Issue 60

ISSUE 60 | 2023 | www.openairbusiness.com 

BUSINESS 

SPECIALIST 

STRUCTURES 

FUNCTION VENUES 

› T&Cs 

› Planting Grants 

GLAMPSITES 

› Mattresses 

› Staying Ahead 

EVENTS 

› Infrastructure 

› Scare Attractions 

CASE STUDIES: 

BROWNING BROS. • ADHURST YURTS • ALDERFEST

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ISSUE 60 | 2023 | www.openairbusiness.com 

WELCOME 

Authenticity is a common theme in this issue. In an age where we 

have the ability to fake pretty much anything in the digital world 

it’s no wonder that in our ‘real’ lives we crave the genuine. 

Andrew White, as always, ponders some big questions in the 

context of the meetings and events sector. How authenticity, and 

the lack of it, presents both opportunities and threats, and needs 

reflecting in your T&Cs for the future. Intrigued? See pages 30-31. 

Adhurst Yurts (pages 36-39) has authenticity at its core. It is 

unashamedly an immersive nature experience, “thunder and 

spiders included.” While owner Alison Lubbock makes it clear that 

this is not to every guest’s taste, she is able to achieve phenomenal 

nightly rates by adhering to an unwavering ethos – to deliver a “monastery with nature as 

the cathedral”. 

The young festival AlderFest may have only been established two years ago but has 

clearly got the authenticity recipe right. Staying true to itself is paying dividends. The 

Bebbington family, owners of Alderford Lake, put their heads together and distilled what 

their day-to-day visitors would want out of a live event. McFly, Sam Ryder, Strictly Come 

Dancing stars and a 12ft T-Rex seem to have hit the nail on the head at the family focussed 

festival, and they are on track to hit profit in year three. 

And now for some random bits that don’t really follow the thread from above but I want 

to point you to nonetheless! 

First, no matter where you are hosting guests, if they are staying overnight on your watch 

then giving them a good night’s sleep is surely top of the agenda. Turn to pages 40-41 to 

learn what’s going on inside a mattress and how to make sure you choose the right one. 

Scare attractions – a tacky American import or an important shoulder month revenue 

earner? Perhaps you can find a happy balance for your venue – see pages 64-65 for advice 

from one of the best. 

Finally, grants. You have until 1 November and 1 December respectively to apply for help 

with tree and hedge planting from Woodland Trust. Find the details on pages 28-29. 

See you at the trade shows – make sure to come and say hello. 

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 

PUBLISHED BY 

Coffee Shop Media Ltd 

www.coffeeshopmedia.com 

Milroy House, Sayers Lane, 

Tenterden, TN30 6BW 

01580 848555 

Tally Rix 

Editor / Publisher 

RECEIVE 9 ISSUES FOR £20 

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Contents ISSUE 60 – 2023 

UP FRONT 

4 News 

6 Product News 

9 Glamping Show 

Preview 

12 Farm Business 

Innovation Show 

Preview 

16 Entrepreneur’s Chat 

– Emily Aitchison, 

Kenton Hall Estate 


21 Browning Bros. – 

luxury events and 

quirky stays 

27 Plants for Grants – 

opportunities from 

Woodland Trust 

30 Check your T&Cs – 

are you ready for the 

future? 

33 Get to Know – make 

some venue industry 

friends 

35 Flooring – products in 

action 

GLAMPSITES 

36 Adhurst Yurts – 

serenity in the woods 

40 Mattresses – do you 

know what you’re 

buying? 

42 Staying Ahead – 

quick tips to keep your 

offering fresh 


some glamping 

industry friends 

47 Specialist Structures 

– products in action 

52 Sustainability – 

products in action 

EVENTS 

57 AlderFest – a young 

but mighty new event 

63 Scare Attractions – 

advice from one of the 

best 

66 Challenging 

Assumptions – the 

latest sustainability 

report from AGF 


some event industry 

friends 

70 Structures – products 

in action 

75 Visitor Management 

– products in action 

76 Spotlight 

78 Classifieds 

81 Behind the Scenes – 

Hearthworks 

Find more expert advice online: 

www.openairbusiness.com 

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ONLINE 

CASE STUDIES: 

BROWNING BROS. • ADHURST YURTS • ALDERFEST 

BUSINESS 

SPECIALIST 

STRUCTURES 


› T&Cs 

› Planting Grants 

GLAMPSITES 

› Mattresses 

› Staying Ahead 

EVENTS 

› Marquees 

› Infrastructure 

COVER PHOTO 

Armadilla designs, manufactures and delivers luxury 

experiential accommodation. Its iconic Pod has become a 

design classic, known for its curved walls and sleek, ecosmart 

interior. 0131 440 4000, sales@armadilla.co.uk, 

www.armadilla.co.uk 

Photo courtesy of Luxury Hideaways. 

WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 3

Purple Guide Grants 

top £200,000 

NOEA Looks to the Future 

at 2023 Convention 

AI, THE metaverse and the changing face 

of brands are all on the agenda for the 

National Outdoor Event Association’s (NOEA) 

annual convention in Bath on 22 November. 

The event will begin a new strategy for 

NOEA as the association once again looks 

to the future, accelerating its educational 

programme by embracing such subjects. 

The conference content will also put focus 

on the process, role and execution of the 

event producers that sit behind great events. 

The ‘SAG Live!’ workshops will return where 

the audience can watch and input into a 

modern-day safety advisory group meeting. 

The agenda also covers the evolution of 

Martyn’s Law, the role of event catering in 

designing live experiences, and sustainability. 

NOEA’s CEO Susan Tanner said: “As an 

industry we’re now able to set our eyes a little 

further into the future and what challenges 

and opportunities it will bring. It’s the first 

time we’ve had the luxury of doing so and 

it will make for genuinely ground-breaking 

content, interesting conversations and a new 

tone at the NOEA Convention.” www.noea. 

org.uk/annual-convention 

THE EVENTS Industry Forum (EIF) has 

announced that it has now provided 

£211,000 in Purple Guide grants and 

funding for projects to support the UK 

outdoor events industry. 

With the recent launch of a new 

chapter on licensing, the Purple Guide 

has now grown to 36 chapters with 

further chapters covering sustainability 

and vehicle-based events planned for 

launch in the autumn. 

In addition, there are increasing signs 

that the publication is becoming the 

go-to guide for outdoor events across 

the globe as organisers of events in other 

countries, including New Zealand, look 

to adopt it. 

Since EIF took over the publication 

from the Health & Safety Executive in 

2010, all the monies generated from 

net sales of the guide are ring-fenced 

to be invested back into supporting 

the development and safety of the UK 

outdoor events industry. 

The most recent projects to receive 

funding are Power of Events for a 

programme to inspire young people 

to join the events industry and the UK 

Crowd Management Association to 

support the development of a security 

conference in 2024. 

The forum is currently inviting 

applications for the next round of grants 

which will take place in the autumn. 

The deadline for applications is the 1 

November. 

www.eventsindustryforum.co.uk 

BOWLAND TIPIS 

New Forest of Bowland Venue 

OVER 150 couples and a dozen local wedding suppliers attended an 

open day for Bowland Tipis, a new wedding venue set within a 62 

acre park in the Forest of Bowland. Licensed to host events for up to 

200 guests, the new operation will be hosting brides from 2024. 

On-site accommodation is available within 200 yards of the tipis 

for up to 60 guests in the form of lodges, shepherds huts, safari tents, 

camping pods and glamping tents. 

Charlotte Wood, events manager, said: “There seems to be three 

things which people are loving about Bowland Tipis, first being that 

the site is so secluded and hidden from sight, it really is a woodland 

paradise. Secondly, they love the fact that their friends and family 

can stay within such a short distance of the tipis and finally, they 

know that they’ll be one of the first people to get married here!” 

4 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

Mainstream Hotel Capitalises 

on Back to Nature Wellness 

HOMEWOOD HOTEL 

& Spa near Bath has 

launched two brand 

new spa lodge suites to 

capitalise on the rise of 

wellness tourism. 

Featuring rustic-style 

interiors with natural 

tones, stone walls and 

mirrors, each lodge 

comes with a private hot 

tub, barrel sauna and 

plunge pool. Homewood 

is also introducing a 

wellness menu that 

guests can access 

through their phones. 

The new suites are priced 

from £475 per night. 

Ramside Hall 

Hotel adds More 

Treehouses 

RAMSIDE HALL Hotel Golf and Spa 

in Durham has invested £500,000 in 

two new treehouses to keep up with 

demand. 

Named Swan and Kingfisher, the 

two additional glass fronted A frame 

structures bring the total number of 

treehouses at the site to six. Geared 

towards couples, the treehouses feature 

seven foot beds, saunas and hot tubs. 

Ramside also has four larger, three 

bedroomed treehouses, one of which is 

also used for wedding ceremonies. 

Scotland and 

Ireland Lead Places 

to Elope 

NEW RESEARCH conducted by Las Vegas 

wedding chapel, Chapel of the Flowers, 

analysed worldwide elopement trends 

and Google search data from the past year 

to discover where couples are searching to 

elope worldwide. 

It comes as no surprise that Las Vegas 

took the crown as the most popular 

destination, with 11,800 searches every 

month but after Italy in second place, 

locations closer to home made the top 

four. 

Scotland, ranking third, receives 5,725 

average searches every month from across 

the globe, with Ireland coming in fourth 

with 5,500, beating other top destinations, 

including Nashville, Iceland and New York 

City. 

Google searches for ‘elopement’ are 

currently the highest on record. Many 

couples are now opting to elope over 

hosting large traditional weddings as a 

means to save towards other life expenses. 

According to Pinterest trends, 66% of 

searches for ‘elopement ideas’ over the 

last 12 months are from people aged 25- 

34, 88% of which are female. 

GETTY IMAGES 

Outdoor Toilets 

and Showers 

• Portable 

• Customisable 

• Quick delivery 

• Instant solution 

www.sheepshed.co.uk • 01865 600400 


PRODUCT 

Triple Gold Medals at RHS 

Tatton Park Flower Show 

APPLAUSE RIPPLED through the crowd as 

Wright Landscapes secured not one, not two, 

but three gold medals at the prestigious RHS 

Tatton Park Flower Show in July. 

The winning concept? An off-grid, selfsustainable 

living space nestled within a 

tranquil forest setting. This innovative design 

demonstrates how we can harmoniously 

coexist with nature while fulfilling our basic 

needs. 

Centred around a luxury sunken lodge 

held in place by chopped log retaining 

walls, the design also used sandstone 

steps and paving, a humble nod to the 

natural sandstone found within the local 

area. Featuring a modified Outerspace 

GP6 SIP building kit, the structure was 

built and fitted out by Wright Landscapes 

(wrightlandscapes.co.uk). 

Outerspace Group has a wide range of 

glamping pods, lodges, garden rooms and 

hospitality building kits that it supplies to 

the trade. It also has a network of factories 

and site builders across the UK who can be 

connected with end customers via a new 

website. 

01978 532930, hello@outerspacegroup. 

com, www.outerspacelife.co.uk / 

www.outerspacegroup.com 

The New Wave 40 

FOUNDED AS a family venture in 2010, 

Armadilla has emerged as an innovator 

within the luxury accommodation 

sector. Based in Scotland, it designs, 

manufactures and delivers modular 

luxury accommodation to the hospitality 

sector across Europe. 

Largely known for the iconic Pod 

series, featuring a unique curved 

shape, Armadilla products complement 

both traditional and contemporary 

environments, and are renowned for 

their exceptional eco-credentials, smart 

technology systems and industry leading 

ROI. 

The Wave series, originally launched 

two years ago, is quickly becoming a 

design classic in its own right with a 

dramatic shape. 

Able to be supplied as a hotel style 

room or as self-catering accommodation, 

Armadilla has recently launched a new 

addition to the Wave series. The Wave 

40 features all the same luxury elements 

as the previous designs but in a larger 

size, fitting a family of four in luxurious 

comfort. In keeping with the Armadilla 

philosophy, the Wave has industry 

leading eco credentials and integrated 

tech throughout to manage energy 

consumption and create an unforgettable 

experience. 

Assembled off site and transported 

in two halves, with a very quick plug 

and play installation, the first Wave 40s 

have been installed in resorts in Devon 

and Scotland with more ear-marked for 

Portugal later this year. 

0131 440 4000, sales@armadilla.co.uk, 


Budget Flat Pack Outdoor Shower 

SHEEP SHED Creations has just launched the Naked Shower. Based on its existing 

pre-assembled model, the Naked Shower is a stripped-down budget version in kit 

form. It arrives on a pallet that becomes the base of the unit when assembled. 

Built using a range of sturdy exterior-grade materials, everything – apart from 

the hot water source – is included in the flat-packed kit. The base and side panels 

are pre-assembled, but the rest just needs slotting, screwing, sanding and staining. 

Sheep Shed can also recommend options for stains, paints and suitable hot water 

boilers. 

“It’s easy and satisfying; almost anyone can build one of these,” says Julian from 

Sheep Shed. “Despatch and delivery is quick, so this solution can be up and in place 

in no time. It also retains the gothic good looks and style of the rest of the range but 

provides a low-cost outdoor shower solution.” 

01865 600400, julian@sheepshed.co.uk, www.sheepshed.co.uk 


10 Years of Hot Tubs 

NAKED FLAME Eco-Tubs move into 

their 10th year supplying the Glamping 

industry in 2023 and continue to include 

everything off-grid and fully recyclable 

for sites and holiday homes. 

Boasting the fastest heat up times on 

the market and now including a fully 

recyclable polystone liner system, the 

full range of hot tubs are handmade with 

current business use recommendations 

included. Retrofit liner systems are also 

available for the most popular models 

enabling owners to easily convert 

their original solid wood tubs to the 

recommended standard without the 

need for a full new tub. 

Off-grid outdoor cooking is covered 

with the Cucina indoor/outdoor dining 

Hydro Heathers for Forest 

Holidays’ Hot Tubs 

structure while saunas with huge 

viewing windows allow sites to show off 

amazing views. 

01484 766233, info@nakedtubs.com, 

www.nakedtubs.com 

HYDRO HEATER has delivered a fleet of its new 

portable rapid water heaters to Forest Holidays, the 

UK’s largest operator of hot tubs. 

The Hydro Heater’s one hour heat up time now 

enables operators to drain, refill and reheat their hot tubs 

within a short time window, thus ensuring that their tubs are 

hot and ready for customers to enjoy as soon as they check in to their cabins later the 

same day. 

Pictured with Hydro Heater managing David Donald is Ryan Birchnall, product 

quality manager at Forest Holidays, taking delivery of 10 Hydro Heaters at their site in 

Keldy, North Yorkshire. The introduction of the Hydro Heaters will mean substantial 

savings in time and energy costs to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds per year 

on each of their parks for the company, a certified B Corporation. Not to mention the 

smiling faces of guests who can enjoy their hot tub as soon as they arrive! 

The Hydro Heater’s 60kW output will heat a hot tub 20 times faster than a typical 

electric heater, with operating costs from 5.8p per kWh. 

020 3457 0343, david@hydro-heater.co.uk, www.hydro-heater.co.uk 

New Range of Pods 

BESPOKE HIDEOUTS is excited to launch 

a new range of glamping pods at The 

Glamping Show 2023. Aligned to its ethos of 

creating incredible spaces with a bespoke 

touch, the pods will come in three standard 

sizes but with plenty of customisable 

features to allow you to put your own stamp 

on your design. 

The range includes three sizes: a mini 

two bed pod with a small seating area, a 

midi two bed option with shower room and 

kitchenette, and the biggest being a four 

bed cabin with plenty of space for the whole 

family. 

Options allow for on-grid or off-grid setups 

and include a variety of fixtures and fittings. 

Meet the team at the Glamping Show to take 

a look at one of the midi sized cabins and 

talk to them about options, or about creating 

a completely bespoke hideout for your site. 

07703 387322, hello@bespokehideouts. 

com, www.bespokehideouts.com 

Partnership Programme for on-the-go Dining Boxes 

THE TRAVELLER’S Pantry has recently launched an affiliate/partnership 

programme for its travel size store cupboard essentials ‘Staples Boxes’. This 

initiative aims to redefine the way we experience on-the-go dining, in an era 

where travel convenience meets current culinary needs and tastes. 

The hamper style boxes are designed with functionality and convenience in 

mind, making them the perfect addition to any trip. All products are thoughtfully 

curated to cater to the more discerning traveller, with a selection of core food 

items, ensuring your guests don’t need to compromise. 

This scheme opens up a world of possibilities for partnerships, not only 

fostering collaborations, but reinforces the brand’s commitment to building 

lasting relationships within the sector. It also offers a way to earn a passive 

income and boost one’s reputation as a thoughtful and attentive host, by either 

promoting the boxes or adding them to any current offerings. 

Bespoke boxes are also available, providing a more personalised solution and 

catering to more individual preferences and needs. 

07961 371464, hello@thetravellerspantry.co.uk, www.thetravellerspantry.co.uk 


PROVIDING VEHICLES TO 

THE EVENTS INDUSTRY 

THOMAS’S GROUP ARE A FAMILY RUN COMMERCIAL VEHICLE BUSINESS SPECIALISING IN CONTRACT HIRE 

AND RENTAL WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPLYING VEHICLES TO THE EVENTS INDUSTRY FOR YEARS. 

THE DAF XG530 LOW-DECK UNIT IS A GAME CHANGING TRUCK IN TERMS OF SPACE & COMFORT WITH GREAT 

FUEL ECONOMY, COMBINED WITH OUR NEW MEGA BOX TRAILERS WITH RAMP HOLDERS , A SOLID ROOF & 

EXTRA DOOR SECURITY GIVING YOU PEACE OF 

MIND YOUR EQUIPMENT IS SECURE. COME AND SEE US ON STAND 183 

CALL: 0121 356 5050 – EMAIL marketing@thomassgroup.com 

A moment of luxury, 

A time to relax! 

Contact Us 

info@woodpeckertubs.co.uk 

07435866929 

www.woodpeckertubs.co.uk 


INDUSTRY OVERVIEW 

Showman’s Show 2023 

The largest trade show for the outdoor event sector 

returns to Newbury Showground on 18-19 October 

HELD IN high esteem by the outdoor event 

sector, this year’s Showman’s Show is 

promising to exceed expectations. 

“We’ve seen exhibitor bookings bounce 

back pretty much close to pre-pandemic 

levels,” says event director Johnny Lance. 

“We’ve had 50 brand new companies 

confirming their exhibition space for 2023 

and have already expanded the exhibition 

hall, which is now almost at capacity. 

Businesses joining the exhibitor line-up 

for the first time include suppliers and 

manufacturers showcasing everything 

from essential plant and equipment to 

technology, caterers and entertainment.” 

SHOWMAN’S SUPPER 

New for 2023 is The Showman’s Supper, 

taking place on Wednesday evening. 

Delivered by legendary industry caterer 

Eat to the Beat/Global Infusion Group., the 

evening will begin with a drink’s reception 

and nibbles. There will be a variety of food 

stations for snacks and desserts, while the 

main course will be served to guests as 

and when they’re ready. There will also be 

entertainment in the form of live music and 

a DJ. 

Fellow event director Jeremy Lance 

says: “In the last few years, the number 

“WE’VE SEEN EXHIBITOR 

BOOKINGS BOUNCE BACK 

PRETTY MUCH CLOSE TO 

PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS” 

of exhibitors and visitors expressing their 

desire for some form of social event at the 

end of the first day of the show had grown 

to a point where we decided we needed to 

do something about it. Given the feedback 

we’ve received, and how well tickets are 

selling, we were definitely right.” 

SUSTAINABLE EVENT SUMMIT 

Making a return to the show will be the 

popular Vision: 2025 Sustainable Event 

Summit on Wednesday 18 October. 

This will be the eighth edition of the 

popular conference that brings together a 

community of sustainable event organisers 

and innovators for a series of workshops and 

panels with a focus on action. 

“As the organiser of a show that’s 

dedicated to the event industry it’s 

important for us that the conversation 

around sustainability continues,” says 

Johnny. “The Showman’s Show and the 

Sustainable Event Summit within it are a 

melting pot for ideas and innovation. We’ve 

seen increased engagement in sustainability; 

what we need now is action and solutions 

that really tackle the everyday challenges 

that suppliers and organisers face. We’re 

very much looking forward to welcoming 

back Vision: 2025 and its members.” 

SEE YOU THERE! 

For more details about the show and 

exhibitors, visit 

www.showmansshow.co.uk 



OAB’s Top Picks 

Nomadic Washrooms Stand 123 

www.nomadicwashrooms.co.uk 

Nomadic Washrooms specialises in hiring luxury shepherd hut 

toilet and shower trailers. It prides itself on providing unique, fully 

furnished units with authentic nomadic-style décor designed to 

impress. 

Capable of hosting up to 100 people for eight to 10 hours in a 

single day or 50 campers over a long weekend, the largest of the 

range has shower cubicles and two WCs with washbasins, with 

each space accessed via an individual entry point. 

Shield Marquees Stand 162 

www.shieldmfg.co.uk 

Shield Marquees is a West Midlands manufacturer of temporary 

structures for the events industry. From standard clear span 

structures to full custom marquees, Shield uses “best in class 

equipment” for structures “made of the best materials, by 

enthusiastic staff” and tested by people with more than a decade 

of experience in the marquee manufacturing industry.” 

As well as marquee sales, ask about dry hire options. Shield 

also supplies glass doors, windows and solid walls as well as 

standard, starlit and blackout linings. 

Illumin8 Lights Stand 156 

www.illumin8lights.co.uk 

Offering eco-friendly LED mobile lighting 

tower hire, Illuminat8’s fleet (now part of 

Boels Rental) features the latest technologies, 

maximising safety, good value, uptime and 

efficiency while minimising costs, pollutants 

and CO2 emissions. 

Illumin8’s lighting towers have a unique 

telemetry system allowing you to remotely 

monitor the performance of each light from 

your smartphone, laptop or tablet. 

Thomas’s Group Stand 183 

www.thomassgroup.com 

Thomas’s Group is a family-run 

commercial vehicle business 

specialising in contract hire 

and vehicle rentals. Providing a 

straightforward and cost-effective 

solution to event organisers, all 

hire vehicles are ideal for the 

transportation of event infrastructure. 

The fleet includes low ride tractor 

units (and mega low ride trailers for 

maximum volume), smaller low ride 

vehicles with ramps for easy loading/ 

unloading of equipment, and under 

4m vehicles suitable for European 

height restrictions. 

Suitehuts Stand 200 

www.suitehuts.com 

Suitehuts offers on-site event 

accommodation comprising custombuilt 

log cabins with en-suite 

bathrooms that come in a flat-pack 

format. 

Working closely with many of 

the UK’s leading event organisers, 

the huts feature at major events 

throughout the year including 

Silverstone, Download, Glastonbury 

and Boomtown. 

With 200 huts available to hire, 

Suitehuts is manufacturing more each 

year and also offer wood-burning hot 

tubs, saunas and catering huts. 



Farm Business 

Innovation Show 

Igniting innovation and growth: Why you need to attend 

Farm Business Innovation 2023 

FARM BUSINESS Innovation is back on 

15-16 November at NEC Birmingham. 

The event is set to be a game-changer 

for farmers, landowners and agricultural 

professionals bringing together the 

brightest minds, innovative technologies 

and cutting-edge solutions that can help 

you generate more profit from your farm 

or land. 

The show offers a platform for farmers 

and agricultural professionals to explore 

a vast array of opportunities. From 

agritourism and farm diversification 

to renewable energy solutions and 

technological advancements, Farm 

Business Innovation showcases the 

latest trends and innovations that can 

revolutionise your rural business. Discover 

new ideas, business models and revenue 

streams that can help you thrive in a 

rapidly evolving industry. 

GAIN EXPERT INSIGHTS 

The show features a lineup of industry 

experts and thought leaders who will share 

their knowledge and expertise through 

engaging seminars, demonstrations 

“CONNECT WITH LIKE- 

MINDED INDIVIDUALS, 

NETWORK WITH PEERS 

AND FORGE VALUABLE 

CONNECTIONS WITH 

LEADING SUPPLIERS, 

SERVICE PROVIDERS AND 

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS” 

and panel discussions. Learn from their 

experiences, gain valuable insights into 

best practices, and stay up to date with 

the latest industry trends. Whether you're 

seeking guidance on diversification 

strategies, sustainable farming practices 

or rural tourism, Farm Business Innovation 

provides a wealth of knowledge to help 

you navigate the challenges and seize 

opportunities. 

Connect with like-minded individuals, 

network with peers and forge valuable 

connections with leading suppliers, service 

providers and industry professionals. 

Share ideas, exchange experiences and 

collaborate on innovative projects that can 

drive growth and success. Farm Business 

Innovation creates a vibrant environment 

where you can build relationships, find 

potential business partners and uncover 

new ways to expand your network within 

the agricultural community. 

FIND INSPIRATION 

Immerse yourself in a world of inspiration 

as you witness success stories, innovative 

concepts and visionary ideas. Farm 

Business Innovation showcases real-life 

case studies that demonstrate how others 

have overcome challenges and achieved 

remarkable results. Be inspired by their 

journeys and let their stories fuel your own 

aspirations for growth and innovation. 

SEE YOU THERE! 

Join us at the NEC on 15 and 16 

November 2023. Register free at 

www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk 



OAB’s TOP PICKS 

Tentipi Event Tents Stand FM330 

www.tentipi.com/en-gb 

Tentipi manufactures adventure 

tipi tents and giant hat kata tipis 

for events and weddings. Having 

crafted Nordic tipis for over 30 years, 

the team has worked to continually 

refine, develop and improve designs. 

The range includes interlinking 

sections, windows and entrances 

as well as interior items such as 

fireplaces, furniture, bars and 

flooring. 

Canopy & Stars Stand FM636 

www.canopyandstars.co.uk 

Canopy & Stars curates a collection of 

selected and inspected special places to 

stay and experience the great outdoors 

across Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, 

Italy and Scandinavia. From humble 

beginnings in 2010, the agency has grown 

to more than 500 places; everything from 

treehouses, yurts and converted horse 

trucks, to cabins, Gypsy caravans and Iron 

Age roundhouses. Championing the small 

and independent, and being an advocate 

of sustainable tourism, the team 

genuinely cares about what 

they do and how they do it. 

Hopkins Machinery Stand HP1160 

www.hopkinsmachinery.co.uk 

Suppliers of golf carts, UTVs and ATVs, 

mowers and power tools and a range 

of other groundcare and maintenance 

machinery for holiday parks and 

businesses. 

Hopkins Machinery is a main dealer 

for Kubota, Club Car, Kawasaki, Toro and 

many more market leading brands. Sales, 

hire, parts and servicing available. 

Podz R Us Stand FM546 

www.podzrus.com 

Ice Trikes Stand FM946 

www.icetrikes.co 

ICE Trikes are one of the most comfortable ways to cycle, offering 

safe, stable and accessible cycling. Trikes are perfect for cycle hire 

at country parks, for accommodation providers, tourist attractions, 

activity centres, holiday parks, cycling experiences, the list goes 

on. ICE has been making six different trike models from its HQ in 

Falmouth for over 20 years. 

At Podz R Us, the approach has always been to 

offer bespoke pods, individually designed around 

customers’ needs. A free rapid-turnaround CAD 

design service is offered with high resolution 3D 

images that allow clients to visualise in detail 

the exterior and interior of their pods prior to 

ordering. 

With unlimited revisions prior to build 

commencement, Podz R Us can ensure the final 

product meets clients’ expectations. 


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SPONSORED FEATURE 

and landscape architects to develop 

schemes that respond to local and national 

targets, mitigate impacts of development 

and protect and enhance local wildlife 

habitats. 

We’re a good business too. Canopy & 

Stars is an independent company, mostly 

employee owned with 24% owned by a 

charitable trust. We’re proud to be amongst 

the highest-scoring travel B Corps in the 

world. 

Canopy & Stars 

Glamping is evolving. Gone are the days where a tent in a 

field is enough. Guests demand and expect more 

CANOPY & STARS has been at the forefront of 

the glamping industry since day one, leading 

the evolution from “glamourous camping” into 

meaningful experiences in nature. 

The market is growing but with this growth 

comes increased competition. New sites have 

to differentiate themselves in an increasingly 

crowded market. 

This is where Canopy & Stars can help. 

With years of experience and data insights, 

our consultancy service is ideally placed to 

help you turn your glamping dreams into a 

profitable business. 

We can offer the following services to make 

sure your business stands out and attracts the 

right guests. 

› Land research reports 

› Viability assessments 

› Full appraisal and business modelling 

› Planning services 

› Architectural design 

SUSTAINABILITY AT EVERY STEP 

At Canopy & Stars, sustainability is about 

more than solar panels or local sourcing, it 

permeates all aspects of our consultancy, 

design and planning services. Our ultimate 

aim is to work with people on projects 

which aren’t merely “low-impact” but 

actually benefit the land they’re built on. 

We encourage our clients to make 

the green choice at every step, in their 

infrastructure and promotion of green 

travel, to the use of renewable and lowcarbon 

energy, all the way through to 

design and interior finishes. We know that 

in the long term this approach results in 

environmental, cultural and economic 

benefits. 

Every project we work on integrates a 

comprehensive and detailed biodiversity 

enhancement plan, delivering biodiversity 

net gain. We work closely with ecologists 

KEEPING YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE 

Profitability Enhancement – for existing 

businesses 

If your business is already up and 

running, but not performing as you’d 

hoped or how it used to, we can visit 

and provide you with a plan to improve 

occupancy and profitability. We’ll 

troubleshoot problems and provide 

actionable suggestions to enhance your 

offering and jump start your business. 

"We are so pleased with the 

consultancy services that Canopy & Stars 

have provided; we cannot recommend 

them highly enough. The lodges were 

already on site and we had to work with 

the existing structures. From the outset, 

both the business development and 

design team listened to our ideas and 

understood exactly what we were trying 

to achieve…enabling us to put our own 

unique stamp on our project.” 

SUZANNE, SPINDLEWOOD LODGES 

Contact us to find out more 

ideas@canopyandstars.co.uk 

Case Study 

Bracken Treehouse, Joy and Nick Rees 

We worked with Joy and Nick from when they had only trees to the launch 

of their beautiful treehouse. We began with a viability assessment and 

planning support, then kept in touch with informal advice while owner Nick’s 

vision took shape in the build. When the space was ready, we gave pricing 

advice then put our marketing platform to work for a very successful launch. 

› Joined Canopy & Stars August 2022 and achieved 75% total occupancy 

over their first 12 months 

› £194 average nightly rate 

Nick said: “When we were designing Bracken Treehouse, we had a very clear 

vision of how the space should look and feel. However, we felt it would be 

good to get a second opinion from someone who knew the industry inside and 

out – just to make sure we were on the right track! It was really helpful for us 

to understand what might work and what changes would make our treehouse 

more attractive to guests.” 


PEOPLE 

ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT 

Emily 

Aitchison 

Emily Aitchison 

found her 

entrepreneurial 

feet at a young 

age, diversifying 

the family farm’s 

offerings to 

include weddings, 

hen parties, 

cookery courses, 

foodie weekends 

and much more 


PEOPLE 

t was a little over 10 years ago, at the ripe old age of 21, that 

Emily Aitchison launched her wedding venue at Kenton Hall 

Estate – the family’s arable and Longhorn cattle farm in Suffolk. 

Having held six weddings in the first year, the venue has been in 

demand with couples ever since. 

“I had moved back to the farm with the idea that running a 

wedding venue might be fun as well as profitable,” she says. 

“The timing couldn’t have been better, as my dad had just 

secured planning permission for exactly this purpose. I think 

having three daughters had firmly planted the seed in his mind that it 

was something he should plan for!” 

With minimal event experience but plenty of drive and 

determination, along with a supportive family, Emily made the 

jump. “Obviously, I did some research before starting out, but having 

grown up here, I knew it would make a great wedding venue. I didn’t 

have much in the way of start-up capital, but I had a lot of time and 

energy to put into promoting the business. Most of this was done via 

Facebook, as there were fewer social media options back then.” 

WOODLAND SLEEPOVERS 

Ever the entrepreneur, it wasn’t long before Emily began thinking of 

ways to enhance the wedding offering further, as she explains: “When 

I was a girl, we had a yurt in the woods here, and I remembered how 

much I enjoyed having sleepovers. I figured that wedding couples 

would enjoy the experience, too. There were lots of big wedding 

venues around with plenty of rooms for guests to stay over, and 

this was something we, unfortunately, couldn’t offer, but glamping 

represented the perfect way for us to provide accommodation while 

complementing the whole outdoor wedding experience. In fact, I think 

we were one of the first glampsites in Suffolk.” 

Starting out with just the original yurt from Emily’s childhood and 

a shepherds hut – both built by her father – the overnight guest space 

was quite limited in the early days. But this would be expanded later. 

“Five years after we first offered overnight stays, we expanded our 

offering to include lodge tents, sited alongside our medieval moat. 

This increased our capacity to 20, which meant that newlyweds 

and guests could now enjoy a super relaxed end to the day together 

around a firepit before retiring to their cosy accommodation. The 

structures themselves are wooden with a canvas roof and are loosely 

based on a safari tent concept. We designed and built them ourselves 

with the help of a local sailmaker who made us the canvas tops. 

“From the outset, I wanted the stays to be as luxurious as possible 

for guests. The yurt and the shepherds hut, for example, have king-size 

beds and private shower rooms. The lodge tents are equipped with 

a mix of king-size beds and twins to cater for everyone. I have always 

specified the best quality cotton bedding possible, as it really does 

make a big difference to the overnight experience. Guests definitely 

notice this.” 

In terms of the weddings themselves, Kenton Hall Estate recently 

switched to dry-hire. “We used to have a large marquee that could 

seat 200 people, but we made the decision to give couples the 

flexibility to hire a structure appropriate to their own tastes as well 

as the size of their party. With the marquee, we found that smaller 

weddings of 60-80 people were being dwarfed by the structure and 

missing out on that warm and intimate wedding atmosphere. We 

also stopped running a bar, leaving it to the clients to hire what they 

deem appropriate to their guests and budget. Beyond that, nothing 

else has changed; we’re always on hand to advise and assist, and 

we still offer our woodland blessings, which have been very popular 

since we started them. This works really well for both our couples and 

ourselves.” 

NO WEDDING FACTORY 

“Our wedding season runs from May to September, with around eight 

to 10 weddings taking place, so we’re a million miles away from being 



a wedding factory venue. We much prefer adopting this approach 

as it’s a more relaxed affair for our couples. This way, they have the 

whole weekend, which gives them plenty of set-up time and a lovely 

couple of days spent with family and friends. It’s much nicer than 

being rushed in and out in one day! It has also given us a reputation 

as being quite exclusive, and we’re finding that couples are 

choosing us because none of their friends have been married here.” 

Building on the success of the wedding accommodation, Emily 

quickly recognised another opportunity: hen parties. “It was a 

natural progression, really,” says Emily. “Our limited number of 

weddings meant that we still had some weekends available for 

other types of bookings, and hen parties were a no-brainer.” 

“WE’RE BIG FOODIES HERE, AND AS IT TURNS 

OUT, WE’RE NOT ALONE. THE COURSES HAVE 

BEEN A BIG HIT, RUNNING WEEKDAYS AND 

EVENINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR” 

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD 

This is where another of Emily’s many diversification streams comes 

into play: a cookery school. Built in a converted cow byre, the Food 

Hub school also houses a butchery with smokehouse and curing 

facilities, as well as a fully-fledged commercial kitchen. Initially 

established in 2014, the facility is now a Miele partnership cookery 

school. 

“We’re big foodies here, and as it turns out, we’re not alone. 

The courses have been a big hit, running weekdays and evenings 

throughout the year. We also run foodie weekends with burger 

nights (using meat from our cattle) for 150-200 people on a Friday, 

followed by a Saturday food fair, complete with a farmer’s market, 

farm tours, cooking demos, a pop-up cafe and so on. 

The Food Hub is ideal for hen party activities. The ladies come 

up to the school from the glampsite and enjoy participating in 

something fun, such as a bake-off or learning the art of sausagemaking, 

before heading to the farm for some axe-throwing or 

archery. Food for the guests is provided courtesy of our in-house 

cookery school chef, so they’re in for a treat after working up a good 

appetite with all the activities. It all makes for a very attractive hen 

party package.” 

While we’re on the subject of activities, Emily shares another 

of her endeavours with us: “We’ve just started offering Duke of 

Edinburgh (DofE) Gold Residentials to boost our glamping site 

occupancy mid-week. We incorporate the cookery school, archery, 

axe-throwing, bushcraft and yoga, as well as spending a day at a 

family friend’s market garden learning about growing food. We’re 

ideally set up for DofE courses, and the youngsters leave here with 

valuable life skills as well as new friendships. It’s really rewarding 

for us.” 

Family businesses have their pros and cons, but it appears that 

living and working at Kenton Hall Estate is a harmonious affair, as 

Emily explains: “We’re very supportive of one another, but we’re all 

working on our own individual projects within the farm. My brother, 

Tom, for example, is taking over from our dad on the running of 

the farm and is working towards a regenerative future here, so that 

keeps him very busy.” 

Despite all the activity, the family always makes time to catch 

up with each other. “Every Wednesday, we have a ‘farmer’s lunch’ 

where everybody who is involved with the farm’s businesses gets 

together for a good chat over some lovely food at the cookery 

school. It’s a great opportunity to hear about what everybody has 

been up to, as well as a chance to share ideas and advice.” 

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS 

Social media has played a key part in the wedding business, 

both in terms of research as well as promotion. “I try to keep an 

eye on trends, although we are always a little behind the curve 

here in Suffolk! It’s good to see what couples are looking for, so I 

follow a number of wedding planners and wedding-related pages. 

Olivia, who runs our weddings, also has her own wedding planner 

business, so her input is always spot on. Additionally, I make sure to 



check out our local competitors to keep an eye on their packages 

and rates. 

“For online marketing, generating consistent content is 

essential. Having pretty much done everything in the business, 

including the website, I’m confident in this area, although I do 

now have some external help with social content generation as 

I’m spinning so many plates.” 

Emily puts the venue’s success down to a few key elements: 

“It’s important to establish exactly what you want to offer and 

stay true to that model. Once I decided on my niche, I worked 

to give our guests the very best, most authentic experience of 

our offering possible. I know every aspect of the business inside 

out and work with our small team to consistently deliver lasting 

happy memories for our couples and their guests. We have some 

lovely local people working here during the wedding season, and 

we have a real sense of camaraderie. There’s no hierarchy here – 

I’m more than happy to muck in with cleaning toilets or whatever 

else needs doing. It makes for a great working atmosphere.” 

BAKING A BRIGHT FUTURE 

Never one to sit still, Emily has recently become involved in 

another venture, a micro bakery on her husband’s family farm 

nearby. “It’s going incredibly well. We’re growing wheat over 

there and milling our own flour, which is very rewarding. It does 

mean that I’m stretched a little more in terms of the businesses, 

but I’ve worked hard to get to a place where they can almost run 

themselves, thanks to our small but dedicated team.” 

For a busy entrepreneur, finding time to relax can be a 

challenge. “I don’t have too much time for relaxing, so just 

having my husband cook me something nice is often enough to 

help me unwind. Thinking about it, most of our relaxing time is 

food-related,” she laughs. “We love going to new restaurants or 

planning time away based around somewhere with great food 

offerings. I guess if I’m being totally honest, cooking and eating 

are probably my favourite ways to relax!” 

Regarding future plans, Emily’s response is simple: “To keep 

doing what we’re doing and do it well.” 

DETAILS 

Kenton Hall Estate 

Kenton, Stowmarket 

Suffolk IP14 6JU 

www.kentonhallestate.co.uk 


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AERIAL ESSEX 

CASE STUDY 

Browning Bros. 

Based near Colchester, Essex, Browning Bros. offer unique 

weddings, celebrations, corporate events, luxury cabins 

and quirky glamping 

Deciding to make their 

livelihood on the family 

farm, brothers Nat and 

Archie have gone from 

event equipment rental to 

delivering memorable events 

at two sites on their family’s 

organic farm in Essex. We 

talk to Nat Browning about 

the curation of the two sites 

which offer outdoor functions 

and glamping. 

When did you start your venue 

business and what is its history? 

Browning Bros. was formed in 

2012 when my brother and I left 

university and came back to 

the farm. Instead of following 

our friends and the crowd into 

London for a job in the city we 

really wanted to do something on 

the farm (what that was we were 

not sure!). We began by renting 

equipment for events, e.g. disco 

equipment and luxury loos, until 

we realised we could try and bring 

events to us as we were fortunate 

enough to have the space to do so. 

We first created Teybrook 

Orchard as a small glamping site 

for individual camping, followed 

by Chalkney Water Meadows 

as the first events venue for dry 

hire for weddings. Fast forward 

a few years and we have put in 

infrastructure and facilities at both 

sites for clients to hire the venues 

out exclusively, and we can now 

host all manner of events. We 

have also built two luxury lakeside 

cabins which we rent to anyone 

who would like a secret escape, 

and they also get booked up for 

the events that we host. We have a 

large supply of bell tents which we 

also rent out offsite for events in 

need of glamping accommodation. 

Browning Bros. is located on 

a certified organic family farm in 

North Essex countryside, where the 

focus is always on sustainability 

and protecting the land for future 

generations, of which we are 

the fifth generation. It is a family 

story where a passion for bringing 

people back to nature merges 

with a love of local heritage, 

beauty and farm diversification 

to create a thoughtful place. 

Teybrook Orchard is now an 

intimate woodland venue that 

is hidden away from the world 

and is perfect for any occasion 

accommodating up to 120 guests. 

Chalkney Water Meadows venue 

is hidden away amongst ancient 

FILMMAKERS OF LONDON 

“TEYBROOK 

ORCHARD 

IS NOW AN 

INTIMATE 

WOODLAND 

VENUE THAT IS 

HIDDEN AWAY 

FROM THE 

WORLD AND IS 

PERFECT FOR 

ANY OCCASION 

ACCOMMODAT- 

ING UP TO 120 

GUESTS” 

woodland next to a picturesque 

river and a tree-lined lake. It’s 

a great location for any type of 

event in Essex accommodating up 

to 200 guests, with celebrations 

taking place under three giant 

hat tipis and ceremonies taking 

place on the willow tree pontoon 

facing the lake. Each venue has its 

own glamping accommodation, 

be that luxury bell tents set up in 

a glamping village with African 

animal names, or a converted grain 

silo from the farm itself. We pride 

ourselves in the lighting of our 

venues, both with an incredible 

amount of festoon, uplighters and 

even disco balls in the woodland at 

Teybrook Orchard. 

Tell us about your location 

and site 

Both sites are uniquely positioned 

50 minutes from London 

Liverpool Street station and 

a short 30-minute drive from 

London Stansted Airport in 



rural north Essex countryside. 

They offer a unique glamping 

experience with unusual and 

luxury accommodation. We 

are proud to promote our 

sustainability initiatives including 

the products we use across the 

sites, the facilities we offer and the 

glamping accommodation itself 

being sustainably sourced and 

maintained. 

We are privileged to supporting 

and promoting local business being 

part of a reciprocal ecosystem 

here in north Essex. We are a fifthgeneration 

family run business, 

proud to be showcasing farm 

diversification across the Essex 

landscape. 

Above all, we offer all our guests 

a unique opportunity to return to 

nature and enjoy idyllic settings 

without compromising on comfort. 

Essex is very popular for wedding 

venues however, we feel we are 

truly unique, not just in the natural 

beauty of both sites but because 

of our flexibility and family run 

business ethos. 

What facilities for outdoor 

functions do you offer? 

Chalkney Water Meadows has 

three giant hat tipis for dining, 

activities and dancing. It also 

features a willow tree pontoon 

for ceremonies, a large stretch 

tent for extra undercover space, 

20 bell tents for luxury glamping 

(extra bell tents can be put up for 

extra guests), two luxury lakeside 

cabins, four converted horse trailer 

showers, a converted shepherd 

hut for luxury loos (suitable for up 

to 180 people), a converted sea 

container for a camp kitchen and 

a converted caravan which acts as 

a bar. 

Teybrook Orchard offers a 

Bohemian, lined marquee for 

dining, activities and dancing 

and a large stretch tent for extra 

undercover space. Ceremonies take 

place in the woodland and we have 

the Orchard Washhouse (a luxury 

building with four showers and four 

loos), and Orchard Kitchen with a 

pizza oven, bar area and awning. 

We also have 10 quirky luxury 

glamping dwellings (four yurts, 

four bell tents, a shepherds hut, a 

converted grain silo and Mercedes 

campervan, plus extra bell tents if 

needed) and a wood-fire hot tub in 

the woodland. 

What services do you offer? 

We have an in-house events team 

who can organise everything from 

an event planning prospective. 

We are privileged to know the 

best local business when it comes 

to catering and activities, and all 

the other suppliers that one might 

AERIAL ESSEX 

NATHANIEL BROWNING.JPEG 

AERIAL ESSEX 



RACHEL REEVES PHOTOGRAPHY 

MATT WING PHOTOGRAPHER 

made from sedum, a microclimate 

for insects, bird life and rare 

species. The sedum roof helps to 

remove CO2 from the atmosphere 

and lower overall gas emissions. 

These are only two examples of our 

sustainability initiatives. 

JESS SOPER PHOTOGRAPHY 

MATT WING PHOTOGRAPHER 

need for an event. The events team 

has a massive amount of collective 

experience and we pride ourselves 

on being excellent planners! 

How do you work with your 

customers to make their event 

unique? 

Being a small, family run, seasonal 

business, we can only take on a 

certain number of events per year. 

We therefore have the time to 

ensure that each client is looked 

after as if they were our only client. 

We ensure that they have regular 

correspondence, as many calls and 

meetings as they please and that 

we are always on the other end of 

the phone (even outside of working 

hours). 

How do you publicise yourself? 

Not enough! We are on Bridebook, 

Hitched and Coco Weddings’ 

directories, and the cabins are on 

various cabin directories including 

Cool Stays and Host Unusual, Visit 

Essex and The Wanderlist. We are 

also on Group Accommodation 

for the Teybrook Orchard site. We 

try to do a lot of social media on 

Instagram and Facebook but haven’t 

entered the world of Tiktok. 

How would you describe your 

style or unique selling point? 

We are a family run, flexible business 

that can do everything! 

Born out of a vision between 

two brothers to break away from 

the ordinary. Browning Bros. is 

passionate about delivering unique 

experiences providing unusual 

events and retreats, memorable 

outdoor weddings, luxury lakeside 

cabins and the best glamping Essex 

has to offer. 

Reducing our carbon footprint is 

at the forefront of our operation, as 

well as nature and sustainability. 

We only use eco-friendly products 

and the roof at Kingfishers Nest is 

“WE'RE ALSO 

SUPER DOG 

FRIENDLY, 

WHICH IS VERY 

POPULAR. 

COUPLES CAN 

HAVE THEIR 

DOGS AT THE 

WEDDING, STAY 

IN THE ON-SITE 

ACCOMMODA- 

TION...” 

What challenges have you faced 

historically? 

Not having enough staff at the start 

of the business when we could not 

afford it, and therefore over working 

and getting burnt out. 

How did you cope through the 

pandemic? 

Uuuurgh, it was a tough time at the 

start wasn’t it! Long days scratching 

heads trying to work out what to do 

and what to tell our clients. I hired 

my wife from her corporate job in 

London to help us as it all got too 

much and then my sister too! This 

also led to us growing the team to 

help with the influx of events when 

the lockdowns were over. 

How large is your team – any 

special people you’d like to 

mention? 

The core team is nine people. The 

events team includes myself (Nat, 

director), Becky (my wife, head of 

events and marketing), Meg (my 

sister, events manager and head 

of logistics), Archie (my brother, 

director), and Holly – the only 

person not in the family – (events 

manager). Then the core team on 

the ground helping make the sites 

look the way they do for every event 

are Nell, Gab and Majo – we couldn’t 

operate without them! Also, Sarah 



TAZZY BRO PHOTOGRAPHY 

RACHEL REEVES PHOTOGRAPHY 

family on our fifth-generation 

family farm that we call home. 

Being able to invite people here 

to enjoy it too means the world to 

us, and being in nature creating 

the happiest days of people’s lives 

and memories they will treasure 

forever. 

GRACE ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY 

manages our cabins and makes 

them look so beautiful and is always 

there for the guests should they 

need anything, making their stay 

extra special. 

planning to expand our solar array 

in 2024 with the installation of a 

50kW system which will supply 

renewable energy for our events 

and cabins. 

What are you most proud of? 

Having been fortunate enough to 

grow up on the farm surrounded by 

nature, I feel very privileged to have 

had the opportunity to create this 

business and earn a living from the 

place I call home. I feel incredibly 

proud to have achieved this 

alongside my brother, and to have 

created an events/leisure business 

that has allowed others to forge 

happy and lasting memories. 

Have you worked with any 

industry bodies or consultants? 

Our parents have been like 

consultants for us throughout; we 

could not have done it without their 

support! 

What are your plans for next 

season? 

We have lots of wonderful events 

to look forward to hosting and 

people coming to stay on the farm. 

We are going to build a disabled 

loo at Chalkney Water Meadows 

and potentially a new cabin. We 

also have lots of side projects like 

growing organic fruit and vegetables 

and making honey. 

The farm has already invested 

in solar generation but we are 

Describe your average day midseason 

Get into the office early and do 

emails/planning, have a meeting 

with the team first thing to plan 

the day/coming week in the office, 

head down to one of the sites, do 

a turnaround, quick lunch at the 

farm, back to the office, head to the 

other site for landscaping and any 

maintenance, up to the vineyard 

to assist with whatever needs 

doing and then the poly tunnel 

for harvesting. Be on the phone 

lots meanwhile coordinating the 

business! 

What do you enjoy about the 

business? 

Being able to work alongside my 

“BEING ABLE 

TO WORK 

ALONGSIDE 

MY FAMILY ON 

OUR FIFTH- 

GENERATION 

FAMILY FARM 

THAT WE 

CALL HOME” 

What advice could you give 

to someone coming into the 

industry? 

Don’t give up, even when the days 

are long and the weather is not on 

your side. The journey makes the 

business what it will become. Be 

patient too; we built our business 

organically as you learn what works 

and what doesn’t in a gentler way. 

ADDRESS BOOK 

Browning Bros. 

Tey Brook Farm 

Great Tey 

Colchester 

Essex, CO61J 

www.browningbros.co.uk 


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Trees can be part of the solution when 

it comes to climate change. They don’t 

just mitigate carbon, removing it from 

the atmosphere, they also sequester 

it – absorbing carbon dioxide during 

photosynthesis and then locking it up for 

centuries. Much of this carbon is stored in the 

leaves, which transfer it to the woodland soil 

when they fall from the tree and rot down. 

Trees near waterbodies can also be 

useful flood defences in an age where 

climate change is increasing flooding. Trees 

reduce the amount of rainwater entering 

watercourses, which in turn lowers the 

likelihood of a river bursting its banks and 

flooding low-lying areas. 

But climate change isn’t the only threat 

we’re facing. We’re also living through 

a biodiversity crisis. Moths, birds, bats, 

dormice, butterflies, fungi – they all depend 

on woods, trees and hedges to feed, breed 

and thrive. With 53% of our woodland wildlife 

species in decline, and woodland butterflies 

in particular plummeting by 58% since 1990, 

the figures speak for themselves. Woodland 

cover in the UK is among the lowest in 

Europe, and we need to do more to increase 

it to help our wildlife to thrive. 

Trees are not only essential for wildlife 

but for our own health and wellbeing. There 

is an ever-growing mountain of scientific 

evidence on the health benefits of trees, 

woods and the natural environment. As well 

as keeping our atmosphere rich in oxygen, 

trees filter pollutants from the air, shade 

our streets when it’s hot and even improve 

our immunity. Research has shown that 

chemicals called phytoncides, released by 

plants and trees, strengthen our immune, 

hormonal, circulatory and nervous systems 

when we breathe them in. 

Farmers and landowners can also benefit. 

Trees shelter crops and livestock from our 

increasingly wild weather and offer them 

shady spots for respite from heatwaves. They 

improve soil health and prevent erosion, with 

those along or near watercourses helping to 

protect from the pollution in run-off. Trees 

also create opportunities to improve and 

diversify outdoor businesses, by growing 

fruit, nuts or woodfuel, or creating desirable 

wooded camping nooks or enhancing the 

visitor experience with woodland walks, 

recreational areas and forest bathing. 

BENEFITS FOR LANDOWNERS 

Landowners play a vital role in managing our 

iconic British countryside, including trees 

and hedgerows. Many are balancing the need 



to maximise returns from outdoor businesses 

while ensuring the environment remains 

healthy. Trees can play an important part in 

this balancing act between productivity and 

the environment. 

The Woodland Trust has decades of 

experience working with landowners to 

reap the benefits of trees. Whether you’re a 

farmer, outdoor venue owner, glampsite or 

other outdoor business manager, integrating 

trees with existing land use can help build 

landscape and business resilience. 

BENEFITS OF PLANTING TREES 

Trees and hedges provide homes for wildlife, 

creating spaces for thousands of species to 

eat, rest and nest. They also: 

› Improve the visual appeal of your land 

and create recreational opportunities such 

as hiking, camping, nature watching and 

forest bathing 

› Support much needed pollinators 

› Purify the air and improve health and 

wellbeing 

› Improve water infiltration and prevent 

flooding 

› Provide shade and shelter for people, crops 

and livestock 

› Enhance soil quality by adding nutrients 

and preventing run-off 

› Make use of hard-to-work areas such as 

field corners and margins, while keeping 

quality land in production 

› Fight climate change by absorbing 

atmospheric carbon and locking it in up for 

centuries, and 

› Help diversify your business with wood 

fuel, carbon credits and other products. 

HELP FOR LANDOWNERS 

The Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods and 

MOREhedges schemes makes it easy and 

affordable to plant trees on your land – for 

people, wildlife and the environment. 

Diversify your business, provide shade and 

shelter, create habitats for wildlife, help 

fight climate change and enhance your eco 

credentials. 

MOREwoods has already helped over 3,000 

landowners with their planting projects – 

that’s four million new, native trees in the 

ground. Trees and hedges can work wonders 

for your business too, without encroaching 

on productive land. 

MOREWOODS 

The trust’s MOREwoods scheme is ideal for 

anyone looking to plant 500+ trees on over 

half a hectare. Whatever your business goals, 

expert advisers will guide you through the 

application process, visit your site, help 

design your woodland, create a bespoke 

species mix, and supply the agreed trees and 

tree protection. All with generous funding of 

up to 75%. 

MARK LEA/WTML 

If you live in England, Wales or Northern 

Ireland and would like a contractor to plant 

the trees for you, they can arrange this and 

cover up to 60% of costs. 

Cost 

The cost to you will depend on project size, 

species choice and tree protection – all of 

which will be discussed and agreed with your 

adviser. On average, self-planted projects cost 

the landowner 40-80p per tree plus VAT, or 

£1-£1.80 per tree plus VAT where planted by a 

trust-arranged contractor. A one-hectare site 

at the recommended 1,000-1,600 trees per 

hectare would therefore cost the landowner 

around £900-£2,000. 

Eligibility 

All landowners are welcome to apply, from 

farmers and smallholders to campsite owners 

and outdoor hospitality providers. Eligible 

projects must plant: 

› at least 0.5 hectares of new woodland 

› 1,000-1,600 trees per hectare. 

The area can be made up of multiple 

smaller blocks of at least 0.1ha each. 

MOREwoods cannot fund trees for restocking 

established woodland or planting areas of 

recently felled woodland. 

Applications are made online and take 

about 15 minutes to complete. Apply by 

1 November to plant this winter. Find out 

more at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/planttrees/trees-for-landowners-and-farmers/ 

morewoods 

MOREHEDGES 

Vital features in the landscape, hedges are 

more than an essential refuge for wildlife. 

Small but mighty, they also clean our air, 

capture carbon, reduce flooding and give 

clues to historic land management. 

Sadly, hedge numbers have declined 

rapidly in the last century. Around 118,000 

miles of hedgerow have been lost since 1950, 

due largely to intensification of agriculture. 

The decline has slowed since the 1990s, 

but neglect, damage and removal remain 

significant threats to hedgerows and the 

ADAM BURTON WTML 

wildlife they support. 

If you’re looking to plant hedges on your 

land, our MOREhedges scheme can provide 

the trees, funding and expert advice you need 

to achieve your goals. The trust offers a mix of 

species ideal for hedging, plus your choice of 

full height trees every six metres along with 

tree protection and funding of up to 75%. No 

obligation advice and support is available 

for eligible schemes even if you decide not to 

plant. 

Applications are made online and take 

about 15 minutes to complete. Apply by 

1 December to plant this winter. Find out 

more at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/planttrees/trees-for-landowners-and-farmers/ 

morehedges 

Eligibility 

Like MOREwoods, all landowners are 

welcome to apply, from farmers and 

smallholders to campsite owners and 

outdoor hospitality providers. MOREhedges is 

designed to create new ecological links with 

woodland in the surrounding landscape. It 

is not suitable for replanting or gapping up 

existing hedgerows. At least 100m of hedging 

must be planted in a single run and connect 

with: 

› at least 0.2 hectares of existing or newly 

planted woodland (0.1ha in Scotland), or 

› woodland via established hedgerows 

within 500m of the new hedge. 


CASE STUDY 

Klare Owen, smallholder 

Klare Owen is a smallholder nine miles from Aberystwyth. In a bid to boost 

biodiversity, combat climate change and visually transform the landscape, 

she planted over 2,500 trees through MOREwoods and MOREhedges. 

Klare explains why she chose to plant with the trust over other grant 

schemes. “The Woodland Trust schemes were more straightforward and you 

could plant a smaller area of land. Their advisers brought a lot of expertise 

on how to design our woodland, what trees we should be using and where 

we should be sourcing them from. They had to be right for this environment. 

We’ve planted 1,750 trees through MOREwoods and a hedge line through 

MOREhedges, with 800 trees connecting to a field – and we’re about to plant 

another hedge line with 900 trees to connect to the woods. 

“My main motivation is that I know how good trees are for biodiversity and 

combatting climate change. One day in my lifetime hopefully they’ll be taller 

than me.” 

The Woodland Trust is a registered charity (294344 and SC038885). The 

Woodland Trust logo is a registered trademark. 

SOPHIE THOMAS 

ABOUT WOODLAND TRUST 

Trees should be in every landowner’s toolbox. They boost productivity, resilience and the health 

of the environment, without hampering productivity. If you’re looking to plant trees on your land, 

we have the trees, expertise and funding schemes to help. Enhance the visual appeal of your 

land, create areas for recreation, increase biodiversity, provide shade and shelter, improve visitor 

experience and wellbeing, lock up carbon, reduce flooding and soil erosion, and much more with 

the Woodland Trust. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk


GETTY IMAGES 

INDUSTRY COMMENT 

T&Cs 

When did you last update your terms & conditions? 

asks Andrew White 

A FEW thoughts to ponder upon as events, 

conferences, awards and powwows adapt 

and attract. There are big changes in who is 

attending and why they are attending and 

it’s worth futureproofing your terms and 

conditions. 

BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF 

As ESG (environment, social and corporate 

governance) becomes more and more 

prominent on the corporate agenda there’s 

a heightened focus on people (your staff, 

delegates and the people you reach in your 

communities). 

Being your authentic self is a term we hear 

on a daily basis and by Google’s definition 

“it’s who you really are deep down. The part 

of you that doesn’t care what others think. 

Authenticity happens when your words, 

actions and behaviours consistently match 

your core identity”. 

Companies are encouraging their 

employees to be their authentic selves as 

it’s seen as a key asset for success in the 

workplace. Authenticity ‘feels good’ and 

when employees feel good by bringing their 

true selves to work it sparks proactivity, 

“TRUTH BE TOLD, I’M MOST 

CONTENTED AS A MAML AND 

WOULD HAPPILY CYCLE TO 

THE VENUE AND LISTEN AND 

LEARN IN LYCRA. BUT IS THIS 

FITTING OF A STATELY HOME, 

5-STAR HOTEL OR NATIONAL 

INSTITUTION?” 

creativity and effectiveness. 

Add in delegate duty of care, and 

organisers are seeking to create experiences 

and environments that are considerate 

to their people around mental health and 

wellbeing in the workplace and event 

meeting place. 

So, if I’m a responsible employer 

encouraging my people to be their authentic 

self where does this fit in to me using an 

offsite venue? For me personally, being my 

authentic self sees me happiest unshaven, 

in a pair of shorts, no shoes and an age-old 

rugby shirt. Some folk are their authentic 

selves by identifying as cats and other 

animals. Schools are having to address the 

situation and, as Gen A is the delegate of 

tomorrow, it’s something venues need to 

consider. Will dress codes become obsolete 

and at what point does a venue draw the 

line? 

Truth be told, I’m most contented as 

a MAML and would happily cycle to the 

venue and listen and learn in Lycra. But is 

this fitting of a stately home, 5-star hotel 

or national institution? Where does the 

organiser draw the line between delegates 

being their ‘authentic self’ and having a 

meeting menagerie in human form? 

A HOUSE OF CARDS 

There are a lot of new event formats around 

pointing to buoyant demand for consumer 

and business events. There’s also a lot of 

new organisers and incarnations about too. 

We’re seeing a growing trend for events 

being marketed in order to test the demand, 

however there’s no contractual commitment 

to the venue or space. 

Venues and speakers are being used as 

click bait to drive interest. No interest and no 

commitment to the venue as the deal was 

never signed. 

For venues with prestigious reputations, 

it’s problematic being part of a ‘house of 

cards’. Yes, inevitably contracts must be 

signed to use the space, and if it’s not being 

used the space will be released. But do you 

agree to them riding off your reputation? 

It’s definitely worth protecting your brand 

and checking to see if you are being used 

as click bait to drive delegates or exhibitors. 

If you are, it’s up to you how to deal with it. 

We’d say ask for your branding and logo to 

be removed, ask to see collateral and ask for 

the contract back as a matter of urgency. If 

an organiser is confident in their offer, then 

they will sign. if they are not willing to sign 

don’t wait for the cards to start dropping and 

you be left with a gap in the diary. 



GETTY IMAGES 

DEEPFAKE KEYNOTES 

Rappers delight sung Frank Sinatra style, 

Martin Lewis’s recent deepfake video 

and a double bluff on Black Mirror are 

all driven by AI. Currently AI is affecting 

the consumer, however, how long before 

corporates are mis-messaging and MDs 

misleading their teams, shareholders and 

customers? 

In the USA, the actors’ union has warned 

that “artificial intelligence poses an 

existential threat to creative professions” – 

heaven forbid what havoc it can potentially 

cause to the b2b event sector. 

The advent of hybrid gives savvy 

scanners ample ammo to steal voice, 

video, stream and sound to create some 

rather frightening machinations at 

meetings. Imagine Pepsi’s MD releasing its 

secret ingredient or a big pharmaceutical 

saying they can cure all diseases. The early 

release of the Oscars – the faux-Oscars! 

It’s all possible and will certainly make 

planners question how, why and where 

they meet. 

Our pursuit to better our events and 

the delegate experience is leading to big 

change. Question is, are you ready to 

futureproof your terms and conditions as 

we enter a new era of face to face? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Andrew White is 

MD of Triggerfish 

Communications, a 

specialist in helping heritage 

venues and leisure attractions 

build awareness and market share 

in the business of events. 

www.triggerfish.co.uk 

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MEET THE SUPPLIER 

Get to Know… 

Time to make some professional friendships – get to know the people behind the products! 

Phil Jackson 

Founder & CEO, 

Outerspace Group 

01978 532930, hello@ 

outerspacegroup.com, 


What does your company do? 

We supply sustainable building kits to 

installers across the UK. 

What makes your company’s services 

special? 

It is our mission to make the world of 

difference, one space at a time. 

Describe yourself in 10 words 

Motivated, ambitious, natural problem 

solver, creative thinker, people person, 

networker. 

How would your co-workers describe 

you? 

As someone who thinks outside the box 

and that never gives up. 

Craziest thing you have done 

I’ve dived The Blue Hole in Egypt, 

considered to be the deadliest dive site 

in the world. 

We’re in a bar – what do you order? 

We’d be somewhere with a view with a 

pint of Wrexham lager. 

Favourite animal and why? 

Orangutan, how can you not love 

them?! 

Favourite thing on TV 

Yellowstone – Beth Dutton is just 

awesome. 

Ross Hunter 

Managing director, Armadilla 

07985 207659, ross@armadilla.co.uk, 



We design, manufacture and deliver 

luxury accommodation units that create 

‘wow’. 


special? 

All our products focus on five 

main elements – biophilic design, 

sustainability, customer comfort, 

technology and quality. 


I love a challenge, a problem to solve, 

always thinking outside the box. I’m 

a geek at heart and enjoy making and 

inventing new things. 


you? 

Quiet yet resourceful, light hearted and 

easy-going. 

Something nobody would know 

about you? 

I designed and built a low cost, easily 

deployable ventilator during the Covid 

19 pandemic. 


Vodka and soda. 


Dogs – they’re always there for you and 

truly are your best friend. 

Favourite thing on TV? 

Ted Lasso (Apple +) – hilarious. 

Andrew Lang 

Director Podz R Us 

07767 733044, sales@podzrus.com, 



Design and manufacture of glamping 

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Fully customisable, bespoke pods. We 

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Firm but fair – hopefully a decent, 

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I once went skydiving without a 

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strapped to me had one! 


Bottle of Peroni 


Dogs – I have two Labradors, always 

pleased to see me. 


Grand Designs New Zealand – great for 

inspiration. 


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PRODUCT IN FOCUS 

Flooring 

Private Party, Hampshire 

Product: FloorStak tailored cassette floor 

system plus structure support and levelling 

equipment 

Supplier: FloorStak, 07841 069627, alan@ 

regenteng.com, www.floorstak.com 

Details: Joseph Benjamin Marquees 

(www.josephbenjaminmarquees.co.uk) 

near Aylesbury recently completed the 

first installation of its beautiful brand 

new Sperry pole tent for a private party 

event in Hampshire. Because of the steep 

slope of the chosen site, it was decided 

that cassette flooring would be installed 

and would need to be levelled using the 

FloorStak system. 

The radiused ends of the 14m x 32m tent 

were accommodated by two special floor 

sections, purpose-made for use with this 

type of pole tent. While erecting the tent 

on a rectangular floor would have been 

quite possible (and it’s commonly done 

this way), the company decided to entrust 

FloorStak with the manufacture of the 

special ‘tailored’ end units which follow the 

shape of the tent and eliminated the risk of 

water ingress from exposed corners of the 

floor. 

The resulting installation, which also 

incorporated a lower level seating area 

for viewing the entertainment stage, 

looked very professional. The design and 

production concept behind the FloorStak 

cassette floor system help to make it highly 

configurable and therefore versatile. It 

is proving invaluable to event installers, 

and is also now being used in military and 

emergency aid applications worldwide. 

Customer feedback: Joe Goode, director 

of Joseph Benjamin Marquees, said that 

the levelling system, flooring, and pole 

tent were all erected from scratch in the 

first two days of the build, which he felt 

was quite remarkable since much of the 

equipment used was completely new to his 

team. 

Market Leading Flooring 

Marquee Floors 

01787 372988 

info@marqueefloors.co.uk 

www.marqueefloors.co.uk 

Market leaders for the marquee 

industry with high quality traditional matting for use in 

marquees, party tents and indoor/outdoor exhibitions 

and functions. From Dandy Dura – the market leading 

polypropylene matting for marquee flooring in the 

UK – through to Dandy Coco, Dandy Weave and some 

essential glamping 

and sundry 

products to ensure 

your event or 

structure has the 

perfect finishing 

touch. 

We offer a 

bespoke service 

with most of our 

ranges available 

in any size or 

bespoke shape 

complete with 

binding and 

eyelets. 

LuxTrax Tiles 

GT Trax 

01487 823344 

info@gttrax.co.uk 

www.gttrax.co.uk 

LuxTrax from GT Trax is a 

high quality plastic modular 

flooring system ideally 

suited for marquee flooring, 

walkways and display areas 

both indoors and out. 

Each LuxTrax tile is swiftly installed without the need for any 

special tools or skills. There is an underside channel for electricity 

cables ensuring that wires are conveyed safely underfoot. LuxTrax 

tiles measure approximately 500x500x32mm and weigh just 1.5kg, 

equalling 6.0kg per square metre. 

Tiles are manufactured in the UK from reprocessed polyprop 

co-polymer, which offers a high impact resistance even at low 

temperatures. LuxTrax is BS certified for anti-slip and has been 

professionally load tested. It is available for hire or sale throughout 

the UK exclusively from GT Trax, which offers a complete installation 

and removal service. 

LuxTrax complements existing flooring products within the GT 

Trax range including temporary roadways, walkways and ground 

protection panels. 


GLAMPSITES 

CASE STUDY 

Adhurst Yurts 

A serene woodland site in Hampshire featuring six yurts and a cabin 

This utterly authentic glampsite 

allows conscientious guests to get 

back to the natural rhythms of life. We 

talk to owner Alison Lubbock about 

creating a woodland “monastery 

with nature as the cathedral” despite 

unhelpful planners and the odd guest 

from hell. 

What’s your back story – your life before 

glamping? 

I’m from Los Angeles and my husband, Guy, 

is British. This means I understand camping 

with rattlesnakes and palm trees while he’s 

more in tune with bluebells and ancient 

oaks. 

What made you decide to start offering 

glamping accommodation? 

We opened our site in 2012. To be honest, 

we were simply tired of friends asking 

to camp here with their children – we 

realised that although we loved providing 

the experience, it was also hard work. We 

decided it was time to open professionally 

to the public. And I have loved yurts since 

staying in one 30 years ago. 

How did you research the business 

before entering it? 

Our only research was to rent a yurt from 

Henry Dowell (the first yurt he ever built 

and he had lived in it with his wife and 

daughter) and see if we could get bookings. 

When that worked we asked to convert 

the rental towards a purchase and then 

commissioned him to make our second 

yurt. He has now made six for us with a few 

bath yurts thrown in. 

Tell us about your location and site 

Adhurst is a Victorian estate with ancient 

woodland and a river. It was already idyllic 

and heavenly. We spend a fortune on 

tree surgery and keeping the rides open. 

The woods descend towards the river 

with some stunning views. The wildlife, 

especially birdsong, is magical. We have 

some of the tallest redwoods in the 

country. And otters and two eagles. 

How did you tackle getting planning? 

We did retrospective planning as we 

were naive in 2012 and had no idea it was 

required. To be fair, so were the planners 

as we had to explain what a yurt was. I 

seem to recall what with all the nature 

surveys and reports the process was about 

£6,000 – a lot. 

We were granted permission for six yurts 

and we decided to make our fifth yurt a 

cabin instead. This turning of a circular 

canvas and wood structure into a square 

one was apparently not allowed and we 

ended up doing a further retrospective 


GLAMPSITES 

planning application. This time 

the whole experience ruined 

Christmas as the cabin was one 

third of our income at the time 

and we’d spent a lot of time and 

money building it; having to take 

it down would have destroyed our 

business permanently. Another 

few thousand pounds later, and 

after a few ruined months of our 

lives, the council decided we could 

keep the cabin and still have six 

yurts as we were now an asset to 

the national park. 

How did you finance the project? 

We didn’t put any money into the 

business, or rather we couldn’t 

because it was all going to the 

planning department. When we got 

hit with a retrospective business 

rates bill we nearly threw in the 

towel. But they reconsidered this. 

We didn’t take out any loans 

and every grant application 

failed. Instead, we rolled over the 

earnings each year to purchase a 

new yurt until we had six and the 

cabin. This meant we took home 

zero pay for the first three years. In 

the fourth year we were definitely 

in profit. 

In the early years we did almost 

everything ourselves and that 

worked well with our then young 

sons. As the business grew, we 

started employing seasonal help 

using a professional linen service, 

we also started a Biffa contract and 

invested in EV quads so we could 

deliver wood to guests without 

noise. Our two sons have always 

helped too. 

We’re open from April through 

to October. Our USPs are no 

electricity on site, no flushing 

toilets (except at the farm 

entrance) and privacy; the yurts 

are far apart. We mainly attract 

couples, young families and family 

reunions. All guests have vast 

amounts of private space sheltered 

amongst mature trees. 

What occupancy levels and price 

per night do you achieve? 

We are generally about £200 per 

night with a two or three night 

minimum. Our brand is about 

nature, habitat and understanding 

that humans are guest animals in 

these woods. We want our guests 

to learn about nature and we 

provide outdoor skills and nature 

instructors who offer bespoke 

workshops for individual guests/ 

groups. 

How did you work out your 

brand and how do you publicise 

yourself? 

We publicise ourselves mainly on 

listings directories like Cool Stays 

and take 90% of our bookings 

direct via our own website. Most 

of our bookings are commissionfree. 

The other 10% is Canopy & 

Stars, who we have been with since 

they started in 2012. Originally all 

bookings were through Canopy 

& Stars because we didn’t have 

a website, booking system or 

payment gateway. We don’t use 

any of the big portals and generally 

operate by word-of-mouth and 

people just finding us on Google. 

This is important because we 

are a niche market and we don’t 

want guests getting third-party 

information which is often 

incorrect or confusing. 

How would you describe your 

ethos? 

Our ethos is important to us. We 

run Adhurst Yurts like a monastery 


GLAMPSITES 

with nature as the cathedral. Peace, 

serenity, contemplation. This means 

tuning into the natural rhythms of 

dawn and dusk and the elements. 

Taking life at a walking pace. Simply 

slowing down and keeping it simple. 

How did you choose your interior 

decoration? 

Our interiors are about genuine 

antique rugs and textiles, lots of 

wood and iron cooking implements. 

Proper mattresses and iron beds. 

We don’t have any plastic, nothing is 

painted. When it comes to recycling, 

we will recycle glass, paper and tins, 

but request that guests leave with 

any plastic. 

What challenges have you faced? 

We’ve been doing this nearly 12 

years now. About once a year, at 

the beginning or the end of the 

season, we get the guest from 

hell. It’s generally someone with 

unrealistic expectations. But that’s 

the hospitality industry. One unkind 

person can cause disproportionate 

upset. There are rare guests who 

confuse hospitality with a master/ 

slave arrangement. When you’re a 

small family run business that can 

be hard but it’s a fact of life and the 

more guests you have the more 

likely you are to encounter a tricky 

one. It happens. 

What are your plans for next 

season? 

We are always adding to the guest 

experience like fly-fishing, and 

now have a new farm entrance 

with some insulated buildings 

with skylights where we’ve done 

film nights and dance classes in 

“ONE UNKIND PERSON CAN CAUSE 

DISPROPORTIONATE UPSET. THERE 

ARE RARE GUESTS WHO CONFUSE 

HOSPITALITY WITH A MASTER/SLAVE 

ARRANGEMENT” 

the winter. We would love to make 

this new building a nutrition and 

wellness centre with fitness studios. 

So far the planners say this is 

“inappropriate in a national park“. 

I thought what was inappropriate 

was fly-tipping, speeding and 

polluting rivers – but now we must 

apparently add fitness and wellness 

to the list of evils. We’ll apply for 

more EV chargers (solar connected) 

but won’t be surprised if the 

planners refuse them too. The red 

tape is daunting. 

Describe your average day midseason 

Changeovers are Monday, 

Wednesday and Friday. I head up 

around 9am to say goodbye to 

departing guests and ask how their 

stay went. I even ask the children 

because they are always so honest! 

If it’s busy we have two cleaning 

teams to clean the fire bowls and 

wood burners but Guy is still the 

one to ensure the gas powered 

showers and indoor baths are 

ready for hot water. I make a lot of 

beds. 

The coppicer ensures that there 

is chopped firewood and campfire 

wood. I greet guests between 4pm 

and 6pm and orientate them to the 

river and the walk to the pubs so 

they don’t get lost in the woods! If 

they arrive after 6:30pm they’re in 


GLAMPSITES 

self check-in territory. We have a 

lot of repeat guests so self check-in 

is fine for them. 

Do you enjoy the business and 

why? 

We truly enjoy the diversity of 

our guests. They are amazing, 

and it makes up for the lack of 

cosmopolitan life in Hampshire. 

We’ve had everyone here from 

scientists, helicopter pilots and 

surgeons to famous musicians, 

actors and amazingly talented 

artists. Lots of Japanese come and 

I keep thinking they know each 

other but they don’t. And then 

there are the power grannies and 

the solo guests and also people in 

recovery or dealing with serious 

trauma. And we have a regular 

blind guest who comes to give 

his guide dog a holiday. We never 

know who we’re going to meet 

when we head up to the yurts. 

What are you most proud of? 

We are most proud of sticking to 

our principles. We don’t allow cars 

on site. We only provide castiron 

cookware. All our bedding is 

wool or cotton. We stick by our 

waterless, compost privies. And 

zero electricity. We are proud 

to provide glamping for purists. 

Thunder and spiders included. And 

no glitter. 

What advice could you give 

to someone coming into the 

industry? 

Dismantle yurts at the end of the 

season and use winter to repair 

and renew. Maintain your canvas. 

Maintain your canvas. Did I say 

that twice? Make sure your signage 

is reflective to headlights in case 

anybody arrives after dark. Don’t 

rely on predictive text when 

sending notes to your guests – you 

will end up directing them to their 

yoghurt or their yacht instead of 

their yurt! 

ADDRESS BOOK 

YURTS 

Henry Dowell www.yurtmaker.co.uk 

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 

Little Hotelier 

www.littlehotelier.com 

WEBSITE 

Popcorn Web Design 

www.popcornwebdesign.co.uk 

WASTE 

Biffa Bins www.biffa.co.uk 

LAUNDRY 

Petersfield Linen Services 

www.petersfieldlaundry.co.uk 

ACCOUNTING 

Free Agent www.freeagent.com 

PAYMENT GATEWAY 

Cardsave www. 

cardsaveonlinepayments.com 

INSURANCE 

NFU Mutual www.nfumutual.co.uk 

DETAILS 

Adhurst Yurts 

Adhurst Farm 

Sheet 

Hampshire GU31 5DZ 

www.adhurst.co.uk 


GLAMPSITES 

Mattresses 

Understand the anatomy of a mattress and help make the right choice for guests 

ANY OVERNIGHT hospitality offering will 

rest (excuse the pun) heavily on a guests 

sleep experience. Beautiful views, fancy 

facilities and welcoming hosts will all fall 

flat if the bed is not comfortable. So how 

much thought are you putting into your 

mattress choices? While a quick trip to 

Argos/Ikea/Dunelm might seem like a great 

idea for timeliness and cost, it’s worth 

understanding exactly what is going on 

inside your purchase to ensure the right 

choice for your guests. 

Most mattresses are made up of layers, 

each contributing to the feel, comfort and 

longevity of the whole. Most will comprise 

two to six layers which you can break 

down into comfort and support. Most 

mattresses will also have a cover to protect 

them and add to their comfort. 

SUPPORT CORE 

The bottom layer of a mattress is what 

delivers support which should allow 

proper body alignment and prevent 

the sleeper from sinking down into the 

structure’s other comfort layers. This layer 

will be where you find coils, foam or a 

combination of both. 

“OFTEN PEOPLE ARE LED TO 

BELIEVE THAT MORE COILS 

EQUALS MORE QUALITY OR 

COMFORT BUT YOU ALSO 

NEED TO CONSIDER THE COIL 

GAUGE – THE THICKNESS OF 

THE WIRE THAT IS MAKING UP 

THE COIL” 

Coils 

Marketing around the number and type of 

coils can be a minefield so here’s what to 

look out for. Sprung mattresses will usually 

have a layer at the base of vertical metal 

coils (springs). These are designed to flex 

and adapt the support to the movement of 

the sleeper. 

Often people are led to believe that more 

coils equals more quality or comfort but you 

also need to consider the coil gauge – the 

thickness of the wire that is making up the 

coil. You can have a smaller number of coils 

with a thicker gauge delivering the same 

comfort as more coils at a thinner gauge. 

They will probably last longer too! As a rule 

go for the most coils at the thickest gauge. 

Foam 

All-foam mattresses typically also provide 

a support layer and comfort layer. The base 

will be a high-density polyurethane which 

does not sink under pressure. This is great 

for promoting proper body alignment of the 

sleeper. 

COMFORT LAYER 

The sexy part of a mattress’s construction, 

the comfort layer is where manufacturers 

can get creative. Watch out for marketing 

ploys here. The purpose of the comfort layer 

is to create a cushion between the sleeper 

and the support layer – it can also help 

regulate temperature. 

Many spring mattresses include a plush 

comfort layer to balance the supportive 

and bouncy nature of coils. This layer, often 

made of foam or other fibres, adds to the 

bed’s edge support. Some innerspring 

mattresses even feature a layer of lumbar 

foam that ensures your back stays 

comfortable while resting on the coils. 

Memory foam 

Memory foam is a soft and conforming 

material that becomes more supple with 


GLAMPSITES 

Knitted 

Foam and latex mattresses often employ 

a knitted outer fabric that matches the 

softness and flexibility of their comfort 

layers. Knitted covers are stretchy, 

breathable and have a pleasant tactile feel. 

While most foam mattresses use knitted 

fabric for the top layer, manufacturers 

often opt for more durable side and base 

materials. 

GETTY IMAGES 

EDGE SUPPORT 

Edge support prevents a mattress’s edges 

from sagging over time, reducing the risk of 

rolling off the bed. This feature is typically 

present in mattresses with coils or springs, 

while foam and latex mattresses might lack 

this characteristic. Where mattresses are 

used in a glamping setting for more than 

one purpose (for instance, as a seat) edge 

support becomes even more important. 

heat. When you lie down on a memory foam 

mattress, the foam gradually moulds to your 

body, relieving pressure points. Memory 

foam also excels in isolating motion, which 

can be a plus for couples. However, keep in 

mind that memory foam retains heat, which 

might cause the mattress to feel warm with 

two sleepers. 

A gel-infused memory foam mattress 

offers similar benefits but helps sleepers 

keep a bit cooler at night. Expect a higher 

price tag though! 

Latex 

Latex, derived from rubber trees or 

petroleum, offers both support and 

cushioning, similar to memory foam. 

Unlike memory foam, which conforms 

closely, latex distributes your weight 

evenly across the mattress’s surface. This 

minimises the sensation of sinking and 

creates a feeling of gentle suspension on the 

bed. Latex mattresses offer more bounce 

and responsiveness than memory foam, 

resulting in slightly more motion transfer. 

Natural fibres 

Many mattresses contain natural fillings 

including cotton, wool, silk, cashmere and 

mohair to provide enhanced comfort. 

Cotton and wool 

Cotton is highly breathable and wicks away 

moisture offering a soft, cool sleep. Wool is 

GETTY IMAGES 

also breathable and is often used as a casing 

around other mattress fillings to provide a 

plush feel. It keeps sleepers cool in summer 

and warm in winter and has natural fire 

retardant properties, reducing the need for 

chemicals. Many mattresses contain British 

wool – something worth championing! 

At the high end 

Silk, cashmere and mohair are all used in 

high end mattresses. They all offer enhanced 

comfort and moisture control, for a fresher 

sleeping environment. 

HYBRID MATTRESSES 

Hybrid mattresses combine a coil 

innerspring base layer with a memory foam 

or latex comfort layer. These mattresses 

balance support, responsiveness and 

durability, often surpassing all-foam or latex 

beds. They provide more pressure relief and 

softness compared to traditional innerspring 

mattresses. Some hybrids even incorporate 

multiple comfort layers, such as gel memory 

foam, latex and a breathable top foam layer. 

MATTRESS COVERS 

A mattress’s comfort and support layers 

are enclosed by an outer cover made from 

materials like cotton, polyester, wool or 

Tencel lyocell. The cover can influence the 

mattress’s temperature, comfort, durability, 

flexibility and airflow, either enhancing or 

affecting its overall properties. 

Damask 

Also known as ‘ticking’, damask is a woven 

fabric with intricate embroidery. This cover 

material is notably durable and offers longlasting 

protection. Damask is also flexible 

and breathable, maintaining the qualities of 

the underlying comfort and support layers. 

BED BASE 

The foundation or bed base that you pair 

with your mattress is of equal importance as 

the mattress itself. Innerspring and hybrid 

mattresses tend to work well with a box 

spring base, while memory foam and latex 

mattresses are better suited for a slatted or 

platform foundation. 

Quick Tips 

› It’s worth noting that a medium to firm 

mattress will suit most people most 

of the time. You can always soften a 

mattress up for a particular sleeper by 

adding an optional mattress topper. 

Almost all contract mattresses for 

hotels will be medium/firm. 

› Great Britain has an incredible range 

of British mattress manufacturers – at 

all budget points. Many also use British 

products within – look out for anything 

that champions British wool. 

› If your glamping unit has limited space 

look out for ‘no turn’ mattresses which 

keep their condition without the need 

to flip. 

› If you are using your mattress for a 

dual purpose (as a seat, for instance), 

make sure to opt for one with edge 

support so it stands up to use. 

› Think about replacing mattresses 

every five to seven years. 

› Don’t be scared to ask a manufacturer 

for a free sample mattress to try out 

before you commit to a bulk order. 


GLAMPSITES 

GETTY IMAGES 

QUICK TIPS 

Staying Ahead 

Elevating guest experience and maximising business potential to 

stay one step ahead of the rest 

AS THE industry continues its tremendous 

growth it is essential that glampsite 

owners continuously enhance their 

offerings to stay ahead of the competition. 

Many of you will already be familiar with 

the following, but sometimes we all 

need a reminder to focus on continual 

improvement. This article aims to provide 

you with practical insights and tactics to 

help you elevate your glampsite to the next 

level, creating a better guest experience 

and maximising its potential. 

1Assessing 

your site 

To start your journey of improvement, 

a comprehensive evaluation of your 

glampsite is crucial. Analyse guest 

feedback, reviews and market trends 

specific to the UK’s glamping industry 

and identify areas for improvement. This 

assessment will provide a solid foundation 

for your transformation. 

Obviously Open Air Business is an 

excellent place to start regarding what’s 

going on in the industry but it is important 

to stay abreast of general travel and 

hospitality trends too. 

2Enhancing 

accommodations 

and amenities 

Upgrading your existing 

accommodations or introducing 

new ones can significantly 

elevate the glamping experience. 

Consider incorporating luxurious 

features, bespoke designs and 

unique themes that resonate 

with your area's cultural heritage 

or natural beauty. Emphasise 

comfort, privacy, and seamless 

integration with nature. Create 

exclusive amenities that align 

with guest expectations and 

preferences, such as hot tubs, 

outdoor cooking facilities or 

private spa services. 

More often than not guests who 

have enjoyed their time with you 

will be motivated to return if they 

can try out a different experience 

in terms of accommodation. 

3Curating memorable 

experiences 

Going beyond comfortable 

accommodations by curating unique 

guest experiences can set your glampsite 

apart. Showcase your region by organising 

guided nature walks, local food and drink 

tastings, traditional craft workshops, 

or storytelling sessions around the 

campfire. Collaborate with local experts 

and businesses to provide authentic and 

memorable experiences that guests will 

cherish. 

“COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL 

EXPERTS AND BUSINESSES 

TO PROVIDE AUTHENTIC 

AND MEMORABLE 

EXPERIENCES THAT GUESTS 

WILL CHERISH” 

Anything ‘wellness’ is likely to be a hit. 

Think open air yoga, guided meditation, 

spa therapies, barefoot sensory walks and 

cold water dips. 


GLAMPSITES 

4Embracing sustainable 

practices 

Incorporating sustainable practices 

into every aspect of your glampsite 

is crucial. Use eco-friendly 

materials, implement energyefficient 

systems and prioritise 

waste reduction and recycling. 

Highlight your commitment to 

sustainability in your marketing 

efforts; eco and ethical holidays 

are top the agenda for an 

increasing number of people. 

Consider partnering with local 

suppliers and supporting the 

community to strengthen your ecocredentials. 

GETTY IMAGES 

5Digital marketing and online 

presence 

Leveraging the power of digital marketing is crucial to promote your glampsite 

successfully. Build a visually appealing and user-friendly website that showcases your 

accommodations, amenities, and experiences. Utilise social media platforms to engage 

with potential guests, share captivating visuals and gather positive reviews. Collaborate 

with influencers, travel bloggers and local tourism boards to expand your reach and 

attract a wider audience. 

6Prioritising guest 

satisfaction and 

feedback 

Guest satisfaction is vital to 

your success. Implement 

systems to gather feedback 

and actively listen to guest 

suggestions. Regularly 

assess and improve 

your services based on 

these insights. Foster a 

warm and welcoming 

environment and provide 

exceptional customer 

service and personal 

touches that create a lasting 

impression for guests. 

By adopting these strategies you 

can enhance guest experience and 

maximise your business’s potential. 

Embrace the unique attributes of your 

glampsite and the local surroundings 

and be prepared to evolve to stay at the 

forefront of the market. By prioritising 

sustainability, guest satisfaction and 

curating memorable experiences, you 

can create a glamping destination that 

guests will return to time and time 

again. 

- Any shape and size pod available using the 

patented LOCX system 

- Flat packed - easy to transport. 

- Structural aluminium frame erected in a few 

hours 

- Can be clad using any materials including 

canvas. 

- No need for foundations. 

- Apex roof design for Solar panels 

info@luxurypods.com

Achieve all year round 

bookings, with our unique 

luxury glamping cabins, 

just like Bowfield Hotel & Spa 

Waterless toilets for 

off-mains sites 

“Logspan are a joy to do business with. From the get-go we 

found the entire team to be professional, friendly, knowledgeable 

and efficient. The construction team are so talented - no mean 

feat to get these cabins looking this snazzy, and they worked flat 

out. After-sales service is exemplary. In fact I’d go as far as to say 

that Logspan are friends as well as part of our business structure.” 

Louisa Walker 

Scottish Office & Showsite: 

Milton Brae Road, Milton, 

Dumbarton, Glasgow, G82 2TX 

01389 500950 

English Office: 

Eridge Road, 

Crowborough, TN6 2SR 

01892 308041 

info@logspan.com 

www.logspan.com 

www.natsol.co.uk 

Reliable Power 

Solutions 

For off-grid locations 

Simple, 

Portable, 

& Recharged 

with Solar. 

Off-Grid Power Specialists 

Talk to an Expert: 01474 761051 

www.portablepowertech.com 


GLAMPSITES 




Dane 

Smith-Burchnell 

Director, The Tiny 

Housing Co 

01260 545348, info@thetinyhousing.co, 

www.thetinyhousing.co 


We manufacture luxury cabins and 

lodges using energy-saving Passivhaus 

techniques. 


special? 

We are certainly people-led, working 

intimately with eco-sites to illustrate 

how luxury living can harmonise with 

green technologies. 


Lovable at home, hoot in the office, 

serious on site. 


you? 

The human dustbin – can’t stop eating! 


about you? 

I’m an avid forager. My skills may never 

compare to the likes of John Wright, but 

I try my best. 


Always a craft beer, preferably a hazy 

pale. 


Shiba Inu – fluffy like a fox, cute like a 

dog, behaves like a feline. 


I don't really watch TV but I occasionally 

love an episode of Taskmaster for a 

good giggle! 

Wayne Clark 

Managing director, 

The Septic Tank Store 

01295 236101, sales@ 

theseptictankstore.co.uk, 

www.theseptictankstore.co.uk 


We offer bespoke solutions to your 

poo-llution. 


special? 

We have the expert knowledge 

to provide a bespoke sewage 

treatment solution for our clients – 

all-encompassing, from sewage to 

stormwater to drainage. 


Passionate about all things outdoors – 

cycling, camping, running. 


you? 

Forthright yet fair. Hard working and 

knowledgeable. 


about you? 

I used to have a private pilot’s licence. 


A bottle of Moretti. 


My dogs – always pleased to see me. 

Great companions when I’m camping. 


Star Trek – I’m a Trekkie at heart. 

Linda Sullivan 

Commercial manager, 

Unique hideaways 

01736 230140, hello@ 

uniquehideaways.com, 

www.uniquehideaways.com 


We are an exclusive marketing agency 

for luxury glamping and unique 

accommodation. 


special? 

We offer a personable service; there’s 

always someone at the end of the 

phone. 


Welsh, but can’t sing! Wear my heart on 

my sleeve. 


you? 

Friendly, hardworking, people 

person, loyal, motivated, team player, 

passionate and funny. 


Walked Snowdon in a pair of trainers, 

needless to say my feet were in a pretty 

bad state once reaching the summit! 


Bubbles if the glass is right! Or a large 

G&T with plenty of ice. 


Cat, they’re mini versions of wild cats, 

lions being my favourite wild animal. 


Yellowstone, including prequels – I love 

the writing and cast! 


Luxury shepherd huts 

crafted by hand, fully bespoke 

to your requirements 

BESPOKE OPTIONS 

OAK OR TIN CLADDING INTERIOR DECOR COLOURS QUALITY MATERIALS KITCHEN CABINETS COLOUR QUARTZ WORKTOP STYLE FLOORING FINISH DOORS & WINDOWS COLOUR 

CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR IDEAS 

01531 821599 

regencyshepherdhuts.co.uk 

info@regencyshepherdhuts.co.uk 

5% off 

YOUR QUOTE WITH THIS FEATURE 

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Furniture, Fencing, Decking, Dog Agility 

& Children's Play 

Maintenance free 

Long-lasting 

Quick delivery 

Delivered assembled 

Handmade in Devon 

Rust & water-proof 

sales@dcwpolymers.co.uk 

01392 535353 

dcwpolymers.co.uk

GLAMPSITES 


Specialist Structures 

Cairngorm Bothies, 

Aberdeenshire 

Product: 12 Finman 

Retreat pods 

Supplier: Logspan, 

01389 734572, 

info@logspan.com, 

www.logspan.com 

Customer feedback: Site owner Gordon said: “We have 

been very pleased with all aspects of the Logspan 

service and the products both before and after 

purchase. In short – good quality, good value 

and good service. I have put in three orders 

over the years, so it stands that I am satisfied 

as I keep going back! 

“The site has been a great success and 

we look forward to developing it further 

over the next few years.” 

Details: Cairngorm 

Bothies offer 

off-grid holiday 

accommodation for 

short term rental. 

The site’s 12 glamping 

pods from Logspan 

comprise a double 

bedroom, main seating 

area complete with wood 

burning cooking range, and a 

separate kitchen and bathroom. 

The hexagonal design of the Finman 

Retreat pod allows for maximum usable floor 

space by building out on three separate side extensions, one for 

the entrance doorway, one for a bedroom and another for the 

bathroom/kitchen. 

Eco Architectural Retreats 

The Tiny Housing Co 

07511 589340 

info@thetinyhousing.co 

www.thetinyhousing.co 

If you know us, you’ll know that we’ve always been 

eco-buffs! It wouldn’t be a THC cabin without the 

use of cleaner, greener materials, steering clear of 

the nasty stuff like toxic glues and paints. And you’ve 

heard of Passivhaus? We’re all about that. It’s an 

effective method of creating highly energy efficient 

homes that pair with solar to cover up to 80% of a 

lodge’s energy needs. Less bills, better for the planet; 

now that’s impressive! And, between us, these aren’t 

just any lodges, they’re architectural deluxe retreats, 

epitomising class for an unmatched guest experience 

– who wouldn’t love that! 


GLAMPSITES 

Troney Valley 

Escapes, Devon 

Product: Three luxury 

safari tents 

Supplier: Bond Fabrications, 

01453 767171, enquiries@ 

bondfabrications.co.uk, 


Details: Bond is known throughout 

the outdoor hospitality industry 

for its bespoke British made safari 

tents and loves to work with 

clients that are looking to go the 

extra mile. When Henry Charteris 

approached Bond with grand ideas 

for his beautiful farm in Devon, the 

whole team at the Gloucestershirebased 

factory got stuck into the design details and thoroughly 

enjoyed working with Henry and his team. 

It was important that Henry offer his future guests a thoroughly 

exclusive experience with space and luxury being of utmost 

importance. A lot of time was spent designing the details of both 

the tents and also the imposing decks. 

Customer feedback: Owner Henry Charteris said: “When 

looking to add luxury glamping accommodation to our farm in 

Devon we were keen to look for a British manufacturer. Having 

researched our options, Bond was the obvious choice with 

years of experience and a sterling reputation. The structures are 

robust and of exceptional quality, and the bespoke element was 

just what we needed. The team were open to design changes 

and accommodated our requests, often producing several CAD 

designs. 

“The carpenters did an excellent job of the deck and other 

internal woodwork. It was a pleasure working with the whole 

team at Bond and great to support a British, family-owned 

business like ours. Our three luxury safari tents look wonderful 

and our guests couldn’t be happier. We would highly recommend 

Bond… a friendly yet professional team with years of experience 

and a fantastic quality product!” 

Origami Life! 

Timberspecs UK 

01580 212141 

info@timberspecs.com 

www.timberspecs.com 

Welcome to what is probably the most versatile 

construction you are ever likely to come across – The 

Origami! Designed for simplicity, ease and style, these 

structures are delivered as a 6.4 x 2.4 m lorry load. They 

expand to 6.4 x 6.4m and connect up in just 2 hours. 

Delivered complete with double glazing, guttering, 

full insulation, kitchen, bathroom, internal electrics and 

plumbing, they are quick, simple and cost effective. 

Regularly maintained, Oragamis can have a life of many 

decades. With prices starting below £60,000, the Origami 

can include extra internal walls for additional bedrooms. 

Eco-friendly with an incredibly low carbon footprint, 

the Origami can be easily re-folded and relocated 

elsewhere, leaving very little trace – the solution to a 

greener building programme. 


GLAMPSITES 

The Farm at Avebury, 

Wiltshire 

Product: Luxury mobile glamping pod 

Supplier: Bespoke Hideouts, 07703 

387322, hello@bespokehideouts.com, 

www.bespokehideouts.com 

Details: A working farm situated 

inside the Avebury World Heritage site, 

The Farm at Avebury provides luxury 

accommodation to guests looking to 

explore the UNESCO-protected landscape 

Bespoke Hideouts created a luxury 

glamping pod designed to immerse 

guests within the natural landscape. 

The off-grid pod is built with a wriggly tin roof and flanked 

by shadow gap larch cladding. A spacious double bed is 

surrounded by low level windows, designed to give a wide 

angled view of the surrounding countryside. 

Inside, the cabin is fitted with a kitchen area and 

bathroom, including rain shower, and inside seating for 

those wetter days. The cabin is built on a trailer to allow easy 

transportation between sites. 

Before delivering the cabin to Avebury, Bespoke Hideouts 

conducted a site visit with the farm owners. They toured the 

farm and advised on a number of suitable locations for the 

trailer to be sited on. The agreed site was an orchard near the 

other guest accommodation; the only neighbours being the 

friendly flock of sheep. 

Customer feedback: Owner Alice Hues said: “A great 

experience from start to finish. Seeing the beautiful Bespoke 

Hideouts cabins in the backdrop of the farm was great, exactly 

as we had imagined. The quality of the cabin was amazing 

and the space was efficiently used to provide everything 

you could want from a luxury glamping pod. It was easy to 

maintain after the initial installation and our guests loved the 

unique experience of staying off-grid in such an attractive 

cabin and location.” 

New Concept Flat Pack 

Shepherds Huts 

Into The Wild UK 

sales@intothewild.com 

www.intothewild.com 

Following multiple requests from customers, Into the Wild UK has developed an ingenious shepherds hut that arrives in flat pack format. 

This follows people’s frustration of not being able to manoeuvre regular transport into difficult areas such as into the middle of dense 

woodland, by a lake or river or through a three foot wide access to a property in a city centre. 

These clever huts can be carried piece by piece by two people and erected in just eight hours on average. Quality is not compromised 

and sections are pre-made with insulation, a painted interior, plug sockets, lighting points and double glazed hardwood windows and 

door. 

The first hut will be available for inspection from September 2023. The standard size is 12x7 feet and the initial offering price is £18,500 

+ VAT. Delivery and assembly can be arranged for an additional fee. 


GLAMPSITES 

Introducing Recycled 

Aluminium Framed Pods 

Luxury Pods 

craig@luxurypods.com 

www.luxurypods.com 

Luxury Pods will be launching 

its new range of structures at 

the Farm Business Innovation 

Show at the NEC in November. 

Built using the revolutionary 

patented LOCX system these 

pods uses recycled British 

aluminium to create a superstrong 

lightweight structural 

frame on which to build. The 

system allows any shape or size 

pod to be erected easily and 

quickly using relatively unskilled 

labour. Pods can be easily 

dismantled and flat packed. 

The company's initial focus 

is on five pod shapes: hexagon, 

heptagon, octagon, nonagon 

and decagon, starting with the 

NonaPod. A-frames, squares, 

rectangles and other bespoke 

shapes and sizes are available 

on request. The NonaPod has 

nine sides and is raised off the 

ground for ease of access and 

can be used in flood prone 

areas. There is no need for 

foundations and it can be 

erected on slopes. It will be 

available to purchase as a basic 

frame or as a fully furnished 

completed pod. 

Find Installers 

with New Website 


01978 532930 

hello@outerspacegroup.com 

www.outerspacelife.co.uk / 


Outerspace is excited to announce 

the launch of a brand new 

website, www.outerspacelife.co.uk. This exciting platform is designed 

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We believe in building a future that is both environmentally 

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Our website is not just a portal for connecting customers with 

installers, it’s a treasure trove of inspiration, showcasing the incredible 

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We understand that finding the right supplier can sometimes feel 

like searching for a needle in a haystack. That’s why we’ve made it our 

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you need to factory build or build on site. 

Sustainability at our Core 

Armadilla 

0131 440 4000 

sales@armadilla.co.uk 


Create Something Truly Bespoke 

Regency Shepherd Huts 

07807 072080 

info@regencyshepherdhuts.co.uk 

www.regencyshepherdhuts.co.uk 

Regency Shepherd Huts offers a fully bespoke service, building 

premium shepherd huts. Each hut we produce is different in terms 

of size, style, content and colours. The materials we use and the 

finishing detail is at the higher end of the market. We feel if you’re 

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When it comes to the designing part, we like to receive as much 

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for what the final product will look like. The two most popular 

cladding types we cater for are green oak and wriggly tin, which 

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In the interior of a Regency hut you will find sumptuous features 

such as handmade kitchens, quartz worktops, hardwood windows 

and doors, chunky oak steps, bedroom skylights and pop up TVs. 

Please get in touch with your ideas. 

Sustainability is a key element in the Armadilla ethos and is taken 

into consideration at each stage of the production process. While 

the Armadilla Pods and Waves have the highest conceivable 

standards of luxury, they also have the lowest life cycle costs of 

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Through design, material selection, higher insulation values 

and advanced technology the Armadilla team has developed 

industry leading environmental standards that appeal to 

responsible hospitality providers. 

We don’t do “eco bling” (token green add-ons). All our 

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and sustainability inherent throughout and the cladding on 

the exterior of all our products is not only FSC but has a 50 year 

warranty. 

With Armadilla, your guests can enjoy the luxury of 

our products with a guilt-free conscience, which is 

increasingly being demanded by guests who 

are willing to pay a premium. 

LUXURY HIDEAWAYS 


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GLAMPSITES 


Sustainability 

Hollow Ash, Herefordshire 

Product: Full Access Composter toilet 

Supplier: NatSol, 01686 412653, info@natsol.co.uk, 

www.natsol.co.uk 

Details: Hollow Ash is an eight-acre smallholding overlooking the 

valley of the River Monnow in the Welsh Marches. The owners have 

recreated wildflower meadows, planted native woodland, and three 

acres are set out as traditional orchards. The fruit is harvested to 

make juice, cider and perry, and the woodland is coppiced for fuel 

and to benefit wildlife. The owners share their little bit of paradise by 

letting out two shepherd huts for holidays. 

Natsol supplied its Full Access Composter toilet. Installation 

required a machine on site and some concrete use but the toilet has 

a very low carbon footprint in operation. No vehicle use is necessary 

after installation providing that the compost can be used on site e.g. 

for tree planting, or around ornamentals or hedges. 

The urine from the toilet is sent to a simple underground soakaway. 

The only consumables used in managing the toilet are toilet paper, 

standard cleaning materials, and a bale or two of wood shavings each 

year. Toilets of this sort do not use water and do not add any loading 

to mains or private sewage systems, or require emptying by slurry 

tankers. 

Natsol’s toilets are made from highly durable materials and life 

expectancy is at least 50 years. 

Customer feedback: Owner Clare Adamson said: “All our holiday 

guests are very pleasantly surprised by our NatSol toilet. They 

generally have low expectations of compost toilets and some have 

previously experienced much more basic facilities. To quote one 

guest: “Perfect location, perfect hut, perfect composting loo!” 

“Our NatSol compost toilet has been the ideal solution for our 

glamping site which has no mains drainage. The toilet has been 

installed for eight years and has been entirely problem free; there 

is no unpleasant odour, and the maintenance is minimal. We can’t 

comment on the after sales service as we have never needed it, but 

Andy and the other staff at NatSol are very friendly and helpful.” 


GLAMPSITES 

Devon Yurt, Devon 

Product: Wood-fired hot tubs and barrel sauna 

Supplier: Naked Flame Eco-Tubs, 01484 766233, 

info@nakedtubs.com, www.nakedtubs.com 

Details: Devon Yurt was founded way back in 2007 and began 

with just one yurt. The site celebrates fantastic views towards 

Dartmoor national park from a nature friendly farm. Naked 

Flame was happy to help and advise owner Julia in supplying 

the perfect products to complement Devon Yurt and to 

maintain its green ethos. 

Julia has expanded with more luxury yurts each with 

private fresh water, wood-fired hot tubs. Julia did not 

want to use unnecessary chemicals hence teaming up 

with Naked Flame who have also helped her keep things 

totally off-grid. All tubs include factory fitted Polystone liner 

systems enabling lower water volume, fast heat up times 

(approximately one hour) and super-fast cleaning and 

turnaround times. Fully inclusive packages provide all of the 

necessary extras needed as well as 316 marine grade tub 

heaters. 

Wanting to add further spa type facilities, while celebrating 

the marvellous views from the farm, in 2020 Julia added 

the 3m Naked Flame Thermowood barrel sauna with ‘sun’ 

window. A low power 9kW electric heater was chosen so the 

sauna can be powered from solar. 

All Naked Flame products boast fully sustainable and traceable 

Thermowood for the hand-made construction as well as only 

using fully recyclable Polystone liner systems for hot tubs. Devon 

Yurt continues to evolve year on year and Naked Flame are hugely 

proud to work with them and many other fantastic sites across 

the UK, keeping things eco while bringing the ‘wow’ factor. 

Customer feedback: Owner Julia said: “The off-grid products 

from Naked Flame have been a great success at Devon Yurt. From 

advice in choosing the perfect products to continued backup and 

information, nothing is too much trouble and we would certainly 

recommend other sites to get in touch with them for a great 

service.” 

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Each solar panel has its own kick stand but if space is limited a 

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Lifos Fort is a fully renewable energy system but can be 

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input was insufficient to meet your daily power needs – during 

the winter months for example. Even when using a generator, 

Fort will reduce the time it is operative to ensure diesel 

consumption and emissions are kept to a minimum. 


GLAMPSITES 

Recycled British Plastic Furniture – 

Rent or Buy 

DCW Polymers 

01392 361300 

polymers@dcw.co.uk 

www.dcwpolymers.co.uk 

With climate change a hot topic, outdoor hospitality businesses need 

to think about how they can use sustainable products in their outdoor 

spaces. Introducing DCW Polymers’ outdoor furniture range. 

Combining stylish design with durability, the range includes picnic 

benches, park benches and dining sets handmade by joiners from 100% 

recycled British plastics. 

An excellent alternative to timber, wave goodbye to corrosion, rot, 

and splinters. Products are weatherproof so don’t require painting 

or treating. If your business opens seasonally, enquire about DCW 

Polymers’ long-term rental options, perfect for those who don’t require 

outdoor furniture all year round. 

By purchasing from DCW Polymers, you are not only helping 

keep plastic waste away from landfill, you will be giving back to the 

environment too. For every furniture product sold, DCW Polymers 

plants one tree in Devon. 

DCW Polymers offers UK wide delivery and all products come fully 

assembled with a 25-year guarantee. 

The New Pro Series 

Powerpack Solution 

Portable Power Technology 

01474 761051 

alicia@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 – a fast recharging, all-in-one lithium 

powerpack solution in a variety of storage sizes. Solar ready, 

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All our powerpacks are portable and can be brought to mains 

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Powerpacks are a great option to add instant, portable and 

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the power requirement or wherever you are, you can trust that 

we’ll be here to keep you powered. 

Off-grid Showers and Toilets 

Sheep Shed Creations 

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Complement your off-grid accommodation or event space with 

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EVENTS 

CASE STUDY 

AlderFest 

At just two years old, AlderFest is young but mighty, offering big name 

acts and a family focus over two days in July 

Following the rapid 

development of Alderford 

Lake as an outdoor venue 

following Covid, the 

Bebbington family turned 

their attention to creating 

a festival. Initial ideas for 

a small food festival soon 

escalated and the team 

suddenly had a “full-blown 

music festival to plan in six 

months”. We talk to 

Zoe Watson. 

Describe your event and how many people 

it attracts? 

AlderFest is essentially a family music 

festival based around the idea of bringing big 

names to a small venue. As a family friendly 

destination, AlderFest encompasses the heart 

of our business and our values by delivering 

the ultimate summer weekend designed 

to allow families and their friends to create 

lasting memories. AlderFest is embedded in 

the values of being a fun, friendly, memorable 

and safe event. 

Around 3,000 people attended our first 

year’s one day event, increasing to over 6,000 

for 2023’s two day event. 

Explain a bit about your venue 

AlderFest is held at Alderford Lake in 

Whitchurch, Shropshire. The event and the 

venue go hand in hand, with Alderford’s staff 

leading the AlderFest event team. 

At what was once an arable farm, Dearnford 

Lake was formed in 1991 as a result of the 

Whitchurch bypass being built. Dearnford 

was initially used for fishing and weddings 

and was founded by owners Jane and Charles 

Bebbington. 20 years and a name change later, 

Alderford is now a bustling leisure venue run 

by Jane and Chas’s son, Rob, and is still very 

much a family run business. 

What is the event’s history and what made 

you decide to run it? 

A music festival is something we have always 

wanted to do at Alderford. It was a pipe 

dream that we have spoken about repeatedly 

throughout the years. In 2021, we started to 

talk about the idea of a food festival, following 

the success of our outdoor markets during the 

pandemic. That conversation then developed 

to talk about putting music on throughout the 

day, initially considering just local bands. Of 

course, the conversation started to escalate 

until we were throwing around massive names 

in music! The excitement got too much, and as 

soon as we knew it, we had a full-blown music 

festival to plan in six months. 

After the first year in 2022, the customer 

feedback was exceptional and the social 

media engagement and following was 

unprecedented compared to any other event 

in our calendar. We were extremely motivated 

to run it again in 2023, as it was an event 

enjoyed so thoroughly by both customers and 

staff. 2023 saw the introduction of Friday Night 

Dance Anthems, making it a two day event. 

AlderFest is run by the Alderford team. 

Alderford is open 362 days of the year, so the 

event planning and preparation all go on 

behind the scenes while being open to the 

public for busy summer days. The team has to 


EVENTS 

dedicate time in advance in order 

to ensure the planning for AlderFest 

doesn’t get overtaken by everyone’s 

day to day tasks! 

How is your relationship with the 

local authority and community? 

We feel extremely fortunate to have 

a fantastic mutual relationship with 

Shropshire Council. It has been 

incredibly supportive of our new 

venture and its feedback on our 

events has been outstanding. We 

appreciate businesses need to work 

with councils rather than against 

them and understand public safety 

is their ultimate priority. Putting on 

large events, as we do, we want to 

ensure our community emergency 

services do not come under 

additional strain due to our events. 

We are proud to be able to offer 

such big names in a small town, 

and are always pleased to hear of 

the additional financial benefits our 

town experiences from our festival. 

We are delighted to invite our 

immediate neighbours and have 

them enjoy the festival as much as 

we do. 

When considering entertainment 

and activities for our festival, we try 

to look inwards and work with local 

businesses, charities and voluntary 

groups such as Whitchurch Alport 

Football Club and Nature’s Safe, 

which in turn increases their 

exposure. 

How have you planned the layout 

of the event? 

For our first year, we went with 

quite a traditional event layout, 

with the stage located centrally and 

food stalls in easy access of those 

customers near the stage. We did 

find some initial challenges with the 

layout in 2022. For example, we had 

a bar situated in the middle of the 

field in a tipi, which led to quite a 

complicated queuing system and if 

the queue became too long it would 

interfere with other aspects of the 

festival. Furthermore, with the stage 

being central, it meant that we lost a 

lot of space for customers to watch 

the acts due to the shape of the site. 

We decided to allow the space we 

had dictate the layout in 2023, rather 

than leaning into traditional festival 

set ups. The stage was located in 


EVENTS 

the corner of the field, looking out 

onto the site. By moving the stage, 

it meant a lot more people could 

be in a position to see the show. 

Furthermore, the bar became 

a long line of bars, allowing the 

queueing system to be more easily 

managed. 

In 2022, we predominately used 

tipis to cover the kid’s activities as 

well as all of the bars. However, in 

2023 we moved towards marquees 

for both financial reasons and, most 

importantly, for practicality reasons 

as the space is a lot more suitable 

for the intended purposes. 

How did you research and source 

your marquees, flooring, bars 

etc? 

We have worked with Adrian from 

Border Bars and Marquees plenty 

of times in the past. The company 

used to host weddings at Alderford 

and have provided us marquees for 

different events including our ice 

skating and roller skating rinks. 

What entertainment do you offer 

and how did you choose and 

source it? 

Entertainment is a huge part of 

our festival, as we want customers 

to have something to see and do 

wherever they look! The discussion 

when choosing entertainment 

has always been focused around 

what would be memorable for 

children and something they would 

continue to talk about for years to 

come. Arguably, this was achieved 

for both 2022 and 2023 with Zeus 

the 12ft T-Rex! He had such a great 

reaction during our first festival 

“WE TRY TO 

VARY THE 

MUSIC TO 

SUIT A 

VARIETY OF 

AGES AND 

TASTES, 

WITH THE 

FOCUS 

BEING THE 

ENJOYMENT 

FACTOR OF 

THE WEEK- 

END” 

with kids screaming with joy (and 

horror!) we had to bring him back 

for our second year. 

With AJ and Curtis Pritchard 

hosting the whole event, dance 

has always been an integral part 

of the festival, with multiple dance 

workshops happening throughout 

the weekend, both on and off stage. 

It’s not everyday you can say you 

were taught a dance by a Strictly 

Come Dancing professional! 

In terms of music, this is where 

the most difficult decisions in the 

whole process were made. With 

the help of Carol from All Star 

Promotions, we discussed all sorts 

of artists with a whole host of 

strong opinions from everyone in 

the AlderFest team. We try to vary 

the music to suit a variety of ages 

and tastes, with the focus being the 

enjoyment factor of the weekend. 

McFly and Sam Ryder were both 

dream artists for us and we were 

so happy to have them perform 

at AlderFest 2023, with them both 

delivering epic performances. 

How do you manage admissions 

and visitor safety? 

Admissions for AlderFest are not 

dissimilar to our normal admissions 

process. We put an emphasis on 

ensuring queues move as quickly 

as possible while also making 

sure important information is 

passed to the customers. We have 

four admission desks as well as 

three to four queue managers, all 

assisting in the smooth running of 

the process from signing waivers, 

assisting with check-in and handing 

out the correct wristbands. We also 

have a designated VIP, re-entry and 

accessible queue. Our admissions 

team play a key part in answering 

customer queries regarding the 

festival both before and during the 

event. 

In regard to customer safety, 

Alderford treats this with the 

utmost importance. An essential 

aspect of customer safety is 

through our processes prior to the 

opening of the gates to the public, 

including a full in-depth sweep of 

the site and then also bag searches 

upon entry to ensure prohibited 

items are not brought onto site. We 

also liaise prior to the festival with 

our security company to ensure the 

whole team is fully educated on 

safety procedures to ensure we can 

act quickly when situations arise. 

This includes our on-site first-aid 

team and the external medic team. 

What impact did the pandemic 

have on the development of your 

event? 

Our event started running in 2022, 

so were not directly impacted by 

the pandemic. Alderford as a site, 

however, saw great acceleration 

and business development during 

these years due to people being 

desperate to get outside and enjoy 

themselves in the outdoors, and 

of course with many people being 

furloughed they had more time 

off to spend at local attractions. 

Indirectly, the development seen 

during these years, gave us the 

financial capabilities to be able 

to even consider hosting a music 

festival. 


EVENTS 

How do you publicise the event? 

The main form of publicity and 

marketing for AlderFest has been 

social media marketing. This 

covers a whole host of platforms, 

including Instagram, TikTok, and 

Facebook. The strategic aim for 

AlderFest’s social media campaign 

has always been to try and create 

an element of FOMO (fear of 

missing out). Our marketing aims 

to make the festival look so fun 

and entertaining that people 

feel they would be missing out if 

they didn’t attend. Furthermore, 

on our social media platforms, 

our tone is conversational and 

attempts to make the reader feel 

like one of the team, creating a 

sense of community over time. 

For 2023, we teamed up 

with Mustard Media, who are 

digital marketing specialists 

for festivals and events. Their 

role was to concentrate on paid 

advertising on social media and 

web browsers. Through creating 

campaigns which covered 

awareness, targeted engagement 

and conversions, they were able 

to effectively aid the amount of 

tickets sold. 

Other marketing techniques 

included billboards, both digital 

and static. With printed media it 

is often difficult to determine the 

effectiveness of the campaign, 

and therefore most of the 

marketing budget was allocated 

to digital marketing as we were 

able to analyse and refine the 

effectiveness of this. 

“THE AIM 

FOR NEXT 

YEAR IS 

SIMPLY TO 

GET MORE 

PEOPLE TO 

EXPERIENCE 

THIS 

INCREDIBLE 

FESTIVAL 

AND CREATE 

A RELIABLE 

COMMUNITY 

OF FESTIVAL- 

GOERS 

THAT WILL 

CONTINUE 

TO SUPPORT 

US FOR 

YEARS TO 

COME” 

What additional challenges have 

you faced? 

As a relatively new festival, it can 

be hard to get your voice heard in 

an already oversaturated market. 

We decided to get the help of 

Mustard Media, due to the heavy 

task of marketing and delivering 

the message of the festival to the 

right people. We did not have the 

expertise required to do this within 

our team and therefore had to 

outsource the help of experts in 

their field. 

How have you financed the event 

(sponsorship, grants etc) 

We do not receive any form of grant 

or sponsorship for this event and 

is entirely financed by our own 

business and financials. This event 

ADDRESS BOOK 

MARQUEES 

Border Bars and Marquees 

www.borderbarsandmarquees.com 

STAGES & AV 

Live Events LTD 

www.liveeventsltd.co.uk 

HEAT & POWER 

DNK Event Services 

www.dnkeventservices.co.uk 

TOILETS 

County Loos www.countyloos.com 

TICKETING 

Roller www.roller.software 

SECURITY 

H&A Protection Services 

www.haprotectionservices.co.uk 

is extremely costly to put on and 

we are working on a three year plan 

with the final aim to be profitable 

after three years. 

What are your plans for next year? 

With the success of AlderFest 

2023, we are so excited to bring 

the festival back for another year! 

The aim for next year is simply to 

get more people to experience 

this incredible festival and create a 

reliable community of festival-goers 

that will continue to support us for 

years to come. 

What advice could you give to 

someone coming into the outdoor 

event industry? 

Plan for all weathers! You 100% 

need a contingency plan for every 

single type of weather you can think 

of, even if it is not forecasted. 

ENTERTAINMENT 

All Star Promotions 

www.allstarpromotions.co.uk 

INSURANCE 

KLF Insurance 

www.klf-insurance.com 

DETAILS 

AlderFest 

5-6 July 2024 

Alderford 

Tilstock Rd 

Whitchurch 

SY13 3JQ 

www.alderfest.com 

60 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

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EVENTS 

SCARE 

Creating 

Attractions 

Expand into ‘scare’ with advice from PrimEvil’s creator, Martin Goymour 

THERE’S NO denying that scare attractions 

are on the up. Originally a US import, 

they are an extension of the Halloween 

phenomenon which originally gained a 

foothold in the UK in the nineties. 

Market leaders like Tulleys Shocktoberfest 

attract around 80,000 every year, benefitting 

from their positioning as the OG, as well as 

their location close to London. Theme parks 

across the UK like Alton Towers, Chessington 

World of Adventures and Thorpe Park who 

often take their cue from US-based parks 

were all early adopters. There are more and 

more smaller events happening every year, 

but to do it well and profitably is quite a 

challenge. 

In East Anglia, PrimEvil is proud to be the 

leading attraction of its kind. Based at our 

existing site – dinosaur-themed adventure 

Park ROARR! by day – it’s now in its 14th year 

and has become firmly established as a rite 

of passage for thousands across the region. 

As a lifelong fan of Hammer horror films 

and having experienced some of the US scare 

attractions for myself, I first broached the 

idea of PrimEvil in 2010. 

At the time, we had begun construction 

of a 1,800m2 steel-framed building to 

house a new indoor play area for ROARR! 

Unfortunately, the recession forced us 

to pause work, so we were left with the 

structural shell sitting empty and available. 

An original concept used that space to create 

a caged scare maze with strobe lighting, 

sound effects and loud music, which became 

our first haunt, Insanatorium. 

That first event in 2010 was run across five 

nights and brought to life by 15 scare actors, 

some of which were park employees. We also 

had a second haunt called Maze of Mutants, 

utilising an existing outdoor maze. A more 

family-friendly story-led trail called Dino 

Haunts operated during the daytime too. 

We attracted around 2,500 guests, which 

while not enough to break even, was enough 

to convince me that there was an appetite 

for the scare attraction, despite any inherent 

commercial risks. 

The following year, we started to recruit 

more external scare actors to support us. 

In fact, Ben Francis, who has become an 

integral part of the PrimEvil leadership team, 

joined us that year as a clown, having visited 

the first year with friends. He subsequently 

became our park events manager and is now 

park manager, overseeing both the daytime 

ROARR! operation as well as PrimEvil. 

Over the next five years, we continued to 

recruit a larger cast of scare actors and add 

further haunts, like the Circus of Terror, The 

Crypt and Route 666 – Forest of Fear, again 

making the most of the infrastructure that we 

already had in place. 

It took us six years before we financially 

broke even, and it was the guest reaction 

and increasing numbers that spurred us on. 

We were patient, knowing that it takes time 

to establish a new attraction and being the 

first in the region to offer it. There was also a 

significant challenge for us in differentiating 

the product in guests’ minds from ROARR!, 

which began in 1983 and is a well-established 

family favourite. 

As soon as we started to see some 

commercial success, we continued to 

reinvest into the event, to make it bigger 

and better. By 2018 we were offering five 

different haunts, and in 2019 we constructed 

a dedicated building to house two separate 

haunts as well as crew rooms, wardrobe 

and makeup. In 2020 we increased the F&B 

offering by inviting ‘street food’ vendors to 

attend, in addition to the park’s own outlets 

and purpose-built outdoor bar. 

This year we’re aiming to attract 30,000 

guests across 17 nights and utilise in excess 

of 100 scare actors. 

LEADERS IN THE FIELD 

Tulleys is the granddaddy of them all in the 

UK. Similarly to us, they started out as a 

family-focused attraction – in their case a 

farm shop with associated activities. They’re 

also a family-run business like us, and in 

their case it was Stuart Beare, the son of the 

original farmer, who saw the potential in 

increasing Halloween-themed product back 

in the mid-nineties. 

That family connection is really important. 

Whilst my son Adam became park director 

of ROARR! in 2018, PrimEvil is still very 

much my baby. As well as being one of the 

core leadership team of three – alongside 

Ben Francis and Helen McLaren – I am very 

much present every night that we’re live, in 

character as my alter ego Skullmore. 

The big theme parks are already more in 

tune with the US in terms of daytime product 


EVENTS 

so it’s a logical step for them to also expand 

into scare, but I don’t think the UK will ever 

quite match the US simply due to numbers. 

The major parks in the States like Universal 

draw hundreds of thousands of visitors as 

their domestic market is so much bigger. To 

put on a really good scare event is incredibly 

expensive and that’s just not feasible without 

the numbers. 

PLANNING AN ATTRACTION 

When thinking about the kinds of scare 

to create, there are a number of factors to 

consider. Infrastructure is an important 

one – will it be in a dedicated space, or is it 

going to be sharing that space with a daytime 

product? The latter clearly brings with it 

another level of complexity to avoid one use 

impacting on the other. 

In terms of age bracket, we’ve firmly 

set ours at a minimum of 12 years old, 

and anyone aged between 12-17 must be 

accompanied by an adult aged 18+. That 

means that we can create scares appropriate 

to a slightly older audience, and that those 

older guests can enjoy their evening with 

a bit more freedom. The largest tranche of 

visitors are in the 18-30 age group, though we 

do also have significant numbers either side 

of that. 

Every haunt has flexibility built into it, 

both physically and in terms of how the scare 

actors interact. The actors are trained in how 

to recognise an individual's limits, and only 

push them to the extent that it’s still fun. All 

of the haunts have planned safe routes and 

exits for anyone that needs to leave, and 

we also have a scare-free ‘safe room’ that 

anyone can retreat to whenever they like for 

some downtime. 

HOW TO CATER FOR A WIDER AUDIENCE 

Our daytime product at ROARR! is entirely 

separate from PrimEvil, with the park closing 

for two hours in between openings. 

We work really hard to ensure that those 

visiting during the day for Dippy’s Halloween 

are unaware of the evening activity, for 

example by using separate structures for 

haunts which are then simply put to bed 

behind closed gates during the daytime. 

What we have done to up the ante at 

PrimEvil in terms of broadening the appeal is 

bring in more of a festival vibe – street food, a 

bar serving themed cocktails and mocktails, 

circus type performers and live music. 

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ATTRACTION GREAT? 

For me, it’s all about the quality of the scare 

actors – they are who bring the event to life. 

Of course the design and build, sound and 

lighting effects need to be top-notch but 

the interaction with actors is what all of our 

guests really remember. 

We also work hard to ensure that the 

“WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO UP THE ANTE AT PRIMEVIL IN 

TERMS OF BROADENING THE APPEAL IS BRING IN MORE 

OF A FESTIVAL VIBE...” 

timings work effectively – for us, we know 

that ideally a maximum of eight people 

per group going through a haunt at regular 

intervals is what works. That gives each 

group enough time to enjoy an intimate 

experience, while still keeping the queues 

moving. 

WHAT ESSENTIALS DO YOU NEED? 

Top of the essentials list is a great cast. We 

begin our auditions process in late summer, 

and welcome applications from ages 16 

upwards. Auditions include live scenarios 

and what we’re looking for are people that 

can really assume an alter ego, have fun and 

have the emotional intelligence to know 

when to push and when to stop. 

Space is a key consideration as it’s not 

just the footprint of a haunt that counts, it’s 

also the space for people to queue, and for 

scare actors to interact in areas that enhance 

the experience and help build the tension. 

That space also needs infrastructure in place 

to support the various services that are 

essential to creating the overall atmosphere, 

like lighting and sound. 

Audio visual effects, staging, smells and 

props are all really important too. We’re 

fortunate to have a number of in-house 

tradespeople including electricians, 

carpenters and plumbers to help us build 

sets, and our PrimEvil wardrobe now 

includes over 300 costumes that we can 

draw from. 

You’ll also need to ensure that you have 

adequate insurance cover – our general 

policy for ROARR! also extends to PrimEvil 

as an ‘event’ that we put on as it’s key for 

insurance providers to be made aware of all 

of the activities going on. 

SHOULD YOU DO THINGS IN HOUSE OR 

OUTSOURCE? 

I think that there will always be a need to 

draw on some external resources. While we 

did manage to put on the very first PrimEvil 

entirely in-house, it soon became apparent 

that if we were to build it successfully, we 

would need additional staff as we couldn’t 

expect our daytime workforce to also 

operate multiple evenings too. 

As the scope of the event has grown, we’ve 

also looked outside for specialist performers 

including those with circus skills, and live 

bands as well as external service providers 

including the security team. 

That said, the knowledge and expertise 

that forms the ideas for each year’s PrimEvil 

is all internal, from those that have the best 

understanding of capabilities and experience 

from previous years. 

Our health and safety manager works 

across both ROARR! and PrimEvil to ensure 

compliance with the highest possible 

safety standards for our guests and staff. 

PrimEvil brings with it additional regulatory 

requirements, notably with regard to fire 

safety due to the nature of the effects inside 

haunts. 

WHERE SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR HELP? 

One of the most useful resources for anyone 

considering setting up a scare attraction 

is the Halloween & Scare Attractions 

Association, established in 2022. PrimEvil 

was one of the founding members, alongside 

Tulleys Shocktoberfest and a number of 

other established venues. 

The organisation exists to share 

information and experiences, promote best 

practice specific to scare attractions, notably 


EVENTS 

in terms of health and safety, and to create 

a framework for compliance for any new 

or developing attractions in the UK scare 

industry. 

I’ve also found it very beneficial to see 

the US industry first hand, and I try to visit 

TransWorld’s Halloween and Attractions 

Show in St Louis every other year as a 

minimum. It’s a fantastic opportunity to 

gain inspiration from new products and new 

scares as well as learn from peers with their 

excellent seminar programme. 

HOW TO PLAN YOUR BUDGET 

Our budget is based on a range of factors 

including admissions in the previous year 

and what we forecast to achieve in the 

coming year, the number of nights that the 

event will be live, staffing costs including 

actors as well as operational staff as well 

as the costs associated with the design and 

build of new haunts or renovations and 

improvements to existing ones. 

As with any new attraction, I’d advise 

those looking to set up a scare attraction 

for the first time to ensure that they 

have a generous budget that also covers 

contingencies. And in the mid-term, you also 

need to include for development – many 

guests are returners that expect something 

new each year. Even if the broad theming of 

a haunt stays the same, we always tweak it 

in some way to differentiate it from previous 

years. 

WHAT CAN YOU ACHIEVE FOR DIFFERENT 

LEVELS OF BUDGET? 

There are certainly ways to put on a scare 

event on a smaller budget, although guest 

expectations combined with regulatory 

requirements do make it quite a challenge. 

I’d say that the key is to define your target 

audience and create something for them, 

without trying to be all things to all people. 

Our mission with both PrimEvil and 

ROARR! is to provide the highest level of 

three deliverables: guest experience, guest 

safety and crew welfare. Those are the nonnegotiables 

for us, so if we don’t have the 

budget to put on an event and meet those, 

we won’t do it. 

We’re fortunate in that we already have 

infrastructure in place – from the outset one 

of the characteristics of PrimEvil has been 

that it’s a result of making good use of what 

we have, hence why the very first event 

took place in a building wholly intended for 

ROARR! That’s something that we continue 

to do as the event grows, looking at all of the 

ways in which we can make best use of what 

we have to adapt it to a different market. 

WHAT COULD YOU EXPECT TO YIELD? 

We offer tickets at a range of pricing, with 

the standard at £35pp. Around that, we run 

special offers including NHS, group and 

student discounts which take the price down 

to £25pp. 

In more recent years, we’ve also offered 

premium tickets including fast track at 

£45pp (which gives swifter access to all 

haunts and access to the Predator High 

Ropes course), and VIP at £55 (fast track 

access, High Ropes and drink included). 

It’s certainly a valuable boost for the 

business at what is otherwise shoulder 

season and is a great way for us to deliver 

another excellent experience in between the 

summer holidays and Christmas, keeping 

the park relevant – and busy – all year round. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Martin Goymour is the 

managing director of 

ROARR! and creator of 

PrimEvil. www.primevil-scare. 

com / www.roarr.co.uk 

C RE® 

EVENT-STRUCTURES 

UNIQUE OUTDOOR 

MULTI-LEVEL STRUCTURES 

CALL NOW FOR A FREE QUOTE 

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

www.core-eventstructures.com 

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


EVENTS 

Challenging 

Assumptions 

AGF report challenges festival carbon impact assumptions 

SUSTAINABILITY NOT for profit A Greener 

Future (formerly A Greener Festival) has 

release new insight into festival carbon 

footprints. 

Key findings revealed audience travel 

contributed on average to 41% of the 

carbon footprint when a more complete 

account of ‘Scope 3’ emissions (see table) 

is included. When including wider travel 

such as production, traders and artists, 

travel and transport represents closer to 

58%, with food and drink responsible for an 

average 34% of a festival’s carbon footprint. 

Audience travel is commonly stated as 

80% or more of a festival’s carbon footprint, 

however most studies omit impacts of food 

and drink, materials purchased or trader 

“FOCUS FOR EVENT 

SUSTAINABILITY IS OFTEN 

ON WASTE, CUPS, AND 

AUDIENCE TRAVEL. WHILST 

CLEARLY IMPORTANT, THIS 

IS A NARROW VIEW MISSING 

BROADER IMPACTS” 

travel. In some cases, production and artist 

travel are also missing from the picture. 

The AGF Festival Carbon Footprint report 

reveals that when accounting for more 

complete emissions sources the breakdown 

is more nuanced, with many emissions 

generated as a result of production and 

planning decisions, rather than through 

audience travel choices alone. 

AGF CEO Claire O’Neill said: “We love 

festivals, their contribution to culture and 

their potential to show alternative ways of 

living. It’s important to have a fuller picture 

to understand their carbon footprints. 

Focus for event sustainability is often on 

waste, cups, and audience travel. Whilst 

clearly important, this is a narrow view 

missing broader impacts. This can delay 

important decisions at the planning and 

design stage, such as moving away from 

animal and other high impact food and 

drinks.” 


EVENTS 

KEY FINDINGS 

› Audience travel represents the largest source of emissions, contributing to 41% of the 

average festival footprint 

› Wider travel including artists, production and traders represents on average 58% of emissions 

› Average emissions per person per day at a festival were found to be 11kg CO2e 

› Food and drink represents over one third (34%) of average festival emissions. This is 

significantly reduced at events that have adopted plant-based policies 

› Waste disposal, water use and sewage treatment account for only 4% of average footprint. 

However, these create other impacts on biodiversity, local ecosystems and resource 

consumption, which carbon analysis alone can overlook. 

› Energy use represented nearly 1.5% of average footprint, due to high adoption of biodiesel 

HVO and electrification by events analysed. Average energy emissions more than triple when 

conventional diesel is used 

› The analysis is based on festivals and events already taking significant sustainable actions and 

therefore may be representative of best practice events. 

GETTY IMAGES 

BROAD AVERAGES 

Authors note that broad carbon footprint 

averages, whilst popular, should be treated 

with caution as disparity between the 

variety of festivals is significant. For instance, 

audience travel emissions ranged from around 

20% to 75% of a festival’s footprint, depending 

on scale, location and nature of the event. 

Accuracy and the ability to identify further 

improvements will become easier as more 

events collect this type of information. 

The report highlights that carbon footprints 

do not provide insight into other impacts 

such as light or noise pollution, direct habitat 

disturbance or pollution on site, which require 

biodiversity and environmental impact 

assessments. It also shows potential for time 

spent at a festival to create fewer emissions 

than time spent at home, with a comparison 

of emissions per person at festivals against 

average national emissions per resident – an 

area for further research. 

For the next phase of this study AGF invites 

interested industry groups, festivals and 

sustainability organisations to collaborate with 

shared information, for a clearer picture for 

the festival and events sector as a whole. 

The full report can be downloaded 

from www.agreenerfuture.com/ 

carbonimpactsassessment 

NOTES 

The AGF Festival Carbon Footprint study is based on data from 17 festivals around 

Europe and the UK, including 15 with detailed carbon analysis from AGF, or verified 

through the AGF Assessment Framework and Certification, plus two publicly 

available festival carbon footprint reports. Festivals were only included if they had 

robust emissions data for Scope 1 and Scope 2 (direct) and a minimum of six out of 

eleven Scope 3 (indirect) emissions sources, including audience travel and food (see 

table). 

AGF follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Accounting and Reporting Standard 

and ISO 14064:1 for quantifying and reporting emissions. The emissions sources 

considered are detailed in the table. 

Scope Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3 

Activity › Static Fuel Use › Electricity Use › Audience Travel 

Name (generators, special › Artist Travel and Accomodation 

effect gas,...) 

› Production and Third Party Travel 

› Staff and Crew Travel 

› Owned or Leased › Food and Drink 

Mobile Fuel Use and 

› Purchased Materials and Supplies 

Vehicles 

inc. Serveware 

› Waste 

› Water Use and Wastewater 

ABOUT AGF 

AGF is a not-for-profit company 

committed to helping events, festivals 

and venues around the world adopt 

environmentally efficient practices. AGF 

provide certification, education and 

training, consultancy, resources and 

green riders, facilitating the exchange 

of good ideas. It shares information 

about how environmentally efficient 

methods are currently being employed 

at events and how the impact on the 

environment can be limited at future 

events. It also offers independent 

assessment and verification of events’ 

sustainability claims through the AGF 

Awards for festivals, venues, tours and 

events. www.agreenerfuture.com 


WOW - FACTOR 

Let us transform your garden to create memories 

PROFESSIONAL & RELIABLE 

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0121 740 1385 or 07826 843 099 

Stretch Tents, furniture, lighting, heating, flooring - short and long term hire - purchase 

@TentickleUK 

@Tentickle_UK 

TentickleUK 


EVENTS 




Ella Gardiner 

Rob Sage 

Owner, Top Cat Big 

Tops Tents & Marquees 

01654 700030, 

info@topcatbigtops.co.uk, 

www.topcatbigtops.co.uk 


We hire out colourful marquees 

for festivals and events, as well as 

manufacture to buy or hire. 


special? 

We have a great crew who love what 

they do. 


Chilled, unless you don’t pay me! 


you? 

Sound, great to work for, doesn’t get 

stressed, good to have a boss that 

works as hard as employees. 


Swam with bill sharks. 


Tequila or lager… probably both! 


Dog, because they are reliable. 

Favourite film 

Fifth Element. It’s a good ‘Save the 

Day’ Movie. 

Sales and marketing 

co-ordinator, The Stage Bus 

07925 385309, 

info@thestagebus.com, 

www.thestagebus.com 


We design, build and supply 

innovative solar-powered mobile 

stages. 


special? 

We’re the first and foremost supplier 

of solar-powered stages in the UK! We 

were doing sustainable before it was 

fashionable. 


Tired x 10. 


you? 

Conscientious, helpful, efficient, 

creative, fairly funny, enjoys a good 

moan. 

Craziest thing you have done or 

something nobody would know 

about you? 

I once hung out with the Red Hot Chili 

Peppers in New York in 1996. 

We’re in a bar - what do you order? 

A large glass of Malbec 


My labradoodle puppy Lulu. She’s 

hilarious. 


Binging Succession and loving it. The 

writing is excellent, very witty and 

gives you a real insight into how our 

media is controlled and manipulated. 

Clem (Steve 

Clements) 

Manging director, We are CORE UK 

0845 299 6499, 

sales@core-barandeventhire.com, 

www.core-barandeventhire.com 

In 10 words – what does your 

company do? 

Outdoor multi-level structures, bar 

rental services and much more. 

What makes your company's 

services special? 

We have a range of related services that 

solve a number of client needs from 

outdoor structures to bar rental services 

to signage and display graphics. 


Humble, honest, hard-working and 

good-humoured. 

How would your co-workers 

describe you? 

I dread to think! Hopefully ‘a nice guy to 

work for’. 

Craziest thing you have done? 

Starting a business was pretty crazy but 

hey, you only live once right? 


I have a taste for cocktails so on a warm 

day it has to be a mojito. 


My cat Frank. He thinks he’s a dog and 

he loves me to bits. 

Favourite film? 

Memento or Deadpool are two films I 

could watch a thousand times. Classics. 


EVENTS 


Structures 

The Old Cow Shed, Leicestershire 

Product: Large stretch tent 

Supplier: Tentickle Stretch Tents, 07826 843099, 

venues@tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk, 

www.tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk 

Details: The Old Cow Shed is a fully converted farm property 

that has been in the same family since the 1960s. Helen and 

Simon worked on the conversion and opened as a wedding 

venue about four years ago. 

There is space in the shed for 66 guests and the covered 

courtyard can hold up to 120. There is also a four bedroom 

barn, which is perfect for family and friends, unisex and 

disabled toilets next to the shed, and plenty of festoon indoor 

and outdoor lighting. 

Tentickle Stretch Tents was approached by Helen and 

Simon during Covid times. The plan was to cover the spacious 

court yard so it could be enjoyed year round. After a few site 

visits and a measure up, a bespoke size stretch tent canvas 

was ordered. Spring 2021 saw the installation of the sand 

colour 266m2 tent canvas. A full day’s work later and the 

courtyard was covered. Special wall fixings were put in place 

in order to avoid the disruption of guy ropes or tent poles. 

Customer feedback: Helen and Simon Dormer, owners, said: 

“We are very happy with the process and installation of the 

Tentickle Stretch Tent. Jorg and the whole team were really 

helpful and are still supporting us with regular checkups. We 

recently purchased a second smaller stretch tent to cover our 

outdoor bar.” 

Champagne Bar for Hire or Sale 


01978 532930 


www.outerspacelife.co.uk / www.outerspacegroup.com 

Outerspace, in partnership with Bolesworth Castle, orchestrated 

an exquisite VIP Champagne bar for the Bolesworth International 

equestrian competition in June. Attendees had the chance 

to indulge in a slice of opulence while taking delight in both 

equestrian performances and live music festivities after sundown. 

Post-Bolesworth event, the Champagne bar relocated to 

Hampton Court for the esteemed RHS Flower Show where it won 

five golden stars. The judges clearly recognised and respected the 

comprehensive attention to detail, ingenuity and zeal that was 

invested into every facet of the building, which ultimately won the 

‘Best Stand’ award. 

The structure is accessible to Outerspace trade customers 

wishing to exhibit at events. The bar can also be rented for 

hospitality use. Manufacturers and trade installers can make 

contact via www.outerspacegroup.com 


EVENTS 

Yip Cider, Canada 

Product: Two bamboo domes 

comprising a 15m dome joined to 

a 10m dome 

Supplier: Atlas Domes, 07446 

241486, info@atlasdomes.co.uk, 

www.atlasdomes.co.uk 

Details: Yip Cider is a great third 

generation family run cidery, 

located in New Brunswick, 

Canada. It was looking to expand 

its cidery venue services to host 

weddings and events within a 

separate unique venue alongside 

a spectacular new tap room. 

Yip was looking for a venue 

that would capture the beautiful 

views of the St Lawrence river and 

would allow it to host all manner 

of events. Atlas Domes designed a 

dome with large window sections 

facing towards the river and made 

sure that plenty of mesh panels 

allowed a breeze to pass through 

the dome on a hot day while 

keeping insects out. 

Customer feedback: Yip’s co-owner Hugh Mackay said: 

“Three years ago we hired Cameron from Atlas Domes to 

build us a double dome to complement our new modern 

cidery. We decided to do significant landscaping with 

the domes as the centrepiece to serve as a stunning and 

original event space. Originally we thought maybe a 

marquee tent, but after seeing Atlas Domes online and 

speaking to Cameron I couldn’t imagine anything else. 

“Cameron was excellent to deal with, very 

accommodating and professional. He came to Canada 

personally to show us how to erect the domes two years in a 

row! We couldn’t be happier with this stunning and unique 

bamboo structure. People are mesmerised by the space 

when they walk inside and look around and we are booked 

solid this upcoming season for weddings.” 

Introducing The Stage Box 

The Stage Bus 

0121 585 9264 

info@thestagebus.com 

www.thestagebus.com 

The Stage Box is the newest concept of mobile stage 

from the team at The Stage Bus. Incorporating all of the 

flagship Stage Bus features such as integrated lighting and 

sound systems, solar power and fast-deploy technology, 

The Stage Bus also features a built-in rear wall screen, 

clever hydraulic legs that are height adjustable to your 

requirements, and remote on-board technology that 

means that we can troubleshoot issues remotely. 

The Stage Box is designed with long-term lease-hires in 

mind and can be locked securely overnight without the 

need for security personnel. Our team of technicians can 

provide masterclass tutorials for clients wishing to hire a 

Stage Box for longer periods so that they are able to fully 

operate the stage and its equipment, most of which is 

operable by the touch of a button. 


EVENTS 

MESR-Technic 

CORE Bar and Event Hire 

0845 299 6499 

sales@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. 

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. 

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. 


EVENTS 

Event Spaces for Unforgettable 

Experiences 

Dyester 

+1 305 4905 911 

bsendach@dyester.com 

www.dyester.com 

Dyester.com offers a wide range of event spaces for 

various occasions, such as corporate events, weddings 

and social gatherings. From outdoor domes and yurts 

to modular bathrooms and kitchens, its event spaces 

are designed to create an unforgettable experience for 

attendees. 

According to Barry Sendach, the founder of Dyester. 

com, “Our mission is to provide unique and innovative 

event spaces that cater to our clients’ specific needs. We 

believe in delivering exceptional ideas and doing the right 

thing for our clients to ensure they have a seamless and 

memorable experience.” 

Dyester.com’s event spaces are customisable and can 

be tailored to fit a customer’s vision and preferences. They 

offer sustainable, low-cost and environmentally friendly 

options such as Tentspaces, which are ideal for outdoor 

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hand, offer factory-built bathroom and kitchen pods that 

are perfect for corporate events and social gatherings. 

In conclusion, Dyester.com's diverse range of event 

spaces, guided by their commitment to exceptional 

service, is a testament to their dedication to providing 

their clients with unique and unforgettable experiences. 

Timber Frame Geo Dome Spaces 

The Dome Company 

07876 673354 

info@thedomecompany.co.uk 

www.thedomecompany.co.uk 

We design, manufacture, hire and sell the highest quality timber 

framed geodesic dome structures throughout the UK and beyond. 

Ideal for hospitality, theatre, music and so much more, from 

small intimate events, brand activations, weddings, films and 

live broadcasts, to large festivals and sporting events, we can 

manufacture bespoke covers to incorporate your branding and have 

clear and blackout cover options. 

Over the past 40 years, and spanning two generations, we have 

developed our own distinctive style of beautiful and functional 

geodesic domes and structures with an exclusive feel. 

If you have production or installation in mind, the load bearing 

capacity and many rigging points will save you the need for internal 

ground support and additional costs in most cases. Our robust 

structures are capable of withstanding long term or permanent 

installation. We have a wide range of stock ranging in size from 7m 

to 25m diameters. 

Master Craftsmen and Marquee Hire 

Top Cat Big Tops 

01654 700030 

info@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 wellknown 

festivals, smaller niche ones, corporate dos as 

well as funky weddings and private parties. 

Flexlight Lodge 6002 

from Serge Ferrari 

Kayospruce 

01489 581696 

info@kayospruce.co.uk 

www.kayospruce.com 

Introducing the innovative Flexlight Lodge 6002 from Serge Ferrari, 

now available at Kayospruce. This high-performance fabric has been 

designed specifically for use in marquees and structures, offering 

unparalleled durability and versatility. Its unique construction ensures 

maximum strength, while remaining lightweight and easy to handle. 

The Flexlight Lodge 6002 also boasts impressive weather resistance, 

making it ideal for use in all climates and conditions. The fabric is fire 

retardant, ensuring the safety of all occupants, and its superior UV 

resistance means it won't degrade or discolour over time. 

At Kayospruce, we are committed to providing our customers 

with the highest quality products, and the Flexlight Lodge 6002 is 

no exception. Its superior performance and ease of use make it the 

perfect choice for any marquee or structure project. 



EVENTS 


Visitor Management 

Two Way Radios 

with Royal Warrant 

DCRS 

0800 043 2688 

sales@dcrs.co.uk 

www.dcrs.co.uk 

One Stop Crowd Management Shop 

Newman Event Services 

01295 722844 

enquiries@newmanevents.co.uk 

www.newmanevents.co.uk 

With a highly experienced senior management team 

possessing over 60 years of combined expertise in event 

security, safety, stewarding and crowd management services, 

Newman Event Solutions has served some of the biggest 

events in the UK. 

From a single member of staff to fully written and executed 

crowd, security, stewarding and traffic management plans, 

the team provides a bespoke one-stop-shop and has been 

shortlisted in the Best Crowd Management/Security category 

at the Festival Supplier Awards. 

Established in 

1987, DCRS has 

become one of 

the UK's market 

leaders in the hire, 

sales and service 

of two-way radio 

communication products and body cams to the 

events industry. 

With technical excellence and accreditations 

for quality assurance, health and safety and 

product support, DCRS offers exceptional client 

service by combining technical and operational 

expertise, resources and commitment 

throughout product and system lifetimes. In 

recognition of this, they have been awarded the 

Queen’s Royal Warrant. 

Event Operations and 

Staffing Services 

Festivall Services 

01144 055044 

hello@festivall.services 

www.festivall.services 

Established in November 

2021, off the back of the 

success of Kent Event 

Services (KES) and Yorkshire 

Event Services (YES), 

Festivall Services supply 

experienced, high quality 

management and staffing 

services to festivals and 

festive events nationwide. 

Our management 

team comes with years of 

practical experience from 

working at some of the UK’s 

largest events and our evergrowing 

team of staff are 

conveniently based around 

the country, meaning that 

we are able to supply one to 

100+ staff anywhere at any 

given time 

Our staff can be supplied 

to meet a wide variety of 

event needs including box 

office and accreditation 

staff, customer service 

stewards, bar staff, local 

crew, merchandise staff and 

event runners. 


Spot light 

A roundup of products for the outdoor hospitality industry 

A DESIGN CLASSIC 

Armadilla 

0131 440 4000 

sales@armadilla.co.uk 


Armadilla designs, builds and 

delivers luxury experiential 

accommodation that will 

transform your offering and wow 

your guests. 

A family business, based in 

Scotland, we are passionate 

about creating stand-out luxury 

accommodation for the hospitality 

sector that makes an impact for 

our clients and fuses together 

sustainable, technology-driven 

design and industry leading ROI. 

As well as being eco-friendly our 

products The Pod and The Wave, 

are easy to install and maintain, 

and are also packed full of smart 

technology. Their shape has been 

hailed as a design classic that fits 

perfectly within both a traditional 

and contemporary environment. 

MORE THAN PODS – WE BUILD 

ANYTHING 

Podz R Us 

07767 733044 

sales@podzrus.com 


At Podz R Us, we like to think we 

can build pretty much anything. 

So we don’t just do pods – we’ve 

just completed delivery of a high 

quality luxury toilet block featuring 

four individual en-suites for a 

5-star holiday park in the West 

of Scotland. We designed them 

from scratch to the customer’s 

specification, and even included 

a dog shower and washhouse, 

all in one self-contained unit. 

The final product was clad in 

maintenance-free CanExel to 

blend in sympathetically with the 

rugged ocean-side surroundings. 

For an amenity block we think it’s 

stunning! 

PROMOTING ENCHANTING SPACES 

Unique hideaways 

01736 230140 

hello@uniquehideaways.com 

www.uniquehideaways.com 

Do you have a vision of building a 

bespoke hideaway, perhaps up in 

the trees or beside the sea, where 

people can retreat, to find comfort, 

connect with nature and switch off 

from the everyday? Welcome to 

Unique hideaways, an independent 

marketing agency for bespoke 

glamping accommodation. 

If you are seeking the right agency 

to promote your enchanting space 

or are searching for some advice on 

where to start your journey into the 

world of unique accommodation, 

our team at Unique hideaways 

are here to help from the very 

beginning and would love to make 

your wildest dream become your 

reality. 

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. 


SUSTAINABLE BUILDING KITS 


01978 532930 



Looking for a sustainable and ecofriendly 

solution to your building 

projects? Look no further than our 

Luxury Eco Building Kits. Our SIPs 

(structural insulated panels) kits 

are energy-efficient and incredibly 

fast to build, making them the 

perfect choice for anyone looking 

to create a stylish and sustainable 

living space. 

Whether you’re looking to 

create glamping pods, lodges 

or outdoor living spaces, we’ve 

got you covered. With our install 

partners across the UK and our 

commitment to sourcing and 

delivering everything you need in 

one simple delivery, you can trust 

that your project will be up and 

running in no time. 

LAPEE – THE FEMALE URINAL 

Plastic Solutions (Aldridge) 

01922 716725 

sales@plasticsol.com 

www.plasticsol.com 

Lapee is a game-changer for 

ladies at events, addressing the 

fact that ladies typically form a 

large proportion of toilet queues. 

Lapee is a single piece, female 

urinal consisting of three squaturinal 

positions moulded in bright 

pink plastic. The tall, curved walls 

envelop and screen users from 

view: users can oversee the nearby 

area while still being private. Lapee 

takes only 30 seconds to use, 

compared with up to three minutes 

for a regular toilet cubicle. Lapee 

creates a more streamlined and 

accessible toilet experience for 

women attendees, offering privacy, 

safety, speed, hygiene and gender 

equality. 

TOTAL WASTE SOLUTIONS 

Glampsan 

0800 999 6010 

sales@glampsan.com 

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. 

THE NEW ALL IN ONE SOLAR 

BATTERY 

Lifos 

01952 200198 

hello@lifos.co.uk 


The Lifos Fort PV is a unique, all in 

one solar battery system designed 

to significantly reduce diesel usage 

and carbon emissions. It’s probably 

one of the greenest choices you 

can make. 

It comes with 18 solar panels, 

providing 3.4kW of power, plus a 

market leading five year guarantee. 

The Fort also offers intelligent 

performance monitoring, carbon 

reporting and a wide range of 

storage (11kWh to 70kWh) and 

output options (11kVa to 66kVa). 

In addition, an innovative battery 

cell replacement scheme delivers 

significant financial upsides and 

lifetime cost savings, which means 

less cost to you and the planet. 


Classified Directory 

01453 767171 


enquiries@bondfabrications.co.uk 

C RE® 

BAR& EVENTHIRE 

STYLISH CUSTOMISABLE BAR RENTAL 

DRY HIRE OR FULL SERVICE 

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


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

Finman 

Glamping 

Cabins and 

BBQ Huts 

From 

£5,540 

UNIQUE • QUALITY • CUSTOMISABLE 

01389 500950 www.logspan.com 

Electrical Installations & Repairs 

Solar PV & Battery Storage 

Call for a 

FREE 

Quotation 

07860 508091 

martin@mmelectrical.co.uk 

electrical & shopfitting 

contractors ltd 





Glamping, Leisure Park & Outdoor Hospitality Specialists 

©2009 


Innovative products 

for Temporary Structure installations 

• Structure Support and Levelling 

• Modular Steps & Ramps 

• Balustrades 

• Cassette Floors 

• Bespoke Engineering 

+44 121 526 6060 

info@regenteng.com 

www.floorstak.com 

• Sewage Treatment • 

• Sales • 

• Installation • 

TEAM 

SEPTIC 

01295 236 101 

sales@theseptictankstore.co.uk 

Convenient, travel size, store 

cupboard essentials to get your 

guests holiday up and running. 

hello@thetravellerspantry.co.uk 

www.thetravellerspantry.co.uk 

The Natural Way To Build 

Tel: 01580 212141 Email: info@timberspecs.com 

01654 700030 

07956 878157 


Colourful 

BIG TOP STYLE MARQUEES 

MANUFACTURE 

FOR SALE OR TO HIRE 

CREATED BY YOU, MADE BY US! 

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Camping gave us 

relaxing breaks 

in the depths of 

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raised. 

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14-16 September 2023 • NAEC Stoneleigh Park 

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PEOPLE 

Behind the Scenes 

Hearthworks 

Behind the Scenes with 

Rico Aalst, manufacturing 

manager at Hearthworks 

Tipis and Yurts 

AL FORRESTER 

RICO STARTED working with Hearthworks 

in 2007 as part of the tipi village set up team 

for Glastonbury Festival. It was the first year 

that tipis to hire were introduced there, and 

nobody then had even heard of ‘glamping’. 

Having made and lived in tipis for many 

years, he was a perfect fit for a company on 

a mission to introduce people to the lifechanging 

joy of living simply in nature, under 

canvas. 

After a few years of team-leading the 

set-up of tipis and yurts at summer festivals, 

Rico relocated his then young family to 

the Glastonbury area, and over the years 

slowly took charge of manufacturing at 

Hearthworks. 

Under his watch, manufacturing at 

Hearthworks has grown from making a 

handful of tipis and yurts each year, to it 

being the backbone of the business. It was 

manufacturing that saw the business survive 

the unexpected shock of the Covid years, 

when the festival scene that had always been 

Hearthworks’ bread and butter evaporated 

overnight. 

His now adult children have left home 

but have also become part of Hearthworks’ 

summer festival team themselves. 

Nowadays, Rico spends more of his time 

coordinating and teaching others in the 

manufacturing team than he does quietly 

working on a project by himself, and he 

spends as much time on the computer as he 

does behind a sewing machine. Still, it’s the 

satisfaction of carrying a project from design 

to completion that he gets excited about, 

and he remains involved at every step of the 

process, using vast reserves of experience to 

hone and standardise both the methods and 

materials used, and passing on his skills to a 

new generation. 

Tell us what you do 

“I start by helping clients get a really clear 

idea of what they want and then guide them 

towards the best way to make that a reality. 

I design these often bespoke projects on 

a 3D drawing program, distilling canvas 

dreams into something practical so I can 

derive all the necessary measurements, 

dimensions, methods and instructions for 

our manufacturing teams. 

“I guide our canvas and woodwork teams, 

making sure that what each team does 

connects with the other’s work, and that all 

materials needed are made available in time. 

I also keep in touch with customers about 

their structure’s progress. 

“On completion, I make sure everything 

is up to standard, and either install the 

structure(s) myself with a team, or provide 

detailed instructions for others to follow.” 

What brought you to work at 

Hearthworks? 

“In my twenties, I spent a lot of time staying 

in tipis, and was taken by the magic of 

their design. When my partner and I were 

expecting our first child, she wished to give 

birth in a tipi, so I decided to make one. Both 

of our children were born in a tipi, and spent 

some of their early years living in canvas 

covered structures, in India, Spain and other 

places. 

“When Hearthworks dramatically 

expanded their festival hire operations in 

2007, I was contacted and joined them. Since 

that time, we’ve made hundreds of tipis and 

yurts together.” 

What’s a typical day’s work for you? 

“Hearthworks is based on a farm near the 

Glastonbury festival site. My activities take 

place in one of the barns converted for 

manufacturing purposes, and includes the 

sewing room and the wood workshop. 

“I work as part of a larger team, so on a 

typical day I divide my time mostly between 

the sewing team and the woodwork team. 

I’m based in the sewing room, where my 

computer is and now have an assistant 

sewing manager, Robb, to help with that 

side of things. I spend a lot of time with the 

woodworking team too, which is headed 

up by my colleague Osh. I also work with 

the Hearthworks office team, by keeping in 

touch with clients and suppliers, answering 

enquiries and sending out quotes, and I 

work with the warehouse team, because we 

make and maintain all of the tipis and yurts 

Hearthworks hires out at festivals.” 

What project are you working on now? 

“We are currently working on a home for 

a family of four, consisting of two yurts 

podded together. One yurt is a living room 

with kitchen facilities, and the other contains 

sleeping quarters and a bathroom. They plan 

to live in this yurt complex for some years 

whilst renovating their farmhouse. It has 

extra tall walls, exterior and interior doors, 

many windows and a number of unusual 

features so it is an interesting project.” 

What are some of the challenges you face? 

“Lead times are a particular challenge, as 

often customers want their orders fulfilled 

quickly. Orders frequently come in all at 

once. We may have very quiet early winter 

months, for instance, and then as we 

approach spring we get multiple orders in, 

SERKAN CETIN 


PEOPLE 

RICO AALST 

RICO AALST 

with a short deadline for completion! 

“We can produce relatively large numbers 

of tipis and yurts, but we don’t really do mass 

production and tend to specialise in bespoke 

work so this can be quite difficult. At these 

times the 3D drawing software is particularly 

useful. 

“It can also be a big challenge meeting 

multiple deadlines, as sometimes we must 

take design risks when there are unusual 

or complex details in a project, and then fit 

them together once everything has been 

made, just before the structure is sent out – 

and usually whilst working on other projects 

all at the same time.” 

Can you tell us an example? 

“Some time ago, we were making a yurt 

that was so big that we didn’t actually have 

the space in our yard to properly set it up 

in advance on a level surface, to make sure 

all the components fitted together perfectly 

before sending it off to be installed. 

“We made everything ready according 

to the drawings, and then set it up on the 

customers’ site to do the final fitting before 

finishing the cover. Luckily, it all turned out 

to work exactly as anticipated, with the 

stainless steel tension band fitting millimetre 

perfect! It was a real vindication of all the 

meticulous planning and calculating that is 

done in the early design phase. 

“We left the frame up on site with a 

temporary cover, went away and finished 

the canvas work at our yard and then came 

back to finish the installation the following 

week. Everything worked perfectly, but it was 

incredibly nerve wracking.” 

What’s it like to work at Hearthworks? 

“Hearthworks has a very informal work 

culture. It has taken shape from the festival 

scene, and everyone working here has a true 

appreciation and affinity for canvas covered 

structures and living in them. Here, we 

mostly work together as friends, side by side. 

“WE’VE TAKEN TRADITIONAL 

YURT DESIGNS AND ADAPTED 

THEM BY INCORPORATING 

MODERN MATERIALS, SUCH 

AS STAINLESS STEEL TENSION 

BANDS AND LAMINATED 

PRESSURE RINGS” 

The location is also a beautiful one in the 

countryside.” 

So you’re happy at Hearthworks? 

“I work with a team of truly beautiful 

people who I respect and value. With them, 

I can explore the limits of what can be 

done with wood and canvas. Hearthworks 

has a technical advantage in that we not 

only manufacture, but also hire out our 

structures, year in, year out, in vast numbers. 

We see how our structures behave when 

being set up, taken down and transported 

by a great variety of people, and in many 

different situations. It provides us with first 

hand feedback, and allows us to constantly 

improve our designs. 

“For example, we realised we needed a 

different type of structure within our hire 

range. A Tipi is basically a huge canvas 

chimney, with a central fire inside to bring 

it alive. Yet most festivals don’t allow open 

fires due to health and safety regulations. We 

needed something that retained the magic 

of the Tipi shape but without a central fire, 

and which was easier to transport and set 

up. So, we developed our TriLodge. It’s tipilike 

but without the chimney element. It is 

suspended from an external tipi pole tripod, 

and has a porch that allows the occupants to 

keep the door open even while it’s raining. 

“Over the last decade we’ve also 

pioneered more permanent yurt set ups. 

A yurt is technically a temporary dwelling 

that doesn’t need planning permission like 

a permanent structure, but it can also have 

features of a regular building, like insulation, 

heating, lockable doors, etc. Many yurts are 

ordered these days for classrooms, therapy 

spaces and alternative accommodation for 

retreats and activity centres. We’ve taken 

traditional yurt designs and adapted them 

by incorporating modern materials, such as 

stainless steel tension bands and laminated 

pressure rings. This retains their traditional 

feel while also being able to meet standard 

building regulations. 

“In Milton Keynes we created a complex 

of seven podded yurts: a living room with 

kitchen, two dormitories, two supervisor 

bedrooms, and two bathrooms for a 

charitable organisation catering for young 

people with disabilities, difficult histories or 

other social disadvantages. They’ve been 

fully booked up from the moment it was 

completed, eight years ago. Then, the charity 

commissioned another yurt complex of eight 

podded Yurts (with an extra bathroom) a year 

later! 

“These experiences are most rewarding. 

Just knowing that because of what we do, so 

many youngsters have had the opportunity 

to experience yurt living by spending time 

there with their families and loved ones, 

closer to nature; that’s pretty special. It 

makes me happy to be able to contribute 

something so positive to my fellow human 

beings. 

“And I still feel very proud when I see 

hundreds of our tipis and yurts set up at 

some of the biggest event sites around, like 

Glastonbury festival!” 

DETAILS 

Hearthworks 

01749 321210 

www.hearthworks.co.uk 


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 

› 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? 

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CLOSER TO NATURE LUXURY ECO SPACES 

All Season Eco Spaces 

GARDEN ROOMS | ANNEXES | LODGES | GLAMPING | HOSPITALITY 

CLASSROOMS | EXTENSIONS | GOLF SIMULATORS 

Retail/Commercial 

outerspacelife.co.uk 

Trade 

outerspacegroup.com 

With trade partner installers throughout the UK, we can help you create your perfect outdoor space. 

Factory & site build options available.

Issue 60

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