Open Air Business February 2019

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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
Page 1 and 2: ISSUE 25 | February 2019 | www.open
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Page 5 and 6: Residents Have Their Say BRIGHTON A
Page 7 and 8: BUSINESS 2019 PRE SEASON GATHERING
Page 9 and 10: Accessible and Inclusive Showering
Page 11 and 12: BUSINESS 2019 PRE SEASON GATHERING
Page 13 and 14: INDUSTRY OVERVIEW ENTREPRENEUR’S
Page 15 and 16: INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FINN BEALES we no
Page 18 and 19: Don’t Dream it - Hire it • Furn
Page 20 and 21: FUNCTION VENUES It has welcomed num
Page 24 and 25: FUNCTION VENUES What's Cooking in 2
Page 26 and 27: Bespoke Furniture Hire 0208 692 444
Page 28 and 29: MATTRESSES | DIVANS | HEADBOARDS |
Page 30 and 31: FUNCTION VENUES PRODUCT IN FOCUS Fu
Page 32 and 33: The Haven range from Ellipse Leisur
Page 34 and 35: GLAMPSITES about the tourism trade,
Page 36 and 37: GLAMPSITES How did you choose your
Page 38 and 39: GLAMPSITES INDUSTRY INSIGHTS Kate M
Page 40 and 41: GLAMPSITES THE LOFT, DEVON Glamping
Page 42 and 43: GLAMPSITES VISIT BRITAIN/JOANNA HEN
Page 44 and 45: GLAMPSITES PRODUCT IN FOCUS Huts Gu
Page 46 and 47: GLAMPSITES WE LOVE… Bespoke signa
Page 48 and 49: EVENTS CASE STUDY The Bush Craft Sh
Page 50 and 51: EVENTS How did you research and sou
Page 52 and 53: EVENTS Event Planning Timeline Jim
Page 54 and 55: EVENTS the meeting. This gives the
Page 56 and 57: Headline Sponsor Discover new wow f
Page 58 and 59: EVENTS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS John Radfo
Page 60 and 61: EVENTS PRODUCT IN FOCUS Event Glamp
Page 62 and 63: Spot light A roundup of products fo
Page 64 and 65: Classified Directory Green Goblet L
Page 66 and 67: DAY IN THE LIFE Challenges often pr

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