Issue 51

GLAMPSITES
CASE STUDY
Brook Cottage
Shepherd Huts
A
start-up five hut retreat
on the border of the
Snowdonia National Park
With backgrounds in fine art,
Mark Barrow and Jonathan
Gooders moved to the
countryside and renovated a
cottage before turning their
attentions to hand-building
shepherd, poachers and gypsy
huts. Their adults-only site
launched in late 2021 and sprang
to fame after being featured on
BBC’s Interior Design Masters.
We talk to Mark.
What’s your back story – your life before
glamping?
Both Jonathan and I have fine art
backgrounds – Jonathan is a painter and
sculptor and I specialise in modern British
art and original vintage movie posters (www.
picturepalacemovieposters.co.uk). We also
ran a bespoke conservation picture framing
business in Wimbledon for over 15 years,
dealing with top West End galleries and
museums.
What made you decide to start offering
glamping accommodation?
We had decided on a lifestyle change and
knew we wanted to move to the country (I
grew up in Gloucestershire). After buying and
renovating a cottage, we started the build of
the huts, which in total took just under two
years. We opened in November 2021.
How did you research the business before
entering it?
We spent around six months researching
the market; what was already available and
how we could use our skill sets to create
something unique.
Tell us about your location and site
We’re based just outside Pwllheli on the
glorious Lynn Peninsula in North Wales, near
the border of Snowdonia National Park, with
the famous Italianesque village of Portmeirion
on the doorstep, in an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty. Each of our five hand-built
huts overlooks our own private lake, which is
host to an array of wildlife, with uninterrupted
far-reaching views to Yr Eifl (The Rivals)
mountains in the distance.
How did you tackle getting planning?
We initially put in a pre-application document,
which received a favourable response, then
after purchasing the house applied for full
planning with a 20 page supporting document.
There was a slight issue after planning had
been provisionally granted about a floodplain
nearby (which had never in reality flooded), so
we had to adjust the placing of the huts, but
in fact this worked out better anyway as each
hut now has a view of the mountain range and
the lake.
How did you finance the project?
Mainly with our own funds from the sale
of our previous house and a loan via the
Development Bank of Wales.
What glamping accommodation do you
offer and why did you choose it?
We have five hand-built (by us) huts; one
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