Open Air Business February 2017

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FUNCTION VENUES Gemma Thorogood & Claudia Sampson, co-founders Firefly Camping www.fireflycamping.co.uk What is the business case for offering pop up accommodation at venues without on-site accommodation? Our business developed out of a need to accommodate people at my sister’s wedding. She was determined to bring 100 people to a field in the middle of nowhere, far enough from any nearby civilisation to be able to keep the DJs going until after midnight, and she wanted people to sit around a fire afterwards and natter until daylight. There were a couple of B&Bs in the next village, perfect for the oldies, but she didn’t want her guests forking out massive taxi fares to take others to the nearest town and beyond, and she certainly didn’t want them driving or going home early because they couldn’t drink. So, to have some bell tents set up on site that people could literally roll into felt like the obvious answer. Not only do they keep the party going, but they also act as the most beautiful backdrop for any festival wedding. Firefly bell tents are a whiter canvas in colour, with wooden pegs and rope guy lines making them feel quintessentially British. It’s the little details that count. What advice could you offer a function venue owner on choosing pop up accommodation? Look for a supplier who will make it easy for you. You want to work with a team that will take the bookings off your hands and deal with the guests direct. We suggest the bride and bridegroom insert our info into their invitation. Then we talk to their guests about how best to sleep them, what beds and linen they’ll need, if they want the tent as far away from the noise as possible as they have children to put to “WE ALSO PUT WELLY SLATS DOWN FOR PEOPLE TO STAND ON AND TAKE OFF THEIR SHOES, AND SOME FIREFLY LANTERNS OUTSIDE EACH TENT TO GUIDE PEOPLE THROUGH THE ‘VILLAGE’ AT NIGHT” bed earlier, etc. - all the little details that you don’t need to worry about. And you want them to be a personable company who can roll in, set up the tents, receive the guests and roll out again, without any bother. What about the logistics? Depending on the units required, we arrive one or two days before the big day, setting the tents up with all the beds and furniture by the morning of the event. Each tent contains the requested amount of beds (we use Aerobeds - the best quality air mattresses, which they claim to drive tanks over to test them), a couple of side tables, some fairy lights and a colourful rug. We also put welly slats down for people to stand on and take off their shoes and some Firefly lanterns outside each tent to guide people through the ‘village’ at night. Each tent is numbered so the guests know which is theirs, and each bed is dressed with fresh linen so it’s ready for them like a hotel. There is also a hanger for people to hang their dresses and suits - camping doesn’t have to be rough. Following the event, we discuss the best day to pick up the tents and take them back to our unit in Bristol. We do request weather days however. If it’s predicted to be a very wet pack-down day, we request a better day with the venue manager to prevent us from having to put them up to dry elsewhere. What is the USP of your product/service? British-made for British weather, our tents are made by BCT Outdoors who have been making tents for the scouts for over 100 years. Not only are they beautiful with a whiter canvas than other bell tents, rope guy lines and wooden pegs, but they know the British weather too. That mixed with our mantra to keep things simple for the event organiser, while going the extra mile for the guests, is what makes people remember us and our tents. What options do you offer for small, medium and large budgets? Our packages are really aimed at smaller to medium sized events, catering well for weddings as the bigger companies often won’t come out for less than 20 tents. We have a minimum 10 tent hire policy which we ask the event organiser to guarantee with a deposit at the time of booking. Then we make the tent bookings direct with the guests, asking the bride and bridegroom to give them a gentle nudge if they are coming in slow. 26 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES | PRODUCT FOCUS Pop Up Accommodation Create an instant glampsite for wedding and party guests HASSLE FREE POP UP GLAMPING Bellows Glamping and Events 01283 343714 www.bellowsglamping.co.uk At Bellows Glamping and Events, we offer pop up accommodation within the Midlands and further afield. We offer a range of packages to suit all, from camping with friends and family to hen parties with the girls, wedding guest accommodation, or play tents and chill out tents for birthday parties and events. We set the tents up ready for your arrival and take them down when you have left, providing you with hassle free, luxury glamping anywhere you want it! For more information, please visit the website or contact Helen and Alex at info@bellowsglamping.co.uk BELL TENTS BUILT TO LAST Clear Sky 0845 299 6484 www.safaritents.net What sets our bell tents apart from the rest is that they are all made from heavy duty canvas, in fact the same canvas that we use to make our safari tents. That means they are completely waterproof and built to last for three to five years, and even longer when our unique PVC fly sheet is added. They all come in an oblong bag, which can easily fit in the back of an estate car or on a roof rack, and can be assembled in less than half an hour to provide a luxurious camping experience. For indoors and out, to buy or rent. 01962 877 644 | info@twilight-trees.com www.twilight-trees.com WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 27
Page 1: ISSUE 7 | February 2017 | www.opena
Page 4 and 5: INSIDE Contents ISSUE #7 | February
Page 6 and 7: The latest news from the world of o
Page 8 and 9: HAE EHA - improving benefits and su
Page 10 and 11: INDUSTRY TALK GETTY IMAGES consulta
Page 12 and 13: FUNCTION VENUES CASE STUDY Hounslow
Page 14 and 15: FUNCTION VENUES HOLLY CLARK PHOTOGR
Page 16 and 17: FUNCTION VENUES Isabel Smith shares
Page 18 and 19: FUNCTION VENUES “AS YOU MAY HAVE
Page 20 and 21: FUNCTION VENUES The ‘Away Days’
Page 22 and 23: FUNCTION VENUES of firms that desig
Page 24 and 25: FUNCTION VENUES Pop Up Accommodatio
Page 28 and 29: ACCOMMODATION CASE STUDY BEN CARPEN
Page 30 and 31: ACCOMMODATION MATT SWEETING PHOTOGR
Page 32 and 33: ACCOMMODATION WILD CAMPING IS a mos
Page 34 and 35: ACCOMMODATION LEFT: The Secret Camp
Page 36 and 37: ACCOMMODATION Family Glamping Targe
Page 38 and 39: FAMILY MATTERS 5A SPRINKLE OF MAGIC
Page 40 and 41: ACCOMMODATION Landscaping for Glamp
Page 42 and 43: ACCOMMODATION incorporate an advent
Page 44 and 45: ACCOMMODATION MARK SCOTT Having ide
Page 46 and 47: EVENTS CASE STUDY HIDDEN ART Cornwa
Page 48 and 49: EVENTS HIDDEN ART HIDDEN ART As far
Page 50 and 51: EVENTS Open Air Cinema Open Air Bus
Page 52 and 53: EVENTS SKYLIGHT CINEMA plus a six k
Page 54 and 55: EVENTS Events on Your Land Whether
Page 56 and 57: EVENTS Possible things the organise
Page 58 and 59: EVENTS Entertainment Entertainment
Page 60 and 61: EVENTS Shelley Eckford, partner Tro
Page 62 and 63: ADVERTISING FEATURE Spot light A ro
Page 64 and 65: CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY Classified Dir
Page 66 and 67: PERIWINKLE NEW YEAR RESOLVE Periwin

Open Air Business February 2017

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