Open Air Business February 2019
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glamping, festivals and outdoor events
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glamping, festivals and outdoor events
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ISSUE 25 | February 2019 | www.openairbusiness.com
BUSINESS
GLAMPING TRENDS
FUNCTION VENUES
> Food
> Furniture
/ /
GLAMPSITES
> Huts
> Exteriors
EVENTS
> Planning
> Fyre Festival
OAB GATHERING: Have you got your ticket?
CASE STUDIES: TUTBURY CASTLE • TY CWCH • THE BUSHCRAFT SHOW
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ISSUE 25 | February 2019 | www.openairbusiness.com
WELCOME
Welcome
IT PAYS to be green, and not just in terms of good PR. You’d have to be
living under a rock not to be affected by the messages bombarding us from
all media channels about the effects of climate change and the problem of
waste, and people want to feel they are contributing to a more responsible
future by being conscientious about what they are purchasing.
In the last issue Kate Morel reported that 50 per cent of consumers said
eco-credentials were important to them in making a choice about where
to holiday. In this issue we are seeing the same message echoed by Kelly
Chandler on choosing food for weddings and events, Michael Hall on an ingenious way to turn
waste plastic into event structures and Tom Dixon on the increase in bookings for glamping
experiences with sustainable living at their heart.
The case studies we have chosen illustrate the point. Ty Cwch, a contemporary twist on a
boathouse, is a new, near zero carbon glamping development in Cardigan Bay. The Bushcraft
Show is successful in its ambition to ‘leave no trace’ yet welcomes 12,000 people to a green
field site for a three day event every May, and Tutbury Castle couldn’t do what it does as a
venue without careful consideration for the impact its activities has on its heritage site and the
community around it.
In Entrepreneur’s Chat, James Lynch shows how his Fforest brand, which touches all three
of the outdoor hospitality sectors, has flourished because of (not in spite of) his sustainability
sensitivities, and we have a number of news stories with similar up beat messages – well done Y
Not Festival, Brighton and Hove City Council, Royal County of Berkshire Show and the team at A
Greener Festival.
Please do book your tickets to OAB Gathering if you haven’t already done so – we have some
surprises up our sleeves I can’t wait to tell you about! (hot tub anyone?)
Tally Wade
Editor / Publisher
PUBLISHERS
Steve Rix - steve@openairbusiness.com
Tally Wade - tally@openairbusiness.com
EDITOR
Tally Wade - tally@openairbusiness.com
ADVERTISING SALES
Marney Whyte - 01892 677740
marney@openairbusiness.com
DESIGN
James English -
www.jamesenglishdesign.co.uk
PUBLISHED BY
Coffee Shop Media Ltd - 01580 848555
www.coffeeshopmedia.com
The House on the Hill, Friezley Lane,
Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2LL
t: 01580 848555
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Contents ISSUE #25 February 2019
UP FRONT
4 News
8 Product News
10 OAB Gathering
13 Entrepreneur’s Chat – James Lynch,
Fforest
40 Glamping 2019 – what the booking
stats say from Canopy & Stars
42 VisitEngland – how the agency is
supporting tourism
44 Huts – mini case studies
46 OAB Loves… Exteriors – making
things look lovely on the outside
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Find more expert advice online:
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BUSINESS
FUNCTION VENUES
19 Tutbury Castle – an 11th castle
offering events with an historic flavour
24 Food Trends – vegan, bowl, slow
cooked and more
27 WWW – who, what, where: how to
stand out on the web
29 Furniture – trends for events in 2019
30 Interiors – mini case studies
GLAMPSITES
33 Ty Cwch – a contemporary glampsite
by the sea
38 Industry Insights – Kate Morel on
planning, business and more
EVENTS
48 The Bushcraft Show – three days
celebrating survival in the wild
52 Event Timelines – planning events
from 12 months out with Jim Davey
57 Fantastic Plastic – Michael Hall has
a cradle-to-cradle solution for event
waste
58 Fyre Festival – John Radford asks
what can we learn?
60 Event Glamping – mini case studies
62 Spotlight
63 Classifieds
65 24 Hours… with Chris Kelly
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ISSUE 25 | FEBRUARY 2019 | www.openairbusiness.com
GLAMPING TRENDS
FUNCTION VENUES GLAMPSITES EVENTS
> Food
> Huts
> Planning
> Furniture
/ /
> Exteriors
> Fyre Festival
OAB GATHERING: Have you got your ticket?
CASE STUDIES: TUTBURY CASTLE • TY CWCH • THE BUSHCRAFT SHOW
COVER PHOTO
The new off grid Octa-Pod from Wild Hart, hand
crafted in Devon using local materials. Complete with
kitchenette, en-suite shower room, wood burning stove,
solar panels and compost toilet. 07971 869058
www.wild-hart.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 3
The latest news from the world of outdoor hospitality
Y Not Festival Reduces Waste
Y NOT Festival has launched a
sustainability campaign called
‘Keep the Peaks Green’ targeting
sustainability by cutting out plastic,
encouraging recycling and reducing
landfill waste.
Launched ahead of its 2019 event
(25-28 July in Pikehall, Derbyshire)
organisers said: “While there isn’t
a more idyllic spot for Y Not, we
recognise that running a festival on
this site has a direct impact, both
positive and negative, on the natural
environment, and we’re making even
bigger efforts to be sustainable”.
Measures include a litter bond,
which means every booking will have a
compulsory £10 deposit. Festival-goers
are then encouraged to hand in their
rubbish at the end of the festival to be
reimbursed.
Following on from last year, all
single used plastics are prohibited for
traders. The 10p cup scheme will also
be back; 10p will be given to anyone
who collects and hands in a cup.
Organisers are encouraging
customers to take tents home with
them, rather than leaving them for
landfill, or to sign up to use pre-pitched
tents at the new camping zone Pitch
Village.
Diversifying
Assets in Light
of Brexit
ACCORDING TO a recent survey
conducted by Rural Solutions, 35 per
cent of respondents were looking to
diversify into the leisure and tourism
sector, including as glampsites, farm
parks and venues, to help future-proof
their assets. This comes off the back
of an exclusive Country Land and
Business Association (CLA) poll, which
shows a third of farmers plan to use
less of their land for agriculture.
According to the head of the
National Farmers’ Union “the UK's
farmers face a profound crisis in the
event of a no-deal Brexit, and there is
dangerous ground ahead even if a deal
is agreed”.
A government briefing in December
suggested that in the event of no
deal, it could allow some products
to continue to enter the UK without
paying a tariff to keep food prices
stable. Minette Batters, the union’s
first female leader, pointed out UK
farmers would have third-party status
and would face high tariffs to sell their
goods into Europe. “We’d be priced out
of the market and the result could be
catastrophic. 40 per cent of our lamb
goes to Europe, for example”.
Tackling Waste at Royal Show
THE NEWBURY and District Agricultural
Society has been working hard over
the last few years to ensure its waste
management plan for the Royal County
of Berkshire Show is sustainable and ecoconscious.
With thousands of attendees the
show creates a lot of waste. Organisers
work closely with MJ Church on a waste
management plan, providing a good
selection of recycling bins across the
showground during the show weekend, making it even easier for visitors to dispose of
their waste.
In 2018, over 14 tonnes of waste was removed from the showground after the event,
10 tonnes less than in 2017. 84% was recycled and 15% was transferred from waste to
energy.
The show team is appealing to visitors to bring their own carrier bags, water bottles
(and fill up at free water stations), look out for exhibitors who are offering recyclable
cups and other products, and to ensure they dispose of waste in the bins provided.
4 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
Residents Have Their Say
BRIGHTON AND Hove City Council has
commissioned a draft Outdoor Events
Strategy to 2024, giving people a chance
to have their say on the future of outdoor
festivals and events in the area. This will
be presented to the Tourism, Development
and Culture Committee in March.
The city hosts many hundreds of
events throughout the year including the
Marathon, Pride and Veteran Car Run.
The city council is examining the city’s
future, its priorities, approach and the
delivery structures needed to realise its
potential.
Part of the report includes the concept
of an Outdoor Events Charter. The first
of its kind in the country, this is a public
statement about what the council and
organisers are trying to achieve through
outdoor events and how. It will help
organisers understand what the city
expects from them to which events it
publicly commits. It is also a tool to
use with local communities who may
be impacted by events, to show what
is trying to be achieved and to create
better relationships. The charter builds
on petitions made to the council last year
to ban single-use plastic and reuse and
recycle at big events.
Ian Taylor, events manager, told
Open Air Business: “We worked on this
for six months in order to get people –
from residents to outside visitors and
stakeholders – to buy into our Outdoor
Events Strategy. We’re in a good place. It
has a broad programme of high quality
events that deliver meaningful benefits
to the community and attract tourists. If
we want to achieve more in ensuring our
outdoor events reach their full potential
we have to be mindful of a number of
broader economic, health, cultural, social,
environmental and tourism agendas. To
that end we asked businesses, industry
professionals and members of the public
about our vision, objectives and criteria for
events, and any specific issues that they
had. The response was overwhelmingly
positive. It was quite heartening in fact,
and not too far away from doing what we
envisaged.”
Expansion for Ready Camp Brand
Luxury Lodges to Double
Wedding Bookings
IN A bid to increase the income from events
held at Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire, six
double and en-suite lodges have been
constructed and several on-site cottages
renovated. Having put in the plans for
this latest development in 2016, the
accommodation will be available in May and
is predicted to double the number of future
wedding bookings, as well as create three
new jobs at the Bromley-Davenport familyowned
estate.
Capesthorne Hall has made a significant
investment into the project and also
received a LEADER funding grant, which
provides funding for projects that create
jobs, help businesses to grow and benefit
the rural economy. The new accommodation
at the Macclesfield venue will also be
offered to those visiting the area and will
be available all year round, creating an
additional income stream to help fund
essential repairs to the hall and grounds.
READY CAMP, the glamping brand
from The Camping and Caravanning
Club, has added three new locations
across England for 2019.
With new safari-style tents at
Clitheroe (Lancashire), Kingsbury
Water Park (West Midlands) and
Devizes (Wiltshire), there is now a
network of 242 pre-pitched Ready
Camp tents at 48 locations across the
UK.
Bob Hill, club sites director, said:
“Ready Camp remains a top pick
for hassle-free breaks and we’re
pleased to extend the coverage of our
glamping holidays across England this
year.
“It’s reported that 59 per cent of
people are planning a domestic UK
break in 2019 [ABTA Holiday Habits
2018] and we’re growing to
meet this demand.”
Since its launch in 2015, Ready
Camp coverage across the UK has
more than doubled and it exceeded £1
million revenue in 2017.
Each Ready Camp tent is wellequipped
with a kitchenette, decked
area, table and chairs, triple bunk bed
and a single stow away bed. Campers
need only bring their bedding, towels
and a sense of adventure. On-site
facilities are of a high standard and
benefit from regular investment.
Facility blocks are within walking
distance of each tent and many
locations have dedicated parent and
baby rooms.
Ready Camp has scooped several
awards in recent years including the
Best Holiday Rental for Families award
at the Family Traveller Awards 2017.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 5
The latest news from the world of outdoor hospitality
Greener Festival
Awards 2018
NOT FOR profit group A Greener Festival
(AGF) awarded 35 festivals and outdoor
events from 14 countries accolades
celebrating initiatives to reduce their
environmental impacts at a ceremony held
at Eurosonic Noorderslag on 18 January.
Awards were presented in 11 areas including
transport, waste, power, water, and local
area impacts. Applicants undergo a rigorous
assessment, site visit and post-event
analysis of their events’ sustainability
actions.
AGF directors Ben Challis, Claire O’Neill
and Teresa Moore presented awards to a
host of worthy recipients that included Das
Fest (Germany), DGTL (Netherlands), Pohoda
Festival, Slovakia, and Ireland’s Body and
Soul.
UK event Boomtown Fair applied for the
award assessment and feedback for the
first time in 2018. Sustainability manager
Emily Ford said: “We are delighted that
we obtained the Commended Award from
AGF. This highlights the positive action we
are taking. It’s a great start to our mission
to ensure that we significantly reduce the
environmental impact of the event, as well
as raise awareness of just how vital it is that
we all pull together to protect the planet for
future generations.”
Claire O’Neill commented: “This year
has seen unprecedented action and an
awareness of the urgency to make our
industries and our lives more harmonious
with nature. The festivals and events that we
have had the honour to assess and award
are helping to shape this transition, which
has positive repercussions not only within
the events’ operations but also through the
message and example they put out into the
world.”
The awards themselves are made entirely
of reused materials that include salvaged
tents by I Dress Myself and reclaimed wood
turned by Steve O’Neill.
The next batch of winners, which will
include events in the southern hemisphere
along with winter events that take place in
the northern hemisphere, will be announced
at the annual Green Events and Innovations
Conference, London, on 5 March as part
of the International Live Music Conference
(ILMC).
Congratulations to UK festivals who
achieved awards in the following categories:
› Outstanding - Cambridge Folk Festival,
Green Gathering and Wood Festival
› This Highly Commended - Greenbelt
Festival
› Commended - Boomtown Fair, Fire In The
Mountain and Kew the Music
› Improvers - BST Hyde Park, ILMC and
Manchester Pride.
For those events wishing to participate,
applications are now open for the Greener
Festival Awards 2019. Contact hello@
agreenerfestival.com to learn more.
BEN CHALLIS
VisitBritain partners with Airbnb
NATIONAL TOURISM agency
VisitBritain/VisitEngland and
Airbnb have announced a
partnership to promote and
broaden local-led tourism
experiences, driving visitor
growth and boosting the
economy.
The £500,000 match-funded
partnership will work with
businesses and destinations
to promote local experiences
to domestic and international
visitors, and grow and broaden
the range of experiences
available.
Experiences on the Airbnb
platform offers visitors
handcrafted activities, tours
and educational workshops led
by local experts. The platform
also offers a route to market for
British businesses to host their
experiences and grow their
revenue stream.
The partnership will
work with businesses and
destinations to get more Brits
to take a holiday at home to
boost tourism, collaborating
with the tourism organisations
of Scotland and Wales to
promote local experiences.
A focus is getting more young
Brits to take a short break
at home. About half of UK
domestic Experiences bookings
on the Airbnb platform are
made by 18-to-34 year olds,
who are also the target for
VisitEngland’s domestic
campaign #MyMicroGap. The
campaign encourages young
Brits to take a ‘microgap,’ a
break typically taken during a
gap year but condensed into
a short break. Statistics show
that in 2016, 16-to-34 year
olds took almost 1.4 million
fewer holidays in Britain than a
decade previously.
The partnership will also see
the national tourism agency
and Airbnb hosting a series
of free regional workshops
across Britain during March
and April for destinations
and local tourism businesses,
entrepreneurs and charities.
This will enable potential
hosts to find out more about
listing an Experience on Airbnb,
how to design an innovative
Experience for visitors, as well
as how to drive engagement on
the platform through exciting
visuals and compelling content.
The workshop dates will be
available in the coming weeks
at www.visitbritain.org
6 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
BUSINESS
2019 PRE SEASON
GATHERING
24-25 March 2019
Hothorpe Hall, Leicestershire
Last
few tickets
remaining!
AFFORDABLE
Just £70
FOCUSSED
and practical
FUN
we've got a
gin bar and a
treehouse!
24-25 March 2019
Hothorpe Hall,
Leicestershire
BUSINESS
2019 PRE SEASON
GATHERING
Limited tickets...
We are offering 150 delegate spaces
• 50 x delegates
from Function
Venue businesses
• 50 x delegates
from Glamping
businesses
book
now
• 50 x delegates
from Outdoor
Event businesses
Pick and choose between streams of content at the event • Expand
your Open Air Business horizons by interacting with peers and
experts across sectors
From the people
who bring you
www.oabgathering.com
PRODUCT
Contemporary Design
for Maximum Space
THE LAST half of 2018 saw the launch of Ellipse Leisure Buildings’ Haven
range of luxury outdoor accommodation.
The Balder and The Tees models, names borrowed from the rivers that
flow through Teesdale in the North Pennines, are unique in their design
both inside and out.
A contemporary roof design maximises interior space for a more
comfortable living experience. While outside, a handmade steel chassis
adds the choice of mobility to the timber exterior.
The Tees boasts the option of an en-suite and kitchenette for a fully
functional living space, while The Balder is more compact for guests that
want more of a ‘rewilding’ experience.
All models are entirely bespoke; the only limitation being a client’s
imagination. www.ellipseleisurebuildings.co.uk
New FinVision Saunas
THE LOG Company is excited to announce it now
stocks FinVision saunas in addition to Kirami
wood fired hot tubs. In Finland, saunas and hot
tubs regularly sit side by side and the new range
has been handcrafted from surface-treated plain
sawn spruce and spruce plywood, finished with
a large tempered glass window and LED lighting.
The cosy interior encourages relaxation, while the
window allows users to feel at one with nature.
Exteriors are available in a variety of colours to
match those of the hot tubs. Each sauna comes
complete and is available with an electric or wood
fired heater. www.thelogcompany.com
All in one Bed Solution
EMBERS CAMPING (www.emberscamping.co.uk) has purchased 180 all-in-one
beds from Bundle Beds for glamping rental and corporate events. Each rollout
bed comprises a self-inflating mattress, 15-tog duvet, pillow and washable
jersey cotton sheets, rolled together in a waterproof outer layer. Following the
success with Embers Camping, Bundle Beds is now looking to share its concept
with other sites and venues and is focussing on highlighting the benefits to
glampsites and events.
A complete sleeping solution that is quick and hassle-free to set up and pack
away, Bundle Beds unroll in seconds, are easy to store and there's no need
for airbeds, mattresses or additional bedding. Bundle Beds can be rented
to visitors, paying for themselves within a few of weeks of bookings, adding
another revenue stream to a business along with commission on any follow-up
sales. www.bundlebeds.com
8 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
Accessible and Inclusive
Showering from Horne
HORNE SPECIALISES in the
design and manufacture of preplumbed
thermostatic shower
panels for a variety of private
and public care applications,
including accessible and
Changing Places facilities.
Glampsite operators offering
accessible amenities for their
clients should consider installing
a Horne Care shower. It features
an enclosed hot water supply
pipe (within the shower panel)
avoiding injury caused by a
hot surface, and integral Water
Fittings Regulations and Type
3 Approved (healthcare rated)
thermostatic shower valve
and lever controls. These are
clearly and logically marked
and individually shaped to
further denote function (flow or
temperature) by feel.
The easy, low-torque lever
operation works with a closed fist,
offering greater independence to
users with limited grip or hand
mobility. Other features include a
riser mechanism with easy height
adjustment using only a closed
fist, and visual contrast for users
with limited sight including on
shower controls, head, hose and
handset and background panel
(LRV=86) and a clear black dot on
the riser mechanism.
Glampsite operators will also
appreciate its robust design and
ease of installation, cleaning,
valve maintenance (with free
online training) and low-cost
spare parts. An integral flow
regulator helps reduce water use,
which, coupled with accurate and
reliable thermostatic control of
the shower valve, saves energy
too. Watch a video at http://goo.
gl/PqVf76
Peefence - a Simple Events Urinal
DANISH DESIGNED Peefence is a unique,
simple and inexpensive urinal system to
complement mobile toilet solutions for the
male attendees to festivals, street and other
outdoor events.
Developed in 2015 by four students
from the Technical University of Denmark
(DTU), the patented design has attracted
significant interest from festivals across
Denmark, including one of the largest music
festivals in Europe, the Roskilde Festival.
Other outdoor events, including Distortion
in downtown Copenhagen, have followed
and continue to increase the numbers of
Peefence specified each year.
Last Year the first sale outside of Denmark
was to Notting Hill Carnival, where more
than 100 Peefence urinals were installed.
2019 will see an international roll out,
starting with the UK, Netherlands, Belgium
and Germany. The roll out plan includes
the launch of a brand new plastic Peefence
which is printable, re-usable and can be
installed without tools. www.peefence.com
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 9
INDUSTRY NEWS
OAB Gathering
24-25 March, Hothorpe Hall & The Woodlands
Leicestershire, LE17 6QX. www.oabgathering.com
Got Your
Ticket?
There aren’t many left
- secure yours ASAP at
www.oabgathering.
com/tickets
LINE UP
Meet the experts offering their
advice at the inaugural Open
Air Business Gathering on 24-
25 March
FUNCTION VENUES
KELLY CHANDLER
Wedding venue
consultant
Kelly Chandler
Consulting
www.kellychandlerconsulting.co.uk
Kelly is a long term preferred
service provider for exclusive
venues including Syon Park,
Highclere Castle, Spencer House
and Stoke Park Club. Kelly’s
consulting services to wedding
venues draw on prior experience
in international conference and
event planning, over 15 years
of business management and
working directly with couples
as a wedding planner. She is
also a former director of trade
body The Alliance of Wedding
Planners.
NICOLA FIRTH
Venue managing
director
Hothorpe Venues
www.hothorpe.co.uk
Nicola is the managing director
of Hothorpe Hall & The
Woodlands (our venue), and
responsible for its continued
growth, ultimately ensuring
high customer standards are
maintained and that its offering
meets the needs of everchanging
markets.
Hothorpe Hall, based
in Theddingworth on the
border of Leicestershire and
Northamptonshire, unveiled
its eco-friendly development,
The Woodlands, in 2015. The
Woodlands also includes a
bar, dining room and luxury
treehouse, all of which we will
be experiencing.
RICHARD
GOODWIN
Rural surveyor
CLA Midlands
www.cla.org.uk
A qualified charted surveyor
with considerable experience
of diversification in rural areas,
Richard advises CLA members
on all aspects of planning
and diversification including
real estate appraisal and
development.
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.
ANDREW WHITE
Venue marketing
specialist
Triggerfish PR
www.triggerfish.co.uk
Andrew is MD of Triggerfish
Communications, a specialist
in helping heritage venues
and leisure attractions build
awareness and market share in
the business of events. Clients
include Historic Royal Palaces,
Center Parcs, The Science
Museum and the National
Theatre. A regular contributor
to Open Air Business, Andrew
writes on how venues can
maximise revenue from
corporate bookings and has an
eye for the potential of unusual
spaces.
SECRET SPEAKER - TBA!
GLAMPING
RICHARD
COULTER
Glamping
entrepreneur
Long Valley Yurts
www.luxury-yurt-holidays.co.uk
Richard is co-founder of
Long Valley Yurts, which was
established in 2008 with John
Maddy. Long Valley Yurts aims
to provide luxury camping
within the Lake District
National Park in custom-built
yurts situated in stunning rural
locations.
The business has experienced
year-on-year growth, with four
sites now operating within the
Lake District National Park
and one in the Peak District
National Park. With more sites
nationally to follow over the
next five years, the business
has developed a concept that
sets the standard for the luxury
camping market.
CHRIS KELLY
Short breaks director
Port Lympne Hotel &
Reserve
www.aspinallfound
ation.org/port-lympne
Chris is short breaks director
at Port Lympne Hotel &
Reserve, directing all facets of
its accommodation offering
including the Tree House Hotel,
Pinewood Pods, Livingstone
Cottage, Livingstone Lodge,
and Bear Lodge.
He has been central in Port
Lympne’s glamping provision,
which now includes safari tents,
shepherd huts, treehouses,
pods and a ‘bubble’.
MOREL & CO
Glamping development specialists
Morel & Co - team members Kate
Morel, Ian Firth (planning) and Leigh
Smallwood (treehouse design/build)
www.morelcompany.co.uk
Kate Morel and her team work
closely with clients to support
new glamping developments
and businesses. Ian Firth
(Bondstones) works with Morel
& Co providing planning
support, and Leigh Smallwood
(Smallwood Treehouses),
the design and installation of
treehouse accommodation.
Kate supports industry events,
providing tailored presentations
and workshops for tourism
conferences and exhibitions and
recently published a Glamping
Business Guide in association
with the Friends of Loch Lomond
and the Trossachs.
SARAH ORCHARD
Hospitality business
marketing
Orchard Marketing
Associates
www.orchardmarketing
associates.co.uk
Sarah helps owners of
glamping and other hospitality
businesses get their marketing
approach spot on to get
more bookings without using
expensive online agents. She
is a professionally qualified
Chartered Marketer, with
over 25 years’ of hands-on
marketing experience in travel
and tourism. Sarah is also
currently developing her own
glampsite with her husband –
an exciting new venture and a
big learning curve too!
10 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
BUSINESS
2019 PRE SEASON
GATHERING
JIM
RICHARDS
Finance specialist
Rural & Business
Specialists
www.ruralmortgages.co.uk
Jim is an agriculture graduate
and has an extensive rural
education. Early in his career he
specialised in agricultural and
rural finance, working for some
of the leading lenders including
The Agricultural Mortgage
Corporation (AMC), ING (the
Dutch banking group) and the
Royal Bank of Scotland Group
before co-founding Rural &
Business Specialists in 2004.
He’s a successful consultant
with specialist rural and banking
knowledge, tenacity and a
determination to succeed on
behalf of clients.
EVENTS
MARY CORFIELD
Ethical event
management
Greenbelt Festival
Mary is responsible for turning
the Greenbelt Festival’s
programme and ideas into
reality, managing contractors
and volunteers as well as
working with local authorities
and other stakeholders. She
is also passionate about
making Greenbelt an ever more
accessible and environmentally
sustainable event.
Mary has been working in
event management for several
years, specialising in large
charity events.
JIM DAVEY
Event management
expert
Redwood Event
Solutions
www.redwood.events
Jim is managing director of
Redwood Event Solutions,
providers of event planning and
infrastructure, health and safety
services and site management.
He has over 15 years’ experience
in event production, operations
management and safety
consultancy, working on events
of all scales right up to some of
the largest and most
challenging in the world.
THOM HARRIS
Festival organiser
Vicar’s Picnic
www.vicarspicnic.
co.uk
One of five friends that started
and still run the Vicar’s Picnic
festival in Kent, Thom has
experienced every aspect of
event organisation from local
liaison to site planning, sourcing
infrastructure, balancing the
books, finding talent and more.
“Kent’s biggest little festival”
welcomed Fun Lovin’ Criminals,
Starsailor and Cast to the stage
in 2018 and was nominated for
NOEA’s Event of the Year.
ROWAN
HOBAN
Immersive events
organiser
Wild Rumpus
www.wildrumpus.org.uk
Rowan co-founded Wild Rumpus
with Sarah Bird in 2009, initially
dreaming up the now award
winning Just So Festival.
Wild Rumpus exists in a space
where arts and culture meet the
natural environment. Working
from the Whirligig (four acres
of woodland in Cheshire), the
team creates experiences which
inspire curiosity and design
events that immerse audiences
in incredible stories and
moments of wonder.
JOHN
RADFORD
Event production
specialist
JR Event Services
www.jreventservices.co.uk
John Radford runs JR Event
Services and has worked in the
event industry in one form or
another from back in school –
he won’t give an exact number
of years due to the
embarrassment factor. Suffice
to say, it’s a fair number! He
provides event management
and event safety consultancy
services for a broad spectrum of
events from single day and city
centre cultural events to week
long music and dance festivals.
ALTOGETHER
› Finding Money - A look at the
options – private investment,
grants, crowd funding and
financing
› Instagram - Tips, tricks and
using ‘influencers’
GLAMPING
› Going Green - Being off-grid,
dealing with waste, choosing eco
products and more
› Adding Value - What can you do
to increase revenue or add value?
› Treehouses - From idea to
high value business asset – the
journey and options
› Planning - Success, failure and
getting it right first time
› Getting Booked - Where to
market and how to manage
bookings for the best return
› Operations - Cleaning,
turnaround and codes of conduct
FUNCTION VENUES
› The Trend for Quirky - The
market for small, unusual,
rural spaces for weddings and
corporate events
› Wedding Additionals - Ideas to
increase revenue or just stand out
24-25 March 2019
Hothorpe Hall,
Leicestershire
BUSINE SS
2019 PRE SEASON
GATHERIN G
PROGRAMME*
› Corporate Events - What to offer
and where to market
› Customer Experience - Getting
it right across all platforms
from web to showround to event
› Seasonal Specials - Making
the most of Halloween,
Christmas, the springtime and
winter nights
› Structures - Marquees and other
temporary structures
EVENTS
Join the Party!
24 March – 7.30-11pm
› So, I’ve had an Idea! - How to
analyse your market, audience
demographic and competition
› Sponsorship - Finding sponsors,
preparing a brief, and keeping
them sweet
› Pieces of the Puzzle - How
complex events come together
› Sustainable Practices - They
don’t have to be expensive!
› Health & Safety - Best practice,
delegating responsibility,
minimising risk
› Local Liaison - Dealing with local
authorities, communities and
neighbouring residents
*subject to change as we tweak things
Networking, bowl food and drinks, with a gin bar and
some fun surprises!
Tickets are nearly gone for overnight packages –
we only have a few rooms left!
Visit www.oabgathering.com to secure yours
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 11
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT
James
Lynch
Meet James Lynch, who together with his family has
created a business turning over £2million in a remote spot
on the Ceredigion coast. Louise Creasy investigates
“SOMETIMES WHAT you want is right in
front of you. All you have to do is open your
eyes and see it.” These are the wise words
of Meg Cabots, an American author, and
a quote that I’m sure James Lynch could
relate to. When he and his family were
looking for a change they headed to New
Zealand, but within weeks realised that
what they were looking for they already had.
“After my partner, Sian, and I left art
school in 1981, she specialised in textiles
and illustrations for children’s books and
I was doing graphics and exhibitions,” he
says. “After four years and with some money
we saved up and the help of a bank loan,
we bought a former furniture warehouse on
Old Street in Shoreditch where we lived. We
divided the space into studios and rented it
out to our art school pals.
“This was the decade that Shoreditch
started evolving into a village of visionary
pioneers, as people like me began taking
over warehouses for visual artists, fashion
designers and other creatives to move into.
It was the start of my career in property
development and we were having a great
time. We had lots of friends, and there was
just so much energy, but things took a turn
for the worse when the recession of the
early nineties hit. I lost my shirt – I didn’t
quite go bankrupt but it was very bleak for
a few years as we had to rebuild everything
again. It certainly made me more cautious in
business.
“Fast forward 10 years and the place was
again a hub of activity, but it was less hippy
and more hipster – big-name developers
and architects were heavily investing in the
area as lofts, former theatres and railway
arches came into high demand. Shoreditch
was becoming increasingly ‘cooler’,
and the city bankers, lawyers and other
professionals were starting to move in. We
had changed too though; we had four young
boys and wanted to take our lives in another
direction.
“We decided to go to New Zealand – I
played rugby with kiwis and worked with
a lot of them and always felt at ease. Sure
enough, the people were great and the
country was beautiful, but it made us realise
that what we were hankering for we had.
It was where the boys had spent every
summer, it was where Sian's parents lived,
and it was a place we knew really well: west
Wales. Six weeks later we moved to our
holiday home on the beach.”
LIVING THE DREAM
At this point – the beginning of 2004 – James
happened upon a derelict, but magnificent
listed farmhouse that had been for sale
for over a year and was 20 minutes from
where the family was living. It was extremely
neglected and hadn’t been lived in for 10
years but sat within 200 acres, surrounded
by a river estuary, wildlife reserve and
just moments from the coast. The family
believed that it would be possible to create
something from it, James’ words were ‘this
is the beginning’, and so they bought it.
The dream was born: Sian and James
would use the experience and skills they had
honed over the years to create a new type
of rural escape promoting the best Wales
had to offer. Somewhere for families and
friends to holiday that would combine the
life-enhancing embrace of the outdoors with
comfort, great facilities, local food and the
same friendly welcome that they received in
New Zealand.
They applied for planning permission
to build eco-friendly lodges within the
woods but kept getting turned down. It’s
not a word that James likes to use, but
‘glamping’ wasn’t even added to the Oxford
English Dictionary until 2016 and at this
point sustainable luxury retreats were an
unknown concept to most. Two years on,
when James finally got consent for 24 units
of different tent types, he discovered that
local residents were opposed to the idea on
the grounds that they affiliated the word
‘eco’ with environmental protestors, such as
Swampy.
“There's been a shift in public perception
and now, of course, people have realised
what my ecological intentions meant and
they can see that with what we’ve done,”
says James. “When we started we thought
about different ways of reducing our carbon
footprint, and over the years we’ve tried to
use sustainable materials for most of our
buildings, and incorporate eco-friendly
cooking, heating, lighting and sanitary
facilities.”
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 13
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
PEACH AND JO PHOTOGRAPHY
“WHILE WE WERE FOUNDED ON FAMILY HOLIDAYS
EMBEDDED IN NATURE, WE ALSO HOST WEDDINGS IN EACH
OF OUR THREE LOCATIONS, ALTHOUGH ONLY DURING
SCHOOL TERM TIME”
The Lynch family began with four geodesic
domes and a few Scandinavian tipis and
in 2007 the first paying guests arrived. By
this point the recession was looming so the
farmhouse renovations took a back seat
(until late 2015), while they focussed on
building the business slowly and organically.
PLACES AND SPACES
Almost 13 years later, and Fforest Farm has a
range of unique tented and converted farm
building accommodations and facilities – all
designed and project managed by James.
There are also lots of places to eat, drink,
gather and have fun, including The Lodge
where breakfast and supper is served
during the main holiday season and for
special events, and Y Bwthyn (The Bothy or
Cottage), which is the site’s own little pub.
Adjoining a 300 acre nature reserve, Fforest
is also able to offer a wealth of activities
from canoeing and wild swimming to
archery and walking. “People get a lot
out of not very much, and the outdoor
activities make the best of our beautiful
surroundings,” he says.
Besides Fforest Farm, there are two
other sites. Cardigan Quayside, on the
banks of the Teifi, is home to the PizzaTipi
where guests can enjoy wood-fired pizzas,
Tafarn Smwglin (Smugglers Inn) serving
Welsh beers, ciders and spirits, and an
events venue, which was once the town’s
coal yard. Directly across the river at Teifi
Wharf are beautifully restored Granary lofts,
created within what was one of the town’s
main maritime warehouses. James had
already acquired these some years ago to
justify spending the family’s entire summer
holidays in the area – he thought that one
day they would be a great project.
And then down the estuary and up
the coast, Manorafon is the sea camp,
comprising cabins, tented accommodation,
and Ty Manorafon, another restored
farmhouse that sleeps eight. It is a
converted dairy farm and some of the rustic
buildings are still in place but serve different
purposes – the stable is now the communal
relaxing area, and the cedar barrel sauna
and firepit are further additions. The sites
can accommodate 150 guests in existing
accommodation, with the possibility to add
a temporary tented village for larger events.
FFOREST WEDDINGS
“While we were founded on family holidays
embedded in nature, we also host weddings
in each of our three locations, although
only during school term time,” says
James. “There is an early and late season
for weddings and we host around 25 a
year and each one averages around 120
guests. Weddings account for 40 per cent
of the business so financially they’re very
important to us. Holiday accommodation
accounts for 30 per cent, events 10 [more on
that later] and catering 20, which is actually
a very important aspect of what we do.”
Being a wedding venue however was
never on the family’s radar. “In 2008 Guy and
Kathryn, a couple who had stayed with us in
that first year, asked if they could have their
wedding with us. We said no, we weren’t
set up for it and that it was too much of a
responsibility, but they were so enthusiastic
and insistent on working together to make
it happen that we gave in. We’re so glad that
we did – it was a lot of fun and we were very
satisfied that we managed to pull it off. They
chose us because we weren’t a formula and
they saw that they could have an event that
would be unique and memorable, and it
was.”
The first few weddings were with people
the family had already built a relationship
14 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
FINN BEALES
we now have plans to home rear all of our
own meat, so weddings can be grown to
order.”
FFOREST EVENTS
As the business grew, and the couple gained
experience from holding weddings, things
took another twist in direction as they
decided to put on their first event in 2016.
Gather, which is billed as a ‘new kind of
holiday’, is essentially two six-night family
friendly gatherings held in the middle of
summer. With an emphasis on nature,
music, culture, making, growing and simple
pleasures, it makes the best of all Fforest
has to offer, as a revolving cast provides
workshops and outdoor activities during the
day and evening. The events are restricted to
300 people, and guests can camp or stay in
one of the accommodations on site. “It’s like
a collective of friends, the atmosphere is so
wonderful. All the creative stuff is part of our
DNA and when you combine that with the
entirely unspoilt quality of the environment
– this stunning, fantastic wilderness, and our
simple but very tasty food – it really provides
a magical experience for our guests.”
Fforest also offers Glow Camps, which
are creative four-day retreats – one in the
winter, one in the summer – for women to
learn new skills, reconnect with nature and
eat delicious food. With workshops offering
activities such as dying, weaving, cooking
and preserving, the camps are designed to
be nurturing weekends.
Twice a year Fforest holds a feast, where
it collaborates with local producers and
suppliers to put on an eight-course dinner
showcasing their food.
New for 2019 is the Fforest Nature Writing
Retreat, an immersive writing course spread
over five days and led by professional
authors and poets.
FFOREST CORPORATE
With the space, resources, facilities and skills
to create memorable events – and ones
that were getting noticed by mainstream
media – it wasn’t long before the business
was getting corporate enquiries, and D3
Eventz (for Red Bull), Cotswold Outdoor
and J. Walter Thompson are just some of
the people it has worked with. James says:
“It’s a venue with a twist, with the ability to
facilitate from 20 to 200 people, but in an
incredible and exclusive environment. This
is an area of the business we’d like to expand
upon and hopefully, now we’re increasing
our accommodation offerings, the two will
go hand in hand.
“Getting people to us is sometimes an
issue. They get excited about what we can
offer them from looking at our website but
we’re a good five hours from London so they
don’t appreciate they may have to factor in a
day’s travel time. Now that we’re introducing
different types of accommodation that are
with, but as they started to promote that
side of the business it wasn’t long before
they gained a reputation. Since then Fforest
has hosted hundreds of weddings, and the
press coverage that has been attracted
speaks for itself. “When a bride- and groomto-be
propose a campsite wedding it
must horrify some parents, but on the day
they realise it’s quite different. We offer a
venue that’s deep within the forest but all
wrapped up with touches of luxury and
practicality in terms of the accommodation
and different venues we can provide. The
menu is similarly fantastic, boasting the
very best seasonal food the local area has
to offer. We grow all of our own veg too, and
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 15
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
more flexible we’re hoping it will encourage
more corporate events.
“We started out offering family holidays
but now, with such a high proportion
of weddings and events, the sites lend
themselves more to having flexible sleeping
spaces that can cater for couples, individuals
or larger families come the summer. We
started to introduce this type of simple,
characterful accommodation with dining
and kitchen areas on outside terraces in
the second half of last year with our Garden
Rooms and we instantly saw a return.
WHAT MAKES FFOREST?
So, what is the secret to Fforest’s success?
“While I’ve always kept my ear to the ground
observing and thinking about what the
business needs, together with a focus on
infrastructure, we’ve always taken a soft
approach and to a degree just let things
happen. A lot is on instinct, see what
works and build on that. Saying that, food,
architecture and general design are what I’m
most passionate about and I’m very up to
date with those things – this is the lens I steer
the business through.
Funnily enough The Future Laboratory, a
trend forecasting agency, used us as a model
a few years back, and it came pleasantly
and completely true. Fforest is a big part
of domestic tourism in Wales, although
part of that success is down to the fantastic
relationship we developed with Visit Wales.
But while we have the location and resources
to create an experience that people want,
quality trumps everything.
“One of the disadvantages to having
a business in rural Wales is the stark
seasonality. The weddings are a good way of
spreading income over the year, and we’ve
been lucky enough to have help through
grants from Visit Wales and loans from the
Development Bank of Wales. The other issue
is if you want to get things done it can take
time. I’m not a local and it’s taken me a long
time to escape that. Unlike major cities,
where you meet people and stuff happens,
in our rural corner you need to create your
own opportunities – and to do that you need
resilience and resources.
“We just try to do things better than
our competitors. It took 10 years to reach
maturity and become commercially
sustainable, and that’s because of our
approach. We’re continually improving,
refining and evolving, but it’s about being
fair in your business dealings and how you
look after people, too. The character and
quality of this place are a lot to do with the
personalities that work for us. We employ
a lot of youngsters and their love and
enthusiasm for our place is very important
to us – if you set up the right conditions
that will happen naturally. If there is one
thing I’ve learnt in business it is dedicating
the right people to the right jobs. Bringing
people on, no matter their age or gender, if
they show promise, encourage them. I like to
evolve people in the business.
“I’m also really proud of the PizzaTipi
on Cardigan Quayside– we get 300 to 400
people visiting per day over a summer
weekend, which is great for what is a
relatively remote location. It’s a melting
pot of locals and holiday makers of all ages.
It’s important for our visitors to immerse
themselves in the culture here, but it’s
equally vital that the locals can feel at
home. It is something for everyone to enjoy
and there’s nothing else like it in the area.
A beautiful riverside courtyard location,
it’s also a little bit urban – so it goes down
well with the younger members of the
community.”
THE FUTURE
So, what does the future hold for the
business? James is in the process of
developing a hotel on the riverside built
on the same Fforest philosophy – creating
simple luxury the Lynch way. “It will look
fairly discreet and it won’t be obvious it’s
a hotel. It will have an event space for 200
people, a big restaurant, and a spa – but not
how one might think of a traditional hotel
spa, more in a sense of outdoors and nature.
So think Nordic sauna, Japanese onsen,
cold showers… all in the open air. I’m very
inspired by The College Hotel in Amsterdam,
which is run entirely by hospitality and
catering students, and I'm aiming to employ
young people learning on the job. Work will
start on that later this year and will take
around two years to complete.
“I’m also working on a preservation
project with the Church in Wales with help
again from the Welsh Government. We are
creating a series of hostels for touring cyclists
by putting mobile pods inside redundant
churches and chapels. The accommodation
will not interfere with the structure of the
churches but will create a sustainable model
for preservation and their upkeep.”
Despite the fact that James turned 60 last
year, he clearly doesn’t have any immediate
plans for retirement and his businesses show
no sign of slowing down either. By a process
of experience and introspection, James and
Sian identified what counted as meaningful
in their eyes. It may have taken a while to
work out but they’re making up for it now.
DETAILS
Fforest Camps Limited HQ
Bridge Warehouse, Teifi Wharf
Cardigan, Wales, SA43 3AA
Accommodation: www.coldatnight.co.uk
Weddings: www.fforestweddings.co.uk
Corporate: www.fforestfire.co.uk
Gather festival: www.fforestgather.co.uk
PizzaTipi restaurant: www.pizzatipi.co.uk
16 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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18 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
CASE STUDY
Tutbury
Castle
More than ‘just a ruin’, this Staffordshire castle has
a diverse offering, from weddings to ghost hunts
A well known historian and media personality, curator Lesley Smith can often be found
as Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots or Anne Boleyn. Radiating passion for her subject and
the 11th century ruin in her charge, she and her team have created a multi-faceted venue
business with some utterly unique features. We talk to Lesley.
When did you start your venue
business and what is its history?
Tutbury Castle was one of the first
historic properties to open its doors
for a fee in 1848. The entrance fee
was one penny. The castle was
particularly attractive to Victorians
who much enjoyed all things Gothic.
There is even a Penny Dreadful
dated 1830, prior to Queen Victoria
coming to the throne, which reports
on the romantic ruined part of the
castle and also the ghosts. I took
over the castle at the end of 1999
as the first lessee from the Duchy of
Lancaster. The castle forms
part of the Forest of Needwood
Estate and currently trades as a
limited company.
“THE CASTLE
SITS 150
FEET UP ON
A GRASSY
LEDGE OVER-
LOOKING THE
LUSH DOVE
VALLEY BE-
LOW AND THE
RIVER DOVE
ITSELF WITH
AN ALMOST
COMPLETE
OX-BOW
LAKE”
Tell us about your location
and site
The castle is royal (and still is)
despite being largely ruined in
1647. This was carried out by order
of an Act of Parliament following
the civil war although the Great
Hall was allowed to remain as
the parliamentarians needed an
administration based here. It was
known as the “Lock of two counties”
those counties being Staffordshire
and Derbyshire - vital to control to
allow movement to the North by an
aggressive army.
The castle sits 150 feet up on
a grassy ledge overlooking the
lush Dove Valley below and the
river Dove itself with an almost
complete ox-bow lake. Far in the
green distance can be seen both the
Derbyshire and Weaver Hills. The
famous Derbyshire Peak National
Park is a half hour drive away.
Although there is evidence
that man has lived on the castle
ledge from 8,000 BC and Romans
are recorded on the site, it is also
known that the Vikings sacked the
immediate area, but it was really
the Normans that made the Tutbury
Castle we know today in the reign
of William the Conqueror. First built
in wood and then stone, rising up to
be a massive castle with up to the
1,000 people within her walls at her
height of medieval glory in the mid
to late 14th Century. There are three
baileys and one motte now resting
on 38 acres still held by the castle.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 19
FUNCTION VENUES
It has welcomed numerous kings
and queen such as Henry IV, Richard
III and Mary Queen of Scots as a
prisoner four times.
What facilities for outdoor
functions do you offer?
A glamorous hard floor marquee
seats up to 120 for catered functions
with a dance floor and professional
chefs producing award winning
food. Medieval style tents can be
rented for events.
Food is also served in the Great
Hall and a pretty tea room.
Hand-fasting ceremonies are on
offer at the castle calling on the
pre-1446 custom of marriage. These
are also offered at midnight for the
ghosts and the brave.
Camping is occasionally allowed.
What services do you offer?
We offer wedding ceremonies, civil
partnerships, handfastings outside
or inside, ghost hunts (public and
corporate), historic food sampling,
Cornish cream teas, light lunches,
formal lunches and suppers.
Events planning forms part of the
usual system of booking at Tutbury
Castle. Our team works closely with
clients to ensure they achieve their
ideal event.
For corporate events we offer the
marquee as well as the Great Hall
and a series of break-out rooms.
We also offer management
training, funerals, outside cinema
and entertainment with an historic
flavour such as birds of prey, have
a go archery, Medieval musicians,
Tudor musicians and guided tours.
Particularly well known for our
historic talks by myself and other
experts in full costume, visitors
and guests at private functions
have the chance to meet Elizabeth
I, Mary Queen of Scots and Anne
Boleyn among others, as well as the
specialist talk “Sex and the Tudors”.
There are other historical speakers
including Henry VIII, Richard III
and specialist speaker Dr Gareth
Williams from the British Museum
who gives talks on Vikings and
medieval warfare.
Describe how you researched and
sourced your structures
Mostly from visiting other sites
and seeing their structures and
deciding the right type for us. Direct
experience is always preferable to
“FOR
CORPORATE
EVENTS WE
OFFER THE
MARQUEE AS
WELL AS THE
GREAT HALL
AND A SERIES
OF BREAK-
OUT
ROOMS”
pictures! The cold light of day works
best in making a decision. Marquee
companies, in my experience, agree.
How do you work with your
customers to make their events
unique?
Listening to the client rather
than just hearing is essential and
ensuring that information about
their event is agreed formally and
constantly tracked from planning to
the day itself. It is also very helpful
to ensure that there are only two
contacts, not a stream of individuals
who may want to put forward their
own ideas. A filter from the client
and in turn the castle end enables
smooth planning with reliable
outcomes.
Tutbury Castle is able to make
quick decisions about what is
possible and to offer creative
alternative ideas if necessary.
Not being too prescriptive is also
20 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES
essential as clients must have their
own event, not ours! Restrictions
of a scheduled monument may
come into play but clients always
understand that Tutbury Castle is a
real 11th century royal castle with
a noble, and in some ways tragic,
past and that is a large part of its
attraction.
The castle has minimal fly
past and stunning countryside
views. It has parking for 250 cars
and an opportunity is available
for clients to have exclusive use.
This is particularly important
for commercial clients who may
need complete security and
confidentiality. We have had main
boards fly in to be with us from
countries in Europe particularly to
discuss sensitive issues.
Tutbury Castle is in the heart of
England with easy access to all the
major Midlands roads such as the
M1, M42, A50 and A38. It is just a 40
minute drive to East Midlands or
Birmingham Airport and there is a
train station at Hatton under a mile
from the castle.
How do you publicise yourself?
It really helps that I have appeared
in over 120 television programmes -
history programmes, the BBC News,
The One Show and paranormal
TV programmes across the world.
I have also appeared in national
press including a double page
spread in the Daily Telegraph and
numerous glossy magazines. I also
had my own page in Staffordshire
Life for eight years. Radio interviews
are regular, including the John
Humphries show on Radio 4 and
international life radio interviews to
countries such as Australia.
Our website and literature have
been professionally designed to
a high standard. The two major
promotions remain however -
customers typically coming to the
castle for a meal and historic talk
and then coming back to repeat
the experience with other historic
characters. Many of these same
people then come back to other
events. We use a system of press
releases for up and coming general
public events.
Any wedding will usually result in
more enquiries.
The castle is also a favourite with
some blue chip corporate clients
returning for other events and
family days.
I speak off site all over the UK
to audiences of up to 1,000 but
more usually around 200. These
talks bring business directly to the
castle as audiences will arrange a
coach tour to see Tutbury Castle
and experience another historic
character.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 21
FUNCTION VENUES
How would you describe your
‘style’ or unique selling point?
The castle is in a beautiful place
and has a sensational history but
as one visitor said: “There are lots
of castles but not another Lesley
Smith”. Therefore, the costumed
talks we offer is the major USP,
which was proved when I went on
a sabbatical for a couple of years
and the bookings (other than
weddings) plummeted. The talks
are very popular, now more than
ever.
What challenges have you faced?
Tutbury, although a pretty town,
is not near London or York or any
other major city with a strong
historic past where people in a five
mile radius might visit a number
of attractions, therefore the ‘pull’
to the area is a difficult one. The
castle has endured a number
of dramas in the past 20 years
including the Foot and Mouth
crisis. We are in the middle of a
rural farming area and flooding
can also affect the road systems
leading to us.
Encouraging the general public
to visit a castle that on the face of
it is “just a ruin” is a challenge but
they have a happy surprise when
they realise there is a lot more
to it with the beautiful Great Hall
filled with Tudor furniture, the
exhibition room and lovely boxed
gardens.
The difficult economics of the
past years has had an impact so
we keep the entrance fee low so
we can be great value.
“ENCOURAG-
ING THE
GENERAL
PUBLIC TO
VISIT A
CASTLE THAT
ON THE FACE
OF IT IS “JUST
A RUIN” IS A
CHALLENGE
BUT THEY
HAVE A
HAPPY SUR-
PRISE WHEN
THEY REALISE
THERE IS A
LOT MORE...”
Have you worked with any
industry bodies or consultants?
It depends what you mean by
industry but certainly in heritage
such as Historic England. Also, land
agents WK Marshall (for advice on
the best use of the land, grants etc.)
and historical experts in various
disciplines.
I have had 20 years in an above
the line advertising agency and was
a consultant myself.
Describe your average day midseason
On a Saturday:
› 08.00 - staff arrive to receive flowers
and room dressers for a wedding.
› 08.00-09.00 - last minute tidying
and arranging furniture, steaming
glasses and checking all is perfect.
› 09.30 - catering team arrives.
› 11.00 - guests start to arrive for a
wedding.
› 11.00 - ticket office opens for
general public visitors.
› 12.00 - civil wedding in the Great
Hall.
› 13.30 - formal wedding breakfast
for 80 served in the marquee.
Meanwhile visitors come for tours
of the castle, cream teas or light
lunches. Ice creams are going well
as is the children’s dressing up
box. Enquiries for school visit and
weddings.
› 16.00 - last admission to the castle.
› 17.00 - security on the gate arrive.
Musicians arrive.
› 18.00 - handfast for all wedding
guests and some more just arriving
for the evening event. Handfast set
out in the castle grounds surrounded
by lanterns.
› 19.30 - music and evening food for
120.
› 21.00 - ghost-hunters arrive who
will take over the Great Hall.
› 00.00 - midnight close down for the
night unless on extension.
› 02.00 - ghost-hunters leave and
security locks up.
What do you enjoy about the
business and why?
It is so varied, as Henry VIII arrives
and a woman with owls queries
school visits. The castle has to be
fought for as a business and must
be cared for constantly. You have to
love it.
ADDRESS BOOK
DETAILS
Tutbury Castle
Castle Street
Tutbury
Burton upon Trent
Staffordshire DE13 9JF
01283 812129
www.tutburycastle.com
22 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
S2T GRASS
REINFORCEMENT
PERFO
interlocking tiles - effective
protection for soft ground
Ideal for the reinforcement of
parking areas, access tracks,
pitches etc. at:
- camping & glamping sites
- open air event venues
- country & leisure parks
Tel. 01992 522797
www.perfo.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 23
FUNCTION VENUES
What's Cooking
in 2019?
With food taking centre stage at weddings, Kelly Chandler
asks those in the know for their 2019 predictions and presents
the must have props for venues
LET’S FACE it, food and drink are one of the
key ingredients for any kind of celebration
or event, so it seemed fitting to focus this
month’s feature on what’s steaming hot this
year in the world of wedding edibles.
With millennial couples being increasingly
foodie, it’s really important that you
regularly review your menus, look to inspire
your clients and potential clients with new
workable additions and ensure you stay
up to date with current lifestyle and eating
trends, whether that’s with your in-house
team or by reviewing your recommended
supplier list of catering experts.
Edibles are oh-so-important in every
wedding day and couples are increasingly
food-conscious in all its guises so, as a smart
venue, you need to ensure your offering
of eats tempts the taste buds and creates
the wow factor to secure those coveted
bookings.
To this end, I’ve had the considerable help
of a selection of my favourite caterers old
and new, with a collective tonne of wedding
experience, to share their predictions for
what’s hot and in demand right now when it
comes to wedding food. Now to the feast…
INDULGENCE PREDICTS...
Sarah, Anthony and team from Oxfordshire–
based caterers Indulgence know their
stuff when it comes to bespoke, elegant
weddings. They are in-house and preferred
caterers for some of Oxfordshire’s best
known venues and rightly so – they are
at the top of their wedding game. www.
indulgenceboutiquehospitality.co.uk
› A Buffet Jim, but not as you know it: As
the demand for a more casual approach
to wedding catering continues to grow,
feasting will be back and big in 2019. This
time moving from served at the table to
the ‘farmhouse sharing table’. Make no
mistake, this is no 1970s dodge buffet, but
something fit for the Instagram generation.
Think a rustic big wooden table groaning
with platters laden with amazing vibrant
salads and grilled meats. But this will only
work in the right venue with the right laid
back vibe.
› Vegan – know your onions: Veganism
took 2018 menus by storm and we only
see this as an amazing opportunity in
2019. It is shaping our offer and increasing
creativity. It is no longer enough to just
know where your beef comes from, you
now need to know your carrots and onions
too! With the obvious health benefits of
a plant-based diet, clients no longer see
vegan or vegetarian as second best if you
are creative with your offer. This refreshing
change in perception and attitude brings
with it the opportunity to increase your
gross profit margins, something that has
been very difficult to do in recent years
with food inflation.
› Low and slow, wood fired and smoked:
Slow food is moving fast; 24-hour beef
and fire pit lamb will feature for us. Slowly
cooked over the embers with an amazing
depth of flavour and the added bonus of
bringing some real theatre to your offer.
› Spice it Up: Chefs will be pushing
boundaries and mixing it up in 2019 just
as much as their mixologist buddies.
On trend super spices will continue to
dominate - cardamom, ginger, cinnamon,
acacia, and of course turmeric. Amazing
health benefits and creative flavour
bombs, what’s not to like here?!
› Bowled Over: Bowl food will get a
much needed update in 2019. It’s still an
amazing way to entertain your guests
but expect creativity to rise here. Out
with main stream bangers and mash and
shepherd’s pie, in with donburi, poke and
lakas.
THE
CURATED
KITCHEN
PREDICTS...
Dani May-
McCallum is owner of
this newly launched exciting
catering company specialising in
luxurious feasts, grazing tables and
afternoon teas for informal weddings
and events in Surrey, Sussex and beyond.
wwwthecuratedkitchen.co.uk
› Sustainability: This year sustainability is
sure to be an even bigger consideration for
our couples and I’m sure we are going to see
a rise in requests for more organic, locally
sourced produce, with veganism high on the
agenda.
› Alternative luxury: We’ll see the
continuation of couples seeking an
alternative to formal catering but
2019 couples are looking for luxurious
alternatives that still create an
unforgettable sense of occasion.
› Social dining: Sociable dining experiences
such as grazing tables and sharing platters
are set to be a key trend for the year ahead
but they will need to be less rustic than we
have seen before.
› Styling: Food will play a bigger part in
the overall styling – think show-stoppingly
styled platters and grazing tables laden with
locally sourced, organic produce and piled
high with beautiful handmade treats and
delicacies to create focal and discussion
points.
CAPER & BERRY PREDICTS...
Our dear friends at Caper & Berry are
passionate foodies who deliver unique
events with panache and personality. I’ve
worked with them to all sorts of wedding
briefs in private homes, tents and fields
24 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES
INDULGENCE
THE CURATED KITCHEN
and at leading light venues such as
Hedsor House and Somerley House
respectively. www.caperandberry.
co.uk
› Ottolenghi sharing: 2018 was the
return of the traditional three course
seated meal but 2019 is taking a
complete U-turn. Brides and grooms
are looking for vibrant, interesting
sharing meals, with a real nod
towards Ottolenghi.
› Vegan: Veganism is becoming
more and more popular and you
will continue to see this in 2019.
Restaurants and brides and grooms
are incorporating vegan options
into their menus. We are big fans of
vegan starters, they look stunning
and are packed full of flavour. A few
of our favourites are ‘fig
and walnut’ (fresh fig,
toasted walnut and
baby herb salad drizzled
with a honey mustard
dressing and edible
flowers) and ‘balsamic
peach’ (balsamic
roasted peach, toasted
hazelnut, home dried
tomato and baby leaf
salad finished with extra
virgin olive oil).
› Bare naked: when it
comes to table settings
we are preparing for a lot of
paired back, rustic luxury. A
focus on beautiful textures but
not going over the top.
› Sustainability: The events industry
is finally putting huge emphasis on
sustainability and we couldn’t be
more pleased. 2018 saw the end
of single use plastics and over the
next 12 months there will continue
to be more legislation to promote
sustainability in the events and
wedding industries.
› Local produce: This has always
been hugely important to us but,
with a question mark on what’s
happening in March, shopping locally
has never been more relevant. We are
surrounded by incredible suppliers
and producers and have always
chosen to use them due to the quality
of the produce not just because they
are so close.
So I think you can see our catering
friends definitely share some trends
and predictions (but with their own
unique twists) which is always good
to know!
And don’t forget to check out the
websites of these brilliant caterers if
you’re looking for new additions to
your venue offerings – they all cater
client events of course but some
of them offer a food consultancy
service too should you want some
support to develop your in-house
options – do get in touch with either
myself or them directly.
Making it easy for couples
So you’ve noted what’s hot, but what kinds of things
can you do as a modern venue to make your spaces as
appealing as possible to clients and make it easy for
them to adopt these trends, either with your own team
or their choice of external caterer?
FURNISHINGS
› A rustic farmhouse table: This has to be a winner for a
number of venues and is multi-purpose. The ideal base
for a delightful grazing station, dessert buffet or any
number of interactive food and drinks stations, this has to
be a winner and worth investment.
› Long trestle tables: These are very much in favour for
wedding day dining and much preferred over the round
table variety –a worthwhile investment, and the basic
kind (in need of cloths) are not too costly.
› Cross-back chairs: The choice of chairs has to be a wellconsidered
one and we know that storage, versatility,
weight, ability to wipe-clean and more come into play.
There is not one ideal chair out there, however from a
wedding desirability point of view, the cross-back chair is
a 2019 winner, particularly in a more rustic setting.
TABLEWARE AND PROPS
› Platters: With the grazing table and rework of the buffet
on trend, presentation platters are key. Can you invest in
a suitable range of platters, dishes and bowls that work
with your venue setting? Think about presentation and
creating different levels across a table, so not all low
platters for example. Depending on your arrangements
with caterers, this one could well be a team effort to
ensure anything you invest in works for the caterers
supplying your events, or if you’re a dry hire venue, then
it’s just a really great starter kit that will make your venue
more appealing from the off.
› Chalkboards and signage: Invest in some different sized
table and floor standing chalkboard signs so that couples
can get creative with their wedding signage, describing
the menu or otherwise putting little foodie messages
to their guests. With couples putting more effort into
choosing local and making very conscious choices on
their food, they are more likely to want to tell their guests
about this on the day.
› Props: You might like to invest in some ‘on trend’
items to hire out on a per-job basis. Things like ‘donut
walls’ (the actual wall you could build and hire out),
drinks stations, bar units (we love a good old Prosecco
bar horse-box) and much more. With sustainability and
consideration for the environment a much bigger pull for
couples in 2019, it’s likely to be viewed as a much more
sensible option to source items from one place, ie. you
the venue, than have endless deliveries and journeys with
having to hire things in.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Chandler Wedding Consulting helps unique places and spaces to thrive in the modern wedding market via a
range of specialist one to one consulting and group training programmes.
Kelly has a wealth of specialist wedding industry experience through more than 15 years leading her award-winning independent
wedding planning business, The Bespoke Wedding Company, together with a Directorship at industry body,
the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners. Kelly is proud to eat, breathe and sleep weddings - setting standards, inspiring,
mentoring and motivating others. She is a well-respected go-to expert in the business of weddings with a unique grasp
of both modern bridal expectations and a venue’s commercial needs. www.kellychandlerconsulting.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 25
Bespoke
Furniture
Hire
0208 692 4444 hello@junohire.com
www.junohire.com juno_hire
26 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: CORPORATE EVENTS
www.whowherewhy
Wise words from Andrew White on standing out online as a business
event venue against competition with very deep pockets
THE INTERNET is without doubt a
fantastic requisite part of how we now live
day to day. It informs, controls, educates
and - if it’s your thing - lets us show off too.
For marketeers, the ‘www’ presents
immeasurable opportunities to reach new
audiences, to engage with them and to
ultimately drive revenue. Add in the key
social media platforms and there seem to
be few excuses why a business shouldn’t
do well.
But e-commerce logic doesn’t
necessarily follow through for the
business of events; a sector that’s hard to
compartmentalise and therefore tricky to
commoditise. Destinations and venues
can’t be tick box transactions as every
venue is as individual as its ISP address.
Getting a property noticed online needs
a broad reach of vocabulary and content,
and while you can throw money at SEO
and pay per click, I’ll guarantee you one of
the big global hotel chains has far deeper
pockets. Bigger budgets ensure that the
terms ‘conference, meeting, unique,
iconic, function, party, wedding’ will link
back to their brand and its associated local
property. It’s a vicious circle balancing
keyword search and the integrity of your
own unique brand.
Delve a little deeper than the thousands
of competitor venue websites and you hit
the listings sites, hundreds and hundreds
of listing sites. Again, all competing for
supremacy with the same muck spread
of adjectives associated with the events
industry; ‘conference, meeting, unique,
iconic, function, party, wedding’. One level
down and you’ll find the venue finders;
same sh!t with the addition of ‘free venue
finder conference, meeting, unique,
iconic, function, party, wedding’. Add to
the mix the catering companies who have
all created venue sourcing arms and it's
an utter melee for venues to be found,
seen and heard. Competing for market
supremacy on ‘conference, meeting,
unique, iconic, function, party, wedding’ is
a costly and often fruitless exercise.
CHOOSING WISELY
“IF YOU’VE A
BEAUTIFUL
PILE THAT
WOULD
BENEFIT
FROM VIDEO
TO BRING
THE MANY
STATE
ROOMS
TO LIFE,
HEADBOX
ARE YOUR
PEOPLE”
From Triggerfish’s experience we
would always advocate do less
but do it better. In other words
don’t get lost in the white noise by simply
jumping on the keyword bandwagon.
There are seemingly bottomless pockets
already at this.
Remember what is genuinely special
and different about your venue and
capitalise upon these words in your
SEO. And do work with three or four
chosen listing sites that can help your
business, ensuring you develop a robust
relationship that will drive your enquiries.
London Venue Search does what it says.
It’s for London venues and it employs a
savvy bunch of locals who know what’s
going on in the capital. So, if you are a
London venue look to work with them.
If you’ve a beautiful pile that would
benefit from video to bring the many state
rooms to life, Headbox are your people.
Square Meal has it licked for a UK
presence and has one of the best
databases of buyers who are seeking
spaces for their events. They also have an
amazing concierge service who you can
get to know and build a relationship with.
People buy people!
The key thing is to really get to know
the people who are managing your
presence so that they can help make you
stand-out and individual. It’s time well
spent and that will pay dividends; do less
better.
Www is a brilliant resource but
remember it’s an enormous resource,
therefore your venue needs to look
amazing on the social channels, talk
amazing on the www and be as individual
on the listings sites as you are as the
property owner. People buy people - be
bold to be as individual as your ISP
address is.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew White is
MD of Triggerfish
Communications,
a specialist in
helping heritage
venues and leisure
attractions build
awareness and market
share in the business of
events. www.triggerfish.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 27
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FUNCTION VENUES
GUEST COMMENT
Furniture
Trends
Industrial, tech and coral - Europa
International’s Helen Lowe talks us
through what’s hot in event
furniture for 2019
AND JUST like that 2018
has been and gone. It was a
pretty epic year to be fair but
here at Europa we’re looking
forward to an even bigger,
better and more fabulous
year ahead, full of events
with furniture hire choices
that are bang on trend. What
trends? I hear you cry. Well,
seeing as you asked why not
belt up for our whistle stop
tour!
From the known and
loved, to the game changers
and everything in between,
say ‘hello’ to the crème de la
crème of 2019 because, let’s
face it, 2018 was sooo last
year…
So, where do we start?
How about industrial style
furniture with a splash
of colour... and of course
tech, tech and more tech.
That’s what our clients are
focussed on, at the very
least.
The industrial theme
has been popping up just
about everywhere recently,
with the mix of gunmetal
grey and distressed wood
proving a popular combo
among event profs far and
wide.
When we realised how
well the simple look of
this trend translated into
event furniture we simply
couldn’t resist jumping on
the bandwagon and before
we knew it had invested in a
new range of Tolix inspired
bar stools and chairs which
are the perfect combination
of style and practicality, if
we do say so ourselves.
Next in our line-up is tech,
arguably not a newcomer
but one that’s definitely
made its mark and is here
to stay. Who knew that tech
and furniture would be a
match made in heaven?
Not us! Tech is definitely
something that has made us
folk in the furniture hiring
industry rethink the way
we choose – and in some
instances, design – furniture
that we know our event
profs will love.
Power Benches, as well
as our very own Charging
Work Stations, are definitely
top of the wish-list for many
event organisers. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, considering
how many people rely so
heavily on technology these
days.
We developed the
Charging Work Stations to
provide a sleek table top
with a discreet button that,
when pushed, releases the
power sockets where your
delegates can sit and charge
their laptops, phones or
tablets – a vital feature given
that the average Brit now
spends an entire day every
single week online (can you
believe it?)!
A POP OF CORAL
If at this point your finding yourself
thinking ‘wow, that Helen really
knows what she’s talking about’
(thanks) but you’re already
wondering how to add a little
personality to what could, at first
glance, feel a little stark… fear not!
With spring already well on its way
we’ve also got our finger on the
pulse when it comes to the perfect
trend to help liven the décor up
a bit!
You’ve probably already heard,
if not seen, that Pantone’s Colour
of the Year for 2019 is ‘Living
Coral’. Not quite pink and not
quite orange, coral is a wonderful
combination of the two and the
perfect pop of colour to add in to
the mix (alongside your industrial
seating and tech work benches, of
course).
Think industrial-style bar stools
with coral seat pads or, if you’re
more into your neutrals, a couple
of coral cushions wouldn’t go
amiss alongside our white Swan
chairs or Corbusier sofas. However
you choose to add colour to your
event, coral is definitely where the
hype will be in 2019!
Ultimately, our top piece of
advice is to think through, and
stick to, what’s right for you and
for your clients. But, if you’re
hoping to avoid any ‘furniture faux
pas’ by keeping on top of what’s
hot and what’s not in 2019 – and
if you find yourself in a furniture
frenzy – why not let Europa come
to the rescue. We’d be delighted
to give your event an extra boost
of TLC and a sprinkle of Europa
magic!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helen Lowe is the events and marketing manager at Europa International. For over 50 years, Europa has been supplying
furniture and floor coverings for hire to the events industries. It specialises in chair, sofa, stool and table hire at affordable
prices, and carries a stock of items for those who want ‘something a little different.’ A truly independent furniture and
event hire company, it is family run, with family values. Other services include floor covering, registration desks, panel
hire, electrical, graphics, conference seating and shell scheme hire. 08454 303015 / www.europainternational.com/oa or
Tweet @Europa_Int
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 29
FUNCTION VENUES
PRODUCT IN FOCUS
Furniture
A Field in the Depths of the
Midlands Countryside
Description: A private event featuring a
two-storey inflatable structure!
Product: Furniture hire
Supplier: Europa International
Telephone: 020 8676 0062
Website:
www.europainternational.com/oa
Details: Europa was given an unusual brief
to kit out a two storey inflatable structure
for a private event in the heart of the
Midland countryside. The client required
a furniture package (delivered, installed
and quality checked) with the ultimate
wow factor. It needed to complement
the unusual design of the space, give the
indoor and outdoor areas a different mood
while also ensuring consistency - all within
some rather strict timescales. Luckily the
team is well practised in thinking outside
the box or, in this case, in a field.
The key to the project was planning and
time management (with, of course, the
odd cup of tea). The team worked quickly
to agree a package of white contemporary
lounge and bar furniture for the inside with
rattan sofas, chairs and coffee tables for the
outside, which the client loved.
Establishing just how long it would
take to get the inflatable up, the access
points, and the time available to get
the furniture in and back out again was
crucial. And all this occurred in somewhat
sweaty conditions caused by the heatwave
that kindly consumed the Midlands that
particular weekend.
Feedback: Europa’s Helen Lowe said: "For
those old enough, you will remember the
phrase "flexible friend". Well, while we are
not a credit card company, the client loved
how we are flexible, helpful and above all
friendly. That always helps an event build
up go smoothly."
Willington Hall
Description: Boutique hotel set
in a stately home with gardens
and park land in Cheshire
Product/service: Banqueting
furniture supplied for 150 guests.
Additional lounge/chill out
furniture for inside the marquee
and in the walled garden,
lighting and dance floor
Company: Event Equipment
Telephone: 01829 289888
Website:
www.eventequipmentltd.co.uk
Details: Working closely with
a trusted marquee company,
we organised the wedding
for our bride with the help of
Willington Hall. We supplied the
Chiavari chairs, round tables,
rattan furniture for inside and
outside the marquee, as well as
a black and white dance floor
and lighting. The Chiavari chair
is our most popular wedding
chair however the Crossback
is catching it up now. With the
dance floor and lighting we
went for a nightclub vibe which
worked well.
Feedback: “Working with
Event Equipment, I have the
confidence that the furniture
ordered will not only arrive
on time but will be in great
condition. Our working
relationship is second to none
and they are always happy to
help in an emergency any time,
night or day.”
30 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES
Private party,
Chichester
Description: The party
took place in a glamorous
marquee in the garden of a
private home
Product supplied: Bespoke
furniture and bar hire
Company name: Juno Hire
Telephone: 0208 692 4444
Website: www.junohire.com
Details: Juno Hire recently
provided all the furniture for
a botanical themed special
event within a marquee.
The party took place in a
glamorous structure, with
a dramatic canopy ceiling.
The cream coloured fabric
was a perfect backdrop for
more colourful furniture
items such as Dinky
sofas and armchairs
in Claret, Millennial
Pink and Dusky Blue. The
variation of these dusty
shades sat perfectly next
to the sprawling green pot
plants dotted around the
venue.
Reminiscent of picnics
in the park, practical Disco
Poseur tables and stools,
alongside the dramatic
foliage, brought the outside
in to this event. These
particular stools and tables
also added a contrasting
industrial element to the
otherwise colourful, natureinspired
function.
Evocative of retro bird
cages, Birdcage coffee tables
were a perfect match for
the leafy surroundings. Big
enough to accommodate
guests’ drinks (and a second
or third round too!) and low
enough to be placed next to
the comfy Dinky sofas.
Milano
Poseur
tables in
black
were used
outside the
marquee, placed
conveniently next to a
picturesque swimming pool.
Adaptable for all occasions,
the tables at this event were
topped with tea lights and
surrounded by garlands of
twinkling fairy lights. This
was the place to be as the
night set in.
Feedback: The client was
over the moon with the
service and attention to
detail. So much so we have
since become a preferred
supplier for the agency
who planned the party, and
have worked with them
numerous times since.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 31
The Haven range from
Ellipse Leisure Buildings Ltd
The only limit is your imagination...
www.ellipseleisurebuildings.co.uk
Contact 01833 630851 sales@ellipseleisurebuildings.co.uk
Innovation from
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32 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF © CROWN COPYRIGHT (2018) VISIT WALES
CASE STUDY
Ty Cwch
Meaning ‘boat house’ in Welsh, this contemporary
take on glamping repurposes used shipping
containers and provides a ‘space to share’ right
on Cwmtydu Beach, Cardigan Bay
Eco architect Nigel Humphrey has created a near zero carbon,
contemporary glamping development with activities including fishing,
kayaking, windsurfing and climbing from the beach just a stone’s
throw away. We talk to him about how he handled the planners and the great support
offered by Business Wales.
What’s your back story – your life
before ty Cwch?
I’ve always been architecting, apart
from nine years in France when I
bought and renovated a ruined
water mill and farm buildings which
were then rented out as holiday
accommodation.
While there I also worked for
several clients, converting a range
of traditional stone buildings from
barns to pig sties, often for holiday
use. It’s amazing what you can fit in!
Living in old stone buildings
through cold continental winters
provoked a keen interest in how to
keep warm, and after we came back
to the UK in 1997 I completed an
MSc in Energy Efficiency in Building.
We were living in Somerset for
14 years, where we renovated two
houses for ourselves and then we
moved to Cardiff, and renovated
a third house for which we won
several awards.
Now, 20 years later, I’ve
worked on buildings from
Donegal to Brittany, traditional
and contemporary, and have
the expertise and experience to
produce a very energy efficient
building like ty Cwch. It doesn’t yet
have the planned PV panels which
will make it nearly zero carbon
but because the energy load is so
low, and we use only renewable
electricity, it isn’t doing badly even
now.
What made you decide to
start offering glamping
accommodation?
I wanted to enact the planning
consent and had a limited budget.
I knew from my research that the
demand for short stay activity
holidays was growing rapidly. I’d
already made the link with a local,
(inland) activity provider looking for
a coastal location.
The plan originally was to provide
space for daytime use only but
the advantage of also providing
sleeping accommodation quickly
became clear.
Ty Cwch is a bit of a hybrid and
could be described as a bunkhouse
or glamping. It combines all the
comforts of home (nearly) with the
experience of being in a natural
landscape.
We finished the building in late
September and were officially
opened by Ben Lake MP in late
December. This will be our first year.
How did you research the
business before entering it?
Visit Wales has a lot of detailed
statistics available on its website
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 33
GLAMPSITES
about the tourism trade, including
bookings. At the time when I was
writing the business plan Visit Wales
was very keen to encourage catered
activity holidays. It was also clear
that there was a big increase in the
numbers of people taking shorter,
more frequent, breaks.
I had the previous experience
of holiday rental from France to
call on, and did the usual SWOT
analysis, looking at the competition
and the risks.
Tell us about your location and
site
My first visit to Cwmtydu was on
a crisp sunny Autumn afternoon.
We drove downhill for two miles
through the steep sided wooded
and sun dappled valley until
eventually emerging to a narrow
view of the sea between two steep
hills. For me at the time this gave
a deep sense of retreat. Because
of the hills there was no telephone
signal, no Wi-Fi, peace.
The Ceredigion coast path runs
beside ty Cwch. Up the coast or
down are beautiful views, and
inland lots of woodland walks.
Cwmtydu feels relatively
undiscovered. It’s much less busy
than New Quay or Llangrannog
and in the evenings in the summer
the visitors go and peace and quiet
returns for the locals to enjoy.
How did you tackle getting
planning?
We bought the site with a planning
consent but not for what we
wanted to build. I had to remind
the planners that the wording
legally constituted Full Planning
Consent and to prove to them that
if they granted a new planning
consent that I couldn’t
just build both!
Many people
think of the
planners as
policemen and they
get abused. My advice to clients
is to study the Local Plan and
Supplementary Guidance and look
for ways of telling the planning
department the story that they
want to hear. Say what you want to
do, why it’s a good thing, and have
a fall-back position which you can
find acceptable.
How did you finance the project?
I tried for several years to get grants
without any luck, and was told by
brokers at the time, “nobody will
lend money for a tourism project
west of the Severn”. So the project
was funded mostly from capital
and a loan from Business Wales, for
about 18% of the build cost.
Business Wales was excellent and
I’d recommend anyone to go to it.
What glamping accommodation
do you offer and why did you
choose it?
We have four pods on the ground
floor each of which opens on to the
‘deck’ which is covered by three
permanent sails. One is just storage
for valuable equipment, the others
are all fully insulated and heated.
There’s a sitting room, kitchen, and
utility room (with two WCs). At the
end of the utility room there’s a
further two showers.
The pods are made from 6m
“THE CEREDIGION COAST PATH RUNS
BESIDE TY CWCH. UP THE COAST OR
DOWN ARE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS, AND
INLAND LOTS OF WOODLAND WALKS”
34 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES
shipping containers which are
quite special because the whole
side can open.
In the deck area there are also
large sitting and dining areas, and
the outside walls of the deck open
fully giving views of the sea and
making it a very flexible space. It’s
a bit difficult to describe but if you
look on the gallery on our website
you’ll see what I’m talking about.
On the first floor there are three
cabins each with four bunks (again
fully insulated and heated) and
two showers/WCs.
The choice of shipping
containers arose from practical
considerations of how to create the
retaining wall that I needed at the
back of the site, cost, issues around
embodied energy, and energy in
use. They’re very well sealed and
have low thermal mass, so they
heat up quickly and are easy to
keep warm.
Guests can always be cosy inside
“JUST
KNOWING
THE ROPES
OF DIARY
NOTICES,
PRESS
RELEASES,
WHO TO GET
A HOLD OF
AND HOW,
MAKES YOUR
EFFORTS
MUCH MORE
PRODUCTIVE”
the pods regardless of what the
weather’s doing outside, but on
the business plan I assume that
we have very few bookings if any
between October and Easter.
How did you work out your
brand and how do you publicise
yourself?
Ty Cwch means the ‘boathouse’
in Welsh. The design deliberately
plays on that theme with sails, a
boat deck, large round portholes,
and galvanised steel walkways.
I should put up a sign, ‘Port Out
Starboard Home’.
A recently retired school friend
was a university marketing director
and has been an excellent help. I’d
suggest getting help from someone
either privately or from the
equivalent of Business Wales where
you are. Just knowing the ropes of
diary notices, press releases, who
to get a hold of and how, makes
your efforts much more productive.
I have also been cheeky and
gotten in touch with people.
Visit Wales and the Ceredigion
Tourism officers were happy to
be contacted and to help. This
network has then produced other
interesting contacts. I’ve used CRM
software to make lists which can
then be used to keep in touch with
them all.
How would you describe your
ethos and unique selling point?
I described ty Cwch once to a
visitor as, ‘a place to share’. It’s
possible to book just a pod, or the
whole place, but since we have 12
beds even that will mean a certain
amount of sharing and getting on
with each other.
Beside the location and the
building, which are very special,
the activities are a USP. There’s a
wide range available for groups or
families. So, plenty to discover and
enjoy.
BUILD YOUR OWN SHEPHERD HUTS
VISIT WWW.SHEPHERD-HUTS.COM
AND CLICK ON THE ‘SELF BUILD’ PAGE
BUILD TO A SIZE
THAT SUITS YOU!
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 35
GLAMPSITES
How did you choose your interior
decoration?
Generally, a theme was the kind
of things that you might expect to
find in a shipping container, hence
boxes, pallets, sawn timber. Another
was from the Mexican hammocks
we’d bought at WOMAD. Bright,
colourful, holiday colours.
What challenges have you faced?
All the challenges that usually come
with building - time and cost. It
usually takes three people to build
well, the client, the architect, and
the builder. I’ve been all of these in
the past and decided that you can
just about get away with being two
at the same time but not three.
Also, this time I must stick around
and make the building, and the
business, work. Usually this is the
point where I walk away!
What are your plans for next
season?
This will be our first season, so I
plan to be spending quite a lot of
time finding out how this business
works. Obviously, I’ve done holiday
rental before, so I’ve got some idea.
Describe your average day midseason
We’ll see!
Do you enjoy the business and
why?
I enjoyed working with the people
who made the building, a mixture
of old and possibly new friends.
I realised a while ago that I do
like people. When we ran the gite
business in France I wasn’t so sure.
What are you most proud of?
I’m tempted to say, ‘sheer dogged
determination to keep going’, but
that’s not necessarily a virtue.
I take great pleasure in my
children’s comments about the
building, and even the building
control officer said, ‘this is so cool’!
I hope that my children are as
pleased with the business.
What advice could you give
to someone coming into the
industry?
Get advice and help wherever you
can, don’t be shy. Do your business
plan as well as you can, research
thoroughly, allow more time and
money, and you’ll give yourself
much more chance of enjoying
what you’re doing.
I’m writing my own short report
on the building, suppliers, and
costs. If you are interested, please
get in touch.
DETAILS
Ty Cwch
Llwyndafydd
Llandysul SA44 6LQ
www.tycwch.wales
enquiries@mas.eu.com
07535 149130
36 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 37
GLAMPSITES
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Kate Morel
Stay up to date on the glamping industry with
Kate’s unique insights
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Morel works
exclusively in the
boutique glamping
accommodation sector,
specialising in creating
new developments
focussing on that
sometimes elusive,
but all important,
'guest experience'. As
a respected go-to expert
in this niche industry,
she also runs business
workshops and provides
informative seminars at
leading industry events.
Her hand-picked team of
planning consultants
and designer-builders
are bringing bespoke
treehouse and cabin
design concepts into
reality through Morel
& Co. www.katemorel.
com, 07849 514588,
info@katemorel.
com - Facebook Group:
Glamping Business Link.
THIS TIME last year I was writing about glamping resorts for OAB, and since then I’ve been
pleased to see, and engage in, stylish resort projects that push the boundaries of this British
holiday tradition firmly into the 21st Century. However it’s not only the bigger developments that
are adopting resort style facilities and features. As the glamping landscape continues to develop,
smaller multiple unit glamping businesses are also creating communal social areas and adding
cafes, shops and play areas. But as can be expected from the glamping sector, they’re doing
so very much in their own style, creating congruent, magical and unique experiences for their
guests.
Other popular features that are making a splash right now are outdoor showers and baths, and
not necessarily expensive glass enclosures or copper bathtubs, either. Tin baths, simple exposed
copper pipes and watering cans are being drafted in to create that quintessential British ‘quirk
factor’. A cursory glance through the latest cabin and treehouse offerings reveals a plethora of
unconventional ablutionary experiences… we Brits do like a touch of eccentricity, don’t we.
COHESION STUDIO
FROM MY DIARY
I HAVE visited more than my fair share of farms this month, eyeing up barns and cow sheds for conversion into alternative
businesses such as rental properties, craft centres, galleries, farm shops and wedding venues. All accompanied by some sort of
stylish glamping accommodations, naturally. They’re usually owned by independent landowners and I find working with them
so rewarding because I get to be involved in their aspirations and plans to shape their future, and sometimes their childrens’
futures.
I gave a talk at the Rural Expo Show last week, and one particular note on one slide made people smile - ‘Dare to be different,
only dead fish go with the flow’. I’ll be the first to admit that very often going with the flow is the best course of action but in
business we also need to know when to make our own moves. As such, I’m often inspired by my clients’ motivation and vision
because they are taking control, occasionally taking a chance, daring to forge something new, and sometimes under challenging
circumstances. I admire them all immensely.
38 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES
FOR YOUR DIARY
IF YOU’RE in need of hospitality inspiration and networking, you
will definitely want to attend the Open Air Business Gathering on 25
March… and if you’re in the mood for a little socialising you’ll also
want to join us for drinks and supper on the evening of the 24th.
I know, I mentioned it last month but life is busy and before you
know it, it will be over, so here’s another nudge because it’s one of
those events you’ll regret missing… trust me on this one - www.
oabgathering.com
If your business has anything to do with short stays, you might
also want to check out the Short Stay Show on 14 March at Excel in
London. I’m hosting a discussion on urban glamping. Glamping in
cities might seem a contradiction, but I’m going to review existing
examples and explore new ideas because the concept opens
up exciting possibilities… and only dead fish go with the flow,
remember – www.shortstay.show
Permissions and Plans
Other subjects that have raised their heads lately are flaunted
planning permissions and faulty business plans.
› Planning Permissions - A
new glamping site was recently
reported by angry neighbours as
being an eyesore but to be fair to
the local planning department,
what had been installed wasn’t
the development they had
granted permission for. The
landowner had changed their
mind and used a completely
different structure design in a
different layout, and sadly the
resulting effect didn’t do the site
or the new structure choice any
favours
I can understand the reasons
behind this kind of change of
heart, but once permissions
have been granted, that’s what
you have to install, unless you
resubmit a new application
altogether, or apply for
variations to the existing design.
I sometimes hear from people
who have already obtained
planning but aren’t quite sure,
and often I have to concur that
what they have permission for
isn’t going to be as commercially
viable as they thought.
› Business plans - Getting
the figures close to how the
business will perform is,
obviously, important. Rental
fees and occupancy rates can
sometimes be tricky though,
because for various timescale
and market reasons, by the
time a business becomes
operational they may no longer
be as relevant. However, some
aspects, such as seasonal
change-over frequencies are
very predictable yet can be miscalculated
by people or business
plan service providers who don’t
know the industry. If they’re
underestimated, there’s less
financial impact if you’re doing
change-overs/laundry yourself,
but you’ll be working harder
than you thought you would.
However, if you’re outsourcing
them, over time and several
units, those additional changeovers
could add a hefty figure to
your running costs.
Tip No 2.
Whisk me Away
PAN TREETOP CABINS,
GJESÅSEN, NORWAY
www.panhytter.no
I’m as fond of a rustic log
cabin as the next country gal
but lately I’ve been decidedly
seduced by modernity, and
its smooth simplicity in the
form of clean lines and plain
facades.
These treetop cabins
perched on structural
supports strike a sharp
angled silhouette against the
skies. What I like about them:
› Simplicity - unlike some
cabins they are beautifully
bereft of pretension and fuss,
pushing the focus onto the
natural environment around
them
› Perspective - they’ve raised them just high enough to
maximise on the superb landscape
› Form and functionality – they blend stylish design
with the fundamental facilities for human comfort…
no more, no less.
FOLLY DESERT CABIN,
JOSHUA TREE, USA
www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/
plus/18332523
At first I thought ‘what the…’
but actually, this is one pile
of rust I can get excited
about. It’s off-grid for a start,
a desert cabin, refreshingly
devoid of delusions in being
anything other than what it
is. What I like about it:
› I want to dislike it, but I can’t, and that makes it
interesting, intriguing even. Is it the rust, the location,
the juxtaposition of the two?
› The solar panel has been mounted on a separate
post not on the roof, better performance, but from an
aesthetic perspective it frees the cabin’s design from
an unattractive practical constraint
› The vast open window above the bed – seriously –
now that’s what I call stargazing.
MNAL ESPEN SURNEVIK
COHESION STUDIO
MNAL ESPEN SURNEVIK
Tip No 1.
Don’t dive into submitting a
planning application before
thoroughly researching
accommodation structures.
Ensure that your business plan
is accurate, well researched and
informed, and if you’re using a
business plan service, that the
person writing it understands
every nuance of how this
industry works.
COHESION STUDIO
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 39
GLAMPSITES
THE LOFT, DEVON
Glamping
Trends
Tom Dixon of Canopy & Stars reveals his
predictions for the 2019 glamping season
THE BREXIT EFFECT
Canopy & Stars predicts a 15 per cent rise in bookings
for UK breaks as Britain leaves the EU on 29 March 2019.
Since the Brexit vote took place in June 2016, we have
seen EU bookings fall, while UK bookings have risen.
January to March 2019 are already up by 13 per cent for
the same period in 2018.
Leading the charge for 2019 bookings is the perennially
popular Sky Den, an outdoors-indoors treehouse in
Northumberland’s Kielder Forest and Ditchling Cabin, one
of Canopy & Stars recently added floating cabins on its
own private lake in the South Downs National Park.
DEVON’S WHERE IT’S AT
For the first time, Devon has
overtaken Cornwall as the UK’s most
popular destination, with searches for
the county beating those for Cornwall
consistently since May 2018. Devon has
also seen some of Canopy & Stars’ most
exciting new treehouse additions, with
more planned for early 2019.
Joining the two treehouses at Wolf
Wood on Dartmoor is The Lookout, a
woodland palace with outdoor jacuzzi.
Head to Braunton, where the Loft and
the Hideaway at Pickwell Manor bring
treehouse style to the north coast. Guests
can watch the sea from their woodland
bed or head to Putsborough for beach
days.
›
THE GARDENER'S SHED, DEVON
GROWTH IN AFFORDABLE
SPACES
Although demand continues to rise
for the more luxurious, creative
and extreme, there is a steady
demand for the more affordable,
rustic and beautifully simple of
spaces. To embrace this, we will
focus on adding more budgetfriendly
options in 2019.
Examples are the The Gardener’s
Shed, a homely cabin for two
overlooking the Axe Valley, with
free-range farm animals and
cookery courses on site, and Joan’s
Hut, a shepherd’s hut with roll top
bath in a secluded damson orchard
in Worcestershire.
›
40 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
›
HUMBLE BEE, DEVON
OCCASION VACATIONS
The ‘experiences not things’ trend
continues to grow, so does the appetite
for occasion breaks, with over 50 per cent
of all Canopy & Stars’ bookings in 2018
celebrating an occasion with birthdays,
anniversaries and honeymoons topping the
reasons for taking a trip. Canopy & Stars gift
card sales are also predicted to rise in 2019
with club together gift cards where multiple
people can contribute to one present.
Milestone anniversaries are often
celebrated from the human sized beehive
at Humble Bee in Devon and bobbing
peacefully on the water at Amelie in
Falmouth.
›
DITCHLING CABIN, EAST SUSSEX
THE NOOK, ESSEX
STUDIO HOOSE, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
THE ART OF BEING BORED
Millennials heading for ‘burnout’
are looking for ways to escape constantly
being switched on, even Google is telling us
that searches for ‘being bored’ have fallen
dramatically over the last 10 years; it seems
we’ve lost the art of just ‘being’. For those
tired of cities, smartphones and work, Canopy
& Stars predicts 2019 will be the year of the
boring holiday. People will head out into
nature, make no plans and contemplate life at
a significantly slower place - they’ll feel better
for it!
Studio Hoose provides one such
opportunity, where the only company is the
wild Scottish mountains. The Observatory on
Cornwall’s furthest tip also allows guests to do
just that – observe, with the Milky Way above
and wild seas below.
WELLNESS HOLIDAYS FOR COUPLES
We have been doing wellbeing holidays
long before it became a trend, but we have
recently seen an increase in people looking for
breaks with wellness at the core, whether that’s
nurturing a relationship or a way to improve
mental health.
Research has proved how spending time
outdoors and away from the stresses of daily life
is good for your health. Canopy & Stars, along
with relationship gurus Project Love, believe it
also has huge positive effects on relationships, so
have joined forces to encourage couples to rewild
their relationship by producing a ‘how-to-guide’
to reconnecting in the outdoors and a collection
of places to put the theory to the test.
Guests can follow in Project Love’s footsteps
and learn a skill together in the Herefordshire
countryside at Brook House Woods or reconnect
in a tiny house compete with tin hot tub at The
Nook in Essex.
›
PUCKSHIPTON TREEHOUSE, WILTSHIRE
GLAMPSITES
PETS LOVE GLAMPING TOO
In 2018 12 per cent of all Canopy &
Stars trips included a pet. The number of
stays with pets has grown by nearly 60
per cent in the last two years and shows
no signs of slowing.
Pets are in perfect company at Mill
Valley’s collection of four dog-friendly
cabins. The owners have 10 of their own,
a huge garden they can play in and a free
dog-sitting service. Free dog sleepover
packs await pets that visit Boutique Farm
Bothies in Aberdeenshire as well as dogfriendly
beaches and advice on walks.
›
SUSTAINABILITY BACK ON THE
TRAVEL AGENDA
The news that tourism causes almost
a tenth of global emissions has put
sustainability firmly back on the travel
agenda. The launch of Zerobnb is
putting pressure on the big travel firms
to recognise and categorise sustainable
homes. By its nature, glamping is already
ahead of the game but to further the cause
Canopy & Stars has launched a collection
of its most sustainable places, with over 50
at the last count.
Taking sustainability to new heights is
Puckshipton Treehouse, a rope hung, offgrid,
no-car escape deep in the Wiltshire
countryside. As is Brockloch Bothy, an
architect-designed eco-build with farreaching
views, surrounded by sheep.
›
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Dixon is managing
director at Sawday’s Canopy
& Stars, a collection of
selected and inspected
special places to stay
and experience the great
outdoors across Britain,
France, Spain, Portugal, Italy
and Scandinavia. From humble
beginnings in 2010, the agency has
grown to more than 500 places; everything
from treehouses, yurts, and converted horse
trucks, to cabins, Gypsy caravans and Iron
Age roundhouses. Championing the small
and independent, and being an advocate of
sustainable tourism, the team genuinely cares
about what they do, and how they do it.
0117 204 7802 / www.canopyandstars.co.uk
BOUTIQUE FARM BOTHIES, ABERDEENSHIRE
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 41
GLAMPSITES
VISIT BRITAIN/JOANNA HENDERSON
GUEST COMMENT
Andrew Stokes
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes gives a rundown of tourism in England
today – the good news? Staycations are massive!
TOURISM IS one of the UK’s most
valuable export industries and
growing faster than many other
sectors. Worth £127 billion to the
economy overall, the UK’s tourism
industry makes up 9 per cent of
GDP and supports 10 per cent of all
jobs. It is full of innovators and is an
industry which spans the country
and where small changes have a big
impact on our economy. Tourism
needs no trade deals and can attract
large inbound investment from
around the world.
National tourism agency
VisitBritain/VisitEngland builds
England’s tourism product and
raises Britain’s profile worldwide,
increasing the volume and value
of tourism exports and developing
England and Britain’s visitor
economy.
At VisitEngland we are looking
forward to another busy and exciting
year as we work with the industry to
boost growth in visitor numbers and
spending across the country, shining
the spotlight on our outstanding
destinations, experiences and
visitor attractions right here on our
doorstep.
£11 BILLION STAYCATION MARKET
More Brits have been taking holidays
at home with our research showing
that the ease and convenience along
with the certainty of budgeting and
the range of quality destinations and
tourism products are all contributing
factors to people taking more
domestic holidays. The latest full
year statistics show that Brits took
47.2 million staycations in England
during 2017, spending £11 billion.
Short-breaks of one-to-three
nights have contributed to the
growth in domestic staycations
in recent years, with Brits taking
more than five and a half million
more short breaks in England
than a decade ago. Our research
also shows that camping and
caravanning is an important part of
the domestic holiday market; more
than 10 million domestic holidays
in England in 2017 involved
staying in camping or caravan
accommodation, almost one in four
trips (23 per cent).
Tourism is fiercely competitive
and all about choice and we know
there are destinations that would
welcome more visitors, so as an
industry we need to keep telling
people about unexplored locations
and new experiences. And we need
to get better at telling the story of
places, inspiring visitors to discover
more, travel further and stay longer.
With more than a quarter of
all domestic holidays in England
taken in July and August, boosting
tourism across the shoulder
seasons remains crucial. So does
increasing the value of visitor
spending. Domestic day trippers
in England spent £34 per day on
average in 2017, while spending on
holiday trips was £70 per night, so
driving that conversion to overnight
visitors and getting them to stay
longer is important.
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Andrew leads on
the development
and delivery of
the £40 million
‘Discover England
Fund’ to ensure
‘bookable’ English
regional product
is being created
for international
markets that
will also benefit
domestic tourism.
He is responsible
for developing an
England Action
Plan that focuses
on the Discover
England Fund and
on business visits
and events tourism.
VISIT BRITAIN/ANDREW PICKETT
CAMPAIGNS TO INSPIRE
Our global campaign ‘I Travel For…’,
is all about shining the spotlight
on unexpected experiences and
less-explored destinations to boost
tourism across the UK, alongside
our globally renowned and iconic
landmarks and attractions.
Domestically, our ‘Join the
World - #MyMicrogap’ campaign is
getting more young Brits to take
short breaks at home and discover
new experiences, with a focus on
travel across the shoulder seasons,
from glamping at an Alpaca camp
in Sussex to staying in a Kudhva,
an architectural hide-out in North
Cornwall, or sleeping under the stars
in a luxurious pod in Devon. Working
with destinations and tourism
businesses, we can ignite the
passion for domestic travel in young
people, inspiring them to take a
holiday at home right now and
throughout their lifetimes, boosting
the economy and driving growth
from tourism in the future.
42 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES
VISIT BRITAIN/JOANNA HENDERSON
“AS THE VOICE OF
ENGLISH TOURISM
VISITENGLAND
SHINES A SPOTLIGHT
ON THE INDUSTRY
AND ALL IT DOES
TO HELP GROW THE
ECONOMY”
VISIT BRITAIN/ANDREW PICKETT
VisitEngland’s focus is also on
product development for English
tourism under the Discover England
Fund. The three-year £40 million fund
has brought more than 50 tourism
projects to life, delivering a stepchange
in England’s tourism offer
and creating exciting new reasons to
explore more of England.
As the voice of English tourism
VisitEngland shines a spotlight on
the industry and all it does to help
grow the economy. This year we will
again be supporting English Tourism
Week (ETW) which runs from 30
March to 7 April, to raise the profile
of the industry and its importance
to the economy. Also during ETW,
VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar
Competition reaches its finale,
celebrating those individuals in our
industry who go the extra mile to
ensure tourists in England have an
amazing visitor experience.
BUSINESS ADVICE FOR TOURISM
BUSINESSES
VisitEngland provides a free resource
to help tourism businesses grow with
the Business Advice Hub. It is packed
full of practical tips and guidance,
including toolkits to help target
overseas markets and make the most
of digital platforms. The hub also
links to local support organisations,
legislation information, guidance
on managing employees and more.
For more information go to www.
visitbritain.org/business-advice
At the end of last year the UK
Government confirmed that the
tourism industry’s bid for a sector
deal as part of its industrial strategy
has now moved to an official
negotiation. This is fantastic news
and securing this is set to ensure our
industry grows and thrives yearround.
As we look ahead to our
50th anniversary this year, our
priority continues to be to work
collaboratively with businesses
and organisations across the
tourism landscape and with the
UK Government, driving growth
and innovation in the sector and
cementing the competitiveness of
one of our great industries.
GLAMPSITES
PRODUCT IN FOCUS
Huts
Gumboots &
Wellingtons
Description: A small
glamping operation based in
North Yorkshire, catering for
cyclists and hikers among others
Product: A bundle of major
component parts for the self-build
of a large shepherd hut, including
plans and step by step guide, cast
iron wheels, bespoke timber roof
construction, doors, windows and
bespoke roof sheets
Company: Tithe Barn Shepherd
Huts
Telephone: 01788 510507 / 07711
581904
Website: www.shepherd-huts.
com
Details: We worked closely
with owners Andrew and Lesley
over several months as they
considered the size and design
of the first of the two shepherd
huts they will offer at their
glamping site. As with many of our
customers, the large 6m x 2.8m
hut they wished to build required
several bespoke items that we
were able to supply. We were also
able to offer ongoing support
during the build.
Feedback: Andrew Beale, owner
Gumboots & Wellingtons, said:
“I found Tithe Barn Shepherd
Huts while researching for our
glamping business. Phillip and
Sally gave me the confidence
to self-build, as their bespoke
parts packages and advice made
anything possible! I’m a novice
builder, so their step-by-step
guide has proved invaluable,
with photographs for each stage
of the build. I honestly couldn't
have done it without the guidance
of Phillip and Sally, and also my
father-in-law who helped me build
what is essentially a tiny house!
I highly recommend Tithe Barn
Shepherd Huts and will be placing
another order very soon!”
Dimpsey Glamping
Description: Luxury glamping accommodation
based around the idea of luxury in a field
Product: Turnkey Hut and Brace Hut
Company: Blackdown Shepherd Huts
Telephone: 01460 929774
Website: www.blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk
Details: Dimpsey originally ordered a Turnkey Hut
to start a glamping business on the farm. With
stunning views across the Blackdown Hills and a
lovely secluded position, the team has continued
to capitalise on the hut and its positioning by
adding an outdoor hot tub and kitchen. The hut
has a high occupancy level all year round, so when
the opportunity to expand with a second hut
presented itself, Blackdown Shepherd Huts was
happy to assist. The second hut, a luxury Brace, is
set in a different area on the farm and includes a
slipper bath, double bed, sitting area and kitchen
area – but over two huts joined together.
Feedback: “Dimpsey gets the most amazing
reviews – not just for the area and the service we
provide our customers, but for the hut and how
clever it is. It really does have everything you
need. Also, because it’s a solid building (albeit on
wheels!), it allows us to have guests all year round.
The second hut is already proving to be popular –
we had bookings before it had arrived based on the
lovely images we were able to share of the Brace,
and Blackdown and Dimpsey’s reputation.”
44 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES
PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS
Greta
Ellipse Leisure Buildings
01833 630851
www.ellipseleisurebuildings.
co.uk
Due to launch this year is the
Greta by Ellipse Leisure Buildings
from its Haven range of luxury
outdoor accommodation.
Complementing the Balder and
the Tees models, its name is
taken from the river that flows
through the site where all the
models are handmade by expert
craftsmen. The Greta will have
the largest footprint option within the standard Haven range.
As with all the Ellipse models, the interior and exterior can be bespoke
depending on use and style; the only limit to what can be achieved is a client’s
imagination.
Incorporating a unique roof design, the Greta provides spacious and
comfortable living space.
Sunshine with Showers
expected
goo.gl/D3e236
Stylish good looks
easy installation
simple maintenance
GLAMPSITES
WE LOVE…
Bespoke signage from The Sign
Maker
WHY?
Having met the team at the
Farm Business Innovation show
last year, we really appreciate
the care and craftsmanship
the folk at The Sign Maker
puts into its commissions.
Working in a wide variety of
traditional and contemporary
processes with a vast selection
of materials including timber,
slate, stone, brass and Corian,
the team comprises experts in
woodworking, engraving, casting,
printing, sand-blasting, chemical
etching, anoprinting and hand
painting, all based at workshops
in Devon.
With the busy summer season
fast approaching are your signs
ready?
FROM
The Sign Maker
01769 561355
www.sign-maker.net
OAB
LOVES…
EXTERIORS
Keeping things looking good
on the outside
WE LOVE…
Playscapes from Wild
Hart
WHY?
With an ethos of
‘reconnecting with
nature’, we love
everything that Nick
Sneller produces
from his Wild Hart
brand, which includes
bespoke cabins, furniture
and playscapes. In this instance it is his naturalistic play
environments that we are particularly in admiration of.
Award winning (taking ‘the treble’ at RHS Hampton Court
Flower Show no less for the The Zoflora and Caudwell
Children’s Wild Garden), handcrafted, expertly designed
and made with care, what’s not to love? In addition, Nick
has a real appreciation for natural environments and works
painstakingly to ensure his installations sit sympathetically
within the landscape. He also uses sustainably sourced
timber and works collaboratively to support local businesses.
FROM
Wild Hart
07971 869058
www.wild-hart.co.uk
WE LOVE…
Bespoke treehouse design for
staying and playing from Cheeky
Monkey Treehouses
WHY?
A stalwart of treehouse design,
you may know Cheeky Monkey
Treehouses for its highly sought
after glamping accommodation,
but the team is just as well known
by the children who enjoy its play
structures. Imagine the delight on
the faces of families that turn up
to your site on spying a treehouse
den especially for kids. Cheeky
Monkey Treehouses has 22 years’
experience delivering the stuff
of dreams for little ones and is
expert in providing everything
needed for an adventure in the
trees.
As a site owner, you’ll enjoy a
personal treehouse consultation
service, hand-drawn 3D
illustrations and a high level of
craftsmanship and attention to
detail.
FROM
Cheeky Monkey Treehouses
01403 732 452
www.cheekymonkeytreehouses.
com
WE LOVE…
Park Pro Front cut mowers from Stiga
WHY?
Articulated steering makes the Park Pro Front cut mowers agile and perfect for
large complex areas where manoeuvrability is tight around rocks, trees, corners
and confined spaces. These mowers also feature 4-wheel drive, power steering and
electric height of cut. Stiga has also developed a quick connect system which allows
you to switch implements in minutes without any tools. There is also a selection of
seasonal implements including sweepers, snow blades, flail mowers, rakes and carts
– could this be your all-in-one lawncare machine?
FROM
Stiga
0800 669 6326
www.stigalawnmowers.co.uk
46 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
“We cannot
fault their
service…”
“After researching the market for domes,
we chose to order our domes through
TruDomes. Our main basis for this decision
was to support a UK company which
in turn meant if there were any issues we
could contact them easily. We cannot
fault their service. They have followed
our progress and assisted with any complex
questions. We plan to purchase further
domes from TruDomes.”
Claire Fahy, Proprietor
Pant y Rhedyn Guesthouse & Accommodation
TruDomes.com
“It's fabulous…
corporates love its
flexibility”
“The dome is beside our restaurant terrace
at the moment and creates a talking
point for everyone who visits. We have
had baby showers, meetings and parties
in there and have a coffee house product
launch booked this summer. The acoustics
are outstanding… it's fabulous and
funky and corporates love its flexibility.”
Ema Townsend, Head of
Marketing Heart Of England
Conference & Events Centre
“We would highly
recommend
TruDomes…”
“Our TruDomes glamping dome is great,
the aluminium frame is well engineered
and went up with no problems, Kelda
and the team are always ready to offer
help and advice and we would highly recommend
TruDomes for glamping
projects.”
Carolyn Truss
Gayton Farm
From cosy to colossal together we create beautiful,
bespoke, spaces your customers will love!
Contact us today to design
your own amazing space. Our
home-grown experts in the
field of British designed,
engineered and manufactured
geodesic domes are ready to
help businesses like yours
create beautiful, customisable,
profitable spaces that your
customers will love.
W. TruDomes.com
T. 02476 326585
E. Hello@TruDomes.com
EVENTS
CASE STUDY
The Bush
Craft Show
The live face of Bushcraft & Survival Skills
Magazine, the Bushcraft Show is in its ninth year
and attracts over 12,000 outdoor enthusiasts
A glorious celebration of the skills needed for survival in the wild and
all things outdoors, the Bushcraft Show is a glorious mix of have-a-go
experiences, proper camping (complete with camp fires), music
and spectacle. We talk to organiser and commercial director David Thompson.
Describe your event and how
many people it attracts?
The Bushcraft Show attracts
c12,000 visitors over the course of
the late May bank holiday weekend.
It is a jam-packed, three-day event
filled with amazing bushcraft
activities that takes visitors on a
bushcraft and survival adventure
that’s hard to forget.
People can come for the day
or stay for the weekend, trying
their hands at woodland crafts,
firelighting, shelter building,
tracking, foraging, woodland games
and so much more.
Explain a bit about your venue
and its history
Situated in the heart of the National
Forest, Beehive Farm Woodland
Lakes is, we are quite sure you’ll
agree, the perfect venue for The
Bushcraft Show.
You enter the site on a level
grassed area with purpose
built tracks encircling the main
showground. There is not a
building in sight, with woodland all
around and views over the tranquil
Horseshoe Lake.
In this most southerly part of
rural Derbyshire, the venue offers
our visitors loads of fun ways to
enjoy a very special corner of the
National Forest. With over 65 acres
of mixed woodland to explore, filled
with thriving wildlife and three
lakes (one for fishing), it takes little
time for people to relax and feel at
one with their environment. The
heady combination of activities,
entertainment, demonstrations,
guest speakers, have-a-go sessions,
woodland and meadow camping
with open fires (exclusive to The
Bushcraft Show) provides an
adventure not to be missed and
one not soon to be forgotten.
Whether arriving from the north,
south, east or west, The Bushcraft
Show enjoys a centrally located
site, which is easily accessed via the
motorway and railway network and
by Birmingham International and
East Midlands Airport.
What is the event’s history?
It is now in its ninth year and
continues to grow both in terms of
its offering and in terms of visitor
experience and numbers. The
concept was to develop both a
magazine and an outdoor event to
cater for the ever growing interest
in bushcraft and re-connecting with
the outdoors.
As well as bushcrafters, we
attract campers, paddlers,
climbers, walkers, indeed anyone
who just loves to be outdoors.
How does the relationship work
with the venue you hold the
event at?
We hire the whole site for over
a week and have a wonderful
relationship with Alistair Chapman
who owns it. He takes immense
pride in looking after the land,
the trees and lakes and the flora
48 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS
and fauna adorning it. Alistair
respects the fact that our mantra
is “leave no trace”. Of an evening
there are literally hundreds of
campfires burning but to walk
through the woodlands post
event, you simply would not
know it.
How did you find applying for
permission to run the event?
We hire an expert (Paul Budden
at Wessex Safety Services) to
handle these matters. He applies
for licensing, change of use, road
signs, fire certification/approval,
security, electrics, water etc.
Additionally, Paul and his team
of three attend and manage the
event.
“AS WELL
AS BUSH-
CRAFTERS,
WE ATTRACT
CAMPERS,
PADDLERS,
CLIMBERS,
WALKERS,
INDEED
ANYONE WHO
JUST LOVES
TO BE
OUTDOORS”
How have you planned the layout
of the event and what structures
do you use?
There is a formula for the build and
break down which changes little.
The event is centred upon three
giant tipis which encompass a main
stage, seating for in excess of 375
people, a dance area, AV, screens,
lighting etc. The event radiates and
is centred around this arena.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 49
EVENTS
How did you research and source
your marquees, flooring, bars
etc?
Mainly through internet research,
word of mouth and attending
event shows etc.
How have you financed the
event?
Through our own efforts and
profits from the previous event
and from those derived from the
magazine. It is profitable.
What entertainment do you
offer?
We stage two bands each night
as well as wandering Minstrels,
fire-walking, fire-twirling at dusk
and battle re-enactments. This
is all again self sourced and,
like everything else we do, local
suppliers and provenance are allimportant
to us and the event.
What provisions do you make for
power, lights and sound?
We have at least four main
generators dotted around the
site to power showers, toilets, the
main stage arena, lighting towers,
catering units and to serve our
exhibitors/traders.
the main arena. We have backup
matting, tractors, gravel and
straw available to cater for really
inclement conditions though.
How do you publicise the event?
Through Bushcraft & Survival Skills
Magazine, which we also publish,
email and postal marketing
campaigns, affiliate programmes
with our sponsors/traders/
exhibitors and, of course, through
social media platforms.
“WE STAGE
TWO BANDS
EACH NIGHT
AS WELL AS
WANDERING
MINSTRELS,
FIRE-
WALKING,
FIRE-
TWIRLING AT
DUSK AND
BATTLE
RE-ENACT-
MENTS”
What are your plans for next
year?
It will be our tenth anniversary so
we are planning a ‘spectacular’!
What other outdoor hospitality
sectors do you operate in?
We don’t, although we recently
introduced a glamping element
around one of the beautiful lakes
on site. It was a huge success and
will be ramped-up this year.
What advice could you give
to someone coming into the
outdoor event industry?
Plan well and have contingency,
don’t try to do it all yourself,
consult and use experts.
How do you manage admissions
and visitor safety?
Security and Wessex Safety
Services arrange this in
conjunction with our c100
wonderful team of volunteers.
What ground protection do you
use for cars and footfall?
We don’t need to as there is a
gravelled walkway all around
What challenges have you faced?
Fitting the c110 traders in as
there is relatively limited space,
attempted restrictions of the
amount of people allowed at
any one time in the bar vicinity
and, a few years ago, wild and
very wet weather which is now
affectionately referred to as
Mudfest. We learnt an awful lot
from that event.
ADDRESS BOOK
DETAILS
25-27 May 2019
Beehive Farm Woodland Lakes
Rosliston
Derbyshire
DE12 8HZ
www.thebushcraftshow.co.uk
50 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
CALL NOW TO BOOK:
0800 043 2688
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 51
EVENTS
Event Planning
Timeline
Jim Davey, MD of Redwood Event Solutions, discusses the
ideal timeline from event idea through to event day, and
what planners can do when time is of the essence
THE SAYING ‘there aren’t enough hours
in the day’ couldn’t be more true when it
comes to event planning and organisation.
As any event professional knows time and
of course budget are two of the biggest
impacting factors on creating a stand out
event. Reaching the key milestones in
event planning with time on your side is the
dream, but things don’t always work that
way.
Whatever the size or type of event, the
planning timeline takes an organiser from
the conception of an idea through to the
event itself, and as event professionals, we
can agree that when time is on our side
there is real value in working through each
timeline stage and giving it the attention
that it deserves. However, being able to get
into the details is the goal but not always
the reality.
By putting in the planning hours we’re
better placed to create an event that fits
with the vision and the all-important
budget. And the more solid a foundation
built, the more creative everyone involved
can be in the long run.
At Redwood Event Solutions, we have
worked with almost every time frame
imaginable when it comes to planning.
For some events we’ve had over a year to
consider, finesse and create, while for others
we have literally had a matter of weeks –
still delivering to the same level and quality.
The luxury of time affords space to get
into the finer details, to consider what
exactly we are trying to achieve, what the
journey is and how we can do everything
we can with the show. Putting on events is
a huge privilege and we should never lose
sight of the fact that people come, have an
incredible time and attach moments of their
life to them. That’s pretty humbling.
When time is of the essence then
decisions have to be made. Sometimes just
making the decision is the most important
thing to do. That is when having the right
team on board to be able to make them is
invaluable.
STAGE 1 – THE IDEA
› 12 months+ before the event
Like most things in life, it begins with an idea.
When an event organiser has a great concept
and is at the beginning of planning, that’s
typically when we will get a call.
With experience across a broad range of
events from large green field festivals to high
end bespoke installations, foodie festivals
to live music and everything in between,
we often get called in at the ‘idea’ stage
to start mapping out what the event will
look like, how it could work and for venue
considerations.
In an ideal world, we like to be involved
from the very beginning. By being
involved with the initial conversations and
brainstorms for the event, we often save
our clients time and money by bringing our
experience from previous events to the new
brief. If it is a site that we’re familiar with or
we have experience in that type of event, we
52 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS
can instantly offer advice at this early stage
that could help shape the event’s DNA.
More often than not, we already have
existing relationships with the relevant
authorities around the UK to help grease the
wheels and get the ball rolling, which means
we can start the channels of communication
earlier, based on reputation and trust.
At this point, we very much become part
of our client’s team, where we ensure that
all operational plans and requirements are
underway so that they can focus on the
event content, ideas and creative.
STAGE 2 – SITE FEASIBILITY
› 12 months+ before the event
Having worked at a number of stately
homes, public parks, farming estates, private
land and green field sites over the last four
years with Redwood and 16 years across my
career, finding the right site for a new event
or relocating an existing one is a big decision.
Whether it’s a foodie festival celebrating
local produce, a community sporting
event offering participation in bike rides
and runs, or an open-air cinema showing
the classics, you need to consider what is
going to work well on the land and spaces
you have available. Any existing facilities,
infrastructure or services available on site
could make life a lot easier in the long run.
A feasibility study of the site is an
extremely useful tool at this stage, and we’ve
conducted these for the likes of CarFest, Pub
in the Park and some exciting new events for
this year at Bowood House to ensure that
there are no unexpected ‘surprises’ once we
commit to a site.
By assessing everything from the drainage,
soil type, existing services, the all-important
hard standing and road networks through
to larger commercial concerns like local
demographic and travel logistics, we can give
each client a clear, practical and solutions
focused assessment of the proposed site. At
this initial stage we can clearly outline if the
site works, and its strengths, weaknesses
and challenges. In short, if it is a good idea
or not.
This phase can run in conjunction with the
creation of the event concept and can indeed
shape the content – knowing what can and
can’t be done on the site will focus and tailor
the event team’s plans.
STAGE 3 – EVENT PLANNING
› 12 months+ before and ongoing
throughout the planning process
A first draft of the site plan really starts to
bring an event to life. We create Auto CAD
drawings for every event site we build so
that we can visualise how everything will fit
together. Physically being able to see what
goes where, in what quantities and starting
to envisage a patrons’ journey or experience
is incredibly valuable.
Until you have a site plan, there is no
physical representation of the event. Once
drawn, it begins to come to life - visualisation
is a powerful tool and really helps to focus
attention and efforts.
While the site plan will change and
develop in the lead up to the event, we try to
limit the number of major changes, unless
absolutely necessary, to avoid impacting the
rest of the site layout on a regular basis. Our
experience on site planning, event logistics
and crowd management means we work
with clients to update and finesse site plans,
offering advice on best practice and how
they could adjust sites to work even more
efficiently.
Of course, having a site plan drawn to
scale will also give very specific details of the
equipment needed and will help with the
specification of each element.
STAGE 4 – EVENT
SPECIFICATION
› 6–9 months before the event
Whether it’s a brand new event or one that
is expanding/evolving, specifying the type
and quantity of equipment needed can be
a series of make or break decisions. Either
under or over ordering is an event manager’s
worst nightmare and can have differing
implications depending on what you end up
with too little or too much of!
We use the age-old carpenters’ mantra of
“measure twice, cut once”. We also ensure
that we have a sensible and considered
contingency in hand for key items such as
fencing and trackway.
While there are the must-haves, and what
seem like the nice to haves, this can quickly
change as weather forecasts or ticket sales
alter in the lead up to the event. Not having
enough trackway or woodchip for what is
shaping up to be a soggy, muddy festival
could hugely impact the enjoyment of your
visitors and mean they don’t return the
following year.
Being involved with events from the get-go
means we can build modular blueprints
with specification requirements, offering
clients the option of using this framework
to create the event or leaving us to manage
all procurement and operations while they
concentrate on the event content and look
and feel of the show.
Getting the specifications right for the
first event, or as an existing one changes,
means that we can help keep budgets tight
and consider the value of each purchase and
what it brings.
STAGE 5 – ENGAGING WITH
THE LOCAL AUTHORITY AND
LICENSING
› 6 months+ before the event
As we all know, event planning runs
alongside health and safety and licensing
requirements so it’s important to ensure
that while the event concept and content
is coming together, the nitty gritty of legal
matters and health and safety requirements
are being progressed and managed
efficiently at the same time.
In an ideal world, licence applications
should happen as far out as practicably
possible; we suggest a six month minimum.
This gives a good period of time to build a
working relationship with the local authority
and to undertake the license process
including notice periods. The absolute
minimum amount of time is technically 28
days. Providing there are no objections, and
you have followed the process, the license
may be awarded. If there are notifications,
then you have to head down the hearing and
mediation routes.
We’ve secured licences with the tightest of
deadlines and with some rather extenuating
circumstances. While this undoubtedly adds
a bit of spice, there really is no substitute
for proper lead times and planning. This
involves everything from attending Safety
Advisory Group (SAG) meetings and liaising
with stakeholders involved with the event,
through to dealing with the emergency
services and planning for potential incidents.
It is incredibly important to remember
SAGs are working groups and there to help
guide your plans and offer assistance. They
are not always in the business of marking
your homework or rolling out the red
tape. Use the forums well, engage with the
members properly and build relationships.
In our humble experience, there is no
substitute for pre-empting the SAG meeting
by distributing detailed and thorough
plans (event safety management plan, site
plans, operations docs etc.) in advance of
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 53
EVENTS
the meeting. This gives the SAG members
the chance to get up to speed with your
proposed event as well as you demonstrably
showing them that you know what you are
doing and are professional in all that you do.
Trust begins to be built at this stage.
STAGE 6 – PICKING
YOUR A-TEAM
› 6 months+ before the event
It goes without saying that having the right
people and a strong team in place is the very
backbone of a good event. Having the right
team to oversee, manage and co-ordinate it,
both in the lead up and on the day(s) is vital
to its success.
We are lucky to live in a country with a
very established event industry and a huge
wealth of experience both across in-house
teams and freelancers – finding the right
people for the job cannot be valued high
enough.
At Redwood, we work on the full sliding
scale when it comes to teams from putting
in the full event team to deliver on
every aspect – site crew, H&S officers,
production teams and more, through to
fulfilling specific roles where there are
gaps in established event teams.
STAGE 7 – EVENT BUILD
› One week+ before the event
Event size dependent, the build of an event
can start anywhere between a week and a
month before it opens. Across this time, it
is key for the production schedule to run on
time and have the right people on site to
oversee the build effectively.
consider straight after the event, the better.
If it’s scheduled to be an annual event,
then you don’t want to forget what you’ve
learnt between the end of one show and the
planning for the next one.
We always recommend a debrief meeting
with the client within two weeks following
an event. Running through everything that
went well, not so well and where things
could be improved provides a vital learning
opportunity for every event whether it’s year
one or year five. There is always something
that can be tweaked or made better and so
it should be – events are constantly evolving,
and we should always strive for the very
best!
When Time is
Not on Your Side!
› Make a decision, don’t overthink it
too much or introduce too many options.
Choose a path and get started
› Prioritise the big things, feed them into your
project management process and get on with it
› Agree a timeline, document it and work
against it; transparency is key
› Be realistic, keep calm and remember
that you are really rather good
at what you do.
CASE STUDY
Pub in the Park – May 2017
For the inaugural Pub in the Park, we
were approached with the idea in late
November 2016 and started working
with the client to draw up budgets and
operational plans.
We drew the first site plan draft
in December 2016 and began to get
a feel for the layout and flow of the
event. We produced multiple iterations
and captured an accurate layout of
everything on site.
In December 2016 we had the first
SAG meeting with the local authority,
presenting plans and arrangements and
began to build relationships ahead of the
license application.
In January 2017 the license
applications were made and the notice
period of 28 days passed without
representation/objections. The
Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders
(TTROs) were also submitted to the local
authority.
Event equipment specifications were
produced and went to market for all
infrastructure and services. In March
2017, the second SAG meeting took
place to run through finer detail of plans
and give each department/member the
chance to comment and offer guidance.
In early May, we were on site to mark
out and build the show as per the site
plan and production schedule ahead of
the Event Live phase.
Within weeks of the event, we had a
debrief with both the client and the SAG
with all learnings from the first event.
STAGE 8 – EVENT DAY
› Show time!
Once everything is in place and the event
site is ready to open… it’s show time! When
it comes to event day/weekend, it’s about
making sure that everyone on the team has
everything they need to do the best possible
job. While we all expect to put in longer shifts
on-site (usually somewhere around the 16
hour mark) it is more important than ever
when you’re walking tens of miles every day
and having to be ‘on alert’ for long periods
of time, to make sure that the team is looked
after, eating regularly, sleeping and taking
breaks.
STAGE 9 – EVENT DEBRIEF
› Two weeks post event
Once the event has finished and the derig
has happened, a key piece and the closing
part to any event, is the debrief. How did
it go? What could you do better next time?
Was it a success? The more you capture and
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Davey is managing director of Redwood Event Solutions, a
provider of event planning and infrastructure, health and safety
services and site management. He has over 16 years’ experience in
event production, operations management and safety consultancy,
working on events of all scales right up to some of the largest and
most challenging in the world. www.redwood.events
54 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENT HIRE.
Our huge range of event equipment makes us a tough
act to follow. So whatever you need talk to us today.
To find your nearest branch call 0333 2000 836
or contact one of our Event Specialists.
Visit us at brandoneventhire.co.uk
Brandon Hire Station
The UK’s Tool and Equipment Hire Specialist
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 55
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EVENTS
GUEST COMMENT
Fantastic Plastic!
Michael Hall concludes his series on the problem of plastic by turning things
on their head and offering a cradle to cradle solution
THIS ARTICLE is much more fun to write
because it is not a grizzle about the woes
of the world, instead it is suggesting that
the scale of a problem is smaller than the
opportunity it presents.
Sure you can tinker around the edges and
suggest stopping using plastic or recycling it
time and time again into useful trinkets. But
does that really fix the problem or does it
needs something more fundamental to make
David Attenborough and the folks at the
Davos World Economic Forum smile?
So what would do that? Let’s start by
considering the things that upset them in the
first place! We are wasting resources and not
being responsible about what we use and
what happens after we discard it.
Why not turn that sentence on its head
and be responsible for using up waste so we
never need to discard it again by creating a
permanently useful stock of resources.
So if we could convert plastic waste into
something so essential that everyone would
want to use it now and for generations to
come, why would that work? Define essential
and you have a starting point then ask if you
can imagine what would be still useful in the
future.
How about shelter, however basic or
advanced you want to make it? Somewhere
beautiful you or anyone else can live, work
and play that meets personal and community
needs. If you forget bricks and mortar, can
you imagine a warm, comfortable and safe
place if it happens to be made of something
stronger, lighter and more thermally
efficient (plastic) plus maintained with
natural renewable energy with minimal
environmental impact? We have the science
to do this!
How many new buildings
and structures does the
world need now and to come.
Enough I suspect to use up all the waste
plastic we have already made. Would that
make you smile?
Breaking things down and recreating with
simple systems means not just eliminating
complexity but our mindsets. It has to be
better for us, cost less while benefiting the
environment and society physically and
emotionally, plus a lot more.
For one thing it would mean converting
a profit and loss expense (waste disposal)
into a balance sheet asset which would keep
business happy. For another, the cost of
housing, structures and buildings would drop
because of a plentiful supply of second hand
material designed to last forever. Third, but
not least, converting waste into innovation
value will change how we all behave.
By Fusion is an American enterprise that
has made a great start (www.byfusion.com),
and a UK exhibition company Ecobooth
(www.ecobooth.co.uk) is also leading by
example.
Philips in the Netherlands now sells light
not lightbulbs and shortly IKEA will rent
kitchens and lounges in a new model based
on the ‘performance economy’ that predicts
huge opportunities for cradle to cradle
products and systems.
We at C6(n) see a big future picture for
structures and buildings consisting of a kit
of modular, lightweight, load-bearing parts
that can be assembled into anything you can
imagine, be changed, re-arranged and easily
re-purposed somewhere else.
Making the parts with plastic waste is far
more satisfying because it matters to us and
fundamentally plastic is such a good material
(whatever its type). But then there are other
waste resources to consider and that will be
next on our journey’s list.
If you have ideas and suggestions we
would love to hear from you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Hall is chairman of
Above All C6(n), experts in
composite materials and
innovators of turning event
waste into permanently
useful products. www.c6n.
co.uk / www.above-all.co.uk /
02380 972093
EVENTS
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
John Radford
Learnings from
Fyre Festival
Titled by some as the “most disastrous festival
ever”, Fyre Festival hit the headlines for its
falsehoods and non delivery
IF YOU haven’t seen the
Netflix documentary yet, then I
recommend spending 90 minutes
of your time to watch it. The
staggering issues raised and
the numbers involved makes
compelling viewing - $100million
of damages claims post event,
allegations of $27.4million of
fraudulent fundraising, thousands
of upset customers, prison
sentences, and that’s just the tip of
the iceberg!
For those who have yet to hear
about the event itself - it was sold
as a new “luxury music festival” in
the Bahamas last year that went
from a heavily promoted event
by social media influencers
and music artists to a number
of lawsuits and criminal
charges for the company and
promoter.
Attendees were left with
no accommodation, little or no
food, lost baggage, soaking wet
mattresses in the ‘VIP tents’ (note:
apparently they were actually
disaster relief tents), flight
cancellations and numerous other
failures that meant they had to
make do with what they could
“ IT MAY HAVE BEEN A US EVENT BUT
THINGS LIKE THIS SHOULD ALWAYS
MAKE OUR INDUSTRY SIT UP AND
DOUBLE CHECK HOW WE OPERATE”
WEB SUMMIT
Fyre Festival cofounders
Billy
McFarland and
Ja Rule
get their hands on until being
evacuated from the island when it
was clear that there really was not
going to be a festival of any type
taking place!
On top of that, numerous
suppliers, staff and contractors
have been left unpaid and unable
to reclaim their losses. The words
scam, con and fraud regularly pop
up in the online discussions and
from a bystander’s perspective it
appeared to be set to fail from the
start. Although, sitting watching a
documentary eight months on this
is all very easy for me to say. It may
have been a US event but things
like this should always make our
industry sit up and double check
how we operate.
Have I ever been close to being
hoodwinked by a promoter similar
to that on the documentary?
58 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS
No, thank goodness. Can we all
still learn some lessons from this
debacle? A resounding yes would
be my answer.
Some of the learning could
probably be summed up with
the simple phrase “if it sounds
too good to be true, it probably
is”. However, while it can be very
easy to succumb to an exciting
new event proposition, I’d suggest
taking a few minutes before signing
to delve a little deeper.
› Have they done anything similar
before?
› How did those events turn out?
› What’s their background?
› Do they have the right backing
and support in place?
› Does the hype and advertising
ring true?
The above questions should be
asked whether you are a supplier,
event organiser or even a potential
guest. They should at least allow
you to step back and consider
things before taking the plunge.
As a supplier you may be happy
to take financial risk as part of
your business model, for others
you may simply want to act as a
paid contractor with no risk. Be
clear from the outset what you
want from the relationship. If
you don’t feel comfortable with
what’s requested, walk away. Many
suppliers are SMEs and debts could
have a huge adverse effect on
them and their financial security. In
the past I have walked away from
projects if the numbers didn’t add
up or the information coming from
the promotion team didn’t sit well.
It is not easy but in hindsight the
right decisions were made.
If you end up being the “face” of
the event as the event organiser,
are you happy with what you are
selling and providing? If not, what
are your options? Are you certain
you have confidence in the event
and its goals? It was interesting the
number of people interviewed in
the documentary who bought into
the event 100% and were left high
and dry following its demise.
For potential attendees it may
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Radford runs JR
Event Services and
has worked in the
event industry for over
20 years. He provides
event management
and event safety
consultancy services
for a broad spectrum
of events from single
day and city centre
cultural events to
week long music and
dance festivals. Visit
www.jreventservices.
co.uk or call 01275
406760 for an informal
chat.
be harder to distinguish between
what will be a truly unique festival
starting out and something
less than ideal, but feedback
and information is more readily
available now more than ever with
today’s technology. Use it to your
advantage and maybe delve a little
deeper.
I’ve met with new promoters
promising exciting things, be it
the best new event ever or an
appealing financial return. I can’t
say I haven’t been extremely
tempted, but having stepped back
to consider the opportunity it has
become clear the risks that I could
have taken on were huge and, in
most cases, I have been proved
right.
There are people out there who
think putting on a festival or event
is easy – it isn’t. It takes a team
of knowledgeable, informed and
experienced people to make a
success. On top of that, and having
looked back at the documentary, a
good slice of honesty and integrity
also helps!
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 59
EVENTS
PRODUCT IN FOCUS
Event Glamping
Fieldview Festival
Description: A three day celebration
of music and arts located in the
Wiltshire countryside
Product/service: 24x5m bell tents
for festival guests, 10x5m bell tents
for crew and artists, a chill out tent and
a full glamping check-in and concierge
service
Company: Great British Glamping
Telephone: 07919 021912
Website: www.greatbritishglamping.com
Details: Guest tents were furnished with full height beds,
handwoven rugs, a table, mirror, lighting and cotton bunting.
Situated in a quiet corner of the festival site, the glamping field
afforded fantastic views towards the stages, with easy access to all
the site amenities.
The crew/artist tents were installed eight days prior to the festival
to provide crew accommodation during the build and break-down
phases, and for artist use during the event itself. Situated in a
backstage production area of the site this mini-village meant crew
could relax and recharge in comfort.
The chill out tent was an open-sided structure providing space
to chill and re-charge for guests (and their phones) with bale sofas,
giant beanbags and snuggly blankets. Lit with festoon lighting
and decorated with bunting flags, it provided a central area for the
glamping village.
The Great British Glamping crew also provided check-in and
wrist-banding for guests, helping carry luggage and providing an
introductory tour of the festival. Even Fraser the trusty Labrador
provided some often-needed canine friendship!
Feedback: Fieldview Festival’s director said: “We were delighted to
work with GBG again on the festival. Not only is their service superb,
they bring unrivaled personal service and touches from their team
which set them apart and make them a big hit with guests and crew
alike. They are legends and a core part of what we create here -
thank you!”
The Masked Ball
Description: The Masked Ball is an immersive, multilevel
party kingdom with ballers all dressed to excess in
a venue carved out of the cliffs overlooking the stunning
Mount’s Bay. A one of a kind event situated in the
quintessentially Cornish fishing village of Porthleven
Products: 18x2 berth units and 2x4 berth units. All huts
come fully furnished which includes: beds with 4” foam
mattress along with sheet and cushions, bedside unit
plug sockets, bedside lamp, 800w oil heater, coat hooks,
rug, door mat, bin, mirror, bunting, key (lockable doors),
bespoke stools and a welly stand. The beds can be made
into a twin or double, depending on the customer’s
preference. Bedding is offered at an additional cost.
Company: The Shire Huts
Telephone: 07846 282404
Website: www.theshirehuts.com
Details: The Shire Huts is totally independent when
it comes to the set up and take down of its huts. Its
organised team loves what it does and takes great pride
in making its glamping area inviting and magical. There is
a communal fire pit set up in the middle of the huts, which
is a great way for everyone to get to know each other
and become friendly hobbit-shire neighbours! Colourful
festoon lighting is also run all the way along the huts.
The company arranges all the meet and greets with
guests and is on call 24/7 during an event.
Feedback: “Staying with The Shire Huts is like spending
time with our extended family. The huts themselves are
magical, bijou, cosy and so much fun to stay in! Plus
they are secure and have electricity - bonus! Hannah
is wonderful; her customer service is second to none,
though we have never had an issue in the five years
we stayed in them at festivals. They even hire out for
weddings! I know, because they were at mine and
were amazing. I can’t recommend them enough for the
ultimate glamping experience.”
60 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS
PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS
Modular Inflatable
Bubble Tents
CASABUBBLE
+33 (0)1 7103 4704
www.casabubble.com
Get in touch with
CASABUBBLE’S European
distributor in France
for its modular Bubbles
collection, to rent or buy.
The local CASABUBBLE
team, or one of its
partners, will set up the
structures (between 20-60
minutes per Bubble) at your event venue for event glamping with
extra ‘WOW’ factor!
Frameless and virtually roofless, Bubbles are inflated by silent, low
energy air blowers, which keep the domes in shape and keep the air
filtered and fresh. They can also be 100% energy self-sufficient with
the addition of the new Solar-Box. Available in transparent and semiopaque
finishes.
BOOK
NOW
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 61
Spot light
A roundup of products for the outdoor hospitality industry
TRAILERS TO KEEP PRODUCE
FRESH
Coldtraila
01684 311811
www.coldtraila.co.uk
Whether you’re setting up a
food stall or running out of
space in your grocery store,
you’re more than likely going to
need somewhere to store excess
products. At Coldtraila, our Chill-
Tow and Freeze-Tow trailers
can be rented or delivered in
emergency situations for those
in need of chilled storage. We
also provide speciality trailers
for those interested in the
gaming or butchery industries,
with bespoke optional fittings to
suit. Visit our website at www.
coldtraila.co.uk to fill out your
enquiry form today.
MARQUEE HEATING
Thermobile UK
02476 357960
www.thermobile.co.uk
Thermobile heaters are
manufactured in Holland and
built to a very high quality. They
have a minimum efficiency of
90%, which means that 90% of
the fuel burned goes as useful
heat into the heated space
and only 10% via the flue.
This is a very high efficiency in
comparison to other heaters
on the market. The Thermobile
ITA range is ideal for heating
marquees and other temporary
structures. It comprises small,
mobile units with a 5-10m range
for ducting and 15hr integral
fuel tanks. The larger IMA units
require a separate fuel tank and
can be ducted up to 40m.
INFRARED HEATING PANEL
GlampRad
01269 853957
www.glamprad.com
GlampRad, a newly developed
12 volt infrared panel heater, has
just been released into the UK’s
campervan market with our first
customer, Boondock Trailers.
Running the 2x3 amp heating
panels directly off the trailer’s
off-grid lithium battery provides
optimal comfort wherever it
goes. This new addition to
GlampRad’s existing range of
innovative heating products
opens up so many possibilities
in regards to sustainable heating
solutions. Operating at a surface
temperature of 80 deg C provides
60% infrared radiation, which
is safe to touch and reduces
condensation. To learn more
please visit www.glamprad.com
and www.boondocktrailers.co.uk
GLAMPING BARRELS HIT THE UK
CampPlus
01908 538055
www.campplus.co.uk
The Glamping Barrel has been
launched into the UK courtesy
of CampPlus. The company that
manufactures en-suite camping
and glamping shower rooms is
now an exclusive distributor of
the Finkota structures, which
come in 4.3m and 5.9m lengths.
Comfortably sleeping four, the
Barrels have wide appeal in
Europe, with over 600 installed
at 150 sites, 30 at Legoland
Denmark and 39 at Legoland
Germany.
Features include a super king
bed, pull out table, storage, USB
sockets, and 12V LED lighting
for easy use off-grid. Optional
electrical packages and infrared
heating are available, as are
connections to CampPlus ensuite
pods.
62 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
MASTER MAKERS OF
DISCERNING SHEPHERD HUT
SPACES
Blackdown Shepherd Huts
01460 929774
www.blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk
Established in 2011, Blackdown
Shepherd Huts is now one
of the leading shepherd hut
makers with a reputation for
quality and service that goes
above and beyond what’s
expected. With a skilled team
of carpenters and joiners who
love to create innovative builds
and realise their customers'
dreams, Blackdown offers
unique solutions for a number
of needs. From a hut to retreat
into, to a space solution for your
hotel or boutique glampsite,
the team will work with you to
create exactly what you need,
and you can rest assured that
you will enjoy the results for
years to come.
BEST OF BRITISH – BESPOKE
GEODESIC DOMES
TruDomes
02476 326585
hello@trudomes.com
www.trudomes.com
The team at TruDomes comprises
home-grown experts in the field
of British designed, engineered
and manufactured geodesic
domes. It boasts the design and
manufacturing capabilities to
help businesses create truly
unique and profitable space
solutions. Attractively priced,
the range starts at cosy dining or
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64 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
DAY IN THE LIFE
“WE STARTED OFFERING
ACCOMMODATION
13 YEARS AGO WITH
GIRAFFE LODGE. THIS
PROVED TO BE SO
POPULAR THAT WE
SAW A DEMAND TO
OFFER YEAR-ROUND
ACCOMMODATION
ALONGSIDE OUR
SEASONAL OFFERING”
24 Hours with…
Chris Kelly
A day in the life of Chris Kelly, short breaks director
at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve in Kent
MY DAY starts depending on where
I’m coming from. If it’s Monday
morning I leave home at 4.30am
from my home in Droitwich Spa,
Worcestershire; otherwise I have a
little annex next to a bungalow in
a local village, so I leave at 8.30am.
Whatever the journey, when I arrive
at Port Lympne, I always look
forward to what the day may hold in
such a wonderful place.
We started offering
accommodation 13 years ago
with Giraffe Lodge (then called
Livingstone Lodge). This proved
to be so popular that we saw
a demand to offer year-round
accommodation alongside our
seasonal offering. We converted
the beautiful mansion at the
heart of Port Lympne Reserve
into a hotel and expanded the
glamping offering by creating
Bear Lodge. The success of
these projects has enabled us
to follow on year after year with
new accommodation which
now includes luxury lodges set
partially within our lion and tiger
habitats, beautifully converted
cottages overlooking rhino and
wolves, shepherds huts set in our
Asian Experience, a bubble tent and
10 award winning treehouse suites at
the Treehouse Hotel.
My first thoughts are about our
guests, both those who have stayed
with us the night before, or those
coming to stay with us that day.
I check that there have been no
issues that need my immediate
attention and following this I check
our bookings for that day and catch
up with my heads of housekeeping
and customer services to ensure
that we have everything in place
for the day ahead. I have a team of
40, encompassing a hotel general
manager and heads of customer
services and housekeeping. In all, the
team looks after more than 40,000
guests, 365 days a year.
Then it’s down to emails and any
administrative tasks I need to catch
up on. I always feel positive; how
could you not be in this place? Port
Lympne is home to over 700 animals
and 88 species. I look around to
see the wonderful work we do here
in looking after some of nature’s
fantastic animals, in readiness to
send them to their rightful homes
across the world.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 65
DAY IN THE LIFE
Challenges often present themselves
around our guests’ journey from
parking their cars, checking-in to their
accommodation and ensuring they are
fully happy, however my team is ready for
anything and everything. Bad weather
is always on my watch list, especially in
winter.
All accommodation is thoroughly
checked by the housekeeping team. The
guest services team has already called
our expected guests to talk them through
their stay, where they want to eat and what
experiences they would care to book. We
then ensure that any golf buggies that form
part of the guest experience are checked for
safety, cleanliness and fuel.
If there are any accommodation issues,
repairs etc. our Short Breaks maintenance
team prioritise these and liaise with
housekeeping and customer services to
ensure any booked accommodation is
ready on time and meets our extremely
high standards. Our tented structures have
been carefully researched and are the same
type used on game reserves in South Africa
to ensure we give our guests the full safari
experience here in Kent.
I tend to eat at my desk at lunchtime,
usually fruit and several cups of tea
(strong and sweet), but most days I tend to
work through while checking on existing
accommodation, or preparing for new
developments. We have a comprehensive
plan to grow our accommodation that
includes the full conversion of a beautiful
15th century Wealden Hall House alongside
further luxury lodges and glamping
offerings.
We decided to initially start our venture
into glamping to offer our visitors the
chance to experience the reserve 24 hours
a day. It was rightly anticipated to generate
more revenue to fund our vital conservation
work both at the wild animal parks we look
after in Kent and the wilderness areas we
protect overseas. Ultimately, this means
that we continue to send animals born at
our parks to protected areas of their natural
habitat, so they can live wild and free – just
as they should be.
I never leave work feeling I have left
something to do. Our guests are usually fully
settled in and enjoying their experience. I
can rest assured that they are in the capable
hands of my brilliant teams.
I have been working at Port Lympne for
seven years, all while living in Droitwich. We
have been in development mode in Short
Breaks during this period and I have been
at the very heart of what we have achieved
in this time. Encompass this with our
wonderful animals, incomparable people
and glorious landscape and you’ll have a
pretty good idea why I love my job!
ABOUT CHRIS
Chris has a comprehensive background in leisure,
retail and the public sectors ranging from holiday
parks, both UK and abroad, visitor attractions
and transformational work in the public sector.
He has a wife, Nicola, a son, Brett, and two
daughters, Charlotte and Laura. When leisure
time presents itself, he loves to watch rugby and
still plays the occasional game of cricket.
Port Lympne Reserve Accommodation
› Giraffe Lodge – 10 authentic African style
tents overlooking the watering hole on the
‘African Experience’. Aimed at adults, dinner and
breakfast is included, cooked on an open fire pit
in the Laapa at the lodge. Guests also enjoy a
ranger guided safari and the opportunity to feed
the resident giraffe herd.
› Bear Lodge – 19 safari tents tents capable of
accommodating between six and eight guests in
each and perfect for families. The site overlooks
the bear habitat and includes a clubhouse
restaurant, pizza takeaway, bar and large
children’s play area.
› Pinewood – a fun camping experience, aimed at
families and groups comprising 13 fully insulated
wooden pods, shepherds huts and luxury tents.
It also has a clubhouse and restaurant and is set
close to the lion and tiger habitats.
› Hog Deer Creek – eight luxury shepherds huts in
the garden of the ‘Asian Experience’.
› Forest Hideaway – three raised cabin/
treehouses set amongst towering pine trees,
close to the Amur tiger habitat.
› The Bubble – a luxury romantic retreat, with
transparent walls for 180 degree panoramic
views.
› Lion Lodge – the latest development, two
unique timber clad, Manhattan loft style
buildings set within the lions’ habitat – a first in
the world. Featuring picture windows in both the
master bedroom and the open plan living area,
guests are just a breath away from the lions.
› Tiger Lodge – as above but set within the tiger
enclosure.
› Wolf Lodge and Rhino Lodge – two converted
cottages adjacent to the wolf and rhino habitats.
› Treehouse Hotel – voted Best Tourism
Experience and Self Catering Experience of the
Year 2016-2017 by Tourism South East, the hotel
is nestled in the tree canopy above the reserve.
› Port Lympne Hotel – four star luxury with a
twist in a grade two mansion.
www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/shortbreaks
66 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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