Issue 55

ISSUE 55 | 2023 | www.openairbusiness.com 

BUSINESS 

EVENT 

STRUCTURES 

FUNCTION VENUES 

› B Corp 

› Forecast 

GLAMPSITES 

› DIY Deck 

› 2023 Trends 

EVENTS 

› Illuminations 

› Green Survey 

CASE STUDIES: 

WHINSTONE VIEW • THE HUDNALLS HIDEOUT • NORFOLK & NORWICH FESTIVAL

Take advantage of the growth in staycations and construct a luxury log holiday home. 

Spacious, warm, welcoming and beautiful, a genuine log holiday home will generate year round income. 

You’ll be able to provide holidays that your customers will remember, and book again and again. 

0845 299 6337 / INFO@SCANDINAVIANHOMES.COM 

WWW.SCANDINAVIANHOMES.COM/SELF-BUILD-HOLIDAY-HOMES

ISSUE 55 | 2023 | www.openairbusiness.com 

WELCOME 

THE FIRST issue of Open Air Business for 2023 and we’re 

full of hopes, forecasts and optimism. We’ve delivered 

our Little Black Book of Glamping and are already hearing 

excited feedback from landowners about the potential it is 

helping realise – I told you it would be your best friend! Do 

keep in touch and let us know how your plans pan out. 

Thank you Charlotte Winship for your bouncy piece on a 

return to 1980s optimism in the wedding sector (pages 24- 

25) – Viva Magenta indeed. Similarly, Canopy & Stars reports 

glad tidings, with back to nature stays reaching record 

levels – and it’s apparently great news for saunas and cabins too (pages 42-43). 

Congratulations to all those event organisers out there embracing sustainability 

and taking steps to lower their impacts. We have the results from Vision: 2025’s 

Green Report on page 53 and news from both A Greener Festival and The Green 

Events and Innovations Conference, which takes part in London on 28 February. 

You can also join the green debate at the Association of Festival Organisers’ online 

conference on 25 February – again, see the news pages. Of course, we have the 

Event Production Show on 1-2 March at ExCel London too! It's big and bold and full 

of events action - check out the preview on pages 10-11. 

Pre-season is excellent for these types of events and a new one for the glamping 

industry comes courtesy of Sarah Orchard, the founder of GET FULLY BOOKED and 

owner of the highly acclaimed treehouse holiday let, The Hudnalls Hideout (which 

is also our case study of choice this issue!). Her live event, Get Geared Up 2023, is 

limited to 100 tickets and will focus on marketing your glamping business to drive 

direct booking. It’ll also be a great networking opportunity and good fun as it’s 

hosted at West Midland Safari Park. 

See you there! 

Tally Rix 

Editor / Publisher 

PUBLISHERS 

Steve Rix - steve@openairbusiness.com 

Tally Rix - tally@openairbusiness.com 

EDITOR 

Tally Rix - tally@openairbusiness.com 

ADVERTISING SALES 

Marney Whyte - 01892 677743 

marney@openairbusiness.com 

David Hobden - 01892 677741 

david@openairbusiness.com 

ADMINISTRATOR 

Kirsty Farrow – 01892 677740 

kirsty@openairbusiness.com 

DESIGN 

James English - 

www.jamesenglishdesign.co.uk 

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Coffee Shop Media Ltd 

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Milroy House, Sayers Lane, 

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Contents ISSUE 55 – 2023 

UP FRONT 

4 News 

7 Product News 

10 Event Production 

Show Preview, Farm 

Business Innovation 

Show Review 

15 Entrepreneur’s 

Chat – Harry Acland, 

Notgrove Estate 


20 Whinstone View – a 

wedding venue with 

log cabins, bistro and 

spa 

24 Wedding Forecast 

– an optimistic look 

ahead 

27 To B-Corp – Andrew 

White on the case for 

certification 

29 Heat, Power & 

Lighting – products 

in action 

GLAMPSITES 

33 The Hudnalls 

Hideout – a glorious 

treetop A-frame that 

exudes luxury 

41 DIY Deck – how to 

build a bell tent deck 

42 Glamping Trends 

– data-led trends 

analysis from Canopy 

& Stars 

45 Professional 

Services – products 

in action 

EVENTS 

48 Norfolk & Norwich 

Festival – a multiday 

arts festival 

with a Spiegeltent 

centrepiece 

53 Green Survey – 

results from Vision: 

2025’s festival 

sustainability survey 

54 All Lit Up – delivering 

winter illuminations 

57 Marquees & 

Structures – 

products in action 

60 Spotlight 

62 Classifieds 

65 Behind the Scenes… 

Josh Heyburn, 

Festivall Services 

Find more expert advice online: 

www.openairbusiness.com 

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ONLINE 

EVENT 

STRUCTURES 

CASE STUDIES: 

WHINSTONE VIEW • THE HUDNALLS HIDEOUT • NORFOLK & NORWICH FESTIVAL 


› B Corp 

› Forecast 

GLAMPSITES 

› DIY Deck 

› 2023 Trends 

EVENTS 

› Illuminations 

› Green Survey 

COVER PHOTO 

Four Tentickle stretch tents at a Thorpe Park corporate 

event with a challenging brief. Installation on the artificial 

beach involved two artic lorries with 45x800kg weights and 

off-road forklifts. Tentickle Stretch Tents UK, 01217 401385/ 

07826 843099, info@tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk, 

www.tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk 

BUSINESS 

WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 3

AFO Conference 

Returns Virtually 

THE ASSOCIATION of Festival 

Organisers’ annual conference will 

return virtually on Saturday 25 February 

from 10am to 5pm, with tickets now 

on sale. Having had to cancel the 

November face-to-face conference 

planned for Stoke on Trent due to an 

industrial dispute and other issues, AFO 

concluded that a virtual conference 

was the best way for everyone to get 

together; to teach, learn and network. 

The event will bring together festivals, 

event professionals and suppliers in the 

events sector to discuss and share ideas 

while hearing from a range of excellent 

speakers. Including CEO of LIVE, Jon 

Collins, who will discuss ‘The view from 

LIVE’. Other topics include Martyn’s 

Law, websites, the Green Events Code, 

gender balancing, international rescue, 

‘The ice is melting’ and much more. 

Speakers include Russ Philips (UK 

Crowd Management Association), 

Hannah Cox (Better Not Stop), Joe 

Heap (Towersey Festival), Eddie Barcan 

(Splendid Events), Vick Bain (The F List) 

and Ian Smith (frusion). Email sh@ 

festivalorganisers.org for more details. 

Five Stars for £7.5M Welsh 

Glamping Resort 

LOVE2STAY MID Wales at Caersws, near Newtown, has been awarded a five star grading by 

Visit Wales. 

The £7.5 million resort is being developed in three phases by owners Trevor and Patricia 

Bebb. The first phase includes 31 glamping lodges with hot tubs, play areas and a recreational 

lake. All the accommodation, which includes a dozen Black Barns, six Woodland Lodges, nine 

Hillside Cabins and four Wren’s Nest double lodges, are marketed via Hoseasons. 

Designed to maximise its valley side location, the resort is the Mid Wales equivalent of 

the original Love2Stay resort in Shrewsbury, which is operated by Salop Leisure. When fully 

developed, it will have 125 glamping lodges, an indoor swimming pool, spa, coffee shop and 

outdoor beach. 

“We are delighted to receive the five star grading from Visit Wales which is a reward for the 

investment and hard work that has gone in to develop our resort,” said Trevor. 

New Glamping Marketing and Growth Event 

SARAH ORCHARD, an awardwinning 

marketing expert and 

glamping business owner, is 

pulling together experienced 

fellow glamping business hosts 

and industry thought leaders 

for a new one-day marketing 

and business growth 

conference – GET 

GEARED UP 2023! 

The event 

will take place 

on Tuesday 

7 March at 

West Midland 

Safari Park, near 

Kidderminster 

This industryspecific 

live event 

is designed to help hosts 

re-focus and inspire them to 

‘Get Geared Up’, ready to tackle 

the year ahead. It will combine 

inspiration, marketing and 

business growth ideas plus 

productive brainstorming and 

networking sessions with other 

ambitious glampsite hosts. 

“Gift yourself a day out of 

the ‘office’ and work on your 

business,” says Sarah. “We 

have chosen the most inspiring 

hospitality venue so you have the 

time and space to fire up your 

business mojo and get ready for 

the year ahead. 

“The event will 

feature keynote 

talks on the latest 

glamping industry 

trends, business 

growth ideas 

without building 

more units or 

sites, case studies 

and panel debates 

with fellow hosts – plus 

plenty of time for networking 

to make new connections and 

build strong collaborations for the 

future.” 

There are only 100 tickets 

available. For more information or 

to buy your ticket visit 

www.go.get-fully-booked.com/ 

get-geared-up-2023 

AGF Announces 

Greenest Festivals 

AGF (A Greener Festival) is the leader in helping events, 

festivals and venues globally to become greener. AGF 

Certification is the world’s first and most comprehensive 

standard for sustainability in the live events sector. 

Successfully certified events in 2022 include Green 

Gathering (UK), Strawberry Fields (AU), Das Fest (DE), 

DGTL (NL), Robin Hood Annual Benefit (USA), Platinum 

Jubilee Pageant (UK), We Love Green (FR) and Primavera 

Sound (ES). 

AGF CEO Claire O’Neill said: “After the challenges of 

Covid and economic instability, we’re so happy that the 

festival and event sector increasingly fix sustainability 

at the top of the agenda. Our need to move away from 

fossil fuels, industrial animal agriculture, and towards 

clean energy and mobility, enhanced biodiversity and 

diversity has never been more stark. We congratulate 

those who are taking responsibility and action, and 

stress there is much work still to be done.” 

4 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

IN BRIEF 

Green Events and Innovations Conference 

The 15th edition of the Green 

Events and Innovations Conference 

(GEI) will take place on 28 February 

2023 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, 

London. Presented by A Greener 

Festival (AGF) in partnership 

with the International Live Music 

Conference (ILMC), the keynote 

conversation will feature Brian Eno 

and Grammy award winning artist 

Jacob Collier. Brian Eno returns to 

GEI after taking part in an inspiring 

talk with Norwegian pop artist 

Aurora last year on ‘Directing the 

energy of music for the benefit of 

the planet’. This year, he and Jacob 

will be exploring the concept of 

‘Music as a social synchroniser’. 

Also on the agenda, Andy Cato, 

regenerative farmer, cofounder of 

Wildfarmed and one half of Groove 

Armada, joins Dale Vince, founder 

of the world’s first green energy 

company Ecotricity, and chairman 

of Forest Green Rovers FC, the 

world’s greenest and only vegan 

football club according to UN and 

FIFA. 

Writer and producer Mark Donne 

and Carly McLachlan, deputy 

director of Tyndall Centre for 

Climate Change Research, reveal 

new data from their current Massive 

Attack & ACE funded research. 

Hannah Cox from betternotstop, 

talks getting audiences to take their 

tents home with Kendal Calling. 

Major event organiser Rosanna 

Machado shares the social and 

environmental actions of HM the 

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant 

and Mark Stevenson author, prog 

rocker and founder of CUR8 deep 

dives about carbon removals. 

Award winning creative 

Zed Anwar shares creative 

communication of climate issues 

including his WWF campaign 

concept about brands becoming 

extinct. Adrian Bossey, chair of the 

Association of Event Management 

Educators (AEME) leads a panel 

of experts to unite sustainability 

theory, research and practice. More 

speakers and the full agenda will be 

announced soon. 

The event closes with the 

International AGF Awards 

celebrating achievements of the 

greenest festivals, venues and 

events in 2022. Get your tickets at 

www.agreenerfestival.com/green- 

› BVEP 

Relaunches as 

UK Events 

The Business Visits and Events Partnership (BVEP), the 

umbrella body and advocacy group for the UK’s £70 billion 

events industry, has unveiled its new brand identity, UK 

Events. 

The rebrand marks the organisation’s commitment to 

strengthening its position as the collective single voice 

for the UK events industry and growing its influence and 

collaboration with other aligned 

organisations and sectors. 

› Wigwam Holidays – 

a top UK Franchise 

Elite Franchise Top 100 (EF100) 

has names glamping holiday 

provider Wigwam Holidays as 

one of the UK’s top franchise 

opportunities from hundreds of 

entries across every sector. 

The EF100, established in 2017 in association with HSBC, 

recognises the sector’s brightest businesses and ranks them 

according to a broad range of criteria; from their financial 

performance and heritage to their contribution to the 

community and the way they embrace innovation. 

› No More Weddings 

at Highclere 

Highclere Castle (as 

featured on ITV’s Downton 

Abbey) will no longer be 

hosting weddings “thanks 

to Brexit” reports The 

Independent. Owner Lady 

Fiona Carnarvon said: “It 

is a matter of fact that Brexit has caused such a retraction 

of people available to work in the hospitality business that 

we realised we simply cannot guarantee that we can find 

enough staff to put on an event of the quality that we would 

want. We have tried everything but there is no point pursuing 

the quest any further.” 

BURLISON 

Ideal for: 

Deluxe 

Outdoor 

Lighting 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


sales@glampsan.com https://www.glampsan.com/contact 

www.glampsan.com/product/campplus-duo 

START SOMETHING 

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working with the individuality of each partner and location 

to create brilliant glamping experiences for guests. 

OUR PARTNERS ENJOY LOTS OF BENEFITS: 

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— Retained ownership of your land 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: PARTNERS@FURTHER.SPACE OR WWW.FURTHER.SPACE/PARTNERS 


PRODUCT 

Glampsan Distributes 

CampPlus En-suite Pods 

GLAMPSAN IS delighted to 

announce that it has taken 

over the UK and Ireland sales 

rights for the CampPlus range 

of en-suite bathroom pods for 

camping, touring caravan and 

glamping sites. 

The range comprises single 

(SOLO) and twin (DUO) units. 

Whereas the SOLO is designed 

for a family on a single pitch, 

the most popular unit is 

the CampPlus DUO, which 

contains two separate en-suite 

rooms in a back-to back, semidetached 

layout, suitable for 

two families. 

Positioned between two 

pitches, the DUO will provide 

each with a private bathroom 

facility. Guests share the 

building but that’s all they 

share as each side has its own 

hot water, electrical supply 

and soundproofing! 

For Sale 

NEW TO the market is an environmentally 

friendly house with a holiday let barns 

business and 42 acres of land near Lake 

Vyrnwy in Wales. Its grounds comprise mostly 

meadow with some designated ancient 

woodland, a stream and dark skies. Ideal for 

glamping (subject to planning) to dovetail with 

the existing holiday let business which delivers 

an income in excess of £50K. Further revenue 

opportunities include government grants 

available for tree planting and rewilding. 

The environmentally friendly holiday lets 

sleep 12 and three persons. The EPCs are 'B' 

(81/100) and 'C' (78/100) respectively. Both 

barns have been restored using reclaimed 

or pre-used materials and fittings. They are 

heated by a gasifying log burning biomass 

boiler with the electricity off-set by solar 

PV panels. There is a continuous supply of 

logs from the woods and further revenue 

generation from RHI. 

The house EPC rating is 'C' (78/100). It is 

heated by a ground source heat pump with 

electricity off set from solar PV panels. 

The mature garden includes ‘no dig’ 

raised beds, fruit bushes and trees providing 

year-round food for the table. There is also 

a paddock/orchard adjacent to house and a 

Whether you opt for the 

SOLO or the DUO, each 

bathroom has its own toilet, 

shower, sink, lighting and an 

individual 80L (electric) boiler. 

High-quality sanitaryware 

is used as standard, 

complemented by a selection 

of optional upgrade items. 

Customers will be prepared 

to pay more for the upgrade, 

and as a site owner you will 

be able to command higher 

pitch fees, achieve higher 

occupancy levels and extend 

the rental season: resulting in 

increased revenue, increased 

customer satisfaction and 

positive reviews. 

0800 999 6010, 

sales@glampsan.com, 

www.glampsan.com 

large garage/workshop outbuilding. 

The farm actively encourages wildlife (bats, 

owls and birds with bat and nesting boxes) 

and has worked closely with several agencies 

to actively improve the environment by tree 

planting and stream management. 

The property has mains water and 

electricity, a sewerage treatment plant and 

cess pit. Offers in excess of £1,500,000. 

sue.rose@tsarine.co.uk, www.tanyfoel.co.uk 

BOND wins 

British Made 

Awards 

BEING A true British manufacturer 

for over 34 years has always been 

something the team at Bond 

Fabrications is incredibly proud 

of. Trading from a Gloucestershire 

factory, traditional British design and 

workmanship is of utmost importance 

to Bond and its clients alike. 

Owner Mike Halliwell said: 

“Over the past few years we have 

noticed more of our clients needing 

reassurance that we do not import 

any of our structures but in fact 

manufacture all elements ourselves. 

Our skilled team has a vast amount 

of experience and expertise, and this 

is reflected in the outstanding quality 

of our safari tents and our larger 

bespoke canvas structures. 

“We are able to provide a full 

bespoke design service led entirely by 

a client’s brief. We are a family owned 

business and have a long history in 

supplying the UK hospitality industry 

and pride ourselves in supporting 

other British businesses – not only our 

wonderful clients but also the many 

UK suppliers we work closely with.” 

The UK SME Enterprise British 

Made Awards recognise creative 

manufacturers across the UK who 

demonstrate outstanding service 

and are proven leaders in their 

field. The UK remains in the top 10 

manufacturing nations across the 

world and the team at BOND are 

proud to be part of this. 

01453 767171, enquiries@ 

bondfabrications.co.uk, 

www.bondfabrications.co.uk 


PRODUCT 

Clear Sky’s FP 700 Insulated Canvas 

New Off-grid 

Shower Unit 

TO COMPLEMENT the shape of its existing 

off-grid composting toilets, Sheep Shed 

Creations has just launched its new hot 

water shower unit. All self-contained, this 

outdoor shower includes a battery ignition 

LPG boiler on the back so you just need a 

cold water supply. Inside, there is plenty of 

space to get changed, plus a mixer valve to 

provide temperature control. An integrated 

shower tray allows options to collect or 

channel waste water. 

Each unit is robustly built and easily 

moveable with a pallet truck or pallet forks. 

Overall, a quick and easy shower solution 

for any site or individual glamping unit. 

01865 600400, hello@sheepshed.co.uk, 

www.sheepshed.co.uk 

New Innovations at 

Woodpecker Tubs 

2023 IS the year of innovation for 

Woodpecker Tubs. The company has 

developed a wide range of complementary 

products and services that will benefit its 

customers, from accommodation pods to 

new sauna buildings in a variety of shapes 

and sizes. 

The team reports that whilst excited 

about all things saunas, hot tubs and 

accommodation units, it is working on one 

project at the moment bringing multiple 

products from its ranges together to provide 

combinations of hot tubs and saunas, 

uniquely fitted within a wooden purpose 

built cabin for that piece of shared luxury! 

07435 866929, info@woodpeckertubs.co.uk, 

www.woodpeckertubs.co.uk 

CLEAR SKY’S brand new 

FP 700 insulated canvas is 

the result of several years 

of development. Following 

thorough testing, the team 

has developed a canvas with 

a thermal resistance level 

(R-value) of 4.18K/W and a 

fire resistance to BS 7867. 

This insulated canvas 

contains three layers: fire 

retardant FPTC 320 canvas 

(beige), polyester hollow 

fibre and fire retardant FPTC 

190 canvas (beige). With 

performance numbers that 

outstrip all other canvas 

types available, you can be 

LOOKING FOR a greener investment for 

your next holiday let that is uber modern 

and in high demand for 2023? The Tiny 

Housing Co sustainably constructs 

tiny homes, lodges and cabins 

of all shapes and sizes, 

which are up and running 

within a matter of hours. 

The brand new Kokas 

Collection features 

beautifully crafted 

structures with wood 

as the focal point and is 

testament to the company’s 

low-carbon, energy-efficient 

designs which utilise new technologies 

including MVHR for cleaner air, air-source 

heat pumps for low heat bills and modular 

construction methods that mean your 

sure guests have the very 

best experience possible, 

even in the depths of winter. 

This canvas technology 

has a high water column 

classification, is seam tested 

100% waterproof, boasts a 

colour fade level 6, mould 

value of 0 and is the only 

canvas available for the 

glamping market with a 

globally tested fire rating. 

For more information call 

the Clear Sky sales team. 

Clear Sky’s HQ in Kent is now 

supported in the north with a 

new sales office in Yorkshire. 

0333 241 2660, 

sales@safaritents.co.uk, 

www.safaritents.co.uk 

2023 Trade Discounts Now Live! 

LIFE UNDER Canvas has just launched its 

trade discount scheme for the 2023 season. 

Designed specifically for businesses in the 

glamping, tent hire and events industries, its 

exclusive offer is only available for a limited 

time and is perfect for trade customers who 

need to replace tents or grow their stock 

ready for this season. 

Chat to Emma and Max to discuss a 

bespoke package that works for your business, whether you’re a start-up or an established 

brand, whether you need two tents or 100. 

“We purchased 10 tents from Life Under Canvas,” says one customer. “The initial 

conversations around products was fantastic, with detailed advice and competitive pricing. 

Delivery was quick and the follow up support excellent. Great service, great quality and great 

pricing!” 

0330 223 6376, hello@lifeundercanvas.co.uk, www.lifeundercanvas.co.uk 

Structures with Sustainability at their Core 

investment will last 60+ years. 

The Tiny Housing Co’s specialist team 

does all the hard work for you from 

calculating your solar capability to save 

you £1,000s each year in energy 

bills, to site visits and full set-up 

upon delivery. All you'll need to 

do is to book in your guests! 

Cabins starts from 20m2 

one bed options, through 

to 64m2 lodges with two+ 

beds, offering luxury and 

sustainability all in one go. Note 

the AC5 flooring that is designed 

to stand the test of time and bespoke 

built kitchens made from luxury materials 

offering guests a high-end experience. 

info@thetinyhousing.co, 

www.thetinyhousing.co 


Got a 

Venue? 

Are You 

Listed? 

VENUES4HIRE.ORG IS a 

searchable venue directory 

of over 29,500 venues 

for hire in the UK. It is 

believed to be the largest 

venue listing site in the UK, 

featuring all types of venues 

and event spaces from 

village halls to castles. 

“We started building the 

directory website in 2014 

and it has steadily grown 

ever since,” says Ian Moore. 

“Google’s algorithm has 

grown to like us and if you 

perform any sort of generic 

search looking for a venue 

or hall to hire we nearly 

always appear on page 

one – try ‘Halls for hire near 

me’ or ‘Venues for hire near 

Stowmarket’ as examples 

and see where we appear. 

“Covid has affected us 

like many in the hospitality 

business, but our visitor 

numbers have recovered 

well. During 2022 we had 

over 850K visitors and 

displayed over 2 million 

pages of Venue information. 

“Think of us as the 

RightMove for venues – we 

aim to list all of the venues, 

halls and event spaces that 

are available for hire within 

a chosen search area.” 

Venues4hire.org is not 

just another listing site 

and the team wishes to 

work with all venues that 

have space available to 

hire for parties, functions, 

weddings, meetings, groups 

and a myriad of other 

activities. 

In addition to venues, 

over 2,000 complementary 

suppliers are featured 

that provide products and 

services that are likely to 

appeal to people organising 

an event or to venue owners 

needing to maintain and 

operate their spaces. 

07831 605321, ian. 

moore@venues4hire.org, 

www.venues4hire.org 

The Canvas Cleaning Company is Expanding! 

TO MEET the ever-growing demand 

for bell tent cleaning, waterproofing 

and repair, The Canvas Cleaning Co has 

recently taken on additional machines. 

It is also now open all year round and 

has taken on additional staff to increase 

capacity. 

The Canvas Cleaning Company is the 

UK’s leading commercial canvas laundry 

specialising in cleaning, waterproofing 

and repairing all types of bell tents. 

The in-house seamstress has over 30 

years’ experience and carries out repairs 

from small patches to full zip and panel 

replacements. 

polly@wildhareevents.com, 

www.thecanvascleaningcompany.co.uk 

New Treatment Plant 

at Winchcombe Farm 

THE SEPTIC Tank Store has had a busy couple 

of years supporting glampsite owners with their 

projects. The team recently installed a new 

sewage treatment plant at Winchcombe Farm 

Glamping Retreat in the North Cotswolds. The 

retreat was expanding its offering and needed 

a larger sewage system to accommodate new 

lodges. 

Together with the client, the team agreed on 

a Bio-Pure sewage treatment plant. This system 

is tested to EN standards and can discharge to 

a watercourse subject to local building control 

approval. The tank services 55 people in a 

glamping situation allowing for showers, toilets 

and kitchen facilities. 

Boards were laid to protect the tarmac from 

the machinery and sheets for the concrete. It 

was a challenging install as the digger had to 

reach over a wall in order to dig the hole. The 

Septic Tank Store in-house electrician wired 

and laid cable for the new treatment system 

and also updated the existing tank with new 

compressors to improve their efficiency. 

All surfaces were levelled and ready for the 

client to seed and the site was left as smart as 

possible. 

01295 236101, sales@theseptictankstore. 

co.uk, www.theseptictankstore.co.uk 

Latest Glamping Industry Research Revealed 

LEADING OUTDOOR hospitality consultants Crown and Canopy and trade publication International Glamping 

Business have published a new report showing the size of the UK glamping sector, the most popular forms of 

accommodation across the country and the prices that people are paying to stay in them. 

The report is the only source for this data currently available and forms part of the Essential Glamping Business 

Manual which is a comprehensive guide to setting up a glamping site – taking readers through the entire process 

from services and infrastructure to business modelling, interior design, safety and day-to-day running. 

Glamping as an industry has been steadily growing over the past 10 years, but it was over the last two 

summers, when people were forced to staycation, that it has really boomed. This research gives insight into 

how the market has responded to these dramatic changes in the UK tourism industry and reveals the areas 

where there is a danger of market saturation – either in terms of the number of sites or for the types of glamping 

accommodation on offer. 

The research and the Essential Glamping Business Manual are invaluable tools not only for those setting up, 

but also those working alongside the sector. It is available to purchase at the Crown and Canopy website. 

info@crownandcanopy.co.uk, www.crownandcanopy.co.uk 


INDUSTRY OVERVIEW 

Event 

Production 

Show 

The Event Production Show 

2023 returns to ExCeL 

London on 1-2 March; it’s time 

to claim your visitor badge! 

ON 1-2 March, the 2023 Event Production 

Show (EPS23) will be opening its doors 

again at ExCeL London. EPS23 is a 

one-stop marketplace for the UK’s live 

and outdoor event sectors, providing 

industry buyers with free access to more 

than 150 suppliers, a broad range of 

products and services (including staging, 

AV, equipment hire, event technology, 

temporary structures, security and much 

more) and two days packed full of content, 

networking, education and new business 

opportunities. 

The show will bring together live event 

promoters, festival organisers, production 

companies, corporate event planners, 

charities, experiential and marketing 

agencies, local authorities and government 

bodies. 

An EPS23 visitor pass provides 

complimentary access to three conference 

theatres: the Main Stage, Futures Stage 

and the Education Hub. The conference 

will host 50+ senior event professionals 

exploring key issues impacting the sector 

such as best sustainability practices, 

creativity, event management, diversity 

and the future of the industry. 

The Main Stage will host discussions 

on how the live events industry can 

collectively work better to tackle 

various challenges, with government 

representatives looking at ‘Operation 

London Bridge’ and raising questions 

about diversity. EPS23 conference 

headline speakers include Sacha Lord, 

night time economy adviser for Greater 

Manchester, Judy Bec, operations director 

of Boomtown Fair, Joanna Wales, head 

of venue operations at Ascot Racecourse, 

Steve Reynolds, operations director of LS 

Events and many more. 

Speakers from leading associations 

UKCMA, UKEVENTS, NOEA, LAEOG, 

NCASS and NOWIE will be talking about 

establishing sustainability best practices 

for outdoor events, event and crowd 

management, and discussing how the 

events industry might look in 2050. 

Sustainability is a key priority and thanks 

to partners Ecolibrium and You.Smart. 

Thing, visitors can optimise their journey to 

the venue with low-carbon travel. 

Also new is the Start-up Pavilion and 

the ‘18th Hole’. Part of the EPS Masters 

Tournament, attendees can play the game 

throughout the event at dedicated stands 

and be in with a chance to win a helicopter 

ride over London for two. 

If you need to chill, the Quiet Room & 

Hub, hosted and managed by EventWell, 

offers space to rest, stretch or nap. The hub 

is also equipped with a workspace, device 

charging and a well-being bar. 

Elsewhere is the ‘The 19th Hole’ the 

official event bar in association with 

Access All Areas – the place to be for all our 

attendees! 

FREE PASS 

Register for your free visitor pass for 

the 2023 Event Production Show on 1-2 

March 2023 at ExCeL London. 

www.bit.ly/3iCmR6W 



OAB’s TOP PICKS 

Green Goblet – Stand D60E 

www.green-goblet.com 

On a mission to “save the planet one reusable cup 

at a time”, Green Goblet is the UK’s leading producer 

and supplier of reusable cups, coffee cups and foodware. 

Event cups are 100% recyclable and the range 

includes everything from a two pint cup to cups 

with lids, wine vessels and Champagne flutes. Cups 

are easy to customise with IML, digital or screen 

print options. 

The company was also the first in the UK to offer a 

dedicated washing and drying station. Its machines 

are some of the most environmentally friendly on 

the market, recycling and using their own energy to 

help heat the water. 

Pro Productions – Stand E60E 

www.proproductions.co.uk 

One of the largest suppliers of stage, bar and 

general event infrastructure in the UK using 

LiteDeck and Layher. 

Now celebrating its 16th birthday, Pro 

Productions has worked hard to build a solid 

reputation working with major clients to provide 

innovative and industry leading solutions to 

almost any requirement imaginable for any size 

event. 

Its impressive fleet of vehicles can access even 

the most precarious of venues and also offers 

deliveries with truck mounted forklifts to ensure 

swift site turnaround times. 

instagrid – Stand C72E 

www.instagrid.co 

Portable electricity reinvented – the 

instagrid ONE max is like taking a 

wall socket with you into a field. 

Power any device no matter where 

you are – catering equipment, 

lights, PA systems, camera cranes 

or anything else needing a 230V 

wall socket. 

With 2.1kWh, instagrid ONE 

max delivers the most energy in a 

portable format and is completely 

silent and quickly recharged. As 

used by the Secret Garden Party 

throughout the four-day festival. 

Boutique Marquees – Stand C54E 

www.boutiquemarquees.co.uk 

Boutique Marquees are Sperry Tent 

specialists, licensed to provide the only 

authentic sailcloth tent to the UK wedding 

and events industry. Established in 2016, it 

has delivered over 200 events throughout the 

UK from intimate gatherings to large scale 

festivals for clients including the National 

Trust, Handpicked Hotels and Ragley Hall. 

Sperry Tents have been crafted by the 

same family from Massachusetts since 1975, 

when Steve Sperry began making custom 

sails for yachts. Today they are renowned as 

the world’s luxury rental tent. Steve Sperry 

still mills the spruce centre poles by hand at 

his coastal Massachusetts home. The oyster 

sailcloth is translucent to event lighting, 

producing the trademark ‘Sperry glow’. 

Easol – Stand TBC 

www.easol.com 

Easol is the first of its kind all-in-one ‘experience commerce’ platform built to 

support experience businesses globally, across all sectors including festivals, 

wellness retreats, food and drink, sports and adventure trips. 

With Easol, experience businesses have complete control to drive more 

direct sales, retain more revenue, own their data and run their business on 

their terms. In the last four years, Easol has acquired an impressive customer 

base, with businesses including Womad, Secret Garden Party, Otherlands, 

Afro Nation, Wanderlust and Meadows in the Mountains. 



The Farm Business 

Innovation Show 

A look back at last autumn’s Farm Business Innovation Show 

THERE ARE numerous opportunities 

for farmers looking to diversify their 

businesses – this was the message from 

keynote speakers at Farm Business 

Innovation at the NEC in Birmingham 

last November. 

Ian Bell of peer lending platform 

Folk2Folk said that the current climate 

in the UK brought great opportunities. 

“The rise in staycations, the climate 

emergency, Brexit, levelling up agenda 

and cost of living crisis all provide 

opportunities for farmers looking to 

diversify.” 

Tom Bell, vice president and business 

development for cottages.com, said: 

“It was fantastic returning to the Farm 

Business Innovation Show this year 

as keynote sponsors. This allowed us 

to share customer insights and key 

learnings from the last 12 months 

within the world of holiday letting. 

The event remains a key date in our 

calendar and we look forward to 

catching up with everyone in 2023.” 

As well as the extensive speaker 

programme, Farm Business Innovation 

provided an opportunity to meet 

experts and suppliers. The exhibitor 

halls were filled with businesses 

offering everything from consultancy 

and advice services to safari tents and 

glamping pods, renewable energy 

solutions, hot tubs and playground 

equipment. 

One farmer visitor said he had 

ordered wood-fired hot tubs and a gas 

fired generator which would save his 

holiday business hundreds of pounds 

on electricity each month. He had 

also made connections with service 

providers which had the potential to 

save him money on insurance and 

internet provision. “It’s the best show 

I’ve ever been to,” he said. “10 out of 

10, it’s been brilliant.” 

Farm Business Innovation was held 

alongside Family Attraction Expo, 

Leisure Food & Beverage and Holiday 

Park & Resort Innovation which were 

organised by Agriconnect for the first 

time this year. 

Nichola Bell, head of events for 

Agriconnect, said: “It was great to 

see so many farmers at the show 

looking for ideas on how to take their 

businesses forward. It’s an exciting 

time for us too with this being our first 

year running these events. As a team 

we have plenty of ideas on how to 

make the shows even better in 2023 

and we look forward to welcoming 

everyone back to the NEC on 15 and 16 

November.” 

OAB’s TOP PICKS 

Mudcontrol 

www.mudcontrol.co.uk 

Mudcontrol supplies durable, ecologically 

sound products made of 100% recycled plastic, 

which come with a 20 year warranty. 

The slabs create heavy-duty, porous, 

removeable, re-usable hard-standing, designed 

to go straight onto the mud with minimal to 

no ground preparation. For pathways, parking, 

anywhere you have a mud problem, these are 

the solution. 

The company also supplies 100% recycled 

plastic fencing and associated products 

with a commitment to customer service and 

sustainability at the forefront of its ethos. 


Logspan 

www.logspan.com 

Logspan is a family-owned business dedicated to 

selling quality timber products that are affordable 

including glamping pods, log cabins, BBQ huts and 

garden offices. 

Along with the popular Finman glamping range, 

Logspan has introduced the M-Cabin Line modular 

range (pictured). Bespoke design service available 

on request. 

Meerkat Marquees 

www.meerkatmarquees.com 

Offering traditional marquee and colourful big top hire, 

Meerkat Marquees’ versatile range caters for any event 

need. With 30 years’ experience, the company is well 

respected and enthusiastic about making large scale 

events and private parties happen without a hitch. 

Check out the red and blue Mini Big Top – 40ft (12m) 

round on a single king pole or as a 40ft x 60ft (12m x 18m) 

with additional centre section on two king poles. With an 

area of 190m2 at full size, this tent has ample space for 

most medium size events – ideal for parties with a live 

band or DJ. 

Glampsan 

www.glampsan.com 

Glampsan supplies an “evolution” of toilet and waste 

handling solutions. At one end of the spectrum, choose 

from composting, separating and low volume flush toilets, 

or even the new CampPlus ensuite washroom pod, which 

includes a toilet, shower, heating and wash basin. 

Once you have a toilet solution in place, you may need 

waste collection tanks – above or below ground. Glampsan 

can supply these and also sewage lifting stations and 

pumps (to move waste across your site) as well as sewage 

treatment plants. 

Intothewild 

www.intothewilduk.com 

Intothewilduk manufactures traditional and state of the art 

shepherds huts near Stamford in Lincolnshire. It offers two- and 

even four-birth units with pull out sides. Polar (winter) versions 

have triple glazing, high insulation and heated plumbing pipes. 

Lead times are reasonable and prices competitive. It can often 

also arrange an exemption licence which means that planning 

permission is not required! 


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ADVERT-EVENT-STRUCTURES.indd 1 27/01/2022 12:07:22

PEOPLE 

ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT 

HARRY 

ACLAND 

A man with a plan 

to increase local 

employment, 

look after village 

residents and 

open up access 

to the 1,500 acre 

Notgrove Estate 


PEOPLE 

“PLANNING 

WAS A 

NIGHTMARE 

AND WE 

HAD A FEW 

INTERESTING 

BATTLES BUT 

EVENTUALLY 

WE CREATED 

THREE, FOUR 

BED UNITS, 

AND ONE, 

THREE BED 

UNIT” 

he 1,500 acre Notgrove Estate has been in Harry 

Acland’s family for 50 years. In the 1800s the farm alone 

employed over 100 people, all living in the estate’s 

village. 

“My grandfather acquired Notgrove and, when I was 

young, it was very run down. My parents were going to 

emigrate to Australia but they decided to stay and take 

things on. Dad was a great businessman and built things 

back up, and at one point was employing 25 people. 

Sadly however the farm started to fail and when I returned 17 years 

ago the enterprise was losing money. 

“We had a mixed farm with sheep, a dairy herd and beef cattle but 

we were losing money each year. A conversation with my shepherd 

summed up the attitude in farming at the time. We were losing 

money and he wanted a new quad bike. I gave him all the figures 

which showed a £20K a year loss. I suggested he could keep the 

sheep and the land for free if he started paying me £300 a month for 

his cottage, which he had previously been living in free of charge. 

He said no. I said we could change his job role as we need help 

restoring one of the grain buildings and he still said no. That was 

when we decided in earnest to diversify into tourism and leisure. 

“I studied at The Royal College of Agriculture and was meant to 

be the ‘standard son’ – a career in the army followed by the city 

then back to the estate to take over. But I failed my army sight test 

and hated the city. Instead I got a placement at Knepp Estate with 

Charlie Burrell where I found my love of farming. I then went on to 

have a career in planning and development at Savills, which gave 

me the confidence to do what we have done here.” 

To start with, Harry turned two of the estate village’s vacant 

cottages into holiday lets and employed a local cleaner. “This 

proved a great success but I didn’t want ‘weekenders’ replacing our 

full time, local people in the village so in order to build the holiday 

business we decided to convert some of the barns on the farm. 

“Planning was a nightmare and we had a few interesting battles 

but eventually we created three, four bed units, and one, three bed 

unit. I think the planners may have preferred this option to the four 

50,000 unit chicken sheds I muted as an alternative (although this is 

definitely not my kind of farming). 

“We used a lovely local architect and ex-planner, Julian, from 

Cirencester. He advised lots of gentle prodding with the planning 

department and it paid off. With the barns up and running, our 

employment started to go up, with a team of three local mums 

joining us.” 

Harry explains how he priced his accommodation. “We couldn’t 

compete with hosts on Airbnb who don’t have to pay any rates or 

tax, so we pitched ourselves at a certain demographic and found a 

good market in group holidays and team breaks. 

GLAMPING 

The obvious extension to the holiday lets was glamping in the 

beautiful grounds of the estate. But planning again proved a battle. 

“We put in for eight pods, each to sleep four people. The planning 

officer originally recommended refusal of our application but our 

lovely parish council (led by a local farmer) helped us through.” 

Opening up the land to tourism caused a little tension within 

the family. “Mum and Dad are quite Victorian in their ways and 

previously there had been an attitude of no ‘wandering’. I added 

new footpaths and a football pitch. My daughter also loves animals 

so we introduced alpacas, two Highland cattle (William and Harry), 

a pig (Mr Bean), goats and some very noisy donkeys. It is simply 

wonderful to witness the farm coming to life again.” 

Next, safari tents were added. “It makes sense to have three 

types of accommodation targeting three different markets. This 

way guests have the opportunity to come back to us in different 

scenarios and try out our different offerings.” 


PEOPLE 

NOT CAUGHT SNOOZING 

The Notgrove team doesn’t believe in sitting back, even in the 

most drastic of times. Harry’s attitude to the Covid lockdowns is 

testament to this. “I kept everyone on, furloughing who I could. 

Together we re-did all the pods and barns so when the restrictions 

lifted we weren’t caught snoozing. 

“We also introduced pod ‘day lets’ when the restrictions were 

eased. People could pop down (many from Birmingham) and take a 

pod from 10am to 10pm, with their family in the one next to them. 

We weren’t breaking any rules but we got hassle from the police via 

one or two local troublemakers.” 

Employment at the estate is now at 14. Behind the scenes are 

three ‘Kates’. “Katie Elliott had been one of our cleaners but now 

handles all the bookings – an incredible task as we have 96 beds! 

Kayt Bennett handles finances and Kate Dickins oversees all 

our activities that are delivered by local business. These include 

electric quad biking, foraging walks, painting courses, drystone 

walling courses, yoga retreats, falconry and more. 

"I also want to mention the boys - a great team who have also 

had to embrace the change from farming and looking after animals 

to looking after humans - not always easy!” 

With over 20 million people within a two hour drive of Notgrove, 

Harry enjoys the diversity of the guests coming to stay. “With 

so many people now holidaying in the UK we have met some 

incredibly diverse groups. Some were shocked at our welcome 

– but I love each and every one. It is a delight to meet so many 

interesting characters, and through their visiting us be able to 

restore the village hall and rebuild our drystone walls!” 

The Notgrove Estate is run as a trust and Harry is responsible 

for the business. “The village is the same size now as it was in the 

Outdoor Toilets 

and Showers 

• Portable 

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• Instant solution 

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PEOPLE 

Doomsday Book of 1086, with 32 cottages. We have 

240 people living here and some are third generation 

residents with young families. 

“Looking after the community is at the top of my 

priorities – it’s the reason we don’t host weddings 

at Notgrove – we’re accommodation only. We don’t 

want to disturb our residents or destroy the fabric of 

the village. Notgrove is absolutely magical – you may 

recognise it as Father Brown is filmed here!” 

The regeneration of the estate through tourism 

has had some fantastically positive effects on the 

community. “We have been able to renovate cottages 

and create new facilities including The Nuttery, a 

café and community hub. The village’s ‘old cabal’ 

have not been too keen on this progression but 

after the oldies resigned, the new young blood put 

their hands up and have taken 

projects on and run with them.” 

LOOKING AFTER THE LAND 

Harry is passionate about 

conservation, birds and wildlife. 

“But I am not all about rewilding 

and letting everything go, 

despite having worked at Knepp. 

Modern farming systems are not 

as terrifying as some may make 

“NOTGROVE IS 

ABSOLUTELY 

MAGICAL – YOU MAY 

RECOGNISE IT AS 

FATHER BROWN IS 

FILMED HERE!” 

out. There are more trees in England now than in the 17th Century 

and river pollution is at an all-time low (although what the water 

companies are up at the moment I do not know). The press have 

a lot to answer for regarding all the moaning and winging about 

farming today but I am a believer in us all learning from each other 

and certainly take on opinions from all sides.” 

The farm is now a mix of sheep with some cereal crops. “When 

I walk around I am overjoyed by the life all around. We have 

buzzards, hedgehogs, hares and so many birds and insects. We are 

replanting woodland in our wetland areas and work closely with 

our grazier to maintain the land.” 

On his role as managing the estate he says: “It’s a huge 

responsibility driving the business for the benefit of all, protecting 

our assets and our environment and returning local employment 

opportunities. We have had some major wins and all the money 

goes back into the place plus we are fortunate to be able to support 

local charities. 

“I am aware that there will be people out there who probably 

hate me – a ‘big posh landowner, with a big posh accent’ but that’s 

not me. Although I will agree I am incredibly lucky!” 

DETAILS 

Notgrove Holidays, Notgrove, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 

GL54 3BS 

www.notgroveholidays.com 



Whinstone 

View 

More 

than a wedding venue, Whinstone View offers bistro 

dining, log cabins and a day spa in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire 

A family owned business 

that has evolved 

significantly from its caravan 

park origins, now offering 

rustic luxury as a wedding 

venue, bistro, day spa and 

log cabin accommodation 

provider. We talk to Alex 

Williams. 

When did you start your venue 

business and what is its history? 

Whinstone View has been a family 

run enterprise for over 40 years. It 

changed ownership in January 2022 

with another family taking on the 

popular business. 

The venue is set in an idyllic 

position which is surrounded by 

North Yorkshire countryside. The 

venue started off as a caravan park 

but has grown and evolved over the 

years. In in early 2000s investment 

was made into the business and 

eight Scandinavian log cabins 

with hot tubs were built. 2014 saw 

the large, rustic barn open which 

meant weddings could be offered 

all year round. The bistro has been 

redecorated throughout the years 

but retains some of its original 

features. 

Tell us about your location and site 

Whinstone View is surrounded 

by beautiful North Yorkshire 

countryside and is just round 

the corner from local landmark, 

Roseberry Topping. The 14 acres of 

“WHINSTONE 

VIEW IS 

SURROUNDED 

BY BEAUTIFUL 

NORTH 

YORKSHIRE 

COUNTRYSIDE 

AND IS JUST 

ROUND THE 

CORNER 

FROM LOCAL 

LANDMARK, 

ROSEBERRY 

TOPPING” 

land is home to eight Scandinavian 

log cabins, a bistro, a rustic barn 

and a day spa. 

The heart of Whinstone is the 

bistro which is open daily from 9am 

serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

The rustic purpose built barn is 

extremely popular for weddings 

and also for VIP events. The decor 

of the barn is simple and neutral 

letting the scenery do the talking so 

it can be styled and tailored to many 

different types of events. 

What facilities for outdoor 

functions do you offer? 

Our barn has an outdoor private 

patio area which we use for outdoor 

wedding ceremonies, it also has 

a large veranda to the front and 

a sheltered area to the side. We 

partner with local tipi companies 

who provide us with both small and 

large tipis which can be added onto 

our wedding and events packages. 

What services do you offer? 

The bistro is used daily for everyday 

dining and also for special occasions 



such as birthdays, baby showers 

and live music nights. 

The barn is a beautiful backdrop 

for weddings and special events and 

can seat up to 150 guests. 

Our day spa has three treatment 

rooms and we offer a variety of 

health and beauty treatments from 

facials to massages and waxing to 

spray tans. 

We have eight Scandinavian 

luxury log cabins each with a hot 

tub and they’re all individually 

decorated. Log cabin breaks are 

suitable for one night romantic 

getaways and also longer breaks 

with family or friends. Some of the 

cabins are dog friendly and make 

the perfect base to explore the local 

area. 

Describe how you researched and 

sourced your structures 

Two of the original buildings date 

back to the early 1900s. The original 

pub is now used as our bistro. The 

barn was built with sustainability in 

mind and incorporates a bio mass 

system to heat and provide hot 

water. With this in mind we have 

planning for new log cabins which 

we are exploring to be ‘off-grid’. 

We have plans for 2023 to build an 

outside kitchen which will be made 

with recycled resources. 

How do you work with your 

customers to make their event 

unique? 

We are very experienced at hosting 

events and have wedding and event 

planners on hand to make sure 

each event runs smoothly. Although 

we have set packages, we can also 

design a bespoke event to the 

customer’s specific requirements. 

We have great relationships with 

lots of local event suppliers from 

florists to photographers and from 

ice cream vans to magicians. We 

love hosting unique events and are 

always open to new ideas! 

“WE ARE VERY 

EXPERIENCED 

AT HOSTING 

EVENTS AND 

HAVE WEDDING 

AND EVENT 

PLANNERS ON 

HAND TO MAKE 

SURE EACH 

EVENT RUNS 

SMOOTHLY” 

How do you publicise yourself? 

We have a decent social media 

following with around 20,000 

Facebook followers and over 5,000 

Instagram followers. We also have 

just under 3,000 signed up to our 

mailing list and a website which 

we regularly update. We also use 

dedicated wedding platforms and 

a national cottage rental website to 

help us fill the log cabins. 

How would you describe your style 

or unique selling point? 

Our strap-line is ‘Relax. Unwind. 

Indulge’. And that’s what we like to 

echo throughout our venue. You can 

relax in our spa, in our log cabins 

or just having a coffee looking out 

onto our grounds. You can unwind 

in the spa or with a glass of fine wine 

or by soaking in a hot tub. And you 

can certainly indulge whether that’s 

splurging on a night away or trying 

our menu and delicious treats. 



We pitch ourselves as effortless, 

rustic with a touch of luxury. We 

offer good food and good times 

using local suppliers and love to 

support small businesses. 

What challenges have you faced 

historically? 

The business started off as a caravan 

site and in the early 2000s needed to 

pivot the direction of the business 

and get customers to see that 

we’d heavily invested by offering 

luxury log cabins with hot tubs to 

the north east. We were one of the 

first businesses to do this in the 

local area and have built a strong 

reputation. 

The pandemic hit Whinstone View 

hard – temporarily closing down 

most of the business. However, we 

have bounced back and now with 

new ownership we have lots of plans 

to grow and improve even more. 

How did you cope through the 

pandemic? 

We closed and reopened the log 

cabins and bistro when we could. 

The benefit of our location is that 

we have lots of open space which 

meant we could easily offer alfresco 

dining. We added new procedures 

which would enhance the business 

such as offering self check-ins for 

the log cabins, minimising contact. 

How large is your team – any 

special people you’d like to 

mention? 

We currently employ over 50 

members of staff and are looking 



What do you enjoy about the 

business and why? 

People who visit Whinstone View 

are often visiting because of happy 

reasons – meeting up with friends, 

celebrating birthdays, attending 

weddings, pampering themselves 

in the spa or just spending time 

with loved ones. It’s nice to be 

surrounded by good vibes and 

have conversations with customers 

enjoying themselves. 

to recruit even more. We have a 

dedicated core team who have 

been loyal to the business and 

understand the ethos of the 

business. Our longest standing 

member of staff, Caroline Fox, is our 

unsung hero. 

Have you worked with any 

industry bodies or consultants? 

Our beverage suppliers offer insights 

into drinking trends and habits and 

our local wine merchant supplies 

high end boutique wines. As part 

of business development we’ve 

used local architects and landscape 

designers to help us envisage a 

direction. 

What are your plans for next 

season? 

We have some exciting plans for 

2023. We want to make the best use 

”THE VENUE 

CHANGES 

DEPENDING 

ON THE 

WEATHER 

SO IF IT’S A 

BRIGHT, 

SUNNY DAY 

THE OUT- 

DOOR DINING 

AREA WILL 

BE POPULAR 

WHICH GIVES 

OFF RELAXED, 

HOLIDAY 

VIBES” 

of outdoor space leading up to the 

bistro and are planning to build an 

outdoor bar and kitchen offering 

laid back dining with freshly baked 

pizzas and cocktails. 

Describe your average day midseason 

The venue changes depending on 

the weather so if it’s a bright, sunny 

day the outdoor dining area will 

be popular which gives off relaxed, 

holiday vibes. If it’s cold and rainy 

customers will huddle inside by the 

cosy fire. Log cabins are popular all 

year round because they are a little 

escape from the rest of the world 

and you can always enjoy a dip in 

your private hot tub no matter the 

weather! In addition there could 

be a small, intimate wedding with 

guests who’ve never visited us 

before. 

What are you most proud of? 

Retaining a strong and committed 

workforce and continuing to be well 

established in the local area. We’re 

proud to stay true to our core values, 

but we also recognise that you need 

to keep a finger on the pulse so we 

are always open to adapt as the 

business grows. 

What advice could you give 

to someone coming into the 

industry? 

Find your own way and refine your 

offering until you know it’s working. 

Don’t be afraid to be niche and own 

what you do. Make connections with 

other businesses in the hospitality 

sector and try to support local 

where possible. 

ADDRESS BOOK 

DETAILS 

Whinstone View 

Great Ayton 

North Yorkshire 

TS9 6QG 

www.whinstoneview.com 

• Scandinavian log cabin kits 

• Sustainable 

• Use all year 

• Fully customisable 

0845 299 6337 

homes@scandinavianhomes.com 

www.scandinavianhomes.com 



GETTY IMAGES 

2023 

Wedding 

Forecast 

Our weddings expert Charlotte Winship gets nostalgic 

as she predicts a return to 80s optimism 

2022 was a phenomenal year for the wedding 

industry. A return to business as usual (or 

unusual) as we tackled a swell of weddings 

off the back of Covid against a backdrop of 

rising costs, staffing struggles, a war, political 

disharmony and economic instability. Now the 

backlog of Covid weddings has cleared what will 

2023 bring? 

2023 is set to be another busy year for the 

industry but as we enter a period of recession 

and uncertainty there is going to be an even 

greater need for businesses to be strategic. My 

advice is to take action; minimise debt, add new 

income streams, closely monitor your cash flow, 

trim unnecessary expenses, reduce your costs, 

focus your marketing campaigns and pay close 

attention to the market place. These measures 

will help you successfully navigate the year 

ahead. 

Ambiguity aside (and the gloomy January 

weather), there is sunshine on the horizon and 

things can only get better (as D:Ream once sung). 

We live in a constant state of flux and nothing is 

ever certain. All we can do is hope for the best 

and plan for the worst. 

I am an 80s kid and with my rose-tinted 

specs firmly on I can’t help feel a bit nostalgic 

for those halcyon days. I was born in 1979 so I 

don’t remember the economic struggles of the 

1970s. My early childhood was filled with bright 

optimism as the grownups put their troubles 

behind them and embraced the era of neon 

colours, uplifting electronic pop, pioneering 

technological advances, adventure movies where 

the impossible seemed possible, a booming 

economy and a magnificent Royal wedding. 

It seems I am not the only one harking 

back to this period of cheerful confidence and 

enthusiasm if wedding trends are anything to go 

by… 

Eye-catching weddings 

The traditional white and cream weddings have 

definitely been flung into the past as bold colour 

takes over. Like the 80s, 2023 is going to be a 

year of vibrant and vivid. A riotous display of 

strength, fortitude and courage. Viva Magenta! 

The pantone colour of the year is a significant 

bright red. A daring colour to stand alone but in 

amongst a contrasting colour palette or rainbow 

scheme it will shine. 

Is your venue a blank canvas to allow couples 

to experiment with bright colours? How can 

you incorporate cheerful colours into your 

landscaping or interior décor? Can you offer 

interchangeable accent colours to help inspire 

creativity? 

Digital weddings 

Technological advances are getting better and 

better. As I get older, wedding couples seem to 

get ever younger and it’s very much the Millennial 

generation’s turn to get hitched. They might 

not have seen much of the 80s, but this is the 

generation who have a strong understanding 



GETTY IMAGES 

and appreciation of the digital world that 

this decade gave birth to. Most couples 

are embracing the technology of the 21st 

century and making use of some of the great 

digital platforms now available which can 

be used to organise your guest list, send 

e-invites, collect RSVPs and arrange your 

seating plan. Some venues are even linking 

software to their own CRM systems to help 

integrate their planning process with that 

of their clients. This is a great way to help 

streamline the planning process and make 

communication easier for everyone. 

Un-traditional weddings 

Can you remember the last time you saw 

a groom in a morning suit and a top hat? It 

was probably in the 80s. Wedding fashion 

is becoming so much more interesting and 

less formulaic. Bridal fashion this year is 

also giving a nod to big, bold 80s style with 

voluminous sleeves and skirts. 

There is nothing worse than feeling 

uncomfortable on your wedding day. Brides 

are taking this to heart and wearing what 

makes them feel good. I love seeing brides 

expressing their personality through their 

bridalwear. From the Doc Martin, leather 

jacket wearing rock chicks to the disco 

divas in their sequin jump suits and short 

skater dresses. And when it’s impossible to 

choose just one outfit, why not have two! An 

elegant daytime dress for the more formal 

proceedings and an evening showstopper 

to dominate the dancefloor! If your venue 

doesn’t have accommodation, can you offer 

a comfortable and private space for the bride 

and groom to change if they want to? 

Is it bad luck for the groom to see the 

bride before the wedding? Like a lot of 

wedding traditions, these superstitions are 

based on historic practises such as arranged 

marriages. when families did not want 

the couple to see each other before their 

wedding in case they didn’t like what they 

saw! Whilst some still observe this tradition, 

some couples like the opportunity to take 

a ‘first look’. A private moment just before 

their ceremony when they are dressed in all 

their finery to appreciate one another and 

perhaps calm each others’ nerves before 

they step into the limelight. Is there an 

intimate place at your venue that you can 

offer to couples for them to make the most 

of this special moment? 

Couples are not always opting for the 

traditional top table either choosing to 

sit in amongst their friends or even just a 

table for two. Can you offer a flexible table 

arrangement for couples to choose what 

feels most comfortable for them? 

Inclusive weddings 

More and more weddings are also family 

friendly and inclusive. Most weddings will 

have children so it’s helpful if venues can 

provide a welcoming indoor and outdoor 

space and entertainment for them. As a 

parent myself, I hold high appreciation 

for places which give a warm welcome 

to younger as well as older guests. 

Venues are ideal if they can safely 

entertain my kids whilst also 

entertaining me! Outdoor games, 

a bouncy castle, treasure hunt, 

babysitters, special kids menu and 

mocktails are all winners for kids 

of all ages. 

Not everyone wants to dance. 

Older guests might want a quiet 

place they can rest in comfort away 

from all the wedding antics. 

And not all family are two-legged! 

I am seeing more and more four-legged 

family members at weddings and there 

is a burgeoning demand for pet-handlers 

to help look after couples’ furry friends so 

they can participate in the event. Can you 

accommodate pets at your venue? 

Weddings with a conscience 

The social and environmental impact of 

weddings and events is becoming an everincreasing 

concern. We are an industry 

notorious for waste but we are getting a lot 

better. Clients are also becoming a lot more 

mindful about the impact their wedding 

will have on the wider world. Couples are 

often choosing local wedding venues to 

save travel for themselves and their guests 

and also opting for local suppliers to lower 

their carbon footprint and support the 

local economy. Locally grown flowers and 

produce are very popular. 

If you provide in-house catering then 

think carefully about where you source your 

ingredients and if you can do more to reduce 

the journey they make to the plate. Your 

food menu doesn’t have to be completely 

vegetarian but offer a good choice of exciting 

and appetising vegetarian and vegan dishes 

to tempt even the most hardened meateater. 

Homegrown flowers from family and 

friends’ gardens can provide a beautifully 

personal touch to a wedding day as well 

as being a sustainable option that is grown 

not flown. Can you help put your couples 

in touch with a local florist who supports 

this or who can supply seasonal and locally 

grown blooms? 

There are some amazing drinks producers 

in the UK now supplying everything from 

wine and beer to exciting spirits and soft 

drinks. How local is your bar menu? 

Providing a recommended list of local 

suppliers is very helpful for wedding couples 

but choose suppliers who share the same 

sustainable business ethos as you as well 

as those that offer an excellent standard of 

service and quality. 

If you are working to make your wedding 

venue more sustainable then share this 

with your prospective clients. How do 

you encourage your couples to have a 

sustainable wedding? Evidence your efforts 

to reduce waste, use sustainable materials 

and renewable energy. Reduce your carbon 

footprint by planting trees, working with 

local suppliers and reducing your own 

travel. Support other local and global 

environmental organisations to widen your 

impact. 

One thing is for certain in 2023, the 

wedding industry is still thriving and couples 

still want to get married in their own special 

way. Each of your clients will bring their own 

set of needs and requirements for how they 

want to plan their wedding. Be very clear on 

who your ideal couple are and the type of 

weddings your venue is best suited for. Offer 

as much flexibility as possible but also be 

the expert and help guide your clients to get 

the most out of your venue. 

I hope you all have a great 2023. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Charlotte Winship has over 20 years’ experience transforming good wedding and events 

venues into great ones. She is an expert in helping venues reach their ideal customers, 

maximise sales opportunities, increase profitability, establish effective teams and 

streamline venue operations. 07493 350303 / charlotte@charlottewinship.com 

www.charlottewinship.com 


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INDUSTRY COMMENT 

To B or not to 

be a B Corp 

Andrew White on joining a growing 

number of businesses committed 

to both the planet and their people 

THERE ARE a lot of rumblings in the event 

sector around the terms sustainability, 

environmentally friendly and green. 

There are daily posts, chunters, panel 

conversations and deliberations 

around how venues, planners and the 

wider supply chain should behave and 

demonstrate their conscious approach to 

live and hybrid events. 

During a recent search I found three 

different event specific measurements, 

four differing certifications and half a 

dozen trusted bodies who could consult 

and cogitate the best way forward to be 

environmentally friendly in the field of 

events alone! 

The directive for us all is fairly simple: 

a Net Zero country by 2050. This 

government goal and directive is driving 

big brand corporates to live out their 

company values, ambitions and mission 

statements by being committed to their 

impact on the planet. Pre-Covid we all 

referred to it as CSR. Since the global 

disruption of the pandemic, we now talk 

about ESG. 

The ‘E’ has been amplified amongst 

investors, policy makers and consumers 

as we go beyond the E for ‘environment’ 

to now also factor in the S for ‘social’ 

and the impact companies may have on 

their employees’ health and wellbeing, 

job security, community investment 

and corporate leadership. The G, for 

governance, enables investors or the 

supply chain to measure a business’s 

impact on society, the environment and 

just how accountable the company is. 

According to the CBI, two thirds of 

investors take ESG factors into account 

when investing in a company – it’s a 

blinding pointer to the events industry 

that we too should be going way beyond 

only looking at our environmental impact 

by also considering our impact on society, 

our people and the communities we 

touch. 

“SOLELY FOCUSSING 

ON BEING GREEN IS 

GREEN AND NAÏVE” 

ESG takes a holistic view of a business’s 

impact and takes in to account its core 

operations as well as any good work 

and impact it may undertake. More so, 

there is greater evidence that consumers 

are increasingly prioritising ethical and 

environmentally conscious brands and 

products. Think Patagonia, Innocent, Ella’s 

Kitchen and, from the world of hotels, 

Exclusive Collection. 

Not only are these brands aware that 

their businesses can have a greater impact 

than solely on the planet – they are part 

of the B Corp movement. A singular 

global accreditation that considers the 

environment, society and governance. In 

fact, these organisations are so committed 

to the planet and their people they have a 

legally binding, fudiciary obligation. Doing 

good for the world is as important to them 

as doing well for their shareholders or 

investors. 

Achieving B Corp certification is a deep 

dive process that looks at every aspect 

of the business and drives continued 

improvement. Becoming listed as a B 

Corp is just the start of the journey and 

joining the network is the beginning of a 

new way of operating. It’s also a mark that 

corporates recognise, admire and aspire 

to and it means any event company, 

supplier or venue who has achieved the 

certification isn’t bluffing or blustering 

greenwash! 

If the directive is as simple as a Net 

Zero country by 2050, and having an 

accreditation of your business values 

is on the agenda, the demonstrable 

outcomes and straight-talking conscious 

commitments don’t come much better 

than achieving B Corp. 

The question is… To B or not to B a 

certified B Corp. 


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 


CWC Advert (Open Air Magazine).pdf 1 23/02/2021 12:04:51 

Expert 

advice to help you 

achieve the most 

from your venue 

business. 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

• Increase 

profitability 

• Reach your ideal 

customers 

• Maximise sales 

opportunities 

• Streamline your 

processes 

www.charlottewinship.com 

07493 350303 / charlotte@charlottewinship.com 

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PRODUCT IN FOCUS 

Heat, Power 

and Lighting 

Garden Wedding, Cotswolds 

Product: Battery up lighting (three 

types), battery festoon and battery table 

lighting 

Supplier: CORE Lighting, 01452 812597, 

sales@corelighting.co.uk, 

www.corelighting.co.uk 

Details: With a few simple additions and 

a little creativity you can transform any 

venue into a spectacular and magical 

setting for both small and large events. 

When done well, lighting can 

strengthen any event’s theme and bring 

a venue to life. CORE Lighting has spent 

14 years developing the perfect range 

of battery powered 

lighting products to help 

you do just that quickly 

and easily without messy 

cables or generators! 

For Emma and Matt’s Cotswold 

wedding CORE’s battery powered 

festoon lights were used around garden 

arches and the edges of the tipi marquee 

to provide mood lighting which also 

illuminated the interior of the tent. 

Viewed from the outside, this gave off a 

magical glow. 

ColourPoint and ColourPoint Mini 

uplighters, with colour settings to 

match the event’s theme, were used at 

the base of large trees to create a 

breathtaking atmosphere with 

layers of lighting to highlight 

the beauty of the majestic 

trees. The new compact 

uplighters, developed 

for the 2022 Green 

Space Dark Skies 

project, were used 

for smaller trees 

and impressive 

architectural 

features. 

Inside the 

marquee, CORE Lighting’s TablePoints lit 

interesting and charming lamps using 

an innovative adaptor that allows 

them to be used anywhere without 

cables. 

CORE products are rated to 

IP65, are robust, weatherproof 

(for outdoor use) and designed 

and manufactured in the 

UK for longevity. 

Customer feedback: Emma 

and Matt commented: “We 

were absolutely blown away 

by the transformation 

of the whole garden 

and marquee due 

to the lighting, 

which became the 

centrepiece of our 

special day.” 



PRODUCT 

SNAPSHOTS 

Firestorm Patio Heater 

Pinnacle Agri Products 

01432 667567 

info@pinnacle-agri.co.uk 

www.pinnacle-agri.co.uk 

Keep your guests warm and entertained with the ecofriendly 

Firestorm patio heater range from Pinnacle 

Agri Products. Simple to use and easy to maintain, 

Firestorms provide fantastic heat and dazzling flames 

for hours while keeping the environment in mind by 

burning sustainable wood pellets. 

Load the Firestorm with pellets and light. The flame 

fills the 1.5m glass tube in just 15 minutes providing 

over an hour of inviting warmth. Adding more pellets 

extends the burn time as required. Leave the Firestorm 

to self-extinguish once your evening finishes, ready for 

its next use. 

Launched in 2021, family business Pinnacle Agri Products has already 

made its mark on the home and lifestyle industry. It is devoted to 

providing quality products to its customers which is why it manufactures 

entirely in the UK from British steel. A robust high temperature powder 

coating allows the Firestorm to be left outside in all weathers. 

Off-Grid Power Anywhere 

Portabale Power 

Technology 

01474 761051 

sales@portablepowertech.com 

www.portablepowertech.com 

We at PPT pride ourselves on 

innovation. Over the years we have 

been developing our newest range 

of powerpacks and are thrilled to 

introduce the Pro Series. This fast 

re-charging, all-in-one lithium powerpack solution comes in a variety 

of storage sizes and is solar ready straight out of the box with an MPPT 

charge controller included. Compatible with up to 200W of solar at 12V 

or 400W using a 24V array. 

All our powerpacks are portable and can be brought to mains for 

a speedy recharge in as little as two to four hours, making them the 

perfect option for suppling user-friendly power in hard to reach or 

temporary locations. 

Powerpacks in the Pro Series all include an inbuilt, industrial grade 

lithium (LiFePO4) battery and highly stable pure sinewave output via a 

UK socket and multiple DC outputs for 12V and USB devices. 

Portable Power Technology is a solutions expert in all off-grid 

power. No matter the power requirement, or wherever you are, you 

can trust that we’ll be here to keep you powered. 

Elani Lighting 

07979 267507 

www.elanilighting.com 

Elani Lighting provides decorative outdoor lighting 

systems for marquees, glamping and terraces with elegant 

and fun lamps suitable for use in all weather. Offering 

a diverse range of stylish Italian designed light fittings 

and cables, lighting can be assembled to your exact 

requirements. 

Combine natural finishes, coloured cables and elegant 

and/or fun lamps with components that are IP65 water 

resistant, protecting them from the weather whatever 

configuration you create. 

Thermobile UK 

02476 357960 

andy@thermobile.co.uk 

www.thermobile.co.uk 

Thermobile heaters are manufactured in Holland 

and built to a very high quality. They have a 

minimum efficiency of 90 per cent, which means 

that 90 per cent of the fuel burned goes as useful 

heat into the heated space and only 10 per cent 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. 


GLAMPING CONSULTANCY 

& PLANNING EXPERTS 

Crown and Canopy are passionate about glamping. Their extensive 

knowledge of glamping, developed from on the ground experience 

and over a decade of working in the industry means they are ideally 

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The team offers full consultancy, design, planning and architectural 

services, from initial advice to full support from concept to 

completion. 

CONSULTANCY 

From initial feasibility to business planning, Crown and Canopy 

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PLANNING 

Specialists in planning relating to development in open countryside 

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DESIGN 

Full design services from site master-planning to bespoke and full 

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info@crownandcanopy.co.uk | www.crownandcanopy.co.uk 


GLAMPSITES 

CASE STUDY 

The Hudnalls 

Hideout 

An exquisite and 

multiple award 

winning A-frame 

treehouse in the 

Forest of Dean 

Having found their site via 

the BBC’s Escape to the 

Country, Sarah Orchard 

and husband Ade set 

about creating one of the 

country’s most talked about 

couples’ retreats which 

achieves 96% occupancy 

and up to £495 per night in 

revenue. 

What’s your back story – your life 

before glamping? 

My husband Ade and I had successful 

corporate careers for around 15 years. 

Probably like a lot of glamping hosts we 

decided to leave the rat race behind to 

get away from long days, international 

travel and politics. Not sure we’ve 

ditched the long days! 

What made you decide to start offering 

glamping accommodation? 

Back in 2004, Ade and I went travelling 

around the world for six months – a once 

in a lifetime trip, leaving our corporate 

jobs and friends behind – a trip that 

sparked a complete change of direction 

for our future some 15 years down the 

line. We didn’t know it at the time but 

the trip made us realise that perhaps we 

weren’t as happy as we thought in our 

‘safe’ corporate jobs. 

We returned to the UK in the summer 

of 2004 with somewhat itchy feet. We 

considered emigrating to New Zealand 

to set up backpackers accommodation 

but would miss the people we loved 

“WE 

STUMBLED 

ON THE WYE 

VALLEY AND 

FOREST OF 

DEAN IN THE 

AUTUMN OF 

2014 AND 

THE HOUSE 

SEARCH 

STARTED IN 

EARNEST” 

back home so over the next 10 years we 

searched for a place in the UK to start 

building our glamping dream – a luxury 

treehouse. 

We stumbled on the Wye Valley and 

Forest of Dean in the autumn of 2014 

and the house search started in earnest 

– a two and a half year quest ensued 

with 10 trips and 3,000 miles, 23 house 

viewings and a couple of speeding 

tickets! We were struggling to find a 

house and plot of land that fitted the bill. 

In August 2016, after some 

encouragement from a friend, I applied 

to the BBC’s Escape to the Country show 

and to my surprise (and Ade’s when I 

told him!) we were accepted. So with a 

little help from Jonnie Irwin and crew, 

we found house number three – our 

spot on the top of a hill in St Briavels 

Common, looking down the Wye Valley 

towards Monmouth. The jaw-dropping 

views to die for sealed the deal. 

Then we embarked on the design and 

planning of our North American style 

A-frame ‘cabin in the woods’ inspired 

treehouse. Sitting down sketching ideas 


GLAMPSITES 

with glamping expert Kate Morel from 

Morel & Co sparked our vision for the 

Hideout. 

We already knew the exact spot that 

we felt was perfect in the woods. Long 

story short… a lot of planning and grant 

paperwork later, we started to build our 

dream glamping space in late May 2019. 

The build took just over seven months 

through the wettest autumn and winter 

most people locally can recall and our 

build team certainly deserved a medal 

for perseverance and true grit in taking 

over 100 tonnes of materials (mainly 

manually and knee deep in mud) down 

to the treehouse location. We opened 

our doors on 14 February 2020. 

How did you research the business 

before entering it? 

We did a lot of research. We went to 

The Glamping Show several times and 

the Farm Business Innovation Show, 

we stayed in lots of different glamping 

structures to see what we liked and to 

a couple of treehouse owners through 

Canopy & Stars to learn from their 

experiences. And of course read Open Air 

Business Magazine from cover to cover! 

Tell us about your location and site 

The site is 3.5 acres and guests have 

exclusive use of a two acre private 

wood. There is no road access so it is 

completely private and secluded. This is 

a plus point for tranquillity but was a bit 

challenging for getting over 100 tonnes 

of building materials to site in torrential 

rain and quad axle deep mud! 

We are in the Wye Valley AONB and 

border The Hudnalls National Nature 

Reserve – the 94.4 hectare biological 

Site of Special Scientific Interest that 

our treehouse takes its name from. This 

semi-natural woodland is dominated 

by beech, oak, ash and lime trees. This 

ancient woodland has a magical, almost 

Narnia feel to it. 

How did you tackle getting planning? 

Our full change of use planning 

application was pretty straightforward 

and went through in eight weeks from 

submission. But we had spent around 

four months working on all the elements 

that came up in our pre-planning 

application (I highly recommend getting 

this first) on ecology, tree surveys and 

road access concerns. Our neighbours 

were very supportive as we had been 

very inclusive with them on our project 

and explained what we had planned. 

How did you finance the project? 

We used our life savings/capital and a 

RDPE grant for rural development. 

What glamping accommodation do 

you offer? 

A luxury treehouse for two adults. We 

had done our research and understood 

the rising demand for treehouses and 

cabins. We had dreamed of building a 

treehouse and nothing else would do! 

Also our site can only have one, possibly 

two units at a push, and we feel we 

achieve a much higher price per night by 

offering such an exclusive experience. 


GLAMPSITES 

What occupancy levels and price per 

night do you achieve? 

We have 96% occupancy, 100% booked 

direct from launch. Our nightly rate is £450- 

£495 per night with a minimum three night 

stay (2023 onwards). 

How did you work out your brand and 

how do you publicise yourself? 

I work in marketing and advise other 

holiday and glamping businesses on how to 

get visible and fully booked, so I know how 

vital creating a branded experience is. It’s so 

important to stand out. 

Many glamping hosts start out with the 

mantra, “I have built it, and they will come”. 

They have lovingly created their glampsite 

and have been so pre-occupied with that 

all-consuming process, that they lose sight 

of the fact that nobody even knows they 

exist. Hence why the likes of Canopy & Stars, 

Airbnb etc, have a stranglehold on many 

starting out. Don’t get me wrong, they have 

a place and if you feel you will not have 

the time or energy to learn how to market 

your own glamping business then you can 

certainly use agents like these to be your 

hired marketing muscle. 

But The Hideout and my hundreds of one 

to one clients prove it is totally feasible to 

market and succeed in going it alone. 

How would you describe your ethos and 

unique selling point? 

We have focused on a luxurious, nature 

immersive experience for couples. We have 

made deliberate decisions to not have Wi- 

Fi, a TV, a gas BBQ (cooking with fire only) – 

guests can do all of this at home! Here they 

can re-connect with each other over the 

simple things. 

The exclusive and private site is certainly 

a selling point and something our guests 

always comment on. Feeling like they have 

“left the outside world behind” for a few 

days. 

How did you choose your interior 

decoration? 

I worked with Kate Morel of Morel & Co and 

the A-frame guided us. They are typical 

in North America are slightly retro cool – 

“BUT THE 

HIDEOUT 

AND MY 

HUNDREDS 

OF ONE TO 

ONE CLIENTS 

PROVE IT 

IS TOTALLY 

FEASIBLE TO 

MARKET AND 

SUCCEED 

IN GOING IT 

ALONE” 

1970s meets Scandi chic. I negotiated 

an interiors marketing partnership with 

MADE.COM as I felt the brand fitted well. 

We then added an iconic Cocoon Aeris 

suspended bio-ethanol fireplace (looks 

like a black UFO!) and mixed a handful 

of carefully picked upcycled and vintage 

pieces with Scandi-lux MADE styling. 

Guests always comment on how relaxing 

and instantly chilled they feel. The 

Hideout does cocoon you! 

What challenges have you faced? 

The biggest one was the Covid pandemic 

just five weeks after opening. We had 

stretched ourselves beyond our limit 

financially and emotionally to get to the 

launch day and then we got closed down. 

It was devastating. I lost all my marketing 

clients overnight too as they are all 

hospitality and glamping businesses, 

The build was also very difficult due to 

the eight months of constant rain and the 

access issues. We hadn’t really thought of 

that when we fell in love with the spot. 

What are your plans for next season? 

For 2023, we have added a new 

woodland sauna to complement The 

Lookout Bar & Larder we added in 

2022. Ade says we now need a period 

of consolidation and no new guest 

experience ideas for at least 12 months. I 

don’t think his nerves can take it! 

Describe your average day mid-season 

We are open 365 days a year bar 

Christmas week so each week is typically 

the same. We used to have three 

changeovers a week but that was pretty 

exhausting so we’ve moved to Mondays 

and Fridays only in 2023. 

Once the guests depart, Ade goes 

down to the treehouse with the cleaning 

team and they start the changeover. 

He does all the outdoor tasks while the 

cleaning team get stuck in indoors. There 

is a huge amount of detail in our guest 

experience so the changeover takes 

around four hours to fully complete. 

I never know how people manage 

multiple units. 

I pop out and pick up any guest 

hampers, cakes, flowers etc. and 

deliver those back and do the final 

inspection and add the extras including 

complimentary gifts. 

Do you enjoy the business? 

I won’t lie to you; running a hospitality 

glamping business can rarely be 

described as a “side hustle”. It’s easy to 

underestimate exactly what is involved 

in being a successful host. 

The Hideout is a romantic and 

unique experience, so we tend to 

get guests staying with us for life’s 

special occasions, from birthdays and 

anniversaries to proposals and mini 

moons. One of the things I personally 

enjoy so much is adding extras and 

surprise touches for guests who are 

celebrating with us. There is something 

wonderful about creating a memory at 

that moment in time in someone else’s 

life through the hosting experience. It 

might sound like a cliché, but it really 

is priceless. That feeling keeps you 

motivated when you have challenging 

or disrespectful guests. Every glampsite 

owner you hear say that is not 


GLAMPSITES 

ADDRESS BOOK 

PIZZA OVEN 

DeliVita www.delivita.com 

INDOOR FIREPLACE 

Cocoon Aeris 

www.cocoonfires.com 

exaggerating. It really does. 

When we have a proposal stay 

booked, I am like a nervous partner 

popping the question myself. Making 

sure everything is perfect and adding 

in little extras like fresh rose petals 

scattered in and around the outdoor 

bath, upgrading their complimentary 

prosecco to Champagne, and adding 

silk rose petals to the unique loft bed in 

the treehouse mezzanine bedroom. We 

wait, with bated breath, to see if they 

said “yes”. An extraordinary thing to 

be able to be part of. We have had our 

first engaged couples now married and 

starting their life journey together. It is 

so incredibly special to know we played 

a part. 


Firstly, I’d say it’s always the guest 

reviews. That moment of opening the 

guestbook in the treehouse and reading 

their comments always feels incredibly 

special. 

“YOU ARE A 

BUSINESS SO 

YOU ARE IN 

SALES AND 

MARKETING. 

YOU NEED TO 

GET GOOD 

AT IT OR GO 

WITH AN 

AGENT TO 

DO IT FOR 

YOU. SADLY, IT 

ISN’T A CASE 

OF YOU HAVE 

BUILT IT AND 

THEY WILL 

COME!” 

Secondly, having BBC Escape to the 

Country want to come back and film a 

re-visited episode with us not once but 

twice; and being selected to feature on 

Channel 4 for Extraordinary Escapes 

with Sandi Toksvig alongside some 

amazing holiday places, felt like a major 

achievement! 

We recently won the Muddy Stilettos 

national award for ‘Best Boutique Stay’, 

beating off hundreds of other more 

mainstream hospitality businesses 

across the UK. That felt very special. 

What advice could you give to 

someone coming into the industry? 

Do your research on your business 

model and keep pace with the market 

trends. There is a lot more going on in 

the market now so you need to be able 

to stand out and offer a differentiated 

branded guest experience. 

You are a business so you are in sales 

and marketing. You need to get good 

at it or go with an agent to do it for you. 

Sadly, it isn’t a case of you have built it 

and they will come! 

Never stop caring about each and 

every guest experience with you. And 

enjoy the glamping host adventure. It 

can be a rollercoaster at times but it’s 

worth it! 

INTERIORS 

Morel & Co 

www.morelcompany.co.uk 

MADE.COM www.made.com 

BOOKING SYSTEM 

Glamp Manager 

www.glampmanager.com 

DIRECTORY SITES 

Cool Stays www.coolstays.com 

Host Unusual 

www.hostunusual.com 

Visit DeanWye 

www.visitdeanwye.co.uk 

Weekend Candy 

www.weekendcandy.com 

BRANDING & PR 

Zoe Shuttleworth (branding) 

www.webdesign-gers.fr 

Travel Tonic (PR) 

www.traveltonic.co.uk 

INSURANCE 

Friar Best www.friarbest.co.uk 

DETAILS 

The Hudnalls Hideout 

Hudnalls Loop Road 

The Common 

St Briavels 

Gloucestershire GL15 6SG 

www.hudnallshideout.co.uk 


A SUBSIDIARY OF WILD 

HARE EVENTS LTD 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

Commercial canvas laundry 

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All types of bell tents and canvas awnings. 


info@wildhareevents.com / Tel: 07855 229568 

01453 767171 


enquiries@bondfabrications.co.uk 

WINNER : Best Safari Tent Manufacturer 

British Design & Manufacture of Bespoke Canvas Structures & Safari Tents 

We offer an unrivalled custom design service with structural engineers reports ensuring our clients take their business forward with 

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to order at our Gloucestershire factory with CAD support, exceptional award winning quality and professional service. 

Bond has served the hospitality industry for over 34 years, designing & manufacturing permanent canvas structures with an emphasis on 

client-led design and high performance technical fabrics, alongside traditional British craftsmanship. Call us to discuss your project. 


GLAMPSITES 

SUPPLIER PROFILE 

A second generation family 

business offering affordable 

log buildings for glamping 

with a great ROI 

What does your company do? 

Logspan is a family owned business selling 

quality timber products within the UK. It was 

established by my parents John and Helen 

Newberry when they realised that there was 

no dedicated supplier of log cabins to the 

general public in Scotland. 

John carved out a niche by supplying 

quality garden buildings direct from the 

suppler at a great price, a practise that has 

stayed with us to this day. I am now the 

second generation Newberry to lead Logspan 

and I look forward to continuing my parents’ 

legacy for the next 30 years and bringing my 

children into the business in the future. 

What makes your business standout? 

We have been in business for 27 years and 

have a wealth of experience in providing 

customers with exceptional timber buildings. 

We are able to provide each customer with a 

bespoke service and a timber building that 

meets their needs. 

Please give us a potted company history 

• 1996 – John Newberry founded the 

company and began selling garden sheds 

and summerhouses 

• 2000 – Sourced BBQ Huts from Finland and 

introduced them into the UK market; they 

were an instant success 

• 2001 – Seeing the potential of European 

products John started importing 

interlocking Log Cabins 

• 2002 – Approached by “TYLA” to be their 

sole UK trade partner and a long lasting 

partnership was formed 

• 2006 – BBQ Hut concept was completely 

redesigned and improved and the Finman 

range was put into production 

• 2010 – Moved to new show site in 

Dumbarton, just outside Glasgow 

• 2014 – Finman range extended to sleeping 

pods and glamping 

• 2015 – Show site expanded to 40+ display 

log cabins and BBQ Huts taking the title of 

the largest display of timber buildings in 

the UK. 

We continue to expand our range 

and improve our quality of service. 

Describe your brand proposition 

1. Quality standard and bespoke timber 

buildings that meet our customers’ needs. 

2. Easy to install buildings (or allow our 

professional team to do it for you). 

3. We will help you from first contact to any 

aftersales enquiries you may have. 

4. Cost effective, allowing you to have a 

fantastic return on investment. 

What is your ‘hero’ product/service? 

The Finman glamping range comes in 

four varieties and three sizes. You can 

accommodate up to 16 people in our 

Bunkhouse or provide a luxury lodge for 

two (which can include a fitted kitchen and 

shower room) with our Retreat. 

From five star hotels and wedding venues 

to outdoor activity centres, scout camps 

and caravan parks there is a Finman product 

that will meet your needs and work with the 

environment. 

Each central Finman unit can have 

multiple extensions and be bespoke built to 

your requirements with off grid-options and 

solar packages possible. 

As each unit is built on site, this allows 

for us to construct in more difficult to reach 

locations that may prove inaccessible to 

other companies. See how you can benefit 

from a Finman product and how you can get 

return of your capital invested within one 

year. 

Any extra special people? 

We work as a team to provide a holistic 

service to our customers from first contact 

to aftersales service. Between us all we have 

over 55 years of experience helping our 

customer. It is also company policy for each 

member of staff to have build experience so 

we are all able to give our customers a fuller 

service. 


I’m proud that we have been able to provide 

our customers a means for them to start 

a growing lifestyle glamping business. 

Many customers have returned to us when 

wishing to expand their business and add 

further log buildings to their site. 

Why should a customer get in touch? 

Customers should get in touch if they are 

looking for a unique structure that will 

complement their surroundings, be usable 

all year round, meet their needs and be cost 

effective. 

We are happy to answer any questions 

around building permissions, preparing 

land for the builds and any aspect of the 

products themselves. 

DETAILS 

01389 734572 

austin@logspan.com 



For sale 

Offers in excess of £1,500,000. 

A unique opportunity to purchase 

42 acre holiday business near 

Lake Vyrnwy ideal for: 

• Glamping 

• Camping 

• Log cabins 

• Shepherd huts 

• Dark skies events 

Farmhouse, Ancient woodland, meadows and stream 

Established environmentally friendly holiday lets sleep 12 and 3 persons, revenue £50k + 

Government grants available for tree planting, carbon capture, and tourism projects. 

Contact: 

sue.rose@tsarine.co.uk 


TRANSFORM YOUR 

OUTDOOR SPACE NOW! 

Unique terrace roofing 

No matter if winter or summer, make better 

use of your garden all year round. 

www.strohboid.com 


GLAMPSITES 

GETTY IMAGES 

TRADE SECRETS 

Building 

a Deck 

A quick ‘how to’ on 

creating a bell tent deck 

THEY MAKE pitching a breeze, create 

dry, flat, stable bases for tents and look 

great – it’s time to get DIY’ing and to build 

yourself a deck. 

First determine the size and location 

of the deck. A standard bell tent of 5m 

will require a 6m x 6m deck minimum, 

although reducing this to 5.9m may work 

out more efficient on materials. 

Obviously you may want a larger deck 

and it is worth comparing the results of 

the numerous online deck calculators. Try 

a few as their output varies and you don’t 

want to over engineer your deck or be 

encouraged to purchase more materials 

than you need. 

We used www.deckingsupplies.co.uk/ 

calculator and for a 5.9m x 5.9m deck it 

calculated we needed: 

› Frame (treated sawn wood): 3.0m x 47 

x 100 (you’ll need 12), 3.6m x 47 x 100 

(you’ll need 12), 4.2m x 47 x 100 (you’ll 

need 6) 

› Decking: 4.8m pressure treated decking 

boards (you’ll need 49) 

› Posts (treated): 1.8m x 75 x 75 (you’ll 

need 9) 

› Decking screws: 50mm x 4.5mm (you’ll 

need 6 packs of 200) 

› Galvanised nails: 100mm (you’ll need 1 

x 2.5kg pack) 

› Coach screw: M7 x 100mm Hex Head 

(you’ll need 50) 

› Ground weed mat: 10m x 1.5m roll 

(you’ll need 3 rolls) 

› UV decking oil: 2.5L tin (you’ll need 2 

tins) 

*Please do check these quantities with 

your supplier once you have chosen a final 

deck plan, or ask their advice. 

TOOLS 

› Drill 

› Level 

› Tape measure 

› Saw 

› Cups of tea 

Instructions: 

1 

Mark out the area where you want 

to build the deck and make sure it is 

level. 

2Next you need to provide a stable 

foundation which means supporting 

the frame of your deck at regular 

intervals. You can use deck piers or blocks 

to support the frame if on stable ground 

but if you are on soft ground, and can’t 

cement the posts into the ground due to 

planning regulations, there are many very 

affordable groundscrew options available 

which can be easily removed. 

3 

Cut the pressure-treated timber to the 

appropriate size for the frame of the 

deck. Ensure that the frame is level as 

you build it. There are many plans you can 

follow – you can even buy them from Etsy. 

However, simply getting in touch with your 

timber supplier may be all you need to do 

for some advice. 

4Attach the decking boards to the 

frame using galvanized deck screws 

and a drill. Make sure the decking 

boards are level and evenly spaced. It is 

recommended that you space them at 

5mm intervals to allow for expansion and 

contraction of the timber throughout the 

seasons. You can add a fascia also made 

out of decking boards to finish the edge 

and make a professional looking job of it. 

5Make sure to treat the finished 

deck with deck oil to keep it 

tip top. 

TIPS 

Check out these great free ‘how 

to’ great guides we found at www. 

deckingsupplies.co.uk which include: 

› Laying your frame 

› Squaring your frame 

› Assembling your frame 

› Raising deck posts 

› Laying deck boards 

› Creating handrails 

Pitching tips 

The main difference when pitching a bell 

tent onto a deck is that instead of ground 

pegs, you will need to use a bolt or screw 

to anchor the ground sheet. Use a washer 

or screw hook to ensure the eyelet 

doesn’t slip off. 

Next you need to think about the guy 

ropes. It’s not the best idea to simply run 

the ropes out over the deck and into the 

ground as they are designed to be set 

at an angle that follows the roof seams 

to properly tension the tent. The added 

height created with a deck can create 

added pressure on the seams and lead to 

damage. 

You can either tie the ropes off to 

extended posts added to the deck 1-2 

feet from the wall of the tent at about 2 

feet tall. This will also stop guests tripping 

over them. For the guy line attached to 

the door, you could add a second guy line 

and tie each off to the posts directly to 

the left and right. A second option is using 

‘short guy poles’ which enable you to 

pitch a bell tent with shortened guy lines 

closer to the tent base. 


GLAMPSITES 

The River Lodge 

Hay Barn 

Oaken Fort 

The Bothy 

Project, 

Inshriach 

The year of the cabin, the sauna and holidays for good – 

Canopy & Stars reveals what’s in store for glamping in 2023 

CANOPY & Stars has dusted off its crystal 

ball, looked to the stars and gazed into 

the horizon of 2023 to make its annual 

predictions into what will be trending in the 

glamping and outdoor holiday world in the 

coming year. 

To back it up with real data, we’ve also 

released an industry market report full of 

insight, trends and data on the future of 

glamping. The good news is, despite the 

current economic gloom, there is still a 

healthy demand for holidays in nature – 

the popularity of glamping in the UK has 

doubled since the start of the pandemic, 

average booking values have grown, and 

guests are staying for longer. 

The year has got off to a cracking start 

with bookings reaching record levels, 

equalling those seen post lockdown, but 

what’s in store for the rest of the year? 

Spoiler: saunas are the new hot tubs and 

cabin fever is going viral. 

A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS 

From new finds to older favourites, social 

media continues to drive more bookings 

than ever; if there’s a great pic you can be 

sure it will be popular. These are places 

Instagram thinks you should book now to 

bag the best dates: 

Brand new to the collection, and 

responsible for our most popular Instagram 

post in 2022, Oaken Fort in Powys is a reallife 

fort on the Anglo-Welsh border, fit for 

modern day kings and queens. 

Another social favourite is The River 

Lodge in Yorkshire, an incredible secluded 

cabin sits on a private stretch of the river at 

the heart of a 6,000 acre estate in the North 

York Moors, surrounded by nothing but 

nature and wildlife. 

Perennially popular on Instagram and 

seriously channelling the experience trend 

(read on). At the Pond is an architectural 

wonder nestled into a wildlife oasis in 

Somerset, luggage butler, steam room, 

outdoor fireplace and sunken bathtub 

included. 

SPAS, SAUNAS AND MOVING BATHTUBS 

With recession and the cost-of-living crisis 

having a huge effect on consumer choices, 

added value and a fuller guest experience 

are more important than ever. This year 

we’ve seen Canopy & Stars owners taking 

the bathing experience to the next level, 

with saunas and side-by-side baths both 

emerging as new trends. 

We are naming 2023 the year of the 

sauna, our collection of places with saunas 

has reached a whopping 36, with more on 

the way. Perhaps the wildest of the bunch 

is at The Bothy Project at Inshriach on the 

banks of the River Spey in Scotland. Hidden 

amongst the trees is a horsebox converted 

to a sauna. 

For the ultimate spa experience, new to 


GLAMPSITES 

the collection is The Spa in Devon, setting 

the bar for the gold standard in bathing 

opportunities – infinity pool, outdoor 

shower, sauna and a stone bathtub – you’ll 

be seriously clean when you leave. 

Another new one with a ‘never seen 

before’ feature, the Hideout Treehouse at 

Sleepy Owl in Devon has a moving bathtub, 

mini drawbridge, a hot tub, pizza oven, 

outdoor stove, hammock and private access 

to the woods. Cramming all the experiences 

in. 

NATURE IS THE NEW NATURE 

We have always known that a connection 

with nature is one of the main things our 

guests are looking for and research has 

proven the benefits, In a recent Canopy 

& Stars survey asking people where they 

were happiest, 98% of respondents chose 

somewhere outdoors. You can’t get more 

connected to nature than in these places: 

Release your inner Viking at the brandnew 

Icelandic Turf House in Cumbria, built 

taking inspiration from the Viking turf 

houses in Iceland, this space is also themed 

throughout its interior and the turf roof 

blends seamlessly with the surroundings. 

Off-grid and practically off the map, The 

Hog House, another newbie, is hidden in 

the Lake District. It doesn’t matter which 

way the compass points at The Hog House 

because each direction looks out onto the 

majesty of the fells. 

Southcombe Barn’s newest space is a 

lovingly renovated Hay Barn at the heart 

of a home, that’s also a wellbeing, art and 

nature retreat. Stretching over 16 acres 

of wildflower meadows, woodland and 

pasture, it back onto the wide-open moor of 

the Dartmoor National Park. 

CABIN CULTURE TAKES OVER 

In 2019, cabins contributed 36% of Canopy 

& Stars’ revenue, but this has increased to 

43% in 2022, by far the biggest growth of 

any type of structure. This marks a shift 

towards ‘year -round’ spaces, as canvas 

structures fall in popularity. Cabin culture is 

a thing; we love the rustic aesthetic, the cosy 

vibes and all the fancy extras too. 

Cosy, cool and a base for Welsh 

adventures, the ever popular Forgaer’s 

Cabin couldn’t get more cabin. Reassuringly 

woody inside and out, a cosy wood-burner, 

outdoor cooking area and hot tub on the 

deck. 

Mount Freedom in Ayrshire is home to the 

log cabin you’ve always dreamed of (times 

three). It looks like it’s been stolen from the 

Rockies and plonked in Scotland. Big porch, 

rocking chairs and an outdoor fireplace. 

A new addition to Canopy & Stars, 

Daisychain Cabin is Sussex’s answer to the 

dream cabin. If you want to get away from 

Stuc a'Chroin 

it all and disappear into the wild in the snug 

surroundings of a wood cabin (just an hour 

from London), you can’t do much better 

than this. 

ACCESS FOR ALL 

2023 will be the year that nature becomes 

a little bit more accessible. Just launched 

is our accessibility hub which includes 

information for those with limited 

mobility, including a collection of places 

with step-free access and adaptations to 

accommodate wheelchair users. Canopy & 

Stars will be building on this in 2023. 

The Wonham Oak in Devon is a treehouse 

that’s been designed to be fully wheelchair 

accessible with lowered sills on entry points, 

wide doorways, a wet room with grab 

rails and shower chair, and a hoist for the 

outdoor bath. 

Stuc a'Chroin is a beautiful yurt 

surrounded by the peaks of the Trossachs. 

The site itself is fully wheelchair accessible 

with wooden paths leading directly to the 

yurts and a fully accessible bathroom on 

site. It’s only an hour’s drive from Edinburgh 

or Glasgow and you could even get the train 

to Stirling where there’s wheelchair access. 

Nyth y Barcud has the height of a 

treehouse, floating off the edge of a Powys 

hillside, but somehow with ground level 

access, although there’s a stony track down 

to the space. Ask the owners to fit the ramp 

for the front door before you arrive and once 

you’re in it’s all peace and treetops. 

HOLIDAYS FOR GOOD 

We’ve taken great strides to improve our 

social and environmental impact and in 

2023 we will ramp this up. By its very nature, 

glamping is environmentally sounder than 

some forms of travel but we champion 

those places going over and above. We’re 

Nyth y Barcud 

Treehouse 

proud to have achieved B Corp certification 

and we were also named Most Ethical 

Travel Booking Site by Ethical Consumer. 

We’ve implemented an overtourism policy, 

which caps the number of places that we 

work with in destinations that suffer from 

overtourism, and expanded our Community 

Champions programme, giving businesses 

doing extraordinary things a platform from 

which to grow: 

Come and stay in Wilderness Wood, a 

working community of artists, gardeners, 

wood-workers, builders and designers 

who collaborate with local families, 

schools and groups, and one of our 

Community Champions Their work includes 

experiences, events and apprenticeships, 

especially for families. 

On the far west of North Wessex Downs 

AONB, eight miles from Devizes, waits 

Gladys’ Riverside Cabin. 400 metres from 

any building, it’s a car free escape designed 

for those looking to travel by public 

transport and on foot and by bike. A selfsufficient 

getaway, you have to make your 

bed when you arrive and bring all of your 

own supplies, but you’re rewarded with a 

microcosm of peace and nature. 

Beautiful eco buildings joined together by 

a veranda, flooded with light, sitting quietly 

in a meadow and with stunning views 

across the valley and the Herefordshire Hills. 

The Carn is thoughtfully constructed out 

of materials less likely to cause damage to 

the environment in a traditionally managed 

woodland teeming with wildlife. 

DETAILS 

Find out more at 

www.canopyandstars.co.uk/market-report 


MUDCONTROL: A SOLID FOUNDATION, 

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Our solid, interlocking, slabs 

create instant hardstanding 

on any surface, whatever the 

weather, making them ideal 

for an immediate wet winter 

transformation or the perfect 

spring/summer project. 

Second to none when it comes 

to mud control, equally ideal 

to create alternative areas 

such as grass controlled 

turnout paddocks, lunge pens 

and riding areas. Mudcontrol 

slabs are a base and 

sub-base in one, so say 

goodbye to adverse ground 

conditions forever. 

Quality Glamping 

Cabins and BBQ Huts 

See us at the 

Farm Business 

Innovation Show, 

2-3 November 

2022 at the NEC, 

Stand FM800 

Achieve all year round bookings, with our 

unique luxury glamping cabins 

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BESPOKE SOLUTIONS • FULLY INSULATED AND HEATING OPTIONS 

01389 734572 info@logspan.com www.logspan.com 


GLAMPSITES 


Professional Services 

Daisy Bank Camp, 

West Yorkshire 

Service: Landscape design 

and planning 

Supplier: Reed Studio, 

07887 747393, contactus@ 

reedstudio.co.uk, 

www.reedstudio.co.uk 

Details: Deep in the moors 

above Hebden Bridge sit 

six timber-clad cabins – or 

‘nests’ as the owners call 

them. Each of these hand 

built cabins is named after the 

birds in this precious patch of 

West Yorkshire, with carefully 

decorated interiors and artwork 

that reflect the area. 

Reed Studio provided siting, 

landscape design, planting and 

planning advice for this hilltop 

site. The farm has undergone 

a significant transformation 

from an engineered equestrian 

yard to a naturalistic landscape 

that entwines itself into its 

surroundings. 

The site was designed by 

Reed Studio to mimic natural 

contours with careful selection of 

species and habitats to transport 

guests into the most peaceful of 

settings. Siting and layout were 

carefully thought-out to ensure 

each cabin had uninterrupted 

views and private garden spaces 

with immediate access to 

moorland walks. 

Planting design took existing 

locally found species to ensure 

a completely native and site 

specific palette. Signage, 

waymarking and routes were 

designed to create a fluid and 

welcoming arrival experience. 

Through a deep understanding 

of the client’s ethos and 

ambitions, and Local Authority 

requirements, the designs 

provided met planning 

conditions while also creating a 

truly unique glamping site. 

Customer feedback: Site 

owner Angie Mossman said: “We 

are so excited to be working with 

you on all of this; Daisy Bank 

Camp will have so much more of 

an integrated and holistic impact 

because of your influence – you 

have brilliantly captured the 

brief and inspired us to think 

differently about the whole 

space. We love your ideas, some 

we’ll have to put in at a later 

date due to costs, but most we’ll 

seek to sort ready for launch – 

exciting!” 

RICHARD GEE 

Forth Mountain Glamping, Wexford 

Service: Fully managed, franchise and partnership options 

Supplier: Further Space, 07761 747212, simon@ 

furtherspace.co.uk, www.further.space/partners 

Details: Forth Mountain Glamping offers fantastic mountain 

views and popular hiking and horse-riding trails. Close to 

restaurants, events and attractions (including Ireland’s best 

beach, Curracloe) it is pet friendly and can even provide 

stabling if guests wish to travel with their horse. 

Further Space worked alongside owner James O’Connor 

to provide diversified income for his equestrian business. 

James manages daily site operations, while Further Space 

manages advertising, bookings and customer service. 

The partnership delivers high levels of occupancy and 

exceptional customer service with a personal, local touch. 

Further Space offers managed, franchise and partnership 

options. Landowners can connect with its network of sites 

across the UK and Ireland, benefitting from group-wide 

advertising spend, expert support and access to a growing 

base of loyal customers. 

Capital investment is reduced by acquiring Further 

Space’s pods via a five year lease. Further Space looks after 

advertising and bookings, driving high levels of occupancy, 

while minimising commission and reducing the input 

required from the landowner. 

Customer feedback: James O’Connor said: “Partnering 

with such an experienced team takes pressures such 

as finance and marketing off my shoulders, meaning I 

can focus on doing the things I am passionate about – 

maintaining the site and pods for our guests. 

“I have been in partnership with Further Space since 

we launched last year and, due to our 

continued success, we are now 

adding two additional pods. I 

have amazing support from the 

team, and it’s comforting to 

know that they are always 

there if I have any questions 

or need advice.” 


GLAMPSITES 

The Roost Glamping, Gloucestershire 

Service: Marketing club membership – The Fully 

Booked Business Club 

Supplier: Get Fully Booked, 07799 473006, hello@get-fullybooked.com, 

www.get-fully-booked.com 

Details: The Roost is an award-winning glampsite in the Forest 

of Dean. Owner Lorraine Robinson has been a member of The 

Fully Booked Business Club for over two years – a low-cost, 

monthly marketing membership club dedicated to glamping and 

hospitality businesses. It combines marketing advice and support 

from its creator Sarah Orchard (a fellow glampsite host and 

marketing expert) with a ‘how to’ marketing training vault, social 

media content ideas and a community of ambitious glamping site 

owners. It gives owners the know-how and confidence to get their 

marketing out there and drive more direct bookings. 

Customer feedback: Glampsite owner Lorraine Robinson said: 

“The Club is an exceptional resource that has brought me up to 

speed with social media and keeps me on track. 

“I love the weekly Tuesday Q&A drop in session with Sarah. 

I use it most weeks as there is always something I need to ask 

advice on. The monthly training workshops have helped me get 

to grips with Instagram and what content to post, and I’ve built up 

my following and engagement to get more direct bookings. Join 

up you won’t regret it!” 

Higher Holcombe, Devon 

Service: Bell tent cleaning, build and break 

service 

Supplier: The Canvas Cleaning Company, 

07855 229568, info@wildhareevents.com, 


Details: Higher Holcombe is a uniquely 

friendly, family-run wedding venue in 

Devon. Perfect for couples who want a 

destination wedding venue with glamping 

accommodation. 

The Canvas Cleaning Company works 

with a large number of glampsites including 

Higher Holcombe, carrying out annual 

cleaning, repair and waterproofing of their 

beloved bell tents. The team regularly 

attends sites at the end of each season to 

dismantle clients’ tents, taking them back 

to the warehouse for processing, and then 

returning to put them back up at the start of 

the next season. Clients can also just courier 

or deliver their tents for treating. 

The Canvas Cleaning Company is the 

UK’s leading commercial canvas laundry 

specialising in cleaning, waterproofing and 

repairing all types of bell tents. The in-house 

seamstress has over 30 years’ experience, 

and can carry out a wide range of repairs 

from small patches to full zip and panel 

replacements. 

Customer feedback: Higher Holcombe’s 

owner Joanna Tomlins said: “The team at 

The Canvas Cleaning Company have been 

looking after my Lotus Belle glamping tents 

since I opened in 2019. At the end of each 

season, they come to site and dismantle 

them all, then take them away to be cleaned, 

dried, re-waterproofed and stored until the 

following year. 

“At the start of each season, they deliver 

the tents back and erect them. They are 

always cheerful and energetic. I am always 

so impressed by their efficiency. They 

are 100% reliable and do a fantastic job. I 

totally rely on them to do this for me and 

recommend them wholeheartedly. 

“They are an essential part of my Devon 

woodland wedding venue business. So 

pleased that they offer this service! A life 

line!” 


Low Nest Farm, 

Lake District 

Service: Consultancy, planning, 

design and build 

Supplier: Crown and Canopy, 07837 

162452, info@crownandcanopy. 

co.uk, www.crownandcanopy.co.uk 

Details: Crown and Canopy met 

Alasdair and Heather, the owners 

of Low Nest Farm, at the Glamping 

Show and after hearing about 

the history of their land and their 

aspirations they began 

working together. 

The initial site visit 

and consultation 

soon realised 

the potential of 

the land and the 

couple’s vision 

for creating 

a high-quality 

retreat. Having 

agreed upon the 

location and the product 

the next step was working with The 

Lake District National Park authority 

to achieve planning, a lengthy 

journey but one that resulted in a 

positive outcome. 

With planning permission 

granted, they could embark on 

the exciting and creative part of 

the project. Crown and Canopy’s 

build manager Bill and architect 

Henry worked closely with Alasdair 

and Heather to develop a bespoke 

design which drew inspiration from 

the history of the farm and the 

surrounding landscape. 

Materiality and build quality 

represent core focus areas for 

Crown and Canopy’s approach 

and products. From the exterior 

cladding to soft furnishings, finish 

and detail are paramount and great 

care is taken every step of the way 

to source and use the best materials 

and products. From milling the 

timber used in the build to sewing 

the curtains, they are hands on 

throughout the process, ensuring 

quality control and exceptional 

service from start to finish. 

The Helvellyn Hut was designed 

to take advantage of the incredible 

views, with large integrated glazed 

panels enabling guests 

to enjoy the scenery 

from the comfort of 

the indoors. The 

sunken outdoor 

bath and covered 

seating area 

wrapping around 

the hut were key 

in delivering that 

all important luxury 

outdoors experience, 

even when it rains Lake 

District style! 

Customer feedback: Owner 

Alasdair Boden said: “From the 

planning, to build, to installation, 

we couldn’t have asked for more 

from Crown and Canopy. The 

attention to detail of the build and 

design is exquisite. 

“In a world full of pods and 

off the shelf shepherd huts, 

this is a truly unique unit that is 

incomparable to anything else 

on the market. Evidence to this is 

the fact we are operating at a near 

100% occupation rate, far exceeding 

expectations. The question now is: 

where next?” 

PRODUCT 

SNAPSHOTS 

Glamping Without Planning Permission 

Wanderlust Camping Club 

wanderlustcampingclub@gmail.com 

www.wanderlustcampingclub.co.uk 

Do you want to establish a glamping site without the 

need for planning permission? Wanderlust Camping 

Club provides exemption licences to suitable 

camping/glamping sites across England. 

We are a growing organisation that is actively 

seeking to expand across the country. We are made 

up of owner-occupied glamping sites consisting of 

shepherds huts, yurts, tents and pods along with 

touring caravan and pitch your own camping. Our 

purpose is to promote leisure and recreation in the 

countryside. If you are interested in going the extra 

mile in terms of location, quality of service and onsite 

comfort then we would love to hear from you! 

“Our council turned down an application for 

shepherds huts on a remote piece of land. Within four 

weeks of contacting Wanderlust we had a licence for 

up to five huts which can be used all year round.” 


EVENTS 

CASE STUDY 

JMA-PHOTOGRAPHY 

Norfolk & 

Norwich 

Festival 

One of the oldest festivals in the country, Norfolk & 

Norwich Festival plays out in multiple venues including 

an impressive Spiegeltent it the city’s gardens 

For 17 days each May, the 

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 

transforms public spaces, 

city streets, performance 

venues, parks, forests and 

beaches, delivering the 

flagship arts festival for the 

East of England. We talk to 

head of communications 

and development 

Darren Cross about the 

event’s commitment 

to sustainability and its 

Festival Gardens outdoor 

venue. 

Describe your event and how 

many people it attracts? 

Norfolk & Norwich Festival is the 

eastern region’s leading multiarts 

festival. It takes place for 17 

days each May in venues across 

Norwich and Norfolk, but with a 

strong outdoor programme, much 

of which is centred around our 

‘Festival Gardens’. This is created in 

a city park and is focused around a 

Spiegeltent and outdoor bar. 

Explain a bit about your event’s 

history 

Norfolk & Norwich Festival is 

one of the oldest festivals in the 

country. We celebrated 250 years 

in 2022. For much of its history 

it was a classical music event, 

but over the last 30 years, the 

programme has broadened to 

take in contemporary music, 

performance, circus, dance and 

literature. 

We work across the city and 

county’s outdoor spaces, but the 

festival’s move into the gardens 

“WE’VE 

DEVELOPED 

A STRONG 

RELATIONSHIP 

WITH THE CITY 

COUNCIL AND 

HONED HOW 

WE WORK IN 

THE GARDENS 

OVER THAT 

TIME” 

took place around 15 years ago. 

It opens us up to new audiences 

and creates a high-profile visual 

indicator that the festival has 

arrived each year. 

We’ve developed a strong 

relationship with the city council 

and honed how we work in the 

gardens over that time. 

How is your relationship 

with the local authority and 

community? 

The city council is one of our 

funders, but beyond that we work 

closely with them as we develop 

our plans in the city’s open spaces 

and in the gardens. There’s a good 

degree of knowledge sharing 

when it comes to suppliers and 

contractors. 

We also share goals around 

environmental sustainability 

and worked closely with them in 

developing a hard power supply 

in the gardens, which moved us, 

and others, away from reliance on 

diesel generators. 


EVENTS 

How have you planned the layout 

of the event? 

We always look to create interesting 

temporary spaces for our outdoor 

events, especially in the gardens. 

The Spiegeltent helps provide 

a unique focal point and it has 

become many people’s favourite 

festival venue. We also use a variety 

of tented structures and have 

created a shipping container bar. 

We try, wherever possible, to 

utilise equipment and décor we 

already own and more and more we 

try to recycle materials each year 

and give them new life. 

Over the years, we have also 

learnt to use the site’s existing 

features to our benefit and to 

minimise equipment brought in. 

We design the layout to utilise 

the park’s existing hard standing, 

rather than bring in trackway, and 

©PETE HUGGINS 

“THE SPIEGELTENT AND GARDENS PLAY HOST TO 

A MIXED PROGRAMME THAT INCLUDES CIRCUS, 

CABARET, PERFORMANCE, MUSIC, FAMILY ENTER- 

TAINMENT AND LITERATURE” 

we use the trees and landscaped 

areas to delineate the bar from the 

performance spaces. 

How do you work with creatives 

to make these spaces work? 

We usually employ local creatives to 

create and install décor or look after 

signwriting. This brings character 

to the tents, structures and open 

spaces. They all follow the Theatre 

Green Book standards to ensure 

environmental sustainability across 

the site. 

How did you research and source 

your marquees, flooring, bars 

etc? 

We tend to use a few trusted 

suppliers for tents. Wherever 

possible we use local or regional 

suppliers. We also share and borrow 

equipment from other like-minded 

arts organisations locally. This 

might include benches for outdoor 

performances, stage deck and so 

on. 

We have constructed our 

own shipping container bar and 

CHRIS TAYLOR 


EVENTS 

JMA PHOTOGRAPHY 

LUKE WITCOMB 

LUKE WITCOMB 

work closely with Adnams, one 

of our sponsors, on supply and 

fit out. They also have a strong 

sustainability agenda. 

What entertainment do you offer 

and how did you choose and 

source it? 

The Spiegeltent and gardens 

play host to a mixed programme 

that includes circus, cabaret, 

performance, music, family 

entertainment and literature. Much 

of this we programme directly but 

we also work with programming and 

commissioning partners on some 

elements. 

How do you manage admissions 

and visitor safety? 

We run our own box office with 

much of our indoor and Spiegeltent 

programme being ticketed. The 

outdoor programme is generally 

free and people come and go as 

they please. 

We work closely with the relevant 

authorities and an amazing team of 

volunteers to ensure visitor safety. 

We publish as much information as 

possible about venues and access 

to make sure audience’s visits are as 

smooth as possible. 

How did you cope during 2020 and 

2021? 

We, like almost everyone else, had 

to cancel 2020’s festival as it was due 

to happen as the first lockdown was 

in force. We adapted quickly and 

created an ‘on-air’ version of it with 

a local radio station. In 2021, we 

created a bespoke festival adapted 

to social distancing and we opened 

on the first day restrictions lifted. 

When we cancelled 2020’s festival 

we had to return ticket income, but 

many people kindly donated. It 

was a tricky financial period but we 

worked through it and almost all 

our funders and sponsors continued 

with us. 

What ground protection do you 

use for cars and footfall? 

We don’t generally accommodate 

“POST- 

COVID WE 

HAVE FOUND 

IT DIFFICULT 

TO RECRUIT 

CASUAL STAFF 

AND CREW 

FOR THE 

FESTIVAL. 

MANY SEEM 

TO HAVE 

MOVED ON 

TO DIFFERENT 

CAREER 

PATHS” 

cars at any venues unless they have 

existing parking facilities. Generally, 

we utilise existing hardstanding 

for footfall at our outdoor events. 

Where we do use ground protection, 

its usually trackway. 

How do you publicise the event? 

We launch the full programme in 

February each year and promote it 

through a mix of print, digital and 

PR. We also use partner networks 

and work closely with tourist 

organisations. While print remains 

one of the key drivers for our 

audiences, we continue to reduce 

and rationalise where we use it. 

What additional challenges have 

you faced? 

Post-Covid we have found it 

difficult to recruit casual staff and 

crew for the festival. Many seem 

to have moved on to different 

career paths. We are also noticing 

some significant price increases for 

equipment and infrastructure. 

2022’s festival was the first full 


EVENTS 

ADDRESS BOOK 

MARQUEES 

Hallmark Events 

www.hallmarkeventhire.co.uk 

Van Rosmalen 

www.vanrosmalen.com 

Victoria Marquees 

www.victoriamarquees.co.uk 

Yes Tents www.yestents.com 

DÉCOR 

Emotive Sound and Light 

www.emotivesound.co.uk 

Ideal Events www. 

idealeventservices.co.uk 

Longwater Construction Supplies 

www.longwatersupply.com 

festival we had done since the 

pandemic and certain segments 

of the audience were reluctant 

to return and booking patterns 

became very last minute. 

How do you finance the event? 

We are a charity and the festival has 

a mixed funding model financed by 

our core funding from Arts Council 

England and local authorities, ticket 

income and sponsorships, grants 

and donations. 

What are your plans for next 

year? 

Much of our outdoor programme, 

which is usually present in the 

gardens, will this year move to 

city centre streets. We will have a 

full programme of performance, 

circus, classical and contemporary 

music that aims to connect with 

“EACH YEAR 

WE TAKE 

STEPS TO 

IMPROVE OUR 

SUSTAINABILITY, 

INTRODUCING 

COMPOST 

TOILETS AND 

MEAT AND 

FISH-FREE 

CATERING 

IN RECENT 

YEARS” 

communities in surprising ways. 

Each year we take steps to 

improve our sustainability, 

introducing compost toilets and 

meat and fish-free catering in recent 

years. This year we’re developing an 

environmentally sustainable artist 

rider that promotes local, seasonal 

and organic products. 

What advice could you give 

to someone coming into the 

industry? 

Always aim high in everything you 

do. Our approach to sustainability 

is the same – we try to weave it 

through all we do. Do also try and 

measure what you do – that way 

you know if you’re succeeding or 

not. 

The outdoor public realm is 

an amazing place to work in. It is 

democratic and for everyone. 

LUKE WITCOMB 

AV 

Adrian James Acoustics 

www.adrianjamesacoustics.com 

Crosslight & Sound Production 

Services www.crosslight.org.uk 

ETS www.etsnet.co.uk 

Emotive Sound and Light 

www.emotivesound.co.uk 

W1 Productions www. 

w1productions.co.uk 

HEAT & POWER 

Midas Productions 

www.midas-uk.co.uk 

Pure Power Electrics 

www.purepower.org.uk 

TOILETS 

Spring Clean Commercial 

www.spring-clean-services.co.uk 

Toilets+ www.toilets.co.uk 

WaterAid www.wateraid.org 

TICKETING SYSTEMS 

Spektrix www.spektrix.com/en-gb 

INSURANCE 

Wrightsure Services 

www.wrightsure.com 

DETAILS 

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 

12-18 May 2023 

www.nnfestival.org.uk 


GLAMPSITES 

WOW - FACTOR 

Let us transform your garden to create memories 

HELVELLYN HUT, CUMBRIA 

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w: www.topcatbigtops.co.uk 


EVENTS 

GreenSURVEY 

The Vision: 2025 Event Industry Green Survey 2022 results are in 

IN 2022, 119 festivals and 

events, with a combined 

audience of over 2.1 million, 

took part in Vision: 2025’s 

annual Industry Green 

Survey for outdoor events. 

In its eight year, the survey’s 

respondents included 

everything from community 

events to the largest summer 

music festivals in the UK. 

The results give insight 

into trends and practises, 

challenges faced and 

what event organisers are 

prioritising for the coming 

season. 

KEY FINDINGS 

LOCAL AUTHORITY 

EXPECTATIONS ARE 

CHANGING 

17% of events reported 

that their local authority 

required information about 

sustainability in 2022, and 

a further 24% saying it has 

been indicated that this will 

be required. 

THE PRIORITY AREAS 

FOR ORGANISERS HAVE 

CHANGED 

Waste has slipped off the top 

three, to be replaced by a 

focus on overall carbon footprinting. 

Despite this, less 

than half (45%) are currently 

measuring their total carbon 

footprint. 

THE USE OF GRID 

CONNECTIONS IS ON THE 

RISE 

Almost a quarter of events 

reported that they are now 

using grid as part of their 

energy mix. A third have 

tried using battery units, 

up from 25% in 2021. In 

2022, less than half of event 

respondents received a 

detailed energy report postevent 

or felt engaged enough 

with their provider to put in 

place a strategy to reduce 

fuel and increase efficiency. 

CHALLENGE AREAS FOR 

EVENT RESPONDENTS 

These included how to 

tackle carbon emissions 

from transport and how 

to work with traders on 

food sustainability. Waste 

featured too, with lack of 

clarity on the sustainability of 

certain materials and waste 

processes and how to work 

with contractors to reduce 

plastic waste. That said, in 

2022 it was clearly the norm 

to have recycling system 

front and back of house 

(73% and 82% respectively), 

and encouragingly 74% now 

have a reuse policy for décor 

RESULTS 

and production materials, 

showing how circular waste 

principles are being adopted. 

Notably, 68% say they know 

what recycling plant their 

materials are going to. 

TOP BARRIERS AND 

DRIVERS 

Cost and capacity within 

organisations are still 

identified as the top two 

barriers with difficulty 

engaging contractors and 

an inability of suppliers to 

deliver coming joint third. 

The main drivers for taking 

climate action were staff 

expectation and internal 

commitment, audience 

expectations and artists’ 

expectations. This is the first 

time that ‘artists’ have been 

cited in the top three drivers 

for climate action, suggesting 

that the artist community are 

more engaged in advocating 

for change. 

The annual survey helps 

the Vision: 2025 steering 

group gather a vital picture 

of the sector’s practices, 

to chart development 

and to shape support 

for event organisers. 

Read a full analysis of 

the survey at www.bit.ly/ 

GreenSurveyResults2022 

ZERO WASTE FESTIVALS 

PROJECT 

Issues around reducing and 

handling waste have been 

identified as a priority for 

respondents in previous years 

of the Event Industry Green 

Survey, The Vision: 2025 steering 

group undertook a research 

project with Julie’s Bicycle to 

deepen understanding about 

waste management and aims 

to set the industry on a course 

to overall waste reduction, zero 

waste to landfill and increased 

recycling rates. The resulting 

‘Zero Waste Festivals Project’ 

report and recommendations are 

due in February 2023. Visit www. 

vision2025.org.uk for more. 

GREEN EVENTS & 

INNOVATIONS CONFERENCE 

Tuesday 28 February, Royal 

Lancaster Hotel, London 

Join pioneers, activists and 

leading collectives in the 

space of greener events, 

festivals, tours, venues and 

entertainment, to tackle the key 

questions in an industry in the 

midst of transformation. 

www.agreenerfestival.com/ 

green-events-innovationsconference-gei 


EVENTS 

We ask Thea Sophia Wise from Melt Productions 

how to create profitable winter illuminations 

THE MARKET and demand for winter 

illuminations has noticeably increased since 

the pandemic. Our clients are stepping 

away from big one-off events, where large 

crowds congregate, and are opting for less 

crowded options. We have found that festive 

light trails have become more accessible 

due to length of the installations and the 

flexibility of timings that visitors can attend, 

as opposed to one-off events. Not only this 

– they also have big commercial value for 

sponsors, traders and organisers alike. 

Choosing a theme is the fun bit, and we 

like to think outside the box. As a creative 

event production business, we have the 

ability to design and build many of the props 

and lighting features we use in-house, giving 

us a huge amount of flexibility when it comes 

to themes. Some of our clients will already 

have a theme in mind and we will work with 

them to develop it. We like to work with the 

space and create a narrative around it; we 

also utilise the trees in outside spaces and 

give them personalities –they guide the 

visitors around and introduce the theme. 

We love the diversity that using different 

designers and artists can bring to an event 

“FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR 

INSTALLATIONS, WE WILL 

DESIGN AND BUILD MANY 

OF OUR INSTALLATIONS 

IN-HOUSE, HOWEVER, 

WE DO LOVE TO TEAM UP 

WITH LOCAL ARTISTS TO 

SHOWCASE THEIR WORK 

AND EXCITING IDEAS” 

too. For the majority of our installations, 

we will design and build many of our 

installations in-house, however, we do love 

to team up with local artists to showcase 

their work and exciting ideas. 

In terms of the bigger elements of our 

trails, we always like to highlight the main 

features of the site we are working on. For 

example, we produce a trail for Wiltshire 

Council that runs right along the River 

Avon so we always need to have a feature 

on the water. In 2021, we built a giant 

floating iceberg with a family of polar bears 

sat upon it. This year, we focused on the 

beautiful swans that float along the river 

on a daily basis. We designed giant CNC cut 

swans and lit them internally with colour 

changing LED strip light. For us, the ‘must 

have’ installations are ones that are going 

to complement the most poignant areas of 

your site. 

We also love getting clever with sound 

and music; it’s truly what will bring your 

installations to life. From responsive, talking 

trees, to live music and sound effects… 

However, we are also conscious of not over 

stimulating guests through sound and letting 

the lights do the talking. 


Thea Wise is co-director and creative 

events and marketing 

manager 

at Melt Productions. 

Melt 

Productions is an event 

production company born 

from a love of creativity and a 

drive to connect people, brands and 

communities through the power of events. 

www.meltproductions.co.uk 


EVENTS 

OAB’s Top Tips 

ILLUMINATED TRAILS MUST HAVES 

› A grand entrance: A grand and eye-catching 

entrance to set the tone for the experience. 

› Light tunnels: Walk-through structures that 

are lined with lights, creating a magical and 

immersive experience. 

› Animated light displays: Dynamic displays that 

utilise movement and animation to create a 

captivating visual experience. 

› Interactive elements: Engage visitors with 

interactive elements such as touch-activated 

lights or sound-responsive displays. 

› Iconic structures: Illuminate iconic structures, 

such as trees or buildings, to create a 

memorable and lasting impression. 

› Illuminated pathways: Light up pathways 

to guide visitors and enhance the 

experience. 

› Tree lights: Wrap trees 

in lights to create 

a mesmerising 

forest of light. 

› Fire elements: Incorporate fire elements such 

as fire pits, fireplaces or bonfires to add warmth 

and atmosphere to the experience. 

› Dynamic lighting displays: High-impact displays 

that utilise a range of lighting techniques, 

including LED lights, projection mapping, and 

dynamic colour-changing lights. 

WHAT TO DO WITH WATER 

› Fountains: Illuminate fountains to create a 

mesmerising display of light and water. 

› Lit lakes and ponds: Light up bodies of water to 

create a peaceful and serene atmosphere. 

› Waterfall displays: Create stunning displays 

with illuminated waterfalls and cascading water 

features. 

› Interactive water features: Engage visitors with 

interactive water features such as water jets that 

respond to sound or touch. 

› Ice sculptures: Create captivating ice sculptures 

and illuminate them for a magical winter 

wonderland effect. 

› Winter boats: Offer boat rides on illuminated 

lakes or ponds for a unique and memorable 

experience. 

LIGHTING TYPES 

• LED lights: Energy-efficient, long-lasting and available in a 

variety of colours. 

• Smart lighting: Connected lighting systems that can be 

controlled and programmed remotely via a smartphone app. 

• Interactive lighting: Lights that respond to movements and 

sounds, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for 

visitors. 

• Fibre optic lighting: Thin, flexible strands of glass or plastic 

that transmit light along their length, creating a mesmerising 

effect. 

• Projection mapping: Projecting high-quality images and 

animations onto buildings, trees, and other surfaces to create 

an immersive visual experience. 

• Dynamic colour-changing lights: LED lights that can change 

colour and brightness in real-time, creating a dynamic and 

captivating light display. 

WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 55

GLAMPSITES 


EVENTS 


Marquees & Structures 

Sleek Curves for Any Event 

Alternative Stretch Tents 

01920 830256 

info@alternative-stretch.co.uk 

www.alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk 

Alternative Stretch Tents provides sleek 

curves to any event and venue across 

the UK. Whether it’s a 6x10m patio tent 

or a 15x64m festival tent, Alternative 

Stretch Tents can usually find a solution 

within their 7000+ sqm of premium hire 

stock. Contact them today for a chat 

about your next project. 

Licensed Sperry Partner 

Boutique Marquees 

0333 772 1068 

events@boutiquemarquees.co.uk 

www.boutiquemarquees.co.uk 

Gridshell Event Tents 

STROHBOID 

+43 664 4660306 

thomas.maier@strohboid.com 

www.strohboid.com/en/industries/event-tent-rental 

STROHBOID event tents are the perfect solution for festivals. Not 

only do they provide a unique and natural aesthetic, but they 

also offer a number of practical benefits. 

First and foremost, STROHBOID event tents are made out 

of innovative wooden gridshells. This not only gives them a 

charming look, but it also makes them extremly stable and also 

environmentally friendly. With the increasing importance of 

sustainability in the event industry, choosing a STROHBOID tent 

for your festival is a responsible and forward-thinking decision. 

Tents are easy to assemble and disassemble – it takes a 

trained team just a few hours – which means they are perfect 

for festivals that take place in multiple locations or have tight 

turnaround times. 

STROHBOID event tents come in a variety of sizes and shapes, 

so they can be tailored to suit any need – perfect for creating 

a central gathering or providing shelter for food and drink 

vendors. 

The first ever Sperry Tent was created by Steve Sperry, 

an accomplished sailmaker and owner of Sperry Sails 

in coastal Massachusetts. Today they are renowned 

as the world’s luxury rental tent. These distinguished 

structures are crafted from genuine woven sailcloth 

(versus common white vinyl) and hand-sewn by a small 

team of dedicated craftspeople. Supported by spruce 

centre poles (founder Steve Sperry still mills these poles 

at his coastal Massachusetts home) and featuring waving 

pennants, their nautical heritage is evident in their 

intricate detailing. The oyster sailcloth is translucent to 

event lighting, producing the trademark ‘Sperry glow’. 

As a licensed Sperry Partner, Boutique Marquees 

offers these structures for hire across the UK for all 

manner of events including festivals, corporate events, 

sporting events and weddings. Available in a range of 

sizes, they are suitable for anything from small, intimate 

gatherings to large scale public events. 


EVENTS 

Marquees and Colourful Big Tops 

Meerkat Marquees 

07966 402696 

info@meerkatmarquees.co.uk 

www.meerkatmarquees.com 

Offering traditional marquee and 

colourful big top hire, Meerkat 

Marquees’ versatile range caters 

for any event need. With 30 years’ 

experience, the company is well 

respected and enthusiastic about 

making large scale events and 

private parties happen without a 

hitch. 

Check out The Big Red, a real 

circus tent with standing capacity of 

1,600 or around 500 seated at round 

tables. It has 13 foot side walls and 

a four king pole truss with 20 foot 

cupola. 

Zero Waste Flexible Event Structures 

CORE Bar and Event Hire 

0845 299 6499 

sales@core-barandeventhire.com 

www.core-barandeventhire.com 

The MESR-Technic structure from CORE Bar and Event Hire takes 

advantage of the extensive benefits of carbon fibre and carbon 

fibre composite materials. Create structures for almost any 

outdoor or even indoor event, with multiple levels and numerous 

shapes and configurations. 

Infinite flexibility means endless possibilities. These structures 

are modular and adaptable, light enough to be transported and 

assembled by a small team, yet strong enough to provide a festival 

stand or community space for those events that need it most. Fully 

assembled within a few hours, MESR-Technic provides quick and 

safe solutions with a zero waste philosophy. 

Tentickle Stretch Tents 

07826 843099 

info@tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk 


Tentickle offers stretch tents to purchase or for 

short/long-term let and can be installed in almost 

any location, creating desirable spaces for public 

and private events. 

With a variety of sizes and colours in stock, 

event attendees can enjoy the flexibility a stretch 

tent provides, blurring the lines between indoor 

and outdoor events. The professional team 

provides advice and expertise to help you design 

the right solution for your venue, and head 

engineer, Jorg, is looking forward to assisting you. 


EVENTS 

British Bespoke Structures 

Bond Fabrications 

01453 767171 



Associated with bespoke quality for 

over 30 years, Bond is a leader in 

British design and manufacturing 

with a full design and supply service 

available from its Gloucestershire 

factory. 

In recent years Bond has focused 

on the technical side of its design 

and production capabilities 

adding further technology to both 

its design and manufacturing 

processes, supporting its ability 

to work closely with clients to 

create unique structures offering 

their locations or events that all 

important exclusive image and 

brand identity required to stand out 

from the crowd. 

All Bond’s structures are made 

in the UK of the highest quality 

using structural engineers where 

necessary. It only makes to order, 

offering a personalised, client-led 

design service and using only high 

performance outdoor technical 

fabrics and a variety of frame types. 

The team is proud of its 

reputation in the industry, thriving 

on long-lasting relationships with 

clients – they also enjoy a challenge! 

Semi Permanent Marquees 

HTS TENTIQ 

01276 462600 

salesuk@hts-tentiq.com 

www.hts-tentiq.com 

HTS TENTIQ supplies one of the most diverse ranges 

of commercial tents and structures globally, from 

small, economical pagodas and party tents to striking 

large event marquees and multi-storey temporary 

structures. 

Our semi-permanent structures come with a 

wide range of design options, enabling you to fully 

customise and enhance the appearance, comfort and 

functionality of the structure. 

Enhance the visual appeal of your venue while 

increasing its capacity for events, weddings, parties, 

and corporate functions. A semi-permanent marquee 

is a great investment for your venue. 

Master Craftsmen and Marquee Hire 

Top Cat Big Tops 

01654 700030 

info@topcatbigtops.co.uk 

www.topcatbigtops.co.uk 

Top Cat Big Tops has been going for a few years, directed by Rob 

Sage (formally of Roustabout). We are both a colourful marquee hire 

company as well as master craftsmen, manufacturing marquees with 

expertise and love in our workshop. One of our private commissions 

was featured on a Channel Four show where the proprietor rigged it 

himself in his Chateau grounds, next to his Orangery! We concentrate 

on manufacturing over the winter months with our core local crew, 

expanding the crew during the hiring festival months. Our clients vary 

widely, from the well-known festivals, smaller niche ones, corporate 

dos as well as funky weddings and private parties. 


Spot light 

A roundup of products for the outdoor hospitality industry 

THE ‘APPLEPIE’ RANGE BY EKOL 

EKOL 

01929 555211 

sales@defrastoves.com 

www.applepiestove.com 

Whether it be for a boat, yurt, 

glamping pod, shepherd’s hut or 

just a compact fireplace, ‘ApplePie’ 

can be adapted and customized to 

suit. With its very low distance to 

combustibles this stove is ideal for 

small spaces. 

It has individual styling and 

multiple cooking options including 

a stainless cooktop for boiling 

water and pan cooking, top baking 

oven, pan supports to one or both 

sides as well as griddle plate and 

pizza shelf inside, 

the ApplePie is the ‘Swiss Army 

Knife’ of wood burning stoves. 

Amongst an elite handful of smallspace 

stoves fully compliant with 

DEFRA and Ecodesign 2022, it can 

be used to burn wood anywhere in 

the UK. 

SUSTAINABLE LOG CABINS 

Scandinavian Homes 

0845 299 6337 

homes@scandinavianhomes.com 

www.scandinavianhomes.com 

A sustainable Scandinavian 

Homes log cabin gives you top 

quality accommodation for your 

guests, suitable for use year 

round - whatever the weather! 

Cool in summer and warm in 

winter, a log cabin holiday home 

brings the beauty of nature 

inside. Easily customised, our 

wide range of models can be 

designed specifically to suit your 

target market. Why not add luxury 

features such as a sauna and hot 

tub? Our beautiful log buildings 

are great for other uses too, such 

as cafes and event spaces. Contact 

us today to discuss your holiday 

lodge, mobile home, or other log 

building plans. 

FINMAN GLAMPING RANGE 

Logspan 

01389 734572 

info@logspan.com 


options with off-grid options. See 

how you can benefit from a Finman 

product and get ROI within one 

year. 

The Finman glamping range comes 

in four varieties and three sizes. 

Accommodate up to 16 people in 

the Bunkhouse or provide a luxury 

lodge for two, which can include a 

fitted kitchen and shower room, in 

the Retreat. 

Multiple extensions and bespoke 

PERFECT ALL-WEATHER FLOORING 

Marquee Floors 

01787 372988 

info@marqueefloors.co.uk 

www.marqueefloors.co.uk 

Marquee Floors by William Armes is 

a market leader, supplying marquee 

matting to the hospitality and 

outdoor event industry for more 

than 50 years. 

Our bestselling DandyDura 

matting offers the perfect allweather 

flooring for marquees, tipis 

and outdoor structures. Made from 

durable polypropylene, the matting 

is immensely strong yet lightweight – 

easy for storage and transportation. 

Properties include UV, water and 

bacteria resistance; matting can be 

re-used time and again. 

Available in seven different colours, 

from corporate grey/black to eye 

catching reds, blues and greens, 

we can supply full rolls, cut length 

pieces to suit your requirements 

and bespoke shapes for custom 

structures. 


NEW INFLATABLE AIRSCREEN 

AIRTIGHT 

The AIRSCREEN Company 

+49 251 60 90 250 

info@airscreen.com 

www.airscreen.com 

With AIRSCREEN you can entertain 

your guests with romantic movie 

nights outdoors – perfect for 

glampsite guests! Complete silence 

with no hassle, AIRSCREEN airtight 

features a sealed frame which 

means you do not need a blower 

once the structure is inflated – and 

this only takes a few minutes. 

With a digital projector and a 

stunning sound system you’ll be 

the director of your own open-air 

cinema. We offer the complete 

system, so you don't have to go 

anywhere else. Try our silent 

cinema solution with headphones 

too so film fans can enjoy a movie 

without disturbing others. Proudly 

made in Germany. 

SPECIALIST MARKETING AGENCY 

Unique hideaways 

01736 230 140 

hello@uniquehideaways.com 

www.uniquehideaways.com 

Unique hideaways is a collection 

of one-of-a-kind places to stay in 

hidden corners across the UK. From 

dreamy cliff top cabins, to bespoke 

quirky structures, if it takes those 

on a journey to a place unknown to 

most, they’ve got their name on it. 

With over 15 years’ experience, 

Unique hideaways is a specialist 

marketing agency for luxury 

glamping accommodation. The 

team provides free consultancy, 

helping from field to finish and 

beyond; it’s all part of their 

unbeatable service. Their portfolio 

of hidden havens is ever growing, 

reflecting their work to ensure 

each hideaway is marketed to the 

highest standard. 

UNFORGETTABLE SILENT DISCOS 

Silent Noize Events 

0203 727 5382 

info@silentnoizeevents.com 

www.silentnoizeevents.com 

Silent Noize Events is the leading 

supplier of silent discos and 

wireless headset hire in the UK. We 

provide everything you need to 

create an unforgettable Silent Disco 

including a few new additions to 

help you keep guests safe. 

Our multi-channel headphones 

have a range of up-to 200m which 

provides equal audio quality 

across a large space, plus our 

revolutionary new mobile app 

allows you to stream sets straight to 

your audiences’ smart phones. 

From weddings and festivals to 

yoga retreats and cinema nights, 

our headsets provide an immersive 

and inclusive experience for any 

outdoor event. 

PERFO GROUND REINFORCEMENT 

SYSTEM 

S2T Group 

01992 522797 

www.perfo.co.uk 

S2T Group’s PERFO range of 

ground protection products 

comprises a system of interlocking, 

self-anchoring permeable plastic 

tiles which are embedded into an 

existing surface, eg. a mature grass 

area or prepared base consisting of 

a layer of crushed stone chippings, 

depending on the application. 

A number of light to heavy duty 

solutions are available to suit 

varied ground conditions, traffic 

profiles and loading requirements. 

Unlike other geogrid systems, 

PERFO tiles are usually installed 

without the need for excavation, 

being compacted directly into the 

existing surface using rollers or 

compactor plates. Installation is 

therefore rapid and planning issues 

less problematic. 


Classified Directory 

Finman 

Glamping 

Cabins and 

BBQ Huts 

From 

£4,992 

UNIQUE • QUALITY • CUSTOMISABLE 

01389 887205 www.logspan.com 

The largest supplier of 

Lotus Belle Tents in the UK 

www.wildhareevents.com 

01622 844 238 

outdoorsy-living.co.uk 

BESPOKE LUXURY SHEPHERD HUTS 

01654 700030 

07956 878157 

www.topcatbigtops.co.uk 

Colourful 

BIG TOP STYLE MARQUEES 

MANUFACTURE 

FOR SALE OR TO HIRE 

CREATED BY YOU, MADE BY US! 


Are you listed? 

Venue or Event Supplier? 

Join the UK’s largest online Venue Directory 

29,000 Venues and 1,000s of Event Suppliers 

venues4hire.org 

01453 767171 



Providing temporary staff,, 

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COULD WE BE OF SERVICE TO YOU? 

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C RE® 

BAR& EVENTHIRE 

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T: 0845 299 6499 - E: sales@core-barandeventhire.com 

www.core-barandeventhire.com 

Advert - small.indd 1 16/04/2021 16:04:43 


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WE LOVE STRETCH TENTS! 

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t: 01920 830256 e: info@alternative-stretch.co.uk 

w: www.alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk 

@alternative_stretch_tents 


PEOPLE 

Behind the Scenes with… 

Josh Heyburn 

We follow Festivall Services’ managing director Josh Heyburn 

behind the scenes on the last day of its festive light trails 

I’M JOSH, managing director of Festivall 

Services (trading as Festivall Staff). I 

formed Festivall in November 2021 after 

the post-Covid boom experienced by my 

former business, Kent Event Services. The 

new company now goes beyond my home 

county to offer temporary event staff to 

events nationwide. 

We often get asked “Do you just staff 

festivals?” which, given the company name, 

comes as no surprise. However, the name 

stems from our two biggest event types 

– not just festivals, but festive events as 

well. It’s Monday 2 January 2023 and we’re 

coming to the end of our biggest festive 

season to date – I was up late assisting my 

team close Christmas at Wollaton (one of 

10 light trails we staffed in 2022); an event I 

used to manage on site but had to step away 

from this year to oversee the wider team. I 

have four full time staff and five temporary 

assistants now across all of our shows. This 

is all very new to me! 

At this point, seven of the trails have 

closed (five last night) and we’re down to 

our final three closing today – Ashridge 

House: Illuminated, Christmas at Bedgebury 

and Luminate Birmingham. 

I’ve always been big on staff welfare (it’s 

the company’s top priority) and therefore 

“ IT’S ALSO A GREAT 

OPPORTUNITY TO TELL 

THEM ABOUT THE FEEDBACK 

FORM WE’RE SENDING OUT 

ON WEDNESDAY WITH THEIR 

PAYSLIPS WHICH GIVES 

THEM THE CHANCE TO WIN 

UP TO £200 – A SMALL PRICE 

TO PAY FOR INVALUABLE 

FEEDBACK THAT’LL HELP US 

NEXT SEASON” 

half the team are off today having worked 

already over Christmas or New Year’s Eve. 

Two of our festive (temporary) assistants 

are in the office all day to keep on top of 

attendance (staff have to confirm within 

24 hours of their shift) and check-ins on 

site. The office has been open 9am to 

11pm every day this season so it’s down to 

Sarah, who’s in first, to get on top of what 

happened since we switched off last night. A 

few staff cancelled overnight for an array of 

reasons (of which we’re all too accustomed 

by now) so Sarah and Hannah, who started 

later, are straight onto the reserve list team 

to fill those shifts. With our new reserve list 

system as one drops out, another is booked, 

and just like that we’re fully resourced for 

the day. This is so much easier than it was 

earlier on in the run now that there are no 

more show days and everybody wants to be 

there! 

Three of the full time team – Evan, Matt 

and Ella – are getting ready to head to a site 

each for their final show days. We always 

send a staffing lead or representative on the 

last day to ensure everything we dropped 

to site 30-40 show days ago comes back to 

us, ready to use again next year, and – more 

importantly – to pass thanks on to everybody 

on shift for their efforts over what has been a 

difficult five or six weeks (particularly those 

snow and sub-zero days!). It’s also a great 

opportunity to tell them about the feedback 

form we’re sending out on Wednesday with 

their payslips which gives them the chance 

to win up to £200 – a small price to pay for 

invaluable feedback that’ll help us next 

season. 

That just leaves me. I’m scheduled 10am 

to 10pm but, as always, my schedule is very 

loose. This is the first season I’ve actually 

scheduled my hours in, in a bid to take time 

off (or at least feel less guilty for taking some 

time to myself!). The late night meant a later 

start, although I am always on my mobile 

for anything urgent. I’ve got a long day (and 

drive) ahead of me. At this point I’ve walked 

around 90% of our events but – having 

previously visited five trails in six hours 

earlier in the run to drop off more welfare 

bags – I missed out on the chance to see 


PEOPLE 

some catering shifts on one site, covered 

marshmallow sales one day when their 

team couldn’t get in, and even found time 

to staff a private party the weekend before 

Christmas. We might’ve under delivered 

some days but that’s just one of many 

challenges faced not only in our field 

but in the current climate as well. We’re 

not perfect, but we’re not pretending to 

be either. We can confidently say we did 

everything we could to meet the needs 

Ashridge House in action so that is top of the 

priority list for the day! I make my way down 

the country from the Sheffield office towards 

Hertfordshire, with a quick service stop for 

lunch and coffee, to meet Evan, Festivall’s 

office coordinator, and Cat, Ashridge’s event 

manager. 

Evan was my first full time employee in 

February 2022 and his contract is up for 

renewal. He’s got so much holiday accrued 

that he’s off to Thailand next week for three 

weeks so it’s imperative that we discuss 

his contract renewal too, which we end up 

doing around the trail and in a car park – 

event life! 

One of the orchestrated installations with 

orbs moving in time to music is a highlight 

of the season, and well worth the wait. 

Ashridge House: Illuminated has been our 

most successfully staffed show, with just 

one shift unfulfilled throughout the whole 

run (so close!), and is a welcome addition to 

our portfolio. It’s great to walk around and 

meet the team for the first time on their final 

shift. Better still, our photographer David 

Hannaway (dhedits) is back in the country 

and documenting the whole thing for us. 

David and I make a dash down to Kent in 

time to catch (and capture) the final sweep 

to close Christmas at Bedgebury – the first 

trail we ever staffed; now in its 5th year and 

our 4th providing staff. It all began for me 

at this show and it’s the understanding of 

these events learnt here and at Wollaton 

that allowed me to grow the company to 

provide staff to similar events across the 

country. Three of our new shows found us 

through Google because of the trails we’d 

already worked on, and we even staffed a 

non-festive light trail (Our Place in Space) 

in Liverpool across October and November 

2022 off the back of it too. 

Being back at Bedgebury feels like being 

back at home, not least because it’s less 

than an hour from my hometown and 

where my family live in the county of Kent. 

Matt, Festivall’s new business development 

manager, is also on site and prepared to load 

me up with left over welfare packs, clothes 

rails, paperwork and miscellaneous items 

from our three Kent trails. Matt co-managed 

the show last year so must feel just as 

strange as I did at Wollaton when returning 

to support somebody else in “his role”. 

We finish loading the van and saying our 

goodbyes but, as much as I’d love to join the 

team at the pub for a farewell drink, I’ve got 

to drive back up the country to start debriefs 

(there’s a lot this year so they start at 10am 

tomorrow to accommodate one of our 

temporary team leaving the country the next 

day!) and finalise payroll for Wednesday. A 

director’s duties never stop… 

I take a moment for reflection on what 

has been a whirlwind of a season during 

the drive back, with a stop at Evan’s hotel to 

collect the paperwork from Ashridge who 

were still open when I left. It dawns on me 

that there are no staff to confirm attendance 

or check in tomorrow and for weeks to 

come. Our work here is done – for this 

season at least. 

We’ve fulfilled over 4,500 shifts in six 

weeks across 10 light trails, plus provided 

additional management services to two 

more shows. We stepped up to cover 

DETAILS 

“WE’VE FULFILLED 

OVER 4,500 

SHIFTS IN SIX 

WEEKS ACROSS 

10 LIGHT TRAILS, 

PLUS PROVIDED 

ADDITIONAL 

MANAGEMENT 

SERVICES TO TWO 

MORE SHOWS” 

of our clients (at times even sending the 

office team to site to meet quota) and that’s 

reflected in the feedback from clients, 

customers and colleagues alike about the 

quality of staff we have on site. 

There are good days – they’re great – and 

there are bad days – which often make you 

question why you’re doing it in the first 

place – but no two days are the same, and 

I wouldn’t have it any other way. To drive 

around the country and see the faces of 100s 

of staff and 1,000s of customers embracing 

the festive spirit, getting outdoors and 

enjoying the work they’re doing or event 

they’re attending is why I do it; it’s why we 

all do it. That said, I’m off to Norway for a 

week and leaving my work phone at home 

for the first time in a very long time. 

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in recent 

months from this work and a brief time off 

unwell (no doubt overworked) is to strike a 

balance between work and life outside of 

work. Of course, my company is my life, but 

so are my family, friends, partner and pets; 

all of which I can’t wait to see more of in 

2023. 

FESTIVALL SERVICES 

01144 055 044 

josh@festivall.services 

www.festivall.services 


ISSUE 51 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com 


BUSINESS 

ISSUE 46 | October/November 2021 | www.openairbusiness.com 

BUSINESS 

BESPOKE GLAMPING 

ISSUE 49 | March/April 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com 

EVENT STRUCTURES 


› Bars & Catering 

› Outdoor Ceremonies 

GLAMPSITES 

› Compost Toilets 

› Booking Systems 

EVENTS 

› Seeing Red 

› Total Immersion 

BUSINESS 

INFRASTRUCTURE 


› Sharing Snaps 

› Kitchen Efficiencies 

GLAMPSITES 

› Architects 

› Natural Pools 

EVENTS 

› Green Hydrogen 

› Tent Waste 

GLAMPING 

SHOW 

PREVIEW 


› Accommodation 

› Eco Marketing 

GLAMPSITES 

› Research 

› Sewage Strategy 

EVENTS 

› Stage Build 

› Ticketing 

BUSINESS 

FUNCTION 

VENUES 

› Pricing 

› Websites 

GLAMPSITES 

› Business Rates 

› Building Regulations 

EVENTS 

› Reusable Cups 

› Festival Costs 


STRUCTURES 


Tim Bowles -Campwell 

BUSINESS 


/ / 

GLAMPSITES 

EVENTS 

› Shoot Styling 

› Logo Protection 

› Insurance 

› Saying Thanks 

› Treehouse Builds 

› Going Hybrid 

CASE STUDIES: 

ROKA BELLA ROSE WEDDINGS • THE MEADOWS AT POLEHANGER • BURRS LIVE 

CASE STUDIES: 

GREEN & AWAY • BIRDHOLME GLAMPING • SHREWSBURY FOOD FESTIVAL 

CASE STUDIES: 

SYCHPWLL CENTRE • BROOK FARM SHEPHERD HUTS • IRLAM LIVE 


› Derry Green - The Secret Garden Glamping 

CASE STUDIES: 

HYDE ESTATE WILD GARDENS • BROCKLOCH ECO RETREAT • TRAMLINES FESTIVAL 

CASE STUDIES: 

OLD OAK FARM • DRAGONFLY CAMPING • TORCHLIGHT FESTIVAL OF CAMPING 

INSPIRED? 

Established in 2016 and with over 50 

issues printed to date, Open Air Business 

is dedicated to the glamping, venue 

and outdoor event business sectors 

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› Three distinct sections allow readers to turn straight to their 

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› A one year subscription to Open Air Business costs £20 - that's an 

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