base fees plus headage but I find it 

unreliable and a cause for ill feeling; 

have they declared the correct 

number and why does it perhaps 

not tally with what we have been 

able to glean from the gate men on 

the day? 

“SO MUCH 

IS AT STAKE, 

FINANCIALLY 

AND WITH 

EXHIBITOR 

AND VISITOR 

EXPECTATION, 

THAT IT 

CAN BE A 

VERY HARD 

TO MAKE A 

DECISION TO 

CANCEL” 


Weather of course. So much is 

at stake, financially and with 

exhibitor and visitor expectation, 

that it can be a very hard to make 

a decision to cancel. Once the 

event is underway the Licensee 

takes on that role and as they all 

have safety officers, they make the 

call to close any dangerous part, 

such as an unsecure tent in high 

winds which happened one year. 

On another occasion we faced a 

showground with water standing 

in every divot and pot hole. We 

should have cancelled but I didn’t 

want to make that call for the 

reasons just given. I stood and 

looked at it, found I was not brave 

enough and went to a meeting 

in London for the day. The wind 

blew, the sun came out and the 

event was saved! 

What percentage of total estate 

revenue is attributed to the 

events you host? 

No precise figure here but a 

rapidly rising contribution to 

the estate’s overall profitability. 

From agriculture that might 

achieve a rent of £120 an acre with 

some additional environmental 

payments, we now have income 

many times that, and there is still 

space and time for the farming to 

continue. 

What extra maintenance do you 

need to do to the estate to hold 

these events? 

The infrastructure is always 

being updated and improved: 

water supplies, additional 

hard standing, tree planting 

as well as additional grassland 

maintenance. But the overall cost 

of these is not large and they are 

used by many events over a long 

period. 

How was the experience with 

the local authority in regard to 

planning? 

We do not host enough events to 

trigger a planning issue. Oddly, 

the parkland is divided between 

two local authorities by quirk 

of a boundary. At times we are 

not sure who to speak to! Of 

equal importance to planning is 

the licensing. Ensuring we have 

enough TEN’s (Temporary Event 

Notices, which particularly apply 

to sale of alcohol) between the 

several users can be testing. 

Any advice for other country 

house / estate owners thinking 

about holding events in their 

grounds? 

We are the fortunate owners 

of some of the most beautiful 

countryside in the UK, often with 

very expensive-to-run-houses as 

the centrepiece. You cannot sit 

and expect life owes you a living; 

every aspect of a diversified 

estate has to be made to pay its 

way. Hole Park has gone down 

the route of outdoor events 

because that suits us. There are 

alternatives but whatever you do, 

do something, not nothing, and 

do it well. 


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EVENTS 

Care Free 

Catering 

There’s a whole raft of free services available to event organisers 

from the Nationwide Caterers Association, writes Mark Laurie 

YOU MAY ALREADY have heard 

about the work the Nationwide 

Caterers Association (NCASS) 

undertakes to help mobile caterers 

trade successfully and safely. Yet 

we have a little known secret: we 

do loads for event organisers too, 

and we do it for free. 

NCASS started back in the 

late ‘80s when a small group 

of mobile caterers decided to 

improve the image and standards 

of the industry they loved. These 

days it supports 3,500 caterers 

across the UK, providing them 

with everything needed to run 

a profitable, safe and compliant 

business (from training and due 

diligence to work opportunities, 

with a whole load of other great 

stuff in between). 

The Association is also the 

UK’s only primary authority 

for mobile caterers as it has a 

legally-recognised partnership 

with Cherwell District Council. 

“UNDER THE 

PRIMARY 

AUTHORITY 

PARTNERSHIP, 

NCASS 

MEMBERS ARE 

PROTECTED 

FOR FOOD 

SAFETY, 

HEALTH AND 

SAFETY, 

TRADING 

STANDARDS 

AND FIRE 

SAFETY” 

Under the scheme this local 

authority partner has audited all 

the documentation and training 

NCASS provides to traders and 

signed it off as ‘assured advice and 

guidance’. Essentially this means 

that everything provided to traders 

is sensible, dependable and 

compliant with the law. 

Under the primary authority 

partnership NCASS members are 

protected for food safety, health 

and safety, trading standards and 

fire safety. Provided they stick to 

the advice and documentation 

offered by NCASS, members will be 

compliant with the law and make 

their trading environment a safer 

place. 

What you should look for 

Event organisers should look for 

compliant caterers to work at 

their events. If any harm was ever 

to befall a customer due to the 

actions of a contracted trader, 

organisers will need to be certain 

that they’re covered, and that the 

customer is too. 

Here’s a list of the essential 

documentation you would hope to 

be able to see for every caterer you 

contract: 

› liability insurance (employer’s, 

product and public cover up to 

at least £5m) 

› COSHH risk assessment (this 

pinpoints risks and hazards from 

substances within the catering 

business that could cause harm 

to the public) 

› a written health and safety 

policy (a legal requirement for 

any business that employs five 

or more people) 

› food safety risk assessment (a 

legal requirement for any food 

business) 

› health and safety risk 

assessment 

› fire risk assessment 

› gas certificate (which must 

have been issued by a Gas Safe 

registered engineer with the 

correct qualifications) 

› evidence of food hygiene 

training (eg, Level 2/3 training 

certificate). 

These are some other nonessential 

but good practice 

documents that can also come in 


EVENTS 

useful during event management: 

› waste control agreement 

› sustainability policy 

› method statement 

› DBS (Disclosure and Barring 

Service) check certificate 

› work unit insurance 

› electrical testing certificate 

› fire extinguisher certificate. 

You’re probably thinking that’s 

an awful lot of documentation to 

track. Well, you’re right but the 

good news is that NCASS provides 

its members with pretty much all 

of the essentials. 

The easy way to source safe 

traders 

Every single NCASS caterer agrees 

to work to best practice. Each 

trader has access to the most 

respected and triple-accredited 

online training courses for 

mobile caterers in the country. 

Furthermore, they have the 

backing of a due diligence system 

that’s been labelled as ‘assured 

advice and guidance’ by a district 

council. 

So, due to the NCASS primary 

authority partnership, when you 

choose an NCASS caterer to trade 

at your event you’ll have peace of 

mind knowing that you are covered 

and protected, and you’ll have 

added weight when it comes to 

bidding for events with your local 

authority. Having “all traders will 

be protected under the NCASS 

primary authority partnership with 

Cherwell District Council” on your 

application will go a long way. 

Aside from safe traders, 

what does NCASS offer event 

organisers? 

Every day NCASS helps event 

organisers manage the catering 

for their events by matching them 

with local caterers who meet 

their food requirements via a free 

SMS service called WorkOpps. 

Here’s how it works: you tell the 

Association a little about your 

event and choose the food you 

want sold on the day. NCASS texts 

those details to traders who fit the 

mould. The traders then contact 

you, by whatever means you have 

specified, and you take it from 

there with the peace of mind that 

the caterers at your event will be 

NCASS registered. 

Darren Price used WorkOpps 

and commented: “Your service 

is spot on. I’ll always use you 

and recommend WorkOpps to 

everyone.” Emma Barton said: 

“Thank you so much for your ‘find 

a caterer’ service. The form was 

easy to complete and we received 

many responses, very quickly. 

We were able to find a great

EVENTS 

local caterer, Pizza per Tutti, who 

was perfect.” You can register for 

WorkOpps and use the system for 

free as many times as you like at 

www.ncass.org.uk/findacaterer. 

Very soon WorkOpps will be 

incorporated into the innovative 

trader management system 

NCASS Connect. It’s free for event 

organisers, enforcement officers 

and traders to use and will save 

heaps of time, money and hassle 

when you come to sourcing traders 

and managing their documents. 

Via Connect you can ‘create’ 

events and shortlist both food 

and non-food traders for work. 

Shortlisted traders will receive 

an email requesting their work 

availability and documentation 

including insurance certificates, risk 

assessments, gas certificates and 

more. These documents will then 

load onto your event screen from 

those who accept. 

What’s great about this is 

that you can store the traders’ 

documents for the duration of the 

event and share that information 

with local authority enforcement 

officers. Through Connect you 

can ask enforcement teams to 

assess your shortlisted traders’ 

documentation. That’s good for 

them as they’ll be able to assess 

how many traders need a full 

inspection on-site on the day of the 

event, and good for you because 

you’ll get further reassurance from 

the local authority on how safe your 

selected traders are. In a nutshell: 

› you won’t waste time chasing 

traders for their documents 

› you can view and store traders’ 

documents for the duration of 

your event 

› you’ll put the onus on the local 

authority to confirm it’s happy 

with the traders and their 

documents (rather than it being 

your responsibility) 

› you can rate and comment on 

traders’ performances and view 

previous ratings 

› it’s free, plus you’ll save time 

and money normally spent on 

administration 

› you’ll minimise cold calls from 

traders when you ask them to 

apply for your pitches through 

Connect 

› you’ll help your local authority 

to manage traders’ food safety 

effectively. 

How do we know Connect works? 

Organisers of major events use 

NCASS Connect. WOMAD Festival 

used Connect to run its entire 

recruitment process for last year’s 

event for both food and non-food 

traders. It’s quickly become the goto 

place for street food collectives 

too. KERB, Digbeth Dining Club, 

Feast on the Street, Turntables and 

Scoff are regularly using Connect 

to manage their events and 

markets. 

Jack Brabant, Digbeth Dining 

Club organiser, said: “We only use 


Mark Laurie is the 

director at the 

Nationwide Caterers 

Association (NCASS), 

the only trade 

association and 

primary authority for 

mobile caterers and 

street food sellers in 

the UK. The NCASS 

mission is to provide 

traders with all the 

information, systems 

and support they need 

for a profitable, safe 

and legal business. 

From start-ups to 

fully-fledged mobile 

ventures, NCASS offers 

support and materials 

to help caterers at 

any stage of business. 

Currently looking after 

3,500 UK catering 

businesses, NCASS 

continues to grow year 

on year as a result of its 

care for and support to 

the catering and events 

industry. 

NCASS members as we want safe 

and professional traders. NCASS’s 

Connect system has helped us to 

demonstrate our professionalism 

and compliance and that of our 

traders to the council and it’s 

undoubtedly opened doors for us.” 

And Tony Lacey, head of Feast on 

the Street, said: “Connect helps 

us enormously because we now 

have a way to book, store and 

retrieve each trader’s paperwork 

at the click of a button and send 

that information to the EHO. 

This ensures that we have the 

necessary health and safety, food 

hygiene and every other bit of 

paperwork to hand. When you’re 

working with so many traders 

and so much admin it’s essential 

all is kept handy for us and any 

environmental health officers to 

check.” 

Furthermore, the Food 

Standards Agency believes that 

Connect has the power to reduce 

the regulatory burden for food 

businesses, event organisers and 

local authorities so much so that 

it has included Connect in the 

new Food Law Code of Practice 

guidance notes under section 

3.2.5.4. 

HOP ABOARD THE 

NCASS SHIP – FOR 

FREE! 

You can find out more about 

NCASS Connect and register 

for free as an event organiser 

at www.NCASSConnect. 

co.uk. As soon as you’re 

registered you’ll be able to 

log in on the main NCASS site 

– www.NCASS.org.uk – and 

start managing traders and 

documentation for all of your 

future events. 

For more information on 

NCASS’s services for event 

organisers don’t hesitate to call 

on 0121 603 2524 or take a look 

around the website at 

www.NCASS.org.uk 


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EVENTS 

Stage Specifics 

Specifying a stage, writes Jane Russen of Star Events Ltd, requires careful 

consideration but it is nothing a good supplier can’t handle 

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY STAR EVENTS LTD 

ANYWHERE YOU WANT to bring 

together a number of people 

and focus their attention in 

one place will require some 

sort of structure on which 

to provide entertainment or 

announcements. Your stage 

and sound choices are just as 

critical whether you’re holding 

live music in a field for crowds 

of thousands or a more intimate 

affair with audiences of a few 

hundred. Of importance too 

are the logistical and legal 

requirements for erecting and 

overseeing a stage when on site. 

There are a number of stage 

designs available to hire but not 

all are suitable for all types of 

shows. Mobile stages - portable 

versions of a permanent 

structure - are available in 

various shapes and sizes, the 

choice of which may be dictated 

by the level of production that 

acts require. The quick install 

process of a mobile stage is 

perfect for time conscious 

venues and tight budgets as 

overnight, on-site security 

won’t be required for as long. 

Providing you can get a truck 

onto your site, a mobile stage 

will always be the quickest, 

easiest and most cost effective 

solution. 

Smaller events might get 

away with a road show unit 

- usually a converted bus or 

truck - which incorporates 

stage, sound and lights all 

in one but these are rarely 

suitable for a band of any size. 

Also, with recent changes to 

the legal requirements event 

organiser’s face, a stage that is 

simply driven to site then left for 

the event organiser to oversee 

can lead to trouble. Since April 

2015, event organisers need to 

make provision for compulsory 

adherence to Construction 

Design Management (CDM) 

regulations, enforced by the 

Health and Safety Executive 

(HSE). This requires an 

experienced person to remain 

with the stage at all times. 

A mobile stage may still be 

suitable for sites with restricted 

access. We have a range of 

stages featuring independent 

rear steering which can access 

a site where a standard artic 

trailer may not be able. We 

also have a stage with a built-in 

360° turntable, meaning it can 

be positioned in very difficult 

to access locations such as 

across a road: this is unique to 

Star Events. If you can’t get a 

truck onto the site then you’ll 

need to consider how else 

you can deliver equipment. 

This may have to be unloaded 

outside the area and either 

transferred to a smaller vehicle 

or man-handled. Of course, 

this affects price and build time 

quite considerably so may be 

cost prohibitive. A site visit with 

all your main contractors is 

essential to ensure there are no 

nasty surprises on the day. 

Prices vary for stages and are 

dictated by their construction 

and size. A mobile stage is 

priced on the number of days 

it is on site: the longer you 

have it, the more it will cost. 

However, a mobile stage’s 

advantage is that it is likely to 

be on site for less time, keeping 

security costs to a minimum. A 

10 x 8m mobile stage will cost 

from £3,000 for one day’s hire 

with a minimal cost for each 

day thereafter. 

“A MOBILE STAGE IS PRICED ON 

THE NUMBER OF DAYS IT IS ON 

SITE: THE LONGER YOU HAVE IT, 

THE MORE IT WILL COST” 


EVENTS 

Determining stage size 

Some artists will specify the size of 

stage they require. A large, popular 

band might dictate that they need 

a 15m stage (measured on the 

width of the performance area) 

whereas smaller acts might only 

need 8-10m. It is also important to 

take into account your expected 

audience numbers: you will be 

surprised how small your event will 

look when a crowd of 3,000 is faced 

with a 15m stage frontage. You 

want your visitors to leave feeling 

that they were part of something 

special, not something that could 

be deemed unsuccessful because 

the event looked empty. Another 

factor to consider is how stage 

width impacts on stage height. The 

floor height on some smaller stages 

can be limited, giving the audience 

a restricted view. 

It goes without saying that you 

must avoid the potential of crowd 

crushing. Wherever possible we 

always advise placing a stage at 

the lowest point on site to create 

a natural amphitheatre. Crowd 

control barriers are also required 

and, if your budget allows, the 

placement of video screens (one 

either side of the stage) will allow 

the audience to see from a distance 

avoiding undue crowding at the 

front. 

A quick note about stage sizes. 

Ask the supplier to clarify exactly 

how its stage sizes are measured. 

Stages are usually measured on 

performing width, not including 

the wings. This is the measurement 

that will help you the most when 

deciding which size of stage you 

need. If you are unsure, a good 

supplier should be able to help 

you find a size that meets both 

your performers’ and audience 

requirements. If they can’t then 

consider another supplier! 

Safety in erection 

Stages in the UK are generally of 

a modular scaffold substructure 

or are mobile. Erecting the 

former can be tricky and is 

subject to many health and safety 

regulations due to the high risk 

activities involved with working 

at height. With a mobile there 

is usually no working at height 

but this will vary from stage to 

stage. The industry is currently 

undergoing a period of intense 

scrutiny by the HSE, especially 

with regards to working near 

leading and performing edges 

during a stage build. In addition, 

any construction at an event 

site must comply with CDM 

Regulations that, until recently, 

have only been enforced in the 

construction industry. 

The success of any stage will 

depend on the quality of its 

design and whether it is only 

ever used within its capabilities. 

We are aware of many stages 

designed with a roof for indoor 

use but that are then used 

outside. This is a particularly 

dangerous practice because wind 

load ratings must be applied on 

roof sheeting and side walls for 

stages used outside. Some small 

trailer stages come with side 

sheets that are air permeable, 

ie. having small holes to let 


EVENTS 

the wind through, bear in mind these 

will also let the rain through too. Before 

confirming your stage, ensure you receive 

the calculations and check who will be 

on standby during your event. It is critical 

that any design clearly demonstrates the 

amount of ballast needed to cope with 

wind force, especially in winter. 

In addition, there are strict guidelines 

on the amount of deflection acceptable in 

the masts and rigging once construction 

is finished. Of course, no stage would 

be complete without audio/visual 

components and these can weigh several 

tonnes depending on the equipment. 

When designing the masts this weight 

must always be factored in. Competency 

to erect and dismantle stages is an 

important factor to consider. Riggers 

need to be specially trained to climb and 

install components and so too must the 

carpenters and scaffolders who put the 

substructure together. 

Where a stage is built on a vehicle 

trailer to make it mobile most of the 

above will still be relevant, except for the 

substructure. Mobile stages also need to 

meet requirements set out in the Road 

Safety Regulations and VOSA. 

It is a legitimate question to ask whether 

buying a stage rather than hiring one is a 

good investment. I would argue that hiring 

is definitely the better option. Buying a 

stage is not easy. There are many variables 

to consider so, unless you’re going to 

use it eight to 10 times per year and can 

accommodate all of the above, hiring from 

a reputable company is the best solution. 

Stage positioning 

Considerations on what surface to 

place your stage will vary from venue to 

venue. Your contractor may prefer it but 

audiences aren’t so keen to sit and enjoy a 

picnic on concrete! Most stages will easily 

stand on grass. Any site that requires 

heavy trucks to drive off hardstanding 

onto grass may require a temporary 

roadway system or ground protection. 

A reputable stage company will insist 

on a site visit to ensure that all these 

considerations are taken into account. 

You will also need to carefully design 

your event’s ‘floor plan’. Ideally a site will 

have a gentle slope, creating a natural 

amphitheatre. Again, audience egress and 

exit will vary from site to site. It’s essential, 

however, to have more than one way to 

get in and out: critical should the site need 

to be evacuated quickly and effectively. 

Ideally bars, toilets and food outlets should 

be located away from the stage to prevent 

crowding in any one area although not 

so far away that their use becomes an 

expedition rather than a brief stroll away. 

Most stage performances will require 

lighting, even those that take place in 

daylight. Any stage with a weatherproof 

roof and walls will tend to be darker than 

the audience area so basic lighting will be 

needed to counteract this. It’s generally 

considered a waste of money to install 

coloured lighting for a daytime show. 

However, if the event is to be televised 

then some coloured lighting will provide a 

natural look. Some orchestras will require 

basic white lighting, negating the use and 

additional cost of lit music stands. At nighttime, 

coloured lighting rigs are limited 

only by the imagination of the lighting 

designer... and your budget. 

Another consideration is audience 

lighting. There should be a minimum level 

of illumination, sufficient for someone to 

leave their place in the crowd to go to the 

bar/toilet and be able to find their way 

back again. Floodlights are also required 

in case of emergency and to signify the 

end of an event. Sound is one of the 

most important items at most events. 

Generally speaking, any good quality, large 

loudspeaker that is designed to be used 

at music events will handle almost any 

form of music. However, the only way to 

control the sound properly is by employing 

a sound engineer. 

In conclusion 

You need to be confident that the 

contractor you’re hiring is experienced, 

insured and reputable: references will 

underline suitability. If time allows ask to 

view the stage before you book it, either 

at the supplier’s premises or another 

event where it is being used. Take this 

opportunity to ask as many questions 

as you can so you’ll know exactly what 

to expect at your event. Speaking to a 

supplier on the phone may give you some 

information but seeing the product for 

yourself will be much more insightful. It’s 

also worth asking what standby cover 

comes with the stage, whether the supplier 

has been to the site before and if it has 

supplied any similar events to the one 

you’re organising. 


Jane Russen is the national sales manager for Star Events Ltd, having been with the company for 22 years. Star Events is a 

subsidiary of Altrad Beaver 84 Ltd and has been supplying equipment and services to the events industry for 40 years. It has 

designed and delivered stages, structures, seating and rigging for some of the world’s most high profile events as well as for a 

vast array of smaller community and commercial functions. It prides itself on its service, carefully considering each particular 

situation, irrespective of the audience size, to provide equipment, service and safety event organisers can rely on. 

www.stareventsltd.com 


LIVE 2016 

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BUSINESS INNOVATION 2016 

INNOVATION 2016 

The event for farmers, land owners and rural business 

entrepreneurs to gain inspiration, resources and advice 

INSPIRING RURAL ENTREPRENEURS 

6 

A WORLD OF IDEAS 

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9 & 10 NOVEMBER 2016, NEC BIRMINGHAM 

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200 SEMINARS 

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@Farm_Innovation 

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IN 

PARTNERSHIP 

WITH: 

LINKING ENVIRONMENT AND FARMING

EVENTS | PRODUCT FOCUS 

Stages and Sound 

Stage and sound solutions for events 

DOMED CANOPIES 

Alistage 

01707 653245 

www.alistage.co.uk 

Designed to integrate 

with the Alistage modular 

stage system, the Alidome 

is available in spans from 

16’ (4.88m) to 40’ (12.2m) 

with variable depths in 

increments of 8’ (2.44m). 

It features inbuilt truss 

sections for lighting, a leak 

proof construction and is 

wind tested to BS6399 pt 2. 

Covers are inherently flame 

retardant to BS5438 Test 2 

and are available in electric 

blue or silver/black for larger 

Alidomes. Clear roof covers 

also available for 16’ and 

20’ systems. Alistage is one 

of the UK’s leading stage 

and barrier manufacturing 

and hire companies with 

a client base running into 

thousands. 

DIY OR TURNKEY SERVICE 

Themes Incorporated 

01458 832602 

www.themesincorporated.co.uk 

We have been supplying 

sound, lighting and staging 

equipment for over 30 years, 

as well as stocking over 

10,000 themed props. Clients 

are able to ‘dry hire’ any of 

our props and equipment, 

without installation 

personnel. Shipping to 

and from the venue via 

third party couriers can be 

arranged or alternatively 

clients can make their own 

arrangements to collect 

and return goods from our 

warehouse. If the above 

seems a little daunting then 

we also offer a ‘turnkey 

installation.’ A team will 

arrive and install the 

props, lighting, stage etc. 

then remove them upon 

completion of the event. 

SOUND AND SILENCE 

Direct Acoustic Solutions 

01403 820846 

www.directacousticsolutions.com 

Direct Acoustic Solutions is 

an independent company 

specialising in noise reducing 

products, advice and solutions 

to the entertainment and 

events industry. Manufacturing 

the Zone Array sound system 

has enabled us to provide a 

lifeline for many venues where 

noise restrictions have made 

it impossible to operate. It 

provides an unprecedented 

level of control in directing 

sound and, as a modular 

speaker system, can be tailored 

to suit your specific architectural 

and environmental conditions, 

while addressing common 

environmental health concerns 

extremely effectively. Our 

groundbreaking sound system 

offers an excellent alternative to 

conventional soundproofing. 

MORBIT: HYBRID 

MOBILE STAGE 

Star Events Ltd 

01234 772233 


The Morbit or ‘mobileorbit’ 

design combines the 

advantages of a mobile 

stage floor system with 

the visual appeal and 

structural strength of the 

Orbit Flexidome® roof. The 

innovative design uses 

built-in cranes to build, no 

forklift required which of 

course saves you time and 

money! Once the stage is 

fully constructed, the cranes 

can then be used to fly the 

PA. Total build time is 6-7 

hours for the 13m. The 15m 

version has a build time 

of 9-10 hours and has the 

option of monitor positions. 

Ideal for audience sizes 

ranging from 4,000 up to 

15,000. 


EVENTS | PRODUCT FOCUS 

LIVE SOUND SYSTEMS 

Igoe PA Hire 

0845 625 5555 

www.igoepahire.co.uk 

Igoe PA began as an audio 

hire business and has 

grown into a complete 

event production company 

providing live sound and DJ 

equipment, lighting, rigging 

and staging. Our speaker hire 

packages range from small 

vocal PAs to concert line 

array systems and facilities 

to dock an iPod / laptop. 

We also specialise in sound 

production for bands and 

supply EAW / Martin Audio 

rigs powered by Lab Gruppen 

/ Crown amps - the pinnacle 

of industry standard 

loudspeaker / amplifier 

technology. With over 1,000 

successful gigs under our 

belt we have earned our 

reputation as a premier 

sound reinforcement outfit. 

QUALITY MOBILE 

STAGES 

Daytona Stage Hire 

01484 605555 

www.daytonastagehire.com 

Premier stage hire company, 

Daytona Stage Hire, is a 

family business run by 

father and son team Paul 

and Kris Haigh. With over 

30 years experience in 

the festival, events and 

entertainment industry, 

Daytona clients can be 

assured of receiving 

a quality product at 

exceptional prices with 

excellent customer service. 

There is no typical Daytona 

client; the team has worked 

with clients from diverse 

backgrounds, providing 

one or multiple stages for 

both small and large scale 

events, all conforming to the 

latest industry standards of 

quality, design and safety. 

HEXAGON RANGE: 

MOBILE AND 

TEMPORARY STAGES 

Star Events Ltd 

01234 772233 


Hexagon is a collection of 

the most popular options 

from Star Events’ range of 

over 150 different stages, 

seating and overlay 

structures. Delivery price, 

to anywhere in the UK, 

is already worked out, 

the drawings you need 

are available now, the 

H&S documentation is 

prepared (and externally 

accredited) and even 

the picking and loading 

lists are on our system, 

reducing the risk of delays 

on site due to missing 

parts. Get an immediate 

quote online today 

at stareventsltd.com/ 

hexagonquotationform 

S1000 DUOSPAN 

Silver Stage 

01594 800700 

www.silver-stage.com 

The new addition to 

the SL range combines 

flawless efficiency of 

design with complete 

flexibility, comprising of 

two SaddleSpan structures. 

The S1000 DuoSpan has a 

sleek tubular frame for a 

clean finish with a tighter 

opaque skin and a variety 

of arrangements, and the 

option of extended ends 

and base extensions, adding 

to the overall height and 

capacity of the venue. 

With plenty of space to 

accommodate a bar and 

performance area, the S1000 

DuoSpan is the professional 

choice for all events from 

concerts to product launches 

and company socials. Make 

your event stand out in style. 


CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY 

LINKING ENVIRONMENT AND FARMING 

LIVE 2016 

Classified Directory 

COUNTRY HOUSE 

BUSINESS INNOVATION 2016 

INNOVATION 2016 

The event for farmers, land owners and rural business 

entrepreneurs to gain inspiration, resources and advice 

INSPIRING RURAL ENTREPRENEURS 

6 

A WORLD OF IDEAS 

TO MAKE YOUR LAND 

MORE PROFITABLE 

9 & 10 NOVEMBER 2016, NEC BIRMINGHAM 

The event for farmers, land owners 

7,500 VISITORS 

and rural business entrepreneurs to gain 

200 SEMINARS 

inspiration, resources and advice 

400 EXHIBITORS 

Register for FREE tickets at 

www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk 

Why not have an Event in a tent? 

Call us now: 01978 661449 

www.event-in-a-tent.co.uk 

Register for FREE tickets at www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk 

@Farm_Innovation 

#FarmBiz 

IN 

PARTNERSHIP 

WITH: 

Providing luxury bell tents available 

for both hire & purchase 


Providing 

Providing 

luxury bell 

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bell tents 

for: 

perfect for: 

• Camping • Camping 

+44(0)203 

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394 2986 

• Outdoor summer play summer roomsplay rooms 

boutiquecamping.com 

• Garden • lounge Garden areas lounge areas 

• Festivals • Festivals 


info@boutiquecamping.com • Weddings 

• Weddings 

and much 

and 

more! 

much more! 

+44(0)203 394 2986 

+44(0)203 394 2986 

boutiquecamping.com Available for both hire & purchase. 

boutiquecamping.com Available for both hire & purchase. 

Festival 

Trackway 

Your own private bathroom 

right next to your tent or caravan 

Tel. 0031 186 769 054 ❤ info@campplus.co.uk 

www.campplus.co.uk 

Simply the Best Events own and operate over 350 

different attractions in house for Corporate Fun Days 

and It’s A Knockout events throughout the UK. 

Speak to one of our Event Managers 

on 0800 019 3908 

www.simplythebestevents.co.uk 

Multi award-winning trackway 

& safety flooring solutions 

01455 553700 

sales@ecotrackway.co.uk 

Ec 

Track 

& Access Ltd 

incorporating 

UmTech 

Epic Group 

The coolest bar around available 

to hire at your next event. 

Completely self sufficient. We park up and 

start serving “with a license” it’s that easy! 

Specialist cocktails, bespoke 

drinks and brilliant beers 

Call Matt on 07459 864 634 

www.splitscreenbar.co.uk 


CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY 

A4 - Full Page Ad.indd 1 04/04/2016 17:17 

A4 - Full Page Ad.indd 1 04/04/2016 17:17 

Luxury Toilet Trailers, Event Loos, 

Themed Toilets, Shower Units & 

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Stuck for furniture hire? 

www.europainternational.com/oa 

01256 384 134 

www.site-equip.co.uk 

event@site-equip.co.uk 

hire happy 

Call 08454 303015 

Ensure your guests have the best!! 

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enquiries@classicalloocompany.com 


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• Ideal for all prestigious corporate and private outdoor events 


Tel: 0345 459 0589 





ü Hire or buy your Anchor Blocs outright 

ü Take advantage of our 'Anchor Managment' 

programme - great if you have multiple events at 


ü Hire 

Full 

or 

logistics 

buy your 

and 

Anchor 

storage 

Blocs 

facilities 

outright 

are available 

ü Take 

Payment 

advantage 

by credit 

of our 

card 

'Anchor 

for convenience 

Managment' 

ü 

programme 

Emergency telephone 

- great if you 

service 

have 

for 

multiple 

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events at 


ü Full logistics and storage facilities are available 

ü Payment by credit card for convenience 

ü Emergency telephone service for 24/7 support 

ü 1000kg, 500kg, 330kg and 250kg options 

ü Perfect for securing marquees, inflatables and any 

other fabric temporaty structures. 

CDM 2015 compliant Lloyd British Testing Certifed 

ü 1000kg, 

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500kg, 

with 

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and 250kg options 

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securing 

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other 

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Range 

temporaty 

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From branded covers to 

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compliant 

all 

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trucks. 

Certifed 

in accordance with BS5975:2008. 

ü Custom options avalible. 

ü Huge Range of accesories, From branded covers to 

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www.qualityunearthed.co.uk 

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Weather services for 

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Speak to a forecaster 

09065 77 76 75 

Calls cost £1.50/min plus network access charges 

weatherquest.co.uk 

@weatherquest_uk | /Weatherquest 

Tel: 01945 463857 

info@fireworksdisplayteam.co.uk 

www.fireworksdisplayteam.co.uk 


AT THE BACK 

What’s in a name? 

Ian Hamilton explains why he believes the term ‘Glamping’ is an oxymoron 

THERE’S BEEN A growing 

interest in the tipi and the yurt 

for a good few years now, both 

across the UK and in mainland 

Europe. In fact we’ve seen a 

veritable explosion of alternative 

structures and new creative 

places to spend time, holiday, 

party or just retreat away. So 

much so that the amount of 

choice is now staggering. 

Personally I think that in 

essence it is a really great thing. 

The aspect that I feel has most 

value is being outdoors and I 

could write much about the 

benefits of communion with 

nature, but there are many 

smarter, funnier and wiser 

people than I who have done a 

sterling job doing just that. In 

fact if you take the time to read 

and research, you could not fail 

to conclude that being stuck 

inside a building is actually a 

wholly detrimental process 

to the human being on many, 

many levels. However, here 

in the UK we have a major 

stumbling block to everyone 

running for the great outdoors 

- if only the weather was better! 

But our lives of comfort and 

warmth, convenience and 

familiarity stop us in our tracks 

as soon as nature whisks up a 

cold, rainy or snowy spell. 

With the boom in alternative 

places to stay and different types 

of accommodation a new buzz 

word has entered the common 

vocabulary and absolutely no 

doubt a result of media spin, 

as usual. It was probably about 

eight years ago that Kate Moss 

was famously photographed 

coming out of a tipi at a Spring 

garden show in Malvern with 

the headline ‘Camping is Cool!’ 

Well, it was actually one of our 

tipis that she was photographed 

in, and I think that it was a key 

moment, a moment when the 

press started to push the ‘stay 

at home, go camping’ mantra 

off the back of their dear Kate. It 

took several years before it really 

“WITH THE BOOM IN ALTERNATIVE 

PLACES TO STAY AND DIFFERENT TYPES 

OF ACCOMMODATION A NEW BUZZ WORD 

HAS ENTERED THE COMMON VOCABULARY 

AND ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT A RESULT OF 

MEDIA SPIN, AS USUAL” 

took hold, and the pioneers of 

the early days supplying these 

alternative structures were 

indeed in a most unusual little 

niche. But boy did that change. 

Nowadays most people will 

have heard of a tipi and a yurt, 

been in one, stayed in one or 

have a friend who has. And 

most people will have heard the 

expression ‘Glamping’ using it 

like some new, hip, in the know 

turn of speech. 

I did some research on this 

now, well over-used phrase. 

Over the period of one year, 

the word literally sky-rocketed 

into common vocabulary. From 

the preceding year where there 

were 0, that’s right ZERO Google 

searches it was suddenly being 

searched 80,000 times, and 

today is still being searched by 

increasing amounts. 

What does this tell us? And 

what the flock is ‘Glamping’ 

anyway? Derived from the 

words ‘glamour’ and ‘camping,’ 

I took a look at these two 

words’ definitions in the Oxford 

Dictionary. 

Glamour noun [mass noun] 

1 an attractive or exciting 

quality that makes certain 

people or things seem 

appealing: the glamour of 

Monte Carlo 

1.1 beauty or charm that is 

sexually attractive: pile hair up 

for evening glamour 

1.2 [as modifier] denoting or 

relating to sexually suggestive 

or mildly pornographic 

photography or publications: a 

glamour model 

2 archaic enchantment; magic: 

that maiden, made by glamour 

out of flowers 

ORIGIN: early 18th century 

(originally Scots in the sense 

‘enchantment, magic’): 

alteration of grammar. 

Although grammar itself was 

not used in this sense, the 

Latin word grammatica (from 

which it derives) was often 

used in the Middle Ages to 

GETTY IMAGES 

mean ‘scholarship, learning,’ 

including the occult practices 

popularly associated with 

learning 

Camping noun [mass noun] 

the activity of spending a 

holiday living in a tent: camping 

attracts people of all ages [as 

modifier]: a camping trip 

And there you have it, the 

two words and their individual 

meanings. I for one hope that 

it is the origin of the word 

‘glamour’ coming from the 

enchanted connotation that was 

intended for its conjoined usage, 

as I certainly have never seen 

anyone get worked up about a 

tent… nylon maybe, but not a 

tent. 

But anyway you cook it, the 

term is here to stay it would 

seem, and if you need proof of 

that then you only need turn 

to the Oxford Dictionary again 

to find the word listed. I kid 

you not, and here is the Oxford 

definition: 

Glamping noun [mass noun] 

British informal 

a form of camping involving 

accommodation and facilities 

more luxurious than those 

associated with traditional 

camping: glamping is likely to 

satisfy any city slicker seeking a 

little refuge in nature - without 

foregoing any of life’s luxuries 

ORIGIN: early 21st century: 

blend of glamorous and 

camping 

Unbelievable. I have a large 

axe to grind. Stay tuned because 

I believe we are really missing a 

vital point here. And I’ll ask the 

question. What is a Glippy? I’ll 

finish this when I get time. In the 

meanwhile, breathe, smile, do 

something nice for yourself and 

another. Peace. 

Ian Hamilton has been providing 

tipis for sale and hire for over 12 

years, supplying festivals, weddings, 

corporate events and private 

individuals. www.tipi.guru 


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Open Air Business May 2016

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