Open Air Business February 2017

FUNCTION VENUES
HOLLY CLARK PHOTOGRAPHY
offering prizes for school raffles
pays dividends, as it gets our name
out and a bit about what we do.
You’d be surprised how many
people are in business that find us
that way.
How would you describe your
‘style’ or unique selling point?
Our USP is definitely our setting.
Look East and you can see right into
the centre of Milton Keynes, with
the Xscape snowdome visible most
days. Look West and you look out
over the rolling Buckinghamshire
countryside. We are also incredibly
flexible – we can be slick and
corporate or we can be bushcraft
and camping.
What challenges have you faced?
Luckily, we have not had to deal
with planning issues for our
activities as much of that was
worked out in the good old days
when things were a lot simpler.
Our neighbours are also pretty
good. Apart from the weather, that
presents us with differing problems
each year, our main challenge is
what to do with all our ideas! We
are currently looking at open air
film screenings, glamping and mud
runs to name a few.
What are your plans for next
season?
We continue to look at ways
to expand the business and to
continue to grow. We have set aside
about four acres for a Maize Maze,
situated just outside our offices.
This will be a great addition to
the activities on-site, as well as an
“WE ARE
CURRENTLY
LOOKING AT
OPEN AIR FILM
SCREENINGS,
GLAMPING
AND MUD
RUNS TO
NAME A FEW”
attraction for our summer events.
Describe your average day midseason
We usually open the office around
7.30am, it gives us a chance to work
through any emails and messages
and get the coffee brewed. The
majority of the staff arrive about
an hour later, and once everyone
is in we hold our morning briefing,
assigning tasks and duties.
Our guests usually start to arrive
at 9am and head out for their
activities. We welcome them back in
with drinks and snacks before they
head on their way. The last guests
usually depart at 5pm and the
clear up begins. Vehicles and quads
are washed down and refuelled,
Segways are put on charge and
equipment is tidied away ready for
the next day.
ADDRESS BOOK
MARQUEES
R&R Marquees - 01908 511144
www.rrmarquees.co.uk
Country Tipis - 07486 542374
www.countrytipis.co.uk
The Natural Tent Company
07766 667496
www.thenaturaltentcompany.com
Hels’ Bells Tents
07977 129035
www.madeinenglandbyhelenfryer.co.uk
BARS & CATERING
The Cocktail Car Company
07808 529639
www.thecocktailcar.com
Every now and again the
temptation of a beer and a
barbecue gets the better of us and
we succumb to a slighter later night
and a few laughs.
Do you enjoy the business?
Absolutely. Every day is different.
Every guest arrives with an
expectation and we love the
challenge of meeting those.
What advice could you give to
others wishing to diversify into
outdoor hospitality?
Do your research. We were
fortunate enough to be able to
adopt an existing business plan.
We knew the formula worked and,
when we have needed to, tweaking
that plan has been relativity straight
forward.
HEATING, POWER & LIGHTING
Paragon - 01280 822282
www.paragontoolhire.com
TOILETS & SHOWERS
JB Event facilities
0845 130 1118
www.jbeventfacilities.co.uk
DETAILS
Drayton Road, Newton Longville
Buckinghamshire, MK17 0BU
01908 630665
www.experiencethecountry.co.uk
14 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM