Open Air Business February 2017

ISSUE 7 | February 2017 | www.openairbusiness.com
WELCOME
Welcome
DIVERSIFICATION IS ALL about ideas. It can be
a fun and creative process, and an opportunity to
get started with a new way of life. It must be why
there is such a buzz at the glamping, farm/estate
diversification and outdoor event trade shows;
everyone is either excitedly fact-finding for a new
business idea, or are already enjoying being part of
one.
I love creativity, and creativity in business is
certainly exciting. In this industry there are so many
examples of entrepreneurial thinking that have
paid off; often born of necessity, it is fantastic to see so many diversification
success stories. Our case study on Hounslow Hall Estate is one such example;
dairy farmers who suffered disaster following a TB outbreak are now the proud
owners of a function venue ‘firing on all cylinders’ as an off road driving and
activity centre, with weddings and events thrown into the mix.
I hope we carry some of this buzz from the industry through to the pages
of Open Air Business. In this issue we certainly explore some different ideas,
taking a look at using glampsites and farm estates for corporate ‘away’ days,
pop up glamping accommodation for weddings and parties, and outdoor
cinema events. All these ventures can be achieved and made profitable on a
small, medium or large scale, so I hope these atricles will inspire some of you to
investigate how they might work for you.
As part of our commitment to quality editorial we have engaged more
industry experts to share their knowledge. In the Accommodation section we
look at how landscape design impacts on a glampsite, how to attract family
bookings, and how pre-pitched accommodation can be made to appeal to
‘wild campers’.
In Function Venues, I enjoyed the candid advice from Isabel Smith on ‘Fawlty
Towers’ style disaster weddings and planning for the worse. In Events, there is
plenty to digest in the entertainment advice feature while Linda Krawecke runs
through the considerations necessary for running events on your own land.
PUBLISHERS
Steve Rix - steve@openairbusiness.com
Tally Wade - tally@openairbusiness.com
EDITORIAL TEAM
Susannah Millen - susannah@openairbusiness.com
Tally Wade - tally@openairbusiness.com
ADVERTISING SALES
Graham Alleyne - 01892 677740
graham@openairbusiness.com
Antoinette Marley - 01892 677721
antoinette@openairbusiness.com
DESIGN
James English -
www.jamesenglishdesign.co.uk
PUBLISHED BY
Coffee Shop Media - 01580 848555
www.coffeeshopmedia.com
The House on the Hill, Friezley Lane,
Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2LL
t: 01580 848555
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NOW
LIVE
Entertainment
Options & Advice
FUNCTION VENUES
› Things go Wrong!
› Corporate Events
ACCOMMODATION
› Wild Camping
› Family Glamping
EVENTS
› Outdoor Cinema
› Events on Your Land
BUSINESS
ISSUE 7 | FEBRUARY 2017 | www.openairbusiness.com
ALSO:
POP UP GLAMPING, LANDSCAPE DESIGN, PLANNING
Tally Wade
Editor / Publisher
COVER PHOTO
Picture courtesy of Bigtopmania.
Turn to pages 58-60 for advice on selecting
entertainment for your next event
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