Issue 63
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glamping, festivals and outdoor events
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glamping, festivals and outdoor events
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ISSUE <strong>63</strong> | 2024 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
BUSINESS<br />
VENUES<br />
› Virtual Tours<br />
› Bars & Catering<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Pop-up Sites<br />
› Pods, Huts & Lodges<br />
MARQUEES<br />
& TIPIS<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Sustainability<br />
› Hygiene & Waste<br />
CASE STUDIES: FRASERS • THE ROOKERY WOODS • WOMAD
THE DOME COMPANY<br />
DESIGN, MANUFACTURE & HIRE THE HIGHEST<br />
QUALITY TIMBER FRAMED STRUCTURES.<br />
7m<br />
38.5m2<br />
10m<br />
78.5m2<br />
17.5m<br />
240m2<br />
20m<br />
314m2<br />
22.5m<br />
397m2<br />
25m<br />
490m2<br />
BEAUTIFUL HAND MADE DOMES FOR HIRE, RANGING IN SIZE<br />
FROM 7 TO 25M FOR A VARIETY OF USES AND EVENTS.<br />
VISIT OUR WEBSITE<br />
FOR MORE INFORMATION<br />
WWW.THEDOMECOMPANY.CO.UK
ISSUE <strong>63</strong> | 2024 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
WELCOME<br />
HAVE YOU thought about starting a pop-up glampsite?<br />
Since the amends to permitted rights last July,<br />
landowners can now set up for a lucrative two months<br />
and there are plenty of ingenious ways to get around<br />
the ‘no permanent development’ caveat. We have a<br />
look at how to get up and running on pages 42-44.<br />
Ilke Durmay has certainly got the recipe right at Wild<br />
Canvas – read more about her life behind the scenes on<br />
page 66. It looks like a fabulous short break for anyone<br />
who is able to get away in July/August.<br />
Eco elegance is a theme in this issue. Both the beautiful eco estate venue<br />
Frasers in Kent and our glamping case study Rookery Woods emanate nature<br />
luxe and are reaping the financial rewards in doing so. A 90% occupancy with<br />
prices from £230 per night in low season for Rookery’s three treehouse cabins<br />
is a serious business.<br />
Virtual tours are a great way of helping armchair venue hunters, and with<br />
more than 6,000 venues in the country (and only an average three visited by<br />
each couple) you need to find a way to stand out and make it to a shortlist.<br />
Sam Lloyd shares her years of experience in creating virtual content to get<br />
those couples through the door (pages 21-23).<br />
And finally, if you need a little lift, according to Pinterest’s 2024 wedding<br />
report, ‘Whimsical Garden Wedding’ has had a 450% uplift in searches. Have a<br />
look yourself – utterly gorgeous!<br />
Tally Rix<br />
Editor / Publisher<br />
PUBLISHERS<br />
Steve Rix - steve@openairbusiness.com<br />
Tally Rix - tally@openairbusiness.com<br />
EDITOR<br />
Tally Rix - tally@openairbusiness.com<br />
ADVERTISING SALES<br />
Marney Whyte - 01892 677743<br />
marney@openairbusiness.com<br />
David Hobden - 01892 677741<br />
david@openairbusiness.com<br />
ADMINISTRATOR<br />
Kirsty Farrow – 01892 677740<br />
kirsty@openairbusiness.com<br />
DESIGN<br />
James English -<br />
www.jamesenglishdesign.co.uk<br />
PUBLISHED BY<br />
Coffee Shop Media Ltd<br />
www.coffeeshopmedia.com<br />
Milroy House, Sayers Lane,<br />
Tenterden, TN30 6BW<br />
01580 848555<br />
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Contents ISSUE <strong>63</strong> – 2024<br />
Find more expert advice online:<br />
www.openairbusiness.com<br />
UP FRONT<br />
4 News<br />
6 Product News<br />
9 Entrepreneur’s Chat<br />
– Brett Jackson<br />
VENUES<br />
15 Frasers – an ecoestate<br />
with high end<br />
hospitality<br />
21 Virtual Tours –<br />
facilitate armchair<br />
venue hunting<br />
25 Marquees – products<br />
in action<br />
29 Bars & Catering –<br />
products in action<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
31 Rookery Woods –<br />
three luxury treehouse<br />
cabins<br />
36 Sewage – do you<br />
know your septic tank<br />
from your sewage<br />
treatment plant?<br />
42 Pop-up Sites – tips<br />
and tricks for creating<br />
a 60-day glampsite<br />
47 Pods, Huts & Lodges<br />
– products in action<br />
EVENTS<br />
51 WOMAD – a 44 year<br />
old event founded by<br />
Peter Gabriel<br />
56 Waste Management<br />
– a toolkit for<br />
minimising waste at<br />
events<br />
61 Hygiene & Waste –<br />
products in action<br />
62 Spotlight<br />
64 Classifieds<br />
66 Behind the Scenes<br />
– Ilke Durmay, Wild<br />
Canvas<br />
SUBSCRIBE<br />
ONLINE<br />
VENUES<br />
› Virtual Tours<br />
› Bars & Catering<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Pop-up Sites<br />
› Pods, Huts & Lodges<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Sustainability<br />
› Hygiene & Waste<br />
CASE STUDIES: FRASERS • THE ROOKERY WOODS • WOMAD<br />
MARQUEES<br />
& TIPIS<br />
COVER PHOTO<br />
Crafted Canvas giant tipis in situ at Skipbridge Country<br />
Weddings. Crafted Canvas manufactures giant hat kåta<br />
event tipis for the wedding and events industry.<br />
www.crafted-canvas.co.uk, info@crafted-canvas.co.uk,<br />
07403 417524.<br />
BUSINESS<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 3
GETTY IMAGES<br />
Staycation<br />
Research<br />
OVER HALF of UK holidaymakers are likely<br />
to choose staycations above holidays abroad<br />
due to climate change says Mintel research.<br />
Its survey asked 2,000 respondents about<br />
warmer weather in the UK, concern about<br />
heatwaves and flooding abroad and higher<br />
carbon emissions from air travel.<br />
In total, 56% of the UK holidaymakers say<br />
they are likely to choose staycations above<br />
holidays abroad for climate-related reasons.<br />
Around three in 10 (28%) said warmer UK<br />
temperatures are encouraging them to take<br />
domestic holidays. Meanwhile, nearly a fifth<br />
(19%) of them said extreme weather events<br />
abroad such as heatwaves or flooding are<br />
encouraging them to holiday at home.<br />
Overall, four in 10 (39%) holidaymakers<br />
say unpredictable UK weather means they<br />
are more likely to book a UK break at the last<br />
minute.<br />
There remains a ‘positive Covid’ legacy<br />
for the home market as nearly half (47%) of<br />
domestic holidaymakers have taken more<br />
staycations than trips abroad since the<br />
pandemic.<br />
This comes as more than half (55%) of Brits<br />
say they intend to holiday in the UK this year<br />
up from 52% last year. Almost a third (32%)<br />
have discovered a new UK destination due to<br />
Covid travel disruptions.<br />
The number of Brits planning on booking<br />
a holiday in the first quarter of the year has<br />
reached a 10 year high as Mintel reveals a<br />
record four in 10 (39%) Brits are planning<br />
on booking a holiday between January and<br />
March 2024, up from three in ten (29%) who<br />
were planning on doing so in 2023.<br />
Campaign for 5% VAT on Ticket Sales<br />
A CAMPAIGN founded by the Association<br />
of Independent Festivals on behalf of its<br />
101 festival members is calling for the<br />
temporary lowering of VAT on ticket sales.<br />
It is asking government to decrease VAT<br />
from 20% to 5% for the next three years on<br />
festival tickets to help give events the space<br />
they need to recover and rebuild.<br />
Following the pandemic, from which one<br />
in six events didn’t survive, the impacts<br />
of leaving Europe, inflation, the war in<br />
Ukraine and an energy crisis has seen an<br />
average 30% increase in production costs.<br />
36 notable festivals were cancelled in 2023<br />
and many events have had to increase<br />
ticket prices, with the average ticket going<br />
up 15-20%.<br />
This year, the first major casualty was<br />
NASS Festival, a 30,000 event for young<br />
people in the South West which announced<br />
it would not return for 2024. Leopollooza<br />
and Long Division were also brought to an<br />
end, and Nozstock The Hidden Valley and<br />
Bluedot are considering 2024 to be their<br />
last year.<br />
To support the campaign, please write to<br />
your local MP. For more details, visit<br />
www.fivepercentforfestivals.com<br />
2024 Pinterest Wedding Report<br />
AS WE head into the main 2024 wedding season, people are turning to Pinterest to find<br />
inspiration, plan and shop for their special day. With over three billion wedding-related<br />
searches and more than 10 billion wedding ideas saved globally in one year on the<br />
platform, the 2024 Pinterest Wedding Report is filled with data.<br />
This year, people are skipping the stress of large weddings and planning for easygoing,<br />
smaller gatherings to support the ‘quiet life’. They are also nostalgic for the<br />
timeless elegance of eras past, with searches related to vintage weddings on the rise.<br />
And Gen Z specifically is leading the charge in a rebellion against the neutral beige and<br />
white wedding, sparking a renaissance in colourful, vibrant wedding aesthetics.<br />
Pinners seem to be turning away from over-the-top, expensive weddings and<br />
instead putting more emphasis on quality time with loved ones and guest experiences.<br />
Trending venues show that they are planning intimate weddings in cosy environments<br />
that connect with nature. They are embracing casual wedding dresses, easy hairstyles<br />
and simple make-up. This may be due to increasing desires for the slow, easy lifestyle<br />
– searches for the ‘quiet life’, a life of fewer stressors and mindful living, have increased<br />
530% globally since last year. Top searches include ‘whimsical garden wedding’ (up<br />
450%), small forest wedding (up 170%) and rural wedding (up 230%).<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
4 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
Ireland’s Most Luxurious<br />
Outdoor Accommodation<br />
THE MONTENOTTE hotel in Cork is launching what it believes to be<br />
Ireland’s ‘most luxurious’ outdoor accommodation. Comprising nine<br />
Woodland Suites and River Suites, as well as a private clubhouse,<br />
the development has been created by owners Jo and Frankie<br />
Whelehan in collaboration with Irish architectural firm Henry J Lyons<br />
and Dublin-based interior design house Kingston Lafferty Design.<br />
The Whelehan’s commented: “We are thrilled to<br />
have curated The Woodland Suite experience to<br />
provide something truly distinctive and new<br />
here in Ireland. As the first of its kind, we<br />
are incredibly proud to invite our guests<br />
to wallow in the unique architecture,<br />
seamlessly blending the landscape and<br />
captivating guests with beautiful design<br />
and breathtaking views. Every detail<br />
promises a one-of-a-kind experience.”<br />
Each of the Woodland Suites and<br />
River Suites have been designed to<br />
achieve near zero energy building<br />
status, reducing energy consumption<br />
and carbon emissions through utilising air<br />
to water heat pumps as well as eco-friendly<br />
insulation.<br />
The River Suites’ living sedum roofs have<br />
been incorporated to blend the architecture with the<br />
surroundings, as well as provide a habitat<br />
for wildlife and vegetation.<br />
Starting room rates for The Woodland<br />
Suite Experience are from €680 (£582)<br />
per night and include breakfast, Nightsfor-Nature<br />
tree planting, and access to all<br />
The Montenotte’s facilities and amenities<br />
including Panorama restaurant, Glasshouse<br />
rooftop bar, Cameo Cinema (over 18s only),<br />
Bellevue Spa, Salt Room, and The Motion<br />
Health Club.<br />
07973 764 023<br />
Info@hollywoodevents.co.uk<br />
IF YOU ARE<br />
HOLDING AN EVENT...<br />
“GREAT JOB, ON TIME, RIGHT PRICE!” MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL<br />
CORPORATE<br />
PARTY<br />
WE HAVE GOT<br />
IT COVERED!!<br />
WEDDING<br />
Melamine Sinks<br />
Lightweight, Durable, Bold<br />
Our Melamine sinks offer a colorful<br />
and practical choice for washrooms,<br />
accommodations & outdoor kitchens.<br />
Wide variety of sizes and colours to<br />
choose from.<br />
Portable Wash Unit<br />
Providing running water without the<br />
need for a power supply or mains<br />
water. Perfect to step-up your offgrid<br />
experience, bringing additional<br />
luxury and eliminating the need for<br />
communal washing areas<br />
VINTAGE BARS<br />
EXTRAS<br />
FESTIVALS<br />
Established in 1988 we supply marquees, temporary structures to the Events industry.<br />
All our work is fully insured and our marquees are clean and of the highest quality.<br />
We aim to be the most competitive quality marquee hire company out there.<br />
CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE<br />
M: 07973 764 023 E: Info@hollywoodevents.co.uk<br />
www.Littlevanporium.com<br />
Shopvanporium@gmail.com<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 5
PRODUCT<br />
New Farm Friendly<br />
Bedding Collection<br />
CHECK OUT the latest Farm Friends<br />
children’s bedding collection from<br />
Linen Connect. Perfect for creating a<br />
heartwarming experience for young guests<br />
on family friendly sites, the range is suited to<br />
farm stays, rural glamping sites, and familyfriendly<br />
retreats.<br />
The collection includes a reversible duvet<br />
cover and two housewife pillowcases,<br />
offering versatility and the chance to refresh<br />
the look with a simple flip. There are also<br />
matching curtains for full farm takeover,<br />
along with a range of farm cushions. With<br />
matching sheets in bunk bed and 4ft bed<br />
sizes, the collection works well at sites with<br />
bunk cabins.<br />
The introduction of the Farm Friends<br />
kids bedding set by Linen Connect is a<br />
testament to its commitment to bringing<br />
the essence of the countryside closer to<br />
families. Ideal for enhancing the experience<br />
of young guests, the kid's collection ensures<br />
a rural adventure is both comfortable and<br />
memorable for families.<br />
The Charlotte Thomas Kids collection<br />
includes a range of designs from fairies to<br />
unicorns and dinosaurs to the jungle. There<br />
is something for all venue operators looking<br />
to create a memorable stay.<br />
0161 244 534, sales@linenconnect.com,<br />
www.linenconnect.com<br />
Introducing Bakland Cabins and Lodges<br />
BAKLAND CABINS & Lodges<br />
has launched a new range<br />
of factory assembled units,<br />
designed and manufactured<br />
on the Lincolnshire coast.<br />
This exciting new venture<br />
is a development by The<br />
Frame & Log Cabin Co.<br />
which has been site building<br />
high-specification timber<br />
frame cabins and lodges<br />
around the world for nearly<br />
20 years.<br />
The new range marks its<br />
expansion and investment<br />
into off-site fabrication with<br />
units from 17m2 glamping<br />
cabins up to 96m2 luxury<br />
lodges.<br />
Bakland, a family-owned<br />
business, has been working<br />
with highly experienced<br />
structural engineers,<br />
architects, and designers.<br />
The team is looking<br />
forward to bringing its<br />
significant experience into<br />
the glamping, parks and<br />
hospitality sectors both at<br />
home and abroad.<br />
With a thorough<br />
understanding of the<br />
many varied challenges<br />
that customers face, as<br />
well as an ever-evolving<br />
industry, Bakland offers<br />
a versatile service and is<br />
working closely to deliver<br />
stylish cabins and lodges,<br />
unlocking new commercial<br />
opportunities for clients.<br />
Founder Bill Cartledge<br />
said: “With our first units<br />
in production here in the<br />
UK, these are exciting times<br />
for Bakland. We have a<br />
selection of new designs in<br />
various shapes and sizes<br />
that we’re really happy with.<br />
We’re also delighted to be<br />
working with some highly<br />
ambitious clients, full of<br />
really creative ideas, and all<br />
looking for something a bit<br />
different.”<br />
www.baklandcabins.<br />
co.uk, info@baklandcabins.<br />
co.uk, 01472 852704<br />
TentStyle acquired by Alternative Stretch Tents<br />
ALTERNATIVE STRETCH Tents, a leading provider of premium stretch tents to both<br />
commercial and private customers, has announced its acquisition of TentStyle, a<br />
prominent player in the industry. This strategic move signals a significant milestone for<br />
both companies and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their evolution in<br />
the south of England.<br />
The acquisition was spearheaded by Tom Wilkes who founded Alternative Stretch<br />
Tents in 2012 and has almost two decades of outdoor events experience. Tom said, “This<br />
acquisition represents a strategic alignment of our future goals and values, as well as<br />
a unique opportunity to leverage our collective strengths and expertise while reaching<br />
more customers across the south. We’re all beyond excited to be working with the<br />
TentStyle team to continue to provide quality stretch tents to our customers.”<br />
Under Tom’s leadership, Alternative Stretch Tents has earned a five-star reputation<br />
for providing the perfect solution for weddings, festivals, corporate events, clubs, pubs,<br />
and other venues across Hertfordshire. Likewise, TentStyle has garnered an excellent<br />
reputation for providing quality stretch tents to customers in West Sussex. Together, the<br />
teams are set to take both businesses to the next level and provide outstanding products<br />
and services for even more customers.<br />
01920 457058, info@alternative-stretch.co.uk,<br />
www.alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk . 01403 333135, enquiries@tentstyle.co.uk,<br />
www.tentstyle.co.uk<br />
CoverMarque’s New Glamping Insurance<br />
HAVING SPECIALISED in the temporary structure industry since 2003, CoverMarque understands<br />
the unique qualities of the glamping experience and is well positioned to minimise premiums for<br />
insurance. Offering personalised service, it works closely with clients to ensure they receive the<br />
bespoke insurance cover they need.<br />
Policies can cover a wide range of accommodation including lodges, pod, cabins, shepherd huts,<br />
bell tents, yurts, tipis, safari tents and static caravans. Hot tubs, swimming pools, fire pits, children’s<br />
play area and activities can also be covered. Sections of cover available are property damage to<br />
accommodation and contents, public liability, employers liability and business interruption.<br />
01962 774421, newbusiness@covermarque.com, www.glamping-insurance.com<br />
6 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
New British Tipi Manufacturer<br />
TIPI PROFESSIONALS Brett Jackson<br />
and Bronte Hall are excited announce<br />
the launch their new tipi manufacturing<br />
business, Crafted Canvas. Brett and<br />
Bronte have many years of tipi and tent<br />
experience, running two leading tipi hire<br />
businesses, Garden Weddings and Boutipi<br />
along with their flagship wedding venue<br />
Skipbridge Country Weddings, which in<br />
2021 was awarded UK’s Best Wedding<br />
Venue.<br />
This month Bronte has also been<br />
nominated to join the MUTA executive<br />
board, so it's safe to say this power couple<br />
know a thing or two about tents!<br />
Crafted Canvas was born out of<br />
frustration with the current tipi products<br />
available within the event structure<br />
market. Tents and events is all Brett and<br />
Bronte have ever known, and after years<br />
of working in the tipi hire industry they<br />
found themselves getting more and more<br />
frustrated with the current products on the<br />
market. This led them to develop their own<br />
FREYA RABY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
way of doing things and so Crafted Canvas<br />
was born.<br />
As a company, Crafted Canvas prides<br />
itself on delivering high quality products<br />
for the rental and longer-term structure<br />
market. All woodwork is sourced from<br />
UK forests and industry leading coated<br />
Campshield is used as standard for<br />
durability. Crafted Canvas products are<br />
also interchangeable with the existing tipi<br />
brands on the market.<br />
07403 417524, info@crafted-canvas.co.uk,<br />
www.crafted-canvas.co.uk<br />
Coming to a<br />
Show Near You<br />
WITH THE summer months fast<br />
approaching, Woodpecker Productions<br />
is getting ready for its programme of<br />
exhibitions and trade shows. The first show<br />
in the calendar is the Devon County Show<br />
in May, where the team will be taking many<br />
of its core products (hot tubs and saunas)<br />
as well as a small number of new products<br />
for 2024 to provide guests with the ‘extra<br />
special’ touch.<br />
As with all the exhibitions and trade<br />
shows that Woodpecker attends, it likes<br />
to create ‘show stopper’ moments,<br />
presenting a stand that allows customers<br />
to view and explore its whole product<br />
range. If you can’t get to an event<br />
Woodpecker is attending, make sure to<br />
check out the website for the complete<br />
offering.<br />
07435 866929, info@woodpeckertubs.<br />
co.uk, www.woodpeckertubs.co.uk<br />
Celebrating 10 years with Glampsan<br />
GLAMPSAN’S GENERAL manager Jon Trelfa is celebrating his 10 year<br />
anniversary at The Glampsan/Plastic Solutions Group. Jon took up<br />
the challenge of driving the group in 2014 and now reflects on over<br />
30 years in the portable sanitation industry.<br />
Jon is well-known in the industry across the UK and<br />
Europe, spending time as managing director Europe for<br />
both a toilet manufacturing company (1991-2008) and a<br />
manufacturer of ground and surface water monitoring<br />
equipment (2011-2014). During this time, Jon sold over<br />
25,000 portable toilets included selling D-tox, a sister<br />
company, its first fleet.<br />
With his strong background in customer service,<br />
product development, marketing and sales, Jon has grown the<br />
Glampsan/Plastic Solutions Group from a company offering just<br />
three products to one with well over 1,000 – with two divisions, two<br />
websites, and two web shops.<br />
Jon is well-equipped to help anyone with questions, not only<br />
about his product range, but also on many aspects of the sanitation<br />
business in general. Jon is committed to customer service; if he<br />
can help, he will! “I love the variety in my job and no one day is the<br />
same,” he says. “I’ve enjoyed growing the business, product<br />
range, and expanding the team – mentoring individuals<br />
and watching them develop and become experts at what<br />
they do. I like to be at the coal face with the team and<br />
particularly enjoy being involved with the marketing<br />
aspects of the business, coming up with products and<br />
ideas, and finding new ways to help and communicate<br />
with customers.”<br />
In his spare time, Jon likes to get into the countryside<br />
whenever he can. As a keen bird watcher and walker, you’ll often<br />
find him in the Peak District with his family or at home working in<br />
the garden. Jon also enjoys watching sports and is a long-time fan of<br />
Formula 1 and rugby.<br />
0800 999 6010, sales@glampsan.com, www.glampsan.com<br />
Portable Sink Units<br />
In a bid to elevate the glamping experience,<br />
The Little Vanporium has unveiled its<br />
latest innovation – portable lightweight<br />
sink units. These vibrant and durable sinks<br />
promise to redefine convenience and style<br />
for glamping accommodation.<br />
Crafted from lightweight ply, the units<br />
are expertly designed to seamlessly<br />
integrate into any glamping or camping set<br />
up. Transporting these sinks is a breeze and<br />
they are easy to pack down and store when<br />
not in use.<br />
Customers can tailor units to reflect their<br />
unique style preferences with a choice of<br />
natural wood finishes or a bespoke colour<br />
service, along with a colourful array of<br />
melamine sink options to choose from.<br />
What sets these sink units apart is<br />
their integrated rechargeable water<br />
system, delivering on-demand running<br />
water without requiring a power supply,<br />
holding 10L of water, mains water won’t<br />
be required either, making these perfect<br />
for any off-grid situation. Say goodbye to<br />
the hassle of communal washing areas –<br />
with these portable sinks, luxury is at your<br />
fingertips wherever you may be.<br />
07766 523011, shopvanporium@gmail.<br />
com, www.littlevanporium.com<br />
JENNIFER BULLAS<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 7
Isolated retreat,<br />
underground<br />
and discreet<br />
Reliable, flexible and neat waste<br />
water management solutions<br />
A Sanifos lifting station can handle waste water from multiple structures on your caravan,<br />
camping or glamping site. Sited underground, you may not see Sanifos at work, but this range<br />
of powerful lifting stations gets the job done, pumping up, and along to mains drains, a septic<br />
tank or waste treatment plant.<br />
The Saniflo team works with you; from site visits, installation training, technical assistance and<br />
first-class aftercare.<br />
Easy installation<br />
& maintenance<br />
Different<br />
tank sizes<br />
Different pumps<br />
for different uses<br />
2 year<br />
warranty<br />
Reliable<br />
Flexible<br />
saniflo.co.uk
GLAMPSITES<br />
PEOPLE<br />
FREYA RABY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT<br />
Brett<br />
Jackson<br />
From wedding singer to tipi business entrepreneur, we talk to Brett Jackson<br />
about creating an award-winning tipi venue, taking on three hire companies<br />
and his journey into manufacturing<br />
INSPIRE IMAGES MATTHEW LARAWAY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 9
PEOPLE<br />
SARAH JOY LANDON PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
FOSSCA PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
RETT JACKSON’S venture into entrepreneurship reflects<br />
a story of ambition, creativity, and family support.<br />
Starting from his time studying music production at Leeds<br />
College of Music, he now owns several outdoor hospitality<br />
businesses. “My current work focuses on tipi, tent, and<br />
wedding services. We own three tipi hire brands, a tipi<br />
wedding venue, and a tipi manufacturing company,” Brett<br />
confirms.<br />
Brett's entrepreneurial spirit has been a constant<br />
companion, not a recent discovery. “I've always been self-employed,”<br />
he shares. “Right after university, I established a recording studio, and<br />
later, a wedding entertainment business named 24 Live, offering live<br />
acoustic and DJ services across Yorkshire.” This early foray laid the<br />
foundation for his future endeavours.<br />
“As the recording studio and 24 Live grew, the wedding<br />
entertainment business became my number one passion and occupied<br />
most of my time,” he recalls. “Studying music production at uni and<br />
having a love of performing gave me my first introduction to the world<br />
of weddings.” This unwavering passion for weddings would later<br />
become the driving force behind his success.<br />
“After many years of performing as a wedding singer, I was<br />
introduced to Skipbridge Country Weddings, where I met my now<br />
business partner and fiancé, Bronte Hall,” he fondly remembers.<br />
“Weddings have always excited me, and I wanted to build a new<br />
business on the back of the reputation we’d built as wedding singers.”<br />
GARDEN WEDDINGS<br />
Brett recollects the modest beginnings of Garden Weddings. “We<br />
bought two giant tipis and associated equipment to set up the<br />
business,” he says, reflecting on the initial investment of approximately<br />
£30,000. “We didn't use any loans or investments; all the money came<br />
from my earnings as a wedding singer. My business partner at the time<br />
and I put in £15k each to get Garden Weddings off the ground, which<br />
shows that with passion, dedication and some hard graft, anyone can<br />
start their own business.<br />
“Initially, we launched as a wedding planning service offering<br />
package tipi weddings at venues across Yorkshire. We would act as<br />
the middleman for the venue, tent hire, generator, toilets, catering<br />
and bar. We’d provide the entertainment with 24 Live and be the event<br />
planners. This proved to be a very popular offering, and I quickly saw<br />
the obvious benefits of owning high-ticket items like tents. Buying our<br />
own tipis and providing these as part of the package really catapulted<br />
our turnover.”<br />
So, was this all meticulously planned over many months/years? “In<br />
all honesty, very little research was done,” says Brett. “We simply saw<br />
a gap in the market when it came to a package wedding, did some<br />
quick numbers on a post-it note and worked out we could turn a profit<br />
in a year… so we went for it! Although admittedly, we did have the<br />
advantage of good knowledge of the Yorkshire wedding industry as<br />
we'd been singing in and around wedding venues for nearly 10 years.”<br />
Brett also acknowledges his good fortune in not requiring outside<br />
investment. "I've been very fortunate never to require external funding,<br />
and I'd like to think I've always invested my money wisely," he says.<br />
"Now, nearly seven years on, all the assets in the business are owned<br />
outright.”<br />
EXPANDING THE PORTFOLIO<br />
Garden Weddings soon blossomed into a multifaceted enterprise,<br />
encompassing two additional tipi hire brands, a wedding venue, and<br />
a manufacturing company. “We now have three tipi businesses that<br />
deliver weddings and events throughout Yorkshire,” says Brett.<br />
In terms of keeping ahead of the competition, Brett pulls no<br />
punches. “We buy them out!” he laughs. “Garden Weddings is the<br />
original business I set up in 2017. However, we also own tipi brands<br />
Boutipi and Totem Tipi, which we acquired in 2021 and 2024. So it was<br />
10 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
PEOPLE<br />
Garden Weddings’ success and our careful investment that enabled us<br />
to buy out two of our main competitors when they wanted to wind up<br />
their businesses. By doing so, we now have a handsome chunk of the<br />
Yorkshire tipi and sailcloth market, meaning we can continue to grow<br />
and set a strong pricing structure.”<br />
It was important that the reputations of these two brands were<br />
upheld following the purchase. “We always pride ourselves on<br />
delivering quality service, and we’re proud to have continued this with<br />
Boutipi and Totem Tipi, who established good names for themselves<br />
over several years before we took them on.”<br />
The hub of Brett’s operations lies in Skipbridge Country Weddings, a<br />
venue that has won awards for its picturesque settings and exceptional<br />
service. “In the heart of Yorkshire, you can find our flagship wedding<br />
venue, Skipbridge Country Weddings, which was awarded the UK's<br />
best wedding venue in the TWIA awards in 2022,” he shares. “We<br />
reinvest year after year. It’s part of our family farm, and we've grown it<br />
organically over the last 13 years. Given its popularity, we've naturally<br />
had to invest in its infrastructure, but always sympathetically.”<br />
Complementing the venue is Tipi Events, a company specialising<br />
in pop-up events across Yorkshire. “Tipi Events works mainly in city<br />
centres, serving as a summer and winter attraction,” Brett explains.<br />
To complete the circle, Brett has recently ventured into<br />
manufacturing with Crafted Canvas, a giant tipi and soon-to-be<br />
sailcloth manufacturer based in the UK. “Crafted Canvas has been an<br />
exciting business to launch,” he says. “We offered to purchase a wellknown,<br />
existing tipi manufacturer, but our offer was turned down. So,<br />
instead of taking on an established brand, we launched our own, with<br />
an ethos to improve on all current offerings on the market.”<br />
Commenting on the diverse profitability landscape within his<br />
businesses, each presenting its own set of challenges and rewards,<br />
Brett says, “In terms of income, each business is a totally different<br />
beast. Our wedding venue ranks highest in terms of profits but being<br />
outdoors and only open for business from May to September, it has a<br />
short diary for events, which does limit turnover.”<br />
He delves deeper into the nuances of each venture, highlighting the<br />
unique considerations. “The manufacturing company has some great<br />
margins but is very new to the market,” Brett explains. “The tent hire<br />
side of things can make some significant cash – but this comes with<br />
high staff, vehicles, and storage costs. Then we have Tipi Events which<br />
offers the opportunity to generate very large turnover figures, but it<br />
does entail more risk and considerable investment.”<br />
FAMILY SUPPORT<br />
Despite his success, Brett remains humble, acknowledging the pivotal<br />
role his family has played in his journey. “My parents, Julie and<br />
Howard, have been and continue to be a huge support to me,” he says<br />
gratefully. They have never pushed me in a direction and have always<br />
FREYA RABY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
FREYA RABY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
“WE REINVEST YEAR<br />
AFTER YEAR. IT’S PART<br />
OF OUR FAMILY FARM,<br />
AND WE'VE GROWN IT<br />
ORGANICALLY OVER<br />
THE LAST 13 YEARS.<br />
GIVEN ITS POPULARITY,<br />
WE'VE NATURALLY<br />
HAD TO INVEST IN ITS<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE,<br />
BUT ALWAYS<br />
SYMPATHETICALLY.”<br />
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PEOPLE<br />
INSPIRE IMAGES<br />
given me the freedom to make my own choices and decisions.”<br />
Their involvement isn't merely emotional; it’s practical, too. “When<br />
it came to Garden Weddings, my dad was very hands-on,” Brett recalls.<br />
“He worked on-site with us multiple times on our first build, which<br />
took over 24 hours and included a 4x4 stuck in the local park! My mum<br />
was very active with wedding couples when we first started, meeting<br />
brides, showcasing venues that could host tipi weddings, and keeping<br />
us organised!<br />
“Family is still very much at the root of all Bronte and I do; we run all<br />
our businesses under the watchful but sometimes mischievous eye of<br />
our 16-month-old little boy. He’ll be team leader one day!”<br />
With so much going on day to day, how do Brett and Bronte stay on<br />
top of changes and developments in their chosen sectors? “Nowadays,<br />
we're very connected to the industry,” says Brett. We’re MUTA (the<br />
UK trade association dedicated to marquees, tents and structures)<br />
members, and Bronte is part of the executive committee. This means<br />
we're strongly linked with fellow industry professionals, enabling us<br />
to follow industry trends and share knowledge. We also like to visit the<br />
Showman’s Show and are very excited to be exhibiting this year with<br />
Crafted Canvas.”<br />
The couple’s commitment to growth extends beyond business,<br />
however. It’s a philosophy that permeates every aspect of their<br />
lives. “We will continue to grow – our businesses, our family, and our<br />
experiences," he says with determination. “I'd love to work in the<br />
business with our children in the future.”<br />
FREYA RABY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
FINDING BALANCE<br />
When it comes to relaxation, Brett’s approach is refreshingly<br />
simple and pragmatic. “How do I relax? I love to swim!” The clarity<br />
and physical activity of swimming provide a clear contrast to the<br />
complexities of business. “But honestly,” he adds, “I just love to work.”<br />
It's a sentiment that many driven entrepreneurs can relate to –finding<br />
fulfilment in the pursuit of their goals.<br />
“I struggle to keep still,” he admits, acknowledging his restless<br />
nature, “so I always keep busy.” Even in his leisure time, Brett's mind<br />
remains engaged and active. “I do enjoy a good money and investment<br />
podcast; when I get time to actually listen to one, that is!<br />
“I also love to walk our springer spaniels,” he mentions, highlighting<br />
the importance of time spent outdoors, “and go for days out with<br />
Bronte and our baby boy.” These moments offer a welcome break<br />
from the intensity of entrepreneurship, allowing Brett to recharge and<br />
refocus on the challenges ahead.<br />
LOOKING AHEAD<br />
As for the future, it’s very much a team effort on all fronts. “I still<br />
have a strong vision and ideas for our businesses and brands,” says<br />
Brett. Bronte and I are a great team, as we have strengths in different<br />
departments. Often, I have an idea, and Bronte helps me bring it to life.<br />
“Of course, I can’t predict everything that’s in store for us in the<br />
future. I mean, if someone had told me back in 2017, when I was a<br />
wedding singer, that I'd now own three tipi brands, a wedding venue,<br />
and a manufacturing company, I wouldn't have believed them!<br />
“I do have one exciting life event coming up very soon that I couldn’t<br />
be happier about. I'll be marrying my tipi partner in crime, Bronte, in a<br />
Crafted Canvas tipi at our own wedding venue!”<br />
As Brett and Bronte’s journey unfolds, one thing remains clear: their<br />
passion for weddings, business, and family will undoubtedly fuel their<br />
success for years to come.<br />
FREYA RABY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
ADDRESS BOOK<br />
Boutipi www.boutipi.co.uk<br />
Crafted Canvas www.crafted-canvas.co.uk<br />
Garden Weddings www.garden-weddings.co.uk<br />
Skipbridge Country Weddings www.skipbridgecountryweddings.co.uk<br />
Totem Tipi www.totemtipi.co.uk<br />
12 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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FUNCTION VENUES<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
Frasers<br />
An eco country estate and hospitality venue in the heart of Kent<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FLORENCE BERRY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
When did you start your venue<br />
business and what is its history?<br />
We started our on-farm<br />
diversification in 1990 when we<br />
converted a set of redundant farm<br />
buildings to luxury self-contained<br />
holiday lets. Around this time,<br />
we began cooking from our<br />
farmhouse kitchen for both onand<br />
off-site customers, supplying<br />
restaurants and farm shops and<br />
attending farmers markets.<br />
We also hosted weddings and<br />
events on the farm under the<br />
28-day rule. In 2007, we applied<br />
for permission to replace a<br />
redundant dairy with a purposebuilt<br />
commercial kitchen and an<br />
adjacent traditionally constructed<br />
oak-framed barn as a dining and<br />
events area. In 2008, we gained<br />
our approved premises licence to<br />
host weddings.<br />
Tell us about your location<br />
and site<br />
We are located on a medieval<br />
farmstead in the heart of the Kent<br />
“THE<br />
CHALLENGE<br />
OF OUR<br />
LOCATION<br />
BEING SO<br />
RURAL WAS<br />
THAT, AS A<br />
COMMERCIAL<br />
VENUE, WE<br />
HAD TO<br />
PROVIDE<br />
ALL THE<br />
SERVICES”<br />
countryside, yet conveniently<br />
located an hour from London<br />
and half an hour from the<br />
coast. Our location is idyllic,<br />
surrounded by beautiful unspoilt<br />
Kent countryside and situated a<br />
kilometre off a country lane. The<br />
challenge of our location being so<br />
rural was that, as a commercial<br />
venue, we had to provide all<br />
the services. We had no mains<br />
drainage connection or a threephase<br />
electrical supply. We had<br />
to install these facilities at a<br />
significant cost.<br />
What facilities for outdoor<br />
functions do you offer?<br />
We can sleep 20 guests on site<br />
and are applying for permission<br />
for six luxury glamping safari<br />
tents, increasing our capacity<br />
to 56 guests. We have two large<br />
permanent dining areas in Main<br />
Oak Barn and Stags Barn, and we<br />
erect a marquee for the summer,<br />
which can accommodate up to 120<br />
guests. We have also constructed<br />
several private dining areas<br />
As a diverse hospitality<br />
venue that mirrors the<br />
sustainability-led business<br />
ethos of the estate it operates<br />
from, Frasers has become a<br />
destination for eco-conscious<br />
wedding couples and foodies<br />
alike. We speak to Lisa<br />
Fraser.<br />
outside, which form a relaxed<br />
alfresco atmosphere. The seating<br />
takes the form of five large,<br />
covered pods that accommodate<br />
up to 50 guests, all served by a bar<br />
made from an upcycled shipping<br />
container. A small solar array has<br />
been installed, which means that<br />
this area is entirely powered by<br />
renewable energy.<br />
For weddings, we have four<br />
licenced areas - an upcycled<br />
converted former grain silo, the<br />
inside of our beautiful oak-framed<br />
barn, outdoors under the eaves of<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 15
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
the barn, and at the front of our<br />
beautiful Stags Barn.<br />
What services do you offer?<br />
We offer complete event planning,<br />
styling, management, and floristry<br />
services on a complimentary<br />
basis for events hosted at Frasers.<br />
We also offer the same facility<br />
for our outside-catering events<br />
at a fee. We provide all the food<br />
and drink to be enjoyed at our<br />
events. The venue is run with a<br />
strong, sustainable ethos, and all<br />
our purchase supply chains are<br />
short. We grow, glean, and service<br />
food from the estate, so all our<br />
food is low mileage, sustainable<br />
and traceable. We offer various<br />
activities and workshops and<br />
can organise any other services<br />
required from external contractors.<br />
Describe how you researched<br />
and sourced your structures<br />
The design philosophy for<br />
the whole estate was to build<br />
structures that were in keeping<br />
with a traditional farmstead, so<br />
we sourced a local builder with a<br />
sound reputation for traditional<br />
timber-framed construction.<br />
The commercial kitchen and<br />
dining room were constructed<br />
traditionally but utilised modern<br />
insulation and newer technologies<br />
such as renewable energy in the<br />
form of a ground-source heat<br />
pump.<br />
Our temporary marquees are<br />
sourced from a local supplier<br />
we have worked with for many<br />
years. This allows us to increase<br />
or decrease the structure's size<br />
depending on each event's<br />
requirements. Our Silo ceremony<br />
area was sourced from a neighbour<br />
who had no further use for it. This<br />
upcycling perfectly reflects our<br />
sustainable ethos.<br />
How do you work with your<br />
customers to make their event<br />
unique?<br />
Each event is bespoke; we have<br />
no set menus or formats. We<br />
have extensive in-house food and<br />
drink knowledge and work with<br />
each client to create a seasonal<br />
“DUE TO<br />
OUR REMOTE<br />
LOCATION,<br />
WE DO NOT<br />
RECEIVE ANY<br />
PASSING<br />
TRADE’;<br />
THEREFORE,<br />
WE RELY<br />
HEAVILY ON<br />
EXECUTING<br />
AN EFFECTIVE<br />
MARKETING<br />
STRATEGY”<br />
menu that accommodates their<br />
requirements.<br />
Our event management<br />
experience also enables us to guide<br />
and support clients regarding<br />
suitable external suppliers.<br />
How do you publicise yourself?<br />
Due to our remote location, we<br />
do not receive any passing trade;<br />
therefore, we rely heavily on<br />
executing an effective marketing<br />
strategy. Our business base<br />
is diverse: hotel, restaurant,<br />
self-catering, events, weddings,<br />
celebrations of life, hen parties,<br />
baby showers, location shoots,<br />
workshops and courses. We<br />
concentrate on an extensive social<br />
media presence across Facebook,<br />
Instagram, and LinkedIn to enable<br />
us to prioritise and focus on the<br />
particular business area we are<br />
marketing. We employ a small<br />
amount of paper advertising,<br />
although this is increasingly<br />
becoming a less important part<br />
of our marketing strategy. We<br />
rely heavily on word-of-mouth<br />
recommendations and reviews<br />
16 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
across Google, Trip Advisor, Res-<br />
Diary and Booking.com.<br />
How would you describe your<br />
style or unique selling point?<br />
Our USP is that the business<br />
operation parallels the wider<br />
estate. The estate is focused on<br />
conservation, wildlife, ecosystem<br />
creation and the creation of<br />
habitats to promote species<br />
diversity and increase the number<br />
of flora and fauna. We work<br />
closely with organisations such<br />
as The Kent Wildlife Trust and the<br />
South East Rivers Trust and have<br />
obtained funding to execute a<br />
‘whole-farm’ survey to establish<br />
species diversity and number.<br />
As an early Biodiversity Net Gain<br />
provider in the southeast, our<br />
credits are registered with the Kent<br />
County Council and Kent Wildlife<br />
Trust.<br />
The hospitality venue utilises<br />
more than 55% renewable energy.<br />
We source from local suppliers<br />
and grow and harvest from the<br />
estate. Our extensive kitchen<br />
gardens are operated on a nodig<br />
principle, thereby keeping<br />
the intrinsic nature of the soil<br />
structure intact. We make our own<br />
organic matter from composting<br />
for use in the gardens and we have<br />
a comprehensive waste recycling<br />
programme, including recycling<br />
our kitchen rapeseed oil. No<br />
single-use plastics are used, and<br />
upcycled cutlery, crockery, and<br />
china form the centrepiece of our<br />
table settings.<br />
All our customers are requested<br />
to pre-order from our menus<br />
before their reservation. Our<br />
wastage is, therefore, under five<br />
percent, which is unprecedented<br />
compared to the industry<br />
standard.<br />
Customers increasingly require<br />
their visits and events to be a<br />
culinary experience. Food is at<br />
the centre of this, but our whole<br />
estate ethos and sustainability are<br />
becoming important factors when<br />
selecting a venue. Our approach<br />
is holistic and relaxed. Because<br />
people lead hectic lives, a visit to<br />
Frasers is a retreat, whether they<br />
visit for a meal or stay longer with<br />
us.<br />
What challenges have you faced<br />
historically?<br />
Initially, it was challenging to<br />
attract customers due to our<br />
highly rural location. However,<br />
our excellent food and drink<br />
offering, commitment to exceeding<br />
expectations, and strong<br />
environmental ethos have made<br />
us a destination venue. Once<br />
customers have visited us, they not<br />
only return but also recommend us<br />
to their friends and family.<br />
Kent has not been a renowned<br />
tourist hub in the past compared<br />
with other counties but this is now<br />
changing. We are conveniently<br />
located an hour from London<br />
with good road and rail links. We<br />
have spectacular countryside<br />
and dramatic coastlines, historic<br />
venues and gardens, and, as the<br />
Garden of England, fantastic food<br />
and drink offerings.<br />
“HOWEVER,<br />
OUR EXCEL-<br />
LENT FOOD<br />
AND DRINK<br />
OFFERING,<br />
COMMITMENT<br />
TO EXCEEDING<br />
EXPECTATIONS,<br />
AND STRONG<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL<br />
ETHOS HAVE<br />
MADE US A<br />
DESTINATION<br />
VENUE”<br />
How large is your team – any<br />
special people you’d like to<br />
mention?<br />
We have a small permanent team<br />
of approximately six full-time staff<br />
members and a large number of<br />
part-time and seasonal staff. We<br />
are a family-run business that,<br />
due to the philosophy of how we<br />
operate the business on a daily<br />
basis, has a high level of staff<br />
retention.<br />
Have you worked with any<br />
industry bodies or consultants?<br />
We have worked with several<br />
consultants and industry bodies.<br />
The Kent Wildlife Trust and the<br />
South East Rivers Trust have been<br />
invaluable resources for the estate<br />
in terms of knowledge, guidance,<br />
and support. We are members of<br />
Produced in Kent, Kent Invicta<br />
Chamber of Commerce, and The<br />
Federation of Small Businesses,<br />
who all act to support and lobby<br />
on our behalf.<br />
We recently participated in<br />
the Growing Kent and Medway<br />
accelerator programme to scale up<br />
sales and outlets of our handmade<br />
Christmas puddings. This product<br />
utilises an old family recipe, local<br />
alcohol, and recycled packaging<br />
and is steamed with the excess<br />
power from one of our solar arrays.<br />
These are distributed across the<br />
country for sale.<br />
We received 40% capital<br />
grant funding from DEFRA for<br />
three of our buildings under the<br />
RDPE diversification for tourism<br />
scheme. This award helped with<br />
each project's capital costs and<br />
the estate's long-term financial<br />
viability.<br />
What are your plans for next<br />
season?<br />
We are applying for planning<br />
permission to construct a<br />
glamping site with six luxury safari<br />
lodges. We will then be able to<br />
accommodate 56 guests overnight,<br />
increasing our profitability via the<br />
additional food and drink sales. We<br />
have also created a ‘shop’ in part of<br />
the garden bar area where campers<br />
can purchase all the ingredients<br />
they might require for their stay on<br />
site. Our restaurant also provides<br />
a valuable resource and we are<br />
increasing the size of our kitchen<br />
and cutting gardens to improve our<br />
sustainability further.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 17
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
Describe your average day<br />
mid-season<br />
Our business model is so diverse<br />
that it is tough to pinpoint an<br />
average day mid-season. Our busy<br />
events schedule is supplemented<br />
with outside catering off-site and<br />
hosting overseas visitors in the hotel<br />
and self-catering units. Days are<br />
long but enjoyable, productive, and<br />
worthwhile. Being responsible for<br />
customers' special days and events<br />
is a privilege.<br />
What do you enjoy about the<br />
business?<br />
The greatest enjoyment is the<br />
satisfaction gained by visitors who<br />
obtain the highest level of customer<br />
experience when they visit us and<br />
ultimately leave having had an<br />
amazing time with us. People have<br />
hectic, technology-filled lifestyles.<br />
A visit to Frasers allows guests to<br />
relax, recharge, and often reconnect<br />
with nature.<br />
In September of this year, we are<br />
executing our CEVAS certification,<br />
enabling us to invite children to visit<br />
the estate and immerse themselves<br />
in nature. It is paramount that<br />
children have a connection and<br />
understanding of the countryside<br />
and, ultimately, where their food<br />
is grown and sourced from. It is<br />
our intention that the estate will<br />
increasingly become an education,<br />
social and community resource.<br />
What other outdoor hospitality<br />
sectors do you operate in?<br />
We offer an incredibly diverse<br />
hospitality offering, including<br />
a luxury hotel experience, selfcatering,<br />
events, a restaurant,<br />
outside catering, and, in the near<br />
future, our new glamping enterprise.<br />
We look forward to hosting our first<br />
wedding fair here this year as well as<br />
holding our first local food and drink<br />
festival in the summer of 2025.<br />
“HOWEVER,<br />
THIS<br />
SECTOR IS<br />
A LIFESTYLE<br />
CHOICE AND<br />
CERTAINLY<br />
NOT A 9-5<br />
ACTIVITY. THE<br />
REWARDS IT<br />
CAN BRING<br />
IN THE LONG<br />
TERM ARE<br />
ENORMOUS<br />
AND ARE<br />
NOT SIMPLY<br />
MONETARY”<br />
Integration is not difficult. The<br />
key is organisation and planning.<br />
For example, we never host two<br />
weddings on consecutive days. For<br />
weddings and events, clients must<br />
occupy all the accommodation in<br />
the evening, ensuring exclusivity<br />
for them. Our grounds are<br />
extensive, and the nature of our<br />
accommodation in converted<br />
former farm buildings facilitates<br />
spatial separation by nature.<br />
What are you most proud of?<br />
The proudest achievement is the<br />
sustainability of the whole estate<br />
and our extensive conservation<br />
methods, which have resulted in an<br />
environmentally sound enterprise<br />
both on-farm and at Frasers, our<br />
venue.<br />
We are also delighted to have<br />
won multiple awards in a number<br />
of areas, including diversification,<br />
sustainable tourism, and<br />
commitment to the environment,<br />
as well as small hotel of the year,<br />
sustainable food and drink, and<br />
wedding venue of the year.<br />
These awards are a testament<br />
to our entrepreneurial approach,<br />
sustainability and conservation<br />
ethos, and the hard-working ethos<br />
of our valuable team.<br />
What advice could you give<br />
to someone coming into the<br />
industry?<br />
The hospitality industry is currently<br />
experiencing an unprecedented<br />
level of challenges. Post-covid,<br />
we faced rocketing inflation and<br />
mortgage interest, plus acute<br />
escalation in utility costs. However,<br />
this sector is a lifestyle choice and<br />
certainly not a 9-5 activity. The<br />
rewards it can bring in the long term<br />
are enormous and are not simply<br />
monetary. We are privileged to live<br />
and work in a beautiful part of the<br />
country for which we are grateful.<br />
Be accurate with realistic<br />
conversion or construction capital<br />
and revenue costs. Create a diverse<br />
business model that does not rely<br />
on just one product or service.<br />
Ensure that your product runs<br />
across both high and low seasons,<br />
or create different models that are<br />
viable all year round.<br />
Lastly, our business mantra, ‘The<br />
harder you work, the luckier you<br />
get’, has always been applied to our<br />
business, which is just entering its<br />
35th year.<br />
Good luck!<br />
ADDRESS BOOK<br />
OUTDOOR STRUCTURES<br />
Cavendish Marquees<br />
www.cavendishmarquees.co.uk<br />
FURNITURE<br />
The Table Guy<br />
www.thetableguy.co.uk<br />
Sweetpea & Willow<br />
www.sweetpeaandwillow.com<br />
LIGHTING<br />
Jim Lawrence<br />
www.jim-lawrence.co.uk<br />
Industville www.industville.co.uk<br />
Lights for Fun www.lights4fun.co.uk<br />
HEATING<br />
Little Green Energy Company<br />
www.tlgec.co.uk<br />
Nu-Heat www.nu-heat.co.uk<br />
DIRECTORIES<br />
Bridebook www.bridebook.com/uk<br />
The Wedding Secret<br />
www.theweddingsecret.co.uk<br />
Hitched www.hitched.co.uk<br />
DETAILS<br />
Frasers of Egerton<br />
Coldharbour Farm<br />
Barham's Mill Road<br />
Egerton<br />
Kent TN27 9DD<br />
www.frasersegerton.co.uk<br />
18 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
WOW - FACTOR<br />
Let us transform your venue to create memories<br />
PROFESSIONAL & RELIABLE<br />
www.tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk<br />
0121 740 1385 or 07826 843 099<br />
Stretch Tents, furniture, lighting, heating, flooring - short and long term hire - purchase<br />
@TentickleUK<br />
@Tentickle_UK<br />
TentickleUK<br />
C RE®<br />
EVENT-STRUCTURES<br />
UNIQUE OUTDOOR<br />
MULTI-LEVEL STRUCTURES<br />
Only LeeSan truly<br />
specialise in toilets<br />
Complete waste handling<br />
No need for waste tank<br />
Child safe operation<br />
Does not use water<br />
Produces only<br />
clean ash<br />
When Nature<br />
Calls<br />
CALL NOW FOR A FREE QUOTE<br />
T: 0845 299 6499 - E: sales@core-eventstructures.com<br />
www.core-eventstructures.com<br />
sales@leesan.com<br />
T: 01295 770000<br />
ADVERT-EVENT-STRUCTURES.indd 1 27/01/2022 12:07:22<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 19
Our journey starts and ends with you!<br />
www.woodpeckertubs.co.uk<br />
E: info@woodpeckertubs.co.uk<br />
M: 07435866929
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
Seeing is Believing<br />
Capture couples' hearts and minds while armchair venue hunting<br />
IT IS estimated that there are now over 6,000<br />
wedding venues in the UK and year-on-year,<br />
this number increases. On average couples<br />
visit just three venues so narrowing down<br />
their ‘to visit’ list is becoming increasingly<br />
challenging.<br />
Tools like virtual wedding tours can<br />
transform the search experience by<br />
showcasing your venue’s best offers. They<br />
enable potential clients to experience the<br />
venue for themselves. Nathan Hall from<br />
video marketing agency Simple Story<br />
explains: “It is estimated that 80% of web<br />
traffic is now coming from video alone; it’s<br />
the number one source of content. Studies<br />
have shown that video not only improves<br />
your searchability and increases your<br />
average time on site but also increases<br />
conversion rates.”<br />
It is also believed that virtual tours<br />
generate double the interest and keep<br />
couples on your website five to 10 times<br />
longer.<br />
Virtual tours give couples the nearest thing<br />
to a real-life walk-through experience of the<br />
property without visiting the venue. They<br />
allow you to make your venue accessible<br />
24 hours a day, every day of the year, from<br />
anywhere in the world, using various virtual<br />
tour tools that show the venue at its best and<br />
communicates your brand.<br />
Bringing your wedding<br />
venue to life<br />
There are so many marketing tools that you<br />
can consider to help bring your venue to life.<br />
These include:<br />
1360° PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
A 3D virtual tour enables potential<br />
wedding couples to view the layout of<br />
the inside of your wedding venue. Booked<br />
couples or event planners can also use them<br />
to help with their seating arrangements for<br />
their ceremony and wedding breakfast etc.<br />
2<br />
AERIAL DRONE VIDEOGRAPHY<br />
Excellent aerial drone videography<br />
enables couples to understand better<br />
the venue's scale, location, and juxtaposition<br />
of the outdoor spaces. You should include<br />
not only the gardens and the broader<br />
landscape but also some of the practicalities<br />
such as the car park and where key activities<br />
take place such as the wedding ceremony<br />
area etc.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 21
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
3<br />
PROFESSIONAL VIDEOS<br />
Professional videos capture the<br />
essence of a couple’s wedding<br />
day. Written text and voice-overs can<br />
further enhance videos.<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
4<br />
STAGED VIDEOGRAPHY AND<br />
PHOTOGRAPHS<br />
Typically, it would help if<br />
you staged your venue, utilising<br />
models and styling pivotal spaces to<br />
resonate with your target audience.<br />
Depending on your target persona,<br />
this approach allows them to envision<br />
themselves in your venue, whether<br />
they identify as bohemians, classic<br />
couples, contemporary enthusiasts,<br />
modern lovebirds, destination seekers,<br />
rock n' roll couples, or hopeless romantics.<br />
5<br />
A MAP<br />
If your venue is large or complicated,<br />
why not commission a map naming all<br />
elements, such as the upper lawn, courtyard,<br />
and function suite?<br />
6<br />
FOOD AND DRINK PHOTOGRAPHY/<br />
VIDEOGRAPHY<br />
Food and beverages are a crucial part of<br />
any wedding celebration. However, wedding<br />
venues often overlook the significance of<br />
capturing high-quality images of the menu<br />
or, for instance, cocktails served at the event.<br />
Professional food photographers can take<br />
both videos and still photographs of these<br />
significant elements.<br />
7<br />
DOCUMENTARY-STYLE VIDEOS<br />
Many venues overlook the importance<br />
of showcasing the staff at work.<br />
However, including a video of your team can<br />
be an effective way to convey your brand<br />
story, especially if your team is one of the<br />
reasons that make your venue unique.<br />
8<br />
REAL WEDDING VIDEOS<br />
If you are an established wedding<br />
venue, real wedding videos are<br />
essential as they show couples in your<br />
environment interacting with their guests,<br />
etc.<br />
9<br />
HANDMADE VIDEOS/REELS<br />
Handmade videos are an essential<br />
aspect of tours, but they should be<br />
conducted by the owner or your best<br />
salesperson, talking clients through their<br />
day with a storyboard so that they do not go<br />
off-plan.<br />
10<br />
LIVE STREAM TOURS<br />
These can be conducted on a oneto-one<br />
basis, i.e. a virtual tour call,<br />
or added to Instagram’s IGTV feature.<br />
“IN THE SET-UP TOUR, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO CONSIDER THE<br />
TARGET COUPLE YOU ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT. IF YOU'RE<br />
LOOKING TO ATTRACT MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF COUPLE, IT<br />
MAY BE WISE TO HAVE MULTIPLE SET-UPS”<br />
11<br />
A GALLERY OF IMAGES<br />
Organised in such a way as to<br />
support the videos and 3D tours,<br />
which should include real weddings, styled<br />
shoots and architectural photography, i.e.<br />
professionally shot to enable potential<br />
wedding couples to see the absolute best<br />
aspects of your venue, both inside and out.<br />
12<br />
A BLOG OR BLOGS<br />
These should cover aspects of<br />
your wedding venue, mainly how<br />
a wedding day unfolds and what rooms are<br />
best used for the dining experience, whether<br />
for a small, medium, or large wedding.<br />
13<br />
In addition to embedding a virtual<br />
tour on your website, 3D images<br />
can be added to Google Maps and<br />
your venue’s Google My Business page.<br />
Producing a virtual tour<br />
Meet with a videographer and a 3D virtual<br />
tour company at your wedding venue.<br />
During this meeting, discuss what is<br />
essential, agree on the desired outcomes,<br />
and decide on the necessary preparations<br />
before the actual filming process. Typically,<br />
virtual tours require a minimum of two days<br />
at the venue to ensure that all essential<br />
aspects are covered. This approach also<br />
provides flexibility in case of unfavourable<br />
weather conditions on one of the days.<br />
As every venue is unique, I believe it is<br />
best to show your venue in two ways –<br />
before a staged set-up for a wedding (to<br />
show a blank canvas) and fully set up. In<br />
the set-up tour, it's essential to consider<br />
the target couple you are trying to attract. If<br />
you're looking to attract more than one type<br />
of couple, it may be wise to have multiple<br />
set-ups.<br />
Some companies might recommend<br />
avoiding a sunny day, as the light can be<br />
incredibly harsh, but for me, it is about what<br />
is best for your venue. For example, if one<br />
of the best times of the day is the ‘golden<br />
hour’, then that is when we will be on site<br />
filming. If you have the most beautiful lawn<br />
or a terrace area that looks fabulous after<br />
dark, I recommend the filming starts with<br />
that – extracting your venue’s unique selling<br />
point. If your marketing budget allows, and<br />
you want to sell both spring/summer and<br />
autumn/winter weddings or intimate and<br />
large weddings, the more virtual tours, the<br />
better.<br />
Many believe that videos under two<br />
minutes get the most engagement, however<br />
22 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
a good ‘story’ drives engagement, and in<br />
my opinion the content should dictate the<br />
length. I would recommend for a large and<br />
prestigious venue that you commission<br />
several episodes, as long as the content is<br />
rich enough:<br />
› The overall wedding venue – priority<br />
› Getting ready, for example, the bridal<br />
changing room, the groom’s room, and<br />
the other on-site accommodation<br />
› Drinks reception and canapes<br />
› Walking down the aisle<br />
› Sitting down for the wedding breakfast<br />
› The evening party and food<br />
› A tour of the grounds or interiors<br />
› Even a behind-the-scenes, documentarystyle<br />
video of your staff preparing for a<br />
wedding can also be engaging.<br />
It’s essential to showcase a human-centric<br />
narrative. Couples invest in your business<br />
because they believe you care about them<br />
and their special day. While the buildings<br />
and settings are essential, don't forget that<br />
people buy from people. To maximise their<br />
exposure, you should ensure your videos<br />
are compatible with social media platforms,<br />
including Facebook and Instagram.<br />
The cost of a virtual tour package will<br />
depend on your budget, location (travel<br />
time), venue size, number of days filming,<br />
“THE BENEFITS OF CREATING AN EXCELLENT VIRTUAL<br />
WEDDING VENUE TOUR ARE UNQUESTIONABLE AND,<br />
WITH TIME, WILL BECOME FUNDAMENTAL TO EVERY VENUE’S<br />
MARKETING MIX”<br />
style of filming and target couple (set-up<br />
costs). Extra budget should be set aside if<br />
you want a written script and voice-over.<br />
PROMOTING AND CONVERTING<br />
The obvious place to promote your virtual<br />
tour, beyond your own website, is through<br />
social media. Viewers retain 95% of a<br />
message when they watch it on a video<br />
compared to 10% when reading it in text.<br />
Add your tour to LinkedIn and share it on<br />
wedding platforms such as Hitched<br />
Book post-virtual tour meetings using<br />
Zoom, Facetime, etc, and encourage the<br />
couple to come armed with questions. It's<br />
essential to emphasise to clients that visiting<br />
your wedding venue in person should be a<br />
priority. Scheduling tours is fundamental if<br />
your venue is far from their home, so help<br />
them ‘get to you’ and consider extending the<br />
tour to emphasise the ease of the journey.<br />
The benefits of creating an excellent<br />
virtual wedding venue tour are<br />
unquestionable and, with time, will become<br />
fundamental to every venue’s marketing<br />
mix. If you want to ensure your wedding<br />
venue marketing strategy has the edge with<br />
a virtual tour that tells your venue story and<br />
brings your property to life, let’s talk about<br />
putting together a dream team – as seeing<br />
through the keyhole really does lead to<br />
more booked weddings!<br />
ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
Sam Lloyd, The Wedding<br />
Owl, is an award-winning<br />
business consultant<br />
specialising in wedding<br />
venues. If you have any<br />
questions about virtual tours,<br />
would like her to clarify any points, or<br />
would like to discuss producing your own<br />
virtual tour, she would love to hear from<br />
you via www.theweddingowl.com<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 23
24 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
PRODUCT IN FOCUS<br />
Marquees<br />
The Old Cow Shed<br />
Product: 250m2 stretch tent including all<br />
wall fixings, installation and maintenance<br />
Supplier: Tentickle Stretch Tents, 07826<br />
843099, info@tentickle-stretchtents.<br />
co.uk, www.tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk<br />
Details: The Old Cowshed comprises<br />
an old barn and stables that have been<br />
converted into a wedding venue with cosy<br />
rooms for guests to stay in.<br />
The large courtyard was ideal to use for<br />
receptions, but with the English weather<br />
some cover was needed. Tentickle Stretch<br />
Tents did a site visit and measured up. A<br />
bespoke chino stretch tent was provided<br />
to cover the entire courtyard creating a<br />
well sheltered space for wedding parties<br />
and ceremonies.<br />
Customer feedback: Venue director<br />
Simon said: “Jorg and the entire team<br />
from Tentickle Stretch Tents helped<br />
us massively and guided us through<br />
the process from the first contact<br />
to completion. The stretch tent has<br />
transformed our venue and generated<br />
more revenue. We can now allow<br />
bookings throughout the season and can<br />
rest assured that weddings can take place<br />
regardless of the weather.”<br />
Small Space Style<br />
Tentstyle<br />
01403 582136<br />
enquiries@tentstyle.co.uk<br />
www.tentstyle.co.uk<br />
The Hypar tent from Tentstyle is available in the hire and<br />
purchase sectors. The Hypar is similar to a stretch tent, using<br />
the same rigging methods and material, however does not<br />
have a centre pole.<br />
Our main stock sizes in various bright colours are 7.5 x 7.5m<br />
and 4.5 x 4.5m. These structures are proving a popular add on<br />
for clients wanting smaller covered structures to complement<br />
a larger stretch tent order.<br />
With similar stunning looks, the Hypar is ideal for covering<br />
small seating areas, spanning a food truck or creating a semipermanent<br />
smoking area; the use is endless with custom sizes<br />
and options available. Get in touch with the friendly team to<br />
see how these structures could complement your next event<br />
or venue.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 25
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
Skipbridge<br />
Country<br />
Weddings<br />
Product: Two giant tipis<br />
and a midi tipi linked with<br />
clear wall extensions<br />
Supplier: Crafted Canvas,<br />
07403 417524,<br />
info@crafted-canvas.co.uk,<br />
www.crafted-canvas.co.uk<br />
Details: Skipbridge Country Weddings<br />
forms the heart of Skipbridge Farm, a small,<br />
passionately family run business situated between York and Harrogate.<br />
Owned by Gill and Gordon Hall, the venue won the prestigious award<br />
of Best UK outdoor wedding venue at the Wedding Industry Awards, an<br />
accolade the family is very proud of.<br />
Gill and Gordon contacted Crafted Canvas as they saw an<br />
opportunity in purchasing their own tipis structures. Investing in their<br />
own structures meant less damage to the site, as a new structure<br />
wasn’t erected each week, and a guarantee of quality. Maintenance<br />
was also reduced as the tipis only needed de-rigging once each year,<br />
this also enabled them to fit hard flooring and a bar easily.<br />
Crafted Canvas has developed a close working relationship with<br />
Skipbridge. By working together the venue has been able to invest in<br />
more infrastructure and retain a higher percentage of earnings. Crafted<br />
Canvas has been a helping hand every step of the way to advise Gill<br />
and Gordon on setting up as a semi-permanent wedding venue in<br />
Yorkshire.<br />
Customer feedback: Director Gill Hall said: “Crafted Canvas have been<br />
a fantastic company to work with right from the very start, from our<br />
initial phone call to assisting with installation on our site. The team has<br />
a wealth of experience and knowledge, are incredibly friendly and even<br />
happy to help with a bit of llama wrangling! We’ve been dealing with<br />
tipis and the different brands on the market for many years now and<br />
it is obvious to see that a lot of time and thought has been invested<br />
into the product. I urge any fellow venue owner looking to invest and<br />
improve upon their own tipi offering, to get in touch with Crafted<br />
Canvas; you won't be disappointed!”<br />
Frogmore Fields<br />
Product: 15x21m and 6x10.5m RHI stretch tents in chino<br />
Supplier: Alternative Stretch Tents, 01920 455461,<br />
info@alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk,<br />
www.alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk<br />
Details: Frogmore Fields in Herefordshire has a strong<br />
background on the small festival scene. The event space<br />
features a stage area, decking space and a 15x21m stretch<br />
tent from Alternative Stretch Tents, equipped with lighting,<br />
wooden floor and rustic furniture. The venue also has a<br />
permanent bar, loos and a camping area as well as expert<br />
event co-ordinator Lou Shrimpton, of ‘festival-weddings.<br />
co.uk’.<br />
The tent Alternative Stretch Tents supplied was a MK4<br />
RHI 15x21m chino stretch tent, all the way from sunny<br />
Cape Town. Working with many different brands of tent<br />
over the years, Alternative believes you just cannot beat<br />
RHI for quality of manufacture and longevity of the tent<br />
membrane; “they really are the Rolls Royce of the stretch<br />
tent world!”<br />
The tent has a solid wood decking style floor which<br />
contributes to the look and acoustics. With one 21m side<br />
down, the prevailing wind was kept out while providing<br />
plenty of space for 150 diners and a bespoke bar attached<br />
to the side. A smaller 6x10.5m RHI stretch tent in chino was<br />
used for the ceremony area; again, an incredibly versatile<br />
product which allowed Alternative to rig partially into the<br />
trees and over a 15th century wash house complete with its<br />
own well. Different sized poles and incredibly strong rigging<br />
equipment (8mm braid on braid rope and super strong<br />
aluminium poles) allow this tent to stay up year-round.<br />
The joy with a stretch tent is it moves a little with the<br />
wind unlike their rigid white brothers and sisters (the PVC<br />
frame marquee).<br />
26 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
KHALIPHOTOGRAPHY<br />
KHALIPHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Walton Castle,<br />
Clevedon<br />
Product: 34m x 15m modular<br />
stretch tent and matting for<br />
UWE Freshers Summer<br />
Ball 2023<br />
Supplier: Prickly Pear Stretch<br />
Tents, 0117 287 2962,<br />
info@pricklypearstretchtents.co.uk,<br />
www.pricklypearstretchtents.co.uk<br />
Details: Walton Castle is a stunning venue offering a blank<br />
canvas to create the perfect event. Situated on a hillside in the<br />
seaside town of Clevedon, this Grade II listed property boasts<br />
fabulous grounds and a courtyard space plus accommodation and a<br />
swimming pool.<br />
Prickly Pear Stretch Tents provided a 34m x 15m modular stretch<br />
tent with Dandy Dura matting for the University of West of England’s<br />
Summer Ball at the castle and worked with Sounds & Silence Events<br />
to create a tailored solution to suit expertly curated event plans.<br />
Customer feedback: Stean Chelland, director of Sounds & Silence<br />
Events, said: “Having been an event organiser for over 17 years I<br />
know how essential finding reliable a supplier is to our operations.<br />
After a thorough search of the area, Prickly Pear was recommended<br />
by multiple people in the events eco-sphere.<br />
“We worked with Prickly Pear in Summer 2023 for the Official<br />
University of The West of England’s Summer Ball at Walton Castle<br />
where they delivered a fantastic large footprint canopy solution<br />
for our attendees and worked within our strict 12 hour setup and<br />
take down window each side of the event with no questions and no<br />
problems.<br />
“We have continued our work with them for the 2024 Summer<br />
Ball at Old Down Estate and look forward to a long relationship for<br />
all our future events.”<br />
Timber Frame Geo Domes<br />
The Dome Company<br />
07876 673354<br />
Iinfo@thedomecompany.co.uk<br />
www.thedomecompany.co.uk<br />
We design, manufacture, hire and sell the highest quality timber<br />
framed geodesic dome structures throughout the UK and beyond.<br />
Ideal for hospitality, theatre, music and so much more, from<br />
small intimate events, brand activations, wedding, film and<br />
live broadcast, to large festivals and sporting events. We can<br />
manufacture bespoke covers to incorporate your branding and<br />
have clear and blackout cover options.<br />
Over the past 40 years, and spanning two generations, we have<br />
developed our own distinctive style of beautiful and functional<br />
geodesic domes and structures with an exclusive feel. Stock<br />
ranges from 7-25m diameters and can withstand long term and<br />
permanent installation.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 27
We are exhibiting at the Glamping Show 2024<br />
BUSINESS LOANS<br />
HIRE PURCHASE<br />
LEASE FINANCE<br />
What can be financed?<br />
Glamping equipment<br />
Groundworks<br />
Spas, Saunas, Amenities<br />
Vehicles<br />
Entertainments<br />
And so much more<br />
www.principalbusinessfinance.co.uk<br />
info@principalbusinessfinance.co.uk<br />
Securing finance for our pods was seamless<br />
and incredibly helpful. Working with PBF was<br />
a pleasure, and their expertise expedited our<br />
growth in a way we couldn't have achieved on<br />
our own. Not to mention, we were able to<br />
secure unbeatable rates. Highly<br />
recommended.<br />
Jack Brundle<br />
Choller Lake Lodges<br />
01604 217 998<br />
Principal Business Finance Ltd is an Appointed Representative of AFS Compliance Limited which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 625035<br />
®<br />
LUXURY<br />
PODS<br />
Redefine glamping<br />
info@LuxuryPods.com<br />
LuxuryPods.com<br />
British design and manufacturer of bespoke luxury pods.<br />
Office, accommodation, saunas, bars, sheds and much more.<br />
Patented LOCX system - quick and easy to erect & dismantle.<br />
You provide the inspiration - We supply the structural frame<br />
28 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
PRODUCT IN FOCUS<br />
Bars & Catering<br />
Your Linen Partner<br />
Linen Connect<br />
0161 244 5344<br />
sales@linenconnect.com<br />
www.linenconnect.com<br />
Looking for table linen for your<br />
venue? Do you host weddings<br />
and events? Linen Connect are<br />
your linen partner. We supply<br />
hospitality operators with bed,<br />
bath, kitchen and table linens. Our<br />
products are made from premium<br />
quality materials designed to<br />
withstand the rigours of highvolume<br />
use. Our Cezanne and<br />
Forta table linen collection are<br />
perfect for the venues, where<br />
practicality and durability are<br />
essential.<br />
Cellar-in-a-Box<br />
CORE Bar and Event Hire<br />
0845 299 6499<br />
sales@core-barandeventhire.com<br />
www.core-barandeventhire.com<br />
Cezanne table<br />
linen features<br />
an elegant woven<br />
rose design or we<br />
have plain the white Forta, both<br />
with matching napkins. There<br />
are 14 colours to choose from,<br />
something for all venues. Colours<br />
include black, gold, green, ivory,<br />
navy and red. Tablecloths are<br />
available in rectangular and<br />
circular sizes. We also provide a<br />
bespoke UK made to measure<br />
service for unique table sizes.<br />
To help you decide on the right<br />
colour and style for your venue,<br />
request a free sample.<br />
The CORE ‘Wheel-Inn Cellar-in-a-box’ kit is a<br />
mobile fully featured cellar set up that allows<br />
you to dispense kegged beers and ciders whenever and wherever<br />
needed – in minutes!<br />
Easily integrated into CORE’s modular bar solution (pictured),<br />
it means you can have a professional bar set up for any event<br />
irrespective of location. The CORE ‘Wheel-Inn Cellar-in-a-box’ kit<br />
can dispense up to three different drinks and ensures that<br />
professionally dispensed, ice-cold beverages can be served so<br />
you are not limited to only bottled drinks.<br />
The kit is ideal for any situation where you need to serve<br />
kegged beers and ciders in a temporary location without the<br />
need for expert installation crews. Kits are available to<br />
purchase or rent by contacting the friendly CORE team.<br />
Fatbergs!<br />
The Septic Tank Store<br />
01295 236101<br />
sales@theseptictankstore.co.uk<br />
www.theseptictankstore.co.uk<br />
Everyone has heard about<br />
‘fatbergs’ which are caused by<br />
solidified fats, oils, and grease<br />
(FOG). If you are considering<br />
a café or restaurant serving<br />
hot food, you must prevent<br />
FOG from entering the sewer<br />
system or your off-mains<br />
sewage treatment system.<br />
A grease trap intercepts<br />
FOG before it enters<br />
the sewer system. By<br />
preventing FOG from<br />
solidifying, grease traps<br />
reduce the risk of sewage<br />
backups, foul odours, and costly<br />
plumbing repairs. Grease traps can sit in<br />
the kitchen and require regular emptying or there<br />
are underground varieties that if sized correctly are emptied every<br />
three months by a licenced tanker company. This saves having the<br />
stinky job of disposing of the grease yourself.<br />
At the Septic Tank Store, we have supplied and installed<br />
underground grease traps for small farm shop cafes and for larger<br />
catering venues. Contact us for advice - don’t be caught out by<br />
your own fatberg.<br />
Bespoke, Lightweight yet Strong Bars<br />
Luxury Pods<br />
07767 666999<br />
info@luxurypods.com<br />
www.luxurypods.com<br />
If you are thinking of investing in a pop-up bar, here are a few<br />
features worth considering. Event organisers, party planners,<br />
wedding venues or music festivals need modular bars that are<br />
quick and easy to erect and dismantle. Flat-packed for ease<br />
of transporting between venues and for winter storage. Easy<br />
to clean, lightweight, maintenance-free, modular and robust<br />
construction.<br />
Using the new British aluminium LOCX system, a variety<br />
of different shapes and size bars can serve a party from 40 to<br />
1,000+ guests. The unique matrix of the super-strong profile<br />
creates a bar structure capable of holding 400kg/m2.<br />
The bar frame is designed to incorporate opaque acrylic<br />
panelling that allows LED light (16 million colours) to shine<br />
through. Bespoke options include custom branding, granite<br />
and Corian work<br />
tops with space<br />
for fridges below,<br />
raised flooring and<br />
cover for outdoor<br />
use.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 29
https://shop.glampsan.com/<br />
https://shop.glampsan.com/<br />
Here to support you<br />
Book https://bit.ly/49wHiHv<br />
a consultation on our website<br />
sales@glampsan.com<br />
www.glampsan.com<br />
Make your outdoors as comfy as your indoors<br />
LUXURIOUS 1-4 SLEEPER SHEPHERD<br />
HUTS & GLAMPING PODS<br />
At Outdoorsy Living we manufacture for<br />
the superior outdoor experience<br />
Explore our range of bespoke manufactured shepherd huts<br />
and glamping pods that make every day feel like a holiday.<br />
01622 844 238 • info@outdoorsy-living.co.uk<br />
www.outdoorsy-living.co.uk<br />
Find Us On Social Media<br />
instagra<br />
30 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
The Rookery Woods<br />
Three luxury treehouse cabins that offer couples a<br />
boutique hotel experience in the heart of nature<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL MEASOM, UK RETREATS<br />
After winning a 4.5-acre<br />
woodland at auction with<br />
no real plan for what to do<br />
with it, Dale and Heather<br />
Badman have transformed<br />
The Rookery Woods into<br />
a sought-after destination<br />
for couples seeking<br />
the ultimate in luxury<br />
treehouse glamping. We<br />
speak to Heather.<br />
What’s your back story – your life<br />
before glamping?<br />
We lived in a bus for two years<br />
before purchasing a dark and<br />
neglected patch of woodland after<br />
raising our alcohol-fuelled hands<br />
at an auction in our local pub,<br />
never expecting to win. We were<br />
more than surprised when a phone<br />
call came on Monday morning<br />
confirming that we had just bought<br />
The Rookery Woods.<br />
It took 10 years of hard labour,<br />
tears, sweat and everything in<br />
between to clear and restore it<br />
back to life. Dale worked full-time<br />
fitting flooring whilst I had two<br />
children. At that time, we just<br />
wanted somewhere to park the bus<br />
and live quietly alongside nature;<br />
little did we know you needed<br />
planning permission for that.<br />
“IT TOOK<br />
10 YEARS<br />
OF HARD<br />
LABOUR,<br />
TEARS,<br />
SWEAT AND<br />
EVERYTHING<br />
IN BETWEEN<br />
TO CLEAR<br />
AND<br />
RESTORE<br />
IT BACK TO<br />
LIFE”<br />
Even though we cannot live here,<br />
we ploughed on – selling bags of<br />
firewood and wondering, ‘What will<br />
we do one day?’<br />
What made you decide to<br />
start offering glamping<br />
accommodation?<br />
We had many thoughts, including<br />
a café for dog walkers, a children’s<br />
adventure centre, or paintballing<br />
events. We wanted something<br />
sustainable to keep the woodland<br />
alive without completely tearing<br />
it down. We opened our gates<br />
in August 2020, after the covid<br />
lockdown in the summer.<br />
How did you research the<br />
business before entering it?<br />
Initially, we thought we would have<br />
yurts or tipis but found we needed<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 31
GLAMPSITES<br />
planning permission for those. A<br />
few consultants visited and said<br />
we had next to zero chance of<br />
achieving anything in a woodland.<br />
Miraculously, we stumbled across<br />
an incredibly positive consultant<br />
who suggested that we build<br />
something completely unique<br />
that was not weather-dependent<br />
and would stand out in an evergrowing<br />
market. We cannot thank<br />
him enough for his vision and<br />
pushing us to go that one step<br />
further!<br />
Tell us about your location<br />
and site<br />
We have a 4.5-acre patch of fully<br />
enclosed woodland adjacent to<br />
“ALTHOUGH THE WOODLAND IS NOT<br />
PROTECTED, IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO<br />
GET PLANNING. EVERYTHING WE DID<br />
WAS RISKY, AND THERE WAS NEVER A<br />
GUARANTEE WE WOULD GET IT”<br />
common land with a Grade ll listed<br />
wall on two boundaries. Initially,<br />
we gained planning permission to<br />
cut a hole in the wall to access the<br />
woodland before any work could<br />
start. Although the woodland is<br />
not protected, it is extremely hard<br />
to get planning. Everything we did<br />
was risky, and there was never a<br />
guarantee we would get it.<br />
How did you tackle getting<br />
planning?<br />
We just went straight in with<br />
the most environmental<br />
ethos possible: solar panels,<br />
composting toilets, and grey<br />
water filter systems. There were<br />
no compromises, as we wanted to<br />
achieve this anyway. We also had<br />
a lot of support from neighbours<br />
and our local community, which I<br />
feel is always crucial for this kind<br />
of project. The cabins are built<br />
up on stilts, so the ground was<br />
unaffected by the build process.<br />
How did you finance the project?<br />
We couldn’t get any grants, and<br />
the bank would not lend to a ‘new<br />
32 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
business’, so we financed using<br />
every high-interest credit card we<br />
could.<br />
What glamping accommodation<br />
do you offer?<br />
We have three Scandinavian-style<br />
treehouse cabins, all of them lifted<br />
off the floor with ground screws.<br />
They are open all year round, as<br />
cosy in the winter as they are in<br />
the summer.<br />
What occupancy levels and price<br />
per night do you achieve?<br />
We are running on an average of<br />
90% occupancy with a price from<br />
£230 per night in low season.<br />
How did you work out your<br />
brand, and how do you publicise<br />
yourself?<br />
We launched under the Canopy &<br />
Stars umbrella, who were fantastic<br />
with their support and picked up<br />
the pieces from a very exhausted<br />
family. Within 18 months we built<br />
our website and now take our<br />
own bookings alongside them.<br />
Regarding social media, the<br />
bulk of our publicity comes from<br />
Instagram.<br />
How would you describe your<br />
ethos and unique selling point?<br />
Our offering is unique to us, with<br />
the hot tubs making a great new<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 33
GLAMPSITES<br />
addition along with the cinemas<br />
and newly installed saunas. We<br />
are constantly striving to do<br />
better. The cabins are updated<br />
regularly, and I feel our customers<br />
appreciate that the work and the<br />
magic are created by just us.<br />
How did you choose your<br />
interior decoration?<br />
I just go with what I like best. When<br />
we first opened the cabins, they<br />
were very minimalist but soon<br />
developed a more cosy and unique<br />
style. We try to use as many<br />
resources from the woodland as<br />
we can.<br />
What challenges have you faced?<br />
Financing the project was our<br />
hardest challenge. Learning to<br />
work together as husband and<br />
wife also took a while. The covid<br />
lockdowns were tricky, but we still<br />
worked well as a business.<br />
What are your plans for next<br />
season?<br />
We have just installed two new<br />
saunas and will install the third<br />
one when we have had a rest.<br />
“MEETING<br />
OUR GUESTS<br />
IS MORE<br />
WONDERFUL<br />
THAN I COULD<br />
EVER HAVE<br />
IMAGINED. WE<br />
HAVE<br />
HAD MANY<br />
MARRIAGE<br />
PROPOSALS,<br />
HONEYMOONS,<br />
BIRTHDAYS,<br />
AND ANNIVER-<br />
SARIES ON<br />
SITE, TOO”<br />
Describe your average day midseason.<br />
We generally have three cabins to<br />
change over and are ready by 3ish.<br />
What do you enjoy about the<br />
business and why?<br />
Meeting our guests is more<br />
wonderful than I could ever have<br />
imagined. We have had many<br />
marriage proposals, honeymoons,<br />
birthdays, and anniversaries on site,<br />
too. We are a real event destination,<br />
and I could not love it more!<br />
What are you most proud of?<br />
Sticking with it and finally achieving<br />
an almost impossible dream.<br />
What other outdoor hospitality<br />
sectors do you operate in?<br />
None, but we are considering ‘wild<br />
weddings’ in the future.<br />
What advice could you give<br />
to someone coming into the<br />
industry?<br />
Do your research, and don’t expect<br />
overnight success. Humility and<br />
patience will get you a lot further<br />
than arrogance and expectation.<br />
ADDRESS BOOK<br />
TOILETS<br />
Wostman Compost Toilets<br />
www.wostman.se/en/ecodry<br />
HOT TUBS<br />
Wyre Forest Spas www.<br />
wyreforestspas.com<br />
BOOKINGS & DIRECTORIES<br />
Canopy & Stars<br />
www.canopyandstars.co.uk<br />
UKretreats<br />
www.ukretreats.co.uk<br />
DETAILS<br />
Rookery Woods<br />
Norton<br />
Bromyard<br />
Herefordshire, HR7 4PJ<br />
www.therookerywoods.uk<br />
34 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
Achieve all year round<br />
bookings, with our unique<br />
luxury glamping cabins,<br />
just like Bowfield Hotel & Spa<br />
CHESHIRE HUTS<br />
“Logspan are a joy to do business with. From the get-go<br />
we found the entire team to be professional, friendly,<br />
knowledgeable and efficient. The construction team are<br />
so talented - no mean feat to get these cabins looking<br />
this snazzy, and they worked flat out. After-sales service<br />
is exemplary. In fact I’d go as far as to say that Logspan<br />
are friends as well as part of our<br />
business structure.”<br />
Louisa Walker<br />
Scottish Office & Showsite:<br />
Milton Brae Road, Milton,<br />
Dumbarton, Glasgow, G82 2TX<br />
01389 500950<br />
English Office:<br />
Eridge Road,<br />
Crowborough,<br />
TN6 2SR<br />
01892 308041<br />
• Bespoke shepherd's huts<br />
• Custom-built to your specifications,<br />
• Meticulously handcrafted • Turnkey service<br />
T: 07967753289 • E: cheshirehuts@gmail.com<br />
www.cheshire-huts.co.uk<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 35
GLAMPSITES<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
What to do<br />
with Sewage<br />
Advice from Wayne Clarke, founder of the Septic Tank Sore<br />
WHEN PLANNING your new glampsite, you<br />
are imaging your shiny new units being<br />
filled with happy guests and the last thing<br />
on your mind is wastewater. So, let’s look<br />
at some of the things you need to bear<br />
in mind when planning what to do with<br />
sewage.<br />
You will need to take into account<br />
anything that uses water – showers,<br />
toilets, sinks, kitchen use, dishwashing,<br />
washing machines – all of which need to<br />
be disposed of safely.<br />
There is a choice of solutions, but it is<br />
important that the system you choose is<br />
carefully designed and maintainable to<br />
ensure what you are discharging to the<br />
local environment is causing no harm and<br />
is not polluting the local water courses.<br />
Importantly, an incorrectly planned<br />
system can cause smells and can<br />
potentially pollute your local environment<br />
– not a pleasant experience for all<br />
involved, including your guests.<br />
Options<br />
COMPOSTING TOILETS<br />
Essentially a ventilated unit below a toilet<br />
that stores and composts waste, compost<br />
toilets offer a solution if space is tight<br />
and there is no need for extensive sewer<br />
infrastructure.<br />
Although they conserve water, you still<br />
need to address greywater removal (from<br />
sinks and showers). They also require<br />
regular maintenance which if not carried<br />
out can lead to smells.<br />
SEPTIC TANKS<br />
Septic tanks are usually underground<br />
tanks where domestic wastewater flows<br />
for basic bacterial processing. They work<br />
by separating the solids and liquids,<br />
usually filtering the liquids into a separate<br />
chamber and onwards into a drainage<br />
field to be dispersed into the ground. The<br />
remaining sludge is partially broken down<br />
through anaerobic digestion and requires<br />
emptying regularly.<br />
Septic tanks don’t require electricity<br />
and need emptying every six to 12 months.<br />
Septic Tanks are a relatively cost-effective<br />
solution but the discharge is polluting and<br />
since 2020 there are stringent regulations<br />
as to where the discharge goes.<br />
HOLDING TANKS<br />
Also known as a cesspool, these tanks<br />
hold the sewage and grey waste until full<br />
and require emptying. Available as above<br />
ground flat-tanks or more spacious below<br />
ground tanks. They are useful if in clay<br />
(non-draining) soil or in an area of specific<br />
environmental protection as no waste<br />
is discharged. Cesspools are a relatively<br />
low-cost solution but require regular<br />
emptying. Their use may be restricted by<br />
local regulation.<br />
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS<br />
In contrast to a septic tank, sewage<br />
treatment plants are an eco-friendly<br />
36 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
"IN CONTRAST TO A SEPTIC TANK, SEWAGE<br />
TREATMENT PLANTS ARE AN ECO-FRIENDLY<br />
SOLUTION AS THEY USE NATURALLY OCCURRING<br />
BACTERIA TO TREAT AND DIGEST ORGANIC MATTER."<br />
solution as they use naturally occurring<br />
bacteria to treat and digest organic<br />
matter. This means the liquid from the<br />
plant is non-polluting and can normally<br />
discharge to a stream or a drainage field.<br />
They require electricity as they need<br />
air to circulate to encourage bacteria.<br />
Depending on the tank they need<br />
emptying every 12 months; some only<br />
every three to five years.<br />
Minimal environmental<br />
impact<br />
Our expertise at The Septic Tank Store is<br />
underground tank solutions and drainage<br />
so our focus is always on planning a<br />
solution which has minimum impact on<br />
the environment. This means, more often<br />
than not, that we recommend sewage<br />
treatment plants.<br />
Each tank installation is unique to fit<br />
with the needs of the user whilst sitting<br />
sympathetically into the environment.<br />
When considering a tank installation, bear<br />
in mind that the following things will affect<br />
the costs:<br />
› Do you have the space to install a tank<br />
and the land for a drainage field if<br />
required?<br />
› Where could you install an underground<br />
tank? Do you have the correct levels?<br />
› Do you need a pumped outlet?<br />
› Does the area flood?<br />
› Do you have a watercourse nearby?<br />
Could you install a sewage treatment<br />
plant and discharge the non-polluting<br />
liquid to the stream?<br />
› What soil type do you have? Will the<br />
discharge from a tank drain away?<br />
› Is there access for emptying tankers?<br />
› Are you in an area where the discharge<br />
of phosphates is highly regulated?<br />
› Can you get power to the tank to run<br />
the compressor that provides air to the<br />
bacteria?<br />
› Have you considered how to vent the<br />
system?<br />
› Do you need heavy duty covers to allow<br />
vehicles to drive across?<br />
› If you have a café/restaurant, have you<br />
worked out how to stop grease entering<br />
the sewage system?<br />
Government Genernal<br />
Binding Rules<br />
It is not possible to talk about wastewater<br />
plants without mentioning the<br />
government’s General Binding Rules,<br />
which were most recently updated in<br />
October 2023. If you are unable to connect<br />
into the public sewer, then these rules<br />
need to be followed when installing and<br />
maintaining a septic tank or treatment<br />
plant.<br />
The rules also refer to a discharge<br />
licence; there are many factors that apply<br />
but a key one is if you are discharging<br />
over certain amounts, then a licence is<br />
required. That is 2,000L daily to the ground<br />
(drainage field) or over 5,000L daily to a<br />
watercourse. This will unlikely affect you if<br />
you are putting in a tank for a single twoto-four-person<br />
unit.<br />
What is a drainage field?<br />
Drainage fields are often referred to as<br />
soakaways but in reality they are two<br />
separate things with separate regulations.<br />
Soakaways are for storm rainwater and<br />
drainage fields are for the liquid discharge<br />
from sewage. Drainage fields are a loop of<br />
perforated pipework bedded and covered<br />
in gravel and geotextile. As the liquid from<br />
the tank filters through the drainage field,<br />
it allows bacteria to form and further clean<br />
the discharge before reaching the ground.<br />
Sewage treatment plant installation<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 37
GLAMPSITES<br />
“ACCORDING TO THE<br />
GOVERNMENT GENERAL<br />
BINDING RULES, ‘YOU<br />
MUST HAVE BUILDING<br />
REGULATIONS APPROVAL<br />
IF YOU HAVE OR ARE<br />
PLANNING TO INSTALL<br />
A NEW SEPTIC TANK OR<br />
SMALL SEWAGE TREATMENT<br />
PLANT”<br />
What size system do I need?<br />
This is the question we are asked most<br />
often. There are many factors that affect<br />
sizing but as a general guideline:<br />
For one glamping unit, consider a small<br />
septic tank which must discharge to a<br />
drainage field or a small sewage treatment<br />
plant – serving up to five people. Marsh<br />
manufactures the small Portapura<br />
treatment plant, perfect for one unit. Due<br />
to its size, this tank needs emptying more<br />
often but can be installed above or below<br />
ground.<br />
For multiple units, as long as the<br />
ground levels are in your favour, you<br />
could consider a larger single tank to<br />
serve multiple units. We recommend<br />
getting expert advice, as there are various<br />
factors that need to be taken into account,<br />
especially if you have a toilet block or café.<br />
Do I need planning permission to install<br />
a new tank?<br />
According to the Government General<br />
Binding Rules, ‘you must have building<br />
regulations approval if you have or are<br />
planning to install a new septic tank or<br />
small sewage treatment plant’. In general,<br />
planning permission is usually not<br />
required but it is always worth checking<br />
with your local authority.<br />
Maintenance<br />
Once you have your sewage treatment<br />
plant installed, remember it needs<br />
maintaining; monthly checks are required<br />
to see if it is running well and annual<br />
servicing by an experienced engineer.<br />
No matter which system you choose,<br />
there is always the issue of making sure<br />
that only the three Ps (pee, poo and<br />
paper) are put into the system. Wipes and<br />
sanitary products, no matter if they are<br />
marked as flushable, cause real issues<br />
with treatment plants and composting<br />
toilets. All cleaning products will affect<br />
the systems and the best policy is to use<br />
all things in moderation and follow the<br />
manufacturer’s recommendations.<br />
In the end it often comes down to<br />
budget (doesn’t it always?) but in our<br />
experience it is important to get it right<br />
from the start to avoid a stinky upset<br />
later. This involves careful evaluation<br />
of site layout, occupancy levels, and<br />
environmental considerations. Whether<br />
opting for the simplicity of composting<br />
toilets or the cleanliness of sewage<br />
treatment plants, each needs to<br />
complement the glamping experience you<br />
are trying to achieve – even if it is to be<br />
hidden and unnoticed – ensuring that your<br />
clients enjoy an unforgettable experience<br />
while minimising their ecological footprint<br />
on the great outdoors.<br />
ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
Wayne Clark is a respected<br />
expert in the drainage<br />
and wastewater treatment<br />
industry bringing a wealth<br />
of practical knowledge<br />
gained over 35 years in the field.<br />
The team at The Septic Tank Store will<br />
work with you to choose the correct<br />
system for your needs and design an<br />
environmentally friendly solution. 01295<br />
236101, sales@theseptictankstore.co.uk,<br />
www.theseptictankstore.co.uk<br />
38 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
FACTORY VISIT<br />
Woodpecker Productions<br />
WOODPECKER PRODUCTIONS<br />
07435 866626 /<br />
www.woodpeckertubs.co.uk<br />
Factory address: Pagrindine St.<br />
1A, Varputenai, LT-80242, Siauliai r,<br />
Lithuania<br />
Product lines: Hot tubs, saunas,<br />
accommodation units, garden<br />
buildings, external office spaces.<br />
A VERY warm welcome to Woodpecker<br />
Productions, the home of sustainable<br />
production, bespoke designs and<br />
handcrafted products.<br />
For those of you who are coming<br />
across Woodpecker for the first time, or<br />
wondering about all things Woodpecker,<br />
let me start to build a picture about our<br />
company, how it works sustainably when<br />
producing many products from our range<br />
of hot tubs, saunas, and accommodation<br />
units, and how the team collectively<br />
plays an integral part in bringing the<br />
Woodpecker name to the forefront of the<br />
outdoor living market both here in the UK<br />
and around the globe.<br />
While we are a UK based company, with<br />
a showroom in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire,<br />
we actually produce our products in<br />
Lithuania. The reason behind having our<br />
production here is due to a number of<br />
factors including the raw materials, being<br />
in charge of each stage of the creative<br />
process and the reduction in waste and<br />
emissions within a factory setting.<br />
We only use sustainably sourced wood.<br />
and are incredibly lucky to have our head<br />
designer, Donatas, at the helm for this.<br />
His knowledge and understanding of all<br />
timber types is exceptional. He is able to<br />
source any wood needed, in any quantity<br />
and a fantastic price. He helps Woodpecker<br />
get the very best of everything, helping to<br />
reduce wood waste and increasing returns.<br />
After the initial raw materials are<br />
collected, distributed, and stored at the<br />
factory, the real work begins. As with all<br />
our products when they are being created,<br />
we use state of the art machinery and<br />
processes that gives us the necessary parts<br />
to build all of our product ranges.<br />
1<br />
Cut the wood<br />
The wood cladding is cut to the<br />
appropriate lengths for the external<br />
parts of the tub. The wood used can be<br />
any one of our sustainably sourced wood<br />
types (Scandinavian spruce, larch, cedar,<br />
Thermowood) this will then be ready for<br />
cladding the tub, once the frame and tub<br />
are ready to be finished.<br />
2<br />
Creating the fibreglass base<br />
Our tubs are created using a moulded<br />
form, enabling fibreglass to be placed<br />
on to the mould and for the roll top to be<br />
created.<br />
3<br />
Creating the shell<br />
Once we have created the fibreglass<br />
shape for a tub, it is then time to<br />
create the actual outer shell. To complete<br />
this depends on which coating the tub<br />
40 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
has as we offer various options including<br />
gel coat and granite coat. We spray the<br />
coating on and let it dry over the top of the<br />
moulded shape.<br />
4<br />
Added features<br />
With the tub now being ready for<br />
finishing we are able to add things<br />
like drain plugholes, pipework and spray<br />
foam for heat retention. Any lighting or spa<br />
system wiring is added at this point.<br />
5<br />
Finishing<br />
In addition to any extras, we add<br />
an internal frame that the tub sits<br />
on for strength. We also attach any steel<br />
pipework for woodfired tubs. We then<br />
add the pre-cut wooden lengths, before<br />
putting two steel bands around the whole<br />
structure to increase sturdiness.<br />
6<br />
Testing of the tub<br />
Our team put the tubs through<br />
rigorous testing, pressure testing the<br />
pipework, testing the heaters (electric or<br />
woodfired), filling the tubs up to the top<br />
and putting the water around the tub’s<br />
systems to ensure everything is working<br />
correctly before it leaves the factory ready<br />
for delivery.<br />
7<br />
Quality management<br />
As can be seen in the photos, our team<br />
of 40 people work hard to ensure that<br />
when customers get their products they are<br />
ready to use, have been tested to the highest<br />
standards, and that when they are delivered,<br />
they are in the same state as they left the<br />
factory, whether they are in flat pack form or<br />
complete (both options are available). The<br />
final stage of the process involves everything<br />
being shrink wrapped to ensure it doesn’t<br />
get lost or damaged in transit.<br />
When looking at the overall standards<br />
for all our products, as a company we have<br />
achieved the ISO 9001: 2015 for Quality<br />
Management. This accreditation helps<br />
with continual improvements of overall<br />
standards within the company.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 41
GLAMPSITES<br />
WITH LAST year's legislation extending<br />
permitted rights for camping and<br />
caravanning from 28 days to 60<br />
days, landowners have double the<br />
opportunity to profit from a seasonal<br />
glampsite. This ruling means that you<br />
are able to create a ‘pop-up’ site with<br />
only a few conditions:<br />
› Sites can accommodate up to 50 tents<br />
(motorhomes and campervans require<br />
a separate licence)<br />
› You can operate without a campsite<br />
license for 42 consecutive days. An<br />
easy solution to avoid having to get a<br />
licence is to insert a short gap within<br />
the operation of your 60-day campsite<br />
– for example, a one-day break<br />
› Guests must be provided with on-site<br />
toilet and waste disposal facilities<br />
and can use ‘any moveable structure<br />
reasonably necessary for the campsite<br />
use’<br />
› Nothing on the site can be considered<br />
‘permanent development’ – that<br />
means no concrete or anything that<br />
can’t be removed at the end of your<br />
season<br />
› Landowners must give their local<br />
planning authority written notice<br />
before they open for the season and<br />
submit their dates of operation and<br />
a site plan showing toilets and waste<br />
disposal facilities<br />
› Prior approval will be required if the<br />
site is located within Flood Zone<br />
2 or 3, so the Environment Agency<br />
can be consulted, and warning and<br />
evacuation plans agreed<br />
› The new permitted development<br />
rights will not apply to land within<br />
the curtilage of a listed building, Site<br />
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or<br />
scheduled monument.<br />
TRADE SECRETS<br />
Pop-up<br />
Site Hacks<br />
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite tips and<br />
tricks for pop-up glampsite operations<br />
LEFT £985 off-grid shower<br />
from Sheep Shed Creations<br />
RIGHT Flat waste tank from Glampsan<br />
42 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
“MOST OF WHAT YOU NEED IN TERMS OF LIGHTS AND<br />
PHONE CHARGING CAN BE RUN FROM SOLAR POWER<br />
AND BATTERIES”<br />
SHOWERS AND TOILETS<br />
You have a few options for shower<br />
facilities. You can either hire in a shower<br />
trailer (budget around £400 / week) but be<br />
aware that it is going to need an electric<br />
hook up or generator. This may not be the<br />
look (or cost) you are looking for so why<br />
not consider investing in some portable<br />
infrastructure that can be barn stored<br />
during the winter and put on site for your<br />
pop-up glampsite months?<br />
There are a few off-grid showers on<br />
the market. Sheep Shed Creations has<br />
created one for £985 (inc. vat) which comes<br />
flatpacked and is super easy to assemble.<br />
It has all its plumbing and individual hot<br />
and cold mixer taps on the inside. Just<br />
add a cold and hot water feed either from<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
a separate hot water source or from an<br />
outdoor LPG water heater (£300-£400)<br />
mounted to the battens on the back. If DIY<br />
isn’t your thing, for £2,220 (inc. vat) you<br />
can have the completed thing delivered to<br />
your door – heater and all.<br />
As for toilets, a good separating<br />
compost loo (one that diverts the urine<br />
away from solids) built into a shed on<br />
skids or a pallet will make for a low odour,<br />
off-grid solution, providing you educate<br />
guests on how to use it (men need to sit<br />
down to wee). Sheep Shed has one that<br />
matches the shower and they even offer<br />
accessible units. There are loads out there<br />
though if you have a look. Just make<br />
sure that whatever structure you choose<br />
can be installed and hooked up without<br />
any ‘permanent development’ (which<br />
would then incur the need for planning<br />
permission).<br />
Alternatively, you could opt for a<br />
flushing toilet system and divert all waste<br />
water into a holding tank. Glampsan has<br />
a range of above ground flat tanks that<br />
you could hide away and have emptied at<br />
the end of your season. As these tanks can<br />
be easily removed they will not require<br />
planning.<br />
Collecting greywater from your showers<br />
and sinks also needs careful consideration.<br />
You can create a soakaway using a gravel<br />
pit but to be really correct you should get<br />
advice from the Environmental Agency.<br />
Using a flat tank (as above) is a great<br />
alternative solution.<br />
POWER AND LIGHTING<br />
A generator, even a small one, will be<br />
useful to run some of your essential<br />
infrastructure if you have a sizable site. If<br />
you know how many glamping units you<br />
are going to offer and what provisions for<br />
lights and power you would like to include<br />
(phone charging etc) a quick call to<br />
provider of generators will help you work<br />
out what would suit you – they can also<br />
help you with power distribution etc.<br />
Most of what you need in terms of lights<br />
and phone charging can be run from solar<br />
power and batteries. Portable Power<br />
Technology do a great range of power<br />
packs which can charge from solar panels.<br />
Google any camping kit provider for<br />
lanterns that double as charging devices<br />
too. BMS Technologies will be able to help<br />
you with more complex infrastructure<br />
needs where you need a number of<br />
batteries, panels and solar controllers.<br />
USEFUL CONTACTS<br />
BMS Technologies (solar)<br />
www.bmstechnologies.co.uk<br />
Glampsan (waste tanks)<br />
www.glampsan.com<br />
Portable Power Technology (power packs)<br />
www.portablepowertech.com<br />
Sheep Shed Creations (off grid showers/<br />
toilets)<br />
www.sheepshedcreations.co.uk<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 43
GLAMPSITES<br />
MOULD OR MILDEW?<br />
Nothing beats a<br />
professional wash and<br />
reproof, but even then you<br />
might end up with stubborn<br />
mould around seams. Treat<br />
any spots with Astonish<br />
Mould and Mildew Blaster.<br />
The great news is that it is<br />
just £1 from a number of<br />
places including Wilko, The<br />
Factory Shop, ASDA and<br />
Amazon. We tested it on<br />
a very mouldy 4m x 2.6m<br />
awning. It took two bottles<br />
(£2) but brought it back to<br />
gleaming canvas.<br />
PROTECT THE<br />
TOP CAP<br />
For tents kept up for<br />
long periods of time,<br />
or for tents exposed to<br />
windy conditions, consider<br />
protecting the top cap to stop<br />
the king pole bursting through<br />
it and incurring an expensive repair bill. Buy a metal<br />
bowl with a 7-8cm diameter base from a kitchen shop or<br />
Amazon and place it up inside the top of the tent where<br />
the king pole stopper rests. This increases the surface<br />
area of where the pressure is applied and prevents wear<br />
on the rubber of the stopper – it is when this rubber<br />
perishes that the pole can push though the canvas.<br />
There is an additional benefit to this hack too. Punch<br />
holes around the rim of the bowl and use metal hooks<br />
to provide a handy hanging function – great for lights,<br />
decoration and hanging storage.<br />
Bell Tent<br />
Maintenance<br />
Wins<br />
If your site features bell tents, read on<br />
for some essential hacks that will<br />
make your life so much easier!<br />
ORANGE SCREW<br />
BCT OUTDOORS<br />
SMALL SPACE?<br />
Reducer poles are perfect to minimise<br />
pitching footprint but also to stop<br />
guests tripping over guy ropes. You can<br />
buy purpose made poles but broom<br />
handles work just as well, especially if<br />
you cut a notch into the top of them.<br />
This hack works on any size of bell<br />
tent so long as the poles are the same<br />
height as the tent wall.<br />
FED UP OF TIGHTENING<br />
GUY ROPES?<br />
All tent owners know that guy ropes<br />
need to be checked regularly. If<br />
you have numerous tents or are<br />
exposed to regular gusts of wind,<br />
you might want to consider a<br />
metal frame bell tent. Have a look<br />
at the ‘Nomadic’ model from BCT<br />
Outdoors, available in 4m, 5m and<br />
6m diameters. It may take a little<br />
longer to assemble but once it’s up<br />
it’s up!<br />
CANVAS CAMP<br />
ZIP GONE?<br />
The local dry cleaners are unlikely to<br />
want to take your 20kg bell tent canvas<br />
in to replace a zip… The great news is<br />
it is really simple to do yourself. There<br />
are plenty of kits on Amazon and lots of<br />
step-by-step tutorials online too. It might be<br />
worth investing in the hardware and swotting<br />
up before the season starts – see here www.<br />
wikihow.com/Fix-a-Tent-Zipper<br />
If you have to get an emergency repair done to the fabric<br />
of the zip (where it meets the canvas) Google ‘sewing<br />
awl’ and ‘wax thread’ to stock up, or make friends with<br />
your local Scouts group. They will be nearby, helpful and<br />
grateful for any donations to the charities they support. For<br />
a DIY guide, see here: www.instructables.com/How-to-Fix-<br />
Separated-Nylon-Zipper-Teeth<br />
LOOSE GROUND?<br />
If you are pitching on sandy soil or have recently landscaped<br />
and are working with loose, uncompacted ground, you will need<br />
to replace your group pegs with screws. They work by literally<br />
screwing into the ground and anchoring in with more grip.<br />
A favourite brand is ‘Orange Screw’. They are super lightweight<br />
and come with a clear cylinder that fits though the top of<br />
the screw to make it easier to turn. This cylinder also acts as<br />
protection for guy ropes that pass over the edge of a deck<br />
and may rub and fray. Just thread them through to create a<br />
protective channel.<br />
USEFUL CONTACTS<br />
BCT Outdoors (Nomadic bell tent)<br />
www.bctshop.co.uk<br />
Orange Screw (for loose ground)<br />
www.orangescrew.com<br />
44 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
A Pop-Up Camping Experience<br />
MUSIC | WELLNESS | FOOD & DRINK | ACTIVITIES<br />
ARTS & CRAFTS | RIVER SPORTS | KID’S CLUB<br />
S2T GRASS<br />
REINFORCEMENT<br />
PERFO<br />
interlocking tiles - effective<br />
protection for soft ground<br />
Ideal for the reinforcement of<br />
parking areas, access tracks,<br />
pitches etc. at:<br />
- camping & glamping sites<br />
- open air event venues<br />
- country & leisure parks<br />
www.wildcanvas.uk<br />
Tel. 01992 522797<br />
www.perfo.co.uk<br />
Glampsite Insurance<br />
Contact us for a quote:<br />
01962 774421<br />
www.glamping-insurance.com<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 45
ISSUE 51 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
ISSUE 52 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
BUSINESS<br />
ISSUE 46 | October/November 2021 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
BUSINESS<br />
BESPOKE GLAMPING<br />
ISSUE 49 | March/April 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
EVENT STRUCTURES<br />
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
› Bars & Catering<br />
› Outdoor Ceremonies<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Compost Toilets<br />
› Booking Systems<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Seeing Red<br />
› Total Immersion<br />
BUSINESS<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
› Sharing Snaps<br />
› Kitchen Efficiencies<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Architects<br />
› Natural Pools<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Green Hydrogen<br />
› Tent Waste<br />
GLAMPING<br />
SHOW<br />
PREVIEW<br />
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
› Accommodation<br />
› Eco Marketing<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Research<br />
› Sewage Strategy<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Stage Build<br />
› Ticketing<br />
BUSINESS<br />
FUNCTION<br />
VENUES<br />
› Pricing<br />
› Websites<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Business Rates<br />
› Building Regulations<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Reusable Cups<br />
› Festival Costs<br />
ISSUE 53 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
STRUCTURES<br />
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT<br />
Tim Bowles -Campwell<br />
BUSINESS<br />
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
/ /<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Shoot Styling<br />
› Logo Protection<br />
› Insurance<br />
› Saying Thanks<br />
› Treehouse Builds<br />
› Going Hybrid<br />
CASE STUDIES:<br />
ROKA BELLA ROSE WEDDINGS • THE MEADOWS AT POLEHANGER • BURRS LIVE<br />
CASE STUDIES:<br />
GREEN & AWAY • BIRDHOLME GLAMPING • SHREWSBURY FOOD FESTIVAL<br />
CASE STUDIES:<br />
SYCHPWLL CENTRE • BROOK FARM SHEPHERD HUTS • IRLAM LIVE<br />
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT<br />
Derry Green - The Secret Garden Glamping<br />
› Derry Green - The Secret Garden Glamping<br />
CASE STUDIES:<br />
HYDE ESTATE WILD GARDENS • BROCKLOCH ECO RETREAT • TRAMLINES FESTIVAL<br />
CASE STUDIES:<br />
OLD OAK FARM • DRAGONFLY CAMPING • TORCHLIGHT FESTIVAL OF CAMPING<br />
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GLAMPSITES<br />
PRODUCT IN FOCUS<br />
Pods, Huts & Lodges<br />
LittleIdyll Shepherds<br />
Huts at Higher Barn<br />
Farm<br />
Product: ‘The Traditional Hut’<br />
Supplier: CheshireHuts,<br />
07967 753289,<br />
cheshirehuts@gmail.com,<br />
www.cheshire-huts.co.uk<br />
Details: The luxury glamping hut<br />
provided by CheshireHuts at Higher<br />
Barn Farms in Cheshire stands<br />
out with its full-sized bathroom,<br />
well-equipped kitchen, and a lavish<br />
king-sized bed. Thoughtful additions<br />
including ample storage space and<br />
radiator heating ensure that guests<br />
experience the epitome of comfort<br />
during their stay.<br />
Customer feedback: Owner<br />
Katharine Swindells said:<br />
“CheshireHuts’ exemplary service<br />
extends to providing detailed<br />
explanations about the best<br />
materials for a bespoke hut, offering<br />
clients the flexibility to choose from a<br />
diverse range. This collaborative approach not only ensures that<br />
the hut aligns perfectly with a client’s vision but also allows them<br />
to make informed decisions tailored to their preferences.<br />
“Beyond hut installation, CheshireHuts provides additional<br />
landscaping options, including the possibility of adding patios<br />
and gazebos, ensuring a holistic and personalised experience<br />
for clients seeking a perfect blend of functionality and aesthetic<br />
appeal.”<br />
Introducing ‘The Frey’<br />
Bakland Cabins and Lodges<br />
01472 852704<br />
info@baklandcabins.co.uk<br />
www.baklandcabins.co.uk<br />
This quirky, micro twin unit cabin sleeps two to four,<br />
configured either with a spacious double bedroom, or with<br />
built-in bunks to create a versatile family unit. This cabin<br />
design was originally inspired by a love of alpine refuges that<br />
offer shelter and protection from the elements (albeit with a<br />
more luxurious twist).<br />
Presented with traditional décor, in either a rustic or coastal<br />
finish, with separate bedroom, en-suite, storage and a micro<br />
kitchen/living area. A built-in seating and dining area with<br />
feature windows provides a stylish, atmospheric, and relaxing<br />
space to unwind after a day in the great outdoors. Also<br />
available as a single unit, The Frey Micro, sleeping two; small,<br />
compact, cosy, with everything you need, no more, no less.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 47
GLAMPSITES<br />
Long Ashes Park, Lakeland Leisure Estates<br />
Product: Five en-suite Kelvin glamping pods<br />
Supplier: Podz R Us, 07767 733044, sales@podzrus.com, www.podzrus.com<br />
Details: Lakeland Leisure Estates is a highly respected brand within the<br />
marina and leisure sector, operating parks across the UK and Spain.<br />
Podz R Us was privileged to work with the team at Long Ashes Park to<br />
provide five bespoke Kelvin pods as a luxury addition to the current<br />
accommodation offering. The spacious layout of the Kelvin provides a 2+2<br />
sleeping configuration, including a double bed and sofa bed. In addition<br />
to the well-equipped, modern kitchen area, the Kelvin is fully en-suite<br />
with toilet, wash basin and a massive 1,200mm shower. Benefiting from<br />
electric underfloor heating and double-glazing, the pods will be suitable<br />
for letting all year round, including the lucrative Christmas and New Year<br />
markets.<br />
Customer feedback: Mark Morgan, managing director of Lakeland Leisure Estates, said: “Our new glamping pods<br />
will provide a whole new level of luxury to our Long Ashes Park site, offering a unique holiday experience in the<br />
stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales. The team at Podz R Us is fantastic and has ensured the pods are equipped<br />
with everything needed for a relaxing glamping experience.”<br />
Bespoke Huts and Pods<br />
Outdoorsy Living<br />
01622 844238<br />
info@outdoorsy-living.co.uk<br />
www.outdoorsy-living.co.uk<br />
Outdoorsy Living’s bespoke luxury shepherd huts and glamping<br />
pods are perfect for a wide range of holiday retreats, enabling<br />
year-round occupancy and the wow factor of being close to nature without<br />
losing any creature comforts. If you are thinking of elegant glamping-site<br />
developments, charming hideaways or delightful guest rooms, the team<br />
will design, build and deliver your unique vision.<br />
Hut and pod layouts can be modified to your specifications, from empty<br />
shells to fully furnished space saving designs. Shepherd hut sizes range<br />
from 16 to 20 feet, and glamping pod lengths can be increased in 1m<br />
increments. External timber cladding or corrugated iron options provide<br />
stylish protection against the elements, with the fully insulated walls, floor<br />
and roof keeping guests cool in summer and warm in winter.<br />
Contemporary yet traditional, Outdoorsy Living creates glamorous<br />
spaces with meticulous craftsmanship, patience and care, offering a<br />
superior experience of luxury leisure in nature.<br />
48 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
The M30loft<br />
Logspan<br />
01389500950<br />
info@logspan.com<br />
www.logspan.com<br />
Introducing the M30loft. A single modular unit which<br />
gives your guests fantastic views while relaxing in its<br />
open and airy interior.<br />
The M30loft contains a kitchen area, living room,<br />
separate bedroom, WC with shower and loft with<br />
space for sleeping. Included in a base kit is an<br />
upgraded and fully insulated timber frame with all<br />
external and internal finishes for walls, roof, and<br />
floor, triple glazed windows and doors, and electricity<br />
wiring and pipes inside the construction.<br />
In addition, choose your accessories including<br />
a fully equipped kitchen, shower room, heated<br />
floors, air conditioners, wardrobes or lighting<br />
devices.<br />
Limitless Possibilities with LOCX<br />
Luxury Pods<br />
07767 666999<br />
info@luxurypods.com<br />
www.luxurypods.com<br />
Luxury Pods is a British designer and<br />
manufacturer of bespoke structures used in the<br />
glamping industry (not just accommodation). The unique LOCX<br />
system creates a lightweight, maintenance-free, aluminium<br />
structural frame that is quick and easy to erect. Cladding the<br />
structure with anything from canvas to mirror panels creates<br />
an exterior that fits in with your surroundings. All pods are<br />
fully customisable, including: underfloor heating, advanced<br />
triple insulation, double glazing bi-folds with internal blinds,<br />
levitating beds, storage for canoes, bicycles and surf boards,<br />
and raised platforms for flood defence. Designs are virtually<br />
limitless, from nine-sided NonaPods to A-frames or bespoke<br />
one-off creations like tree houses or floating water lodges.<br />
For the DIY enthusiasts, aluminium frames can be flat<br />
packed for ease of transport and colour-coded for assembly.<br />
The internal matrix of the recycled British aluminium profile<br />
not only creates a super-strong framework but also provides<br />
channels to fix cladding without the need to drill.<br />
New Pod Range<br />
Woodpecker Productions<br />
07435 866929<br />
info@woodpeckertubs.co.uk<br />
www.woodpeckertubs.co.uk<br />
Woodpecker Productions is delighted to announce its new<br />
Pod Collection. These structures can be used as luxurious<br />
accommodation units or transformed into a sauna with a half<br />
panoramic window and Harvia heater.<br />
As part of its sustainability journey, Woodpecker uses<br />
sustainably supplied Scandinavian Spruce or Thermowood,<br />
adding value to your own sustainable journeys.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 49
EVENTS<br />
50 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
WOMAD<br />
A 44 year old festival founded by Peter Gabriel,<br />
welcoming 35,000 people to Charlton Park, Wiltshire<br />
GARRY JONES<br />
We talk to the WOMAD team<br />
about curating an event<br />
celbrating the ‘worth and<br />
potential’ of a multi cultural<br />
society through music, dance,<br />
art, food and workshops from<br />
around the world. This ‘world’s<br />
festival’ brand has international<br />
reach with events in three<br />
contenents.<br />
Describe your event<br />
WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and<br />
Dance) brings together artists from<br />
all over the globe. Visitors get to<br />
hear the best music they’ve never<br />
heard before, join in with over 200<br />
free workshops led by musicians<br />
and dancers from around the<br />
world, taste delicious and exotic<br />
food cooked, listen to talks, relax<br />
in the arboretum, and discover so<br />
much more. The festival attracts<br />
35,000 people to its home in<br />
Wiltshire.<br />
Explain a bit about your venue<br />
The beautiful Charlton Park Estate<br />
in Wiltshire has been home to<br />
WOMAD UK since 2007 after it<br />
moved from Reading. Many lessons<br />
were learned in the first year at<br />
this venue, which crew and festival<br />
goers now refer to as WOMUD.<br />
What is the event’s history?<br />
WOMAD was founded in 1980 by<br />
internationally renowned musician,<br />
Peter Gabriel. The first festival, in<br />
1982, succeeded in introducing an<br />
“ALREADY<br />
ONE OF THE<br />
LONGEST-<br />
ESTABLISHED<br />
CULTURAL<br />
EVENTS IN<br />
THE WORLD,<br />
WE HAVE<br />
HOSTED<br />
FESTIVALS<br />
IN MORE<br />
THAN 30<br />
COUNTRIES,<br />
WITH THE<br />
WOMAD<br />
EXPERIENCE<br />
ENJOYED<br />
BY A<br />
COLLECTIVE<br />
AUDIENCE<br />
OF MILLIONS”<br />
international audience to many<br />
talented artists.<br />
Already one of the longestestablished<br />
cultural events in the<br />
world, we have hosted festivals in<br />
more than 30 countries, with the<br />
WOMAD experience enjoyed by<br />
a collective audience of millions.<br />
Over the years, our aims have<br />
remained strong and true; whether<br />
at festivals or other performance<br />
events, through recorded releases<br />
or educational projects, we aim to<br />
excite, to create, to inform and to<br />
highlight awareness of the worth<br />
and potential of a multicultural<br />
society.<br />
How does the relationship work<br />
with the venue?<br />
We have had a close working<br />
relationship with the farms and<br />
estate manager, Robin Aird,<br />
throughout our time at Charlton<br />
Park. We have a big store on site,<br />
and they have always worked<br />
with us to allow us to install some<br />
permanent infrastructure around<br />
the site.<br />
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EVENTS<br />
SIMPLY C PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
GARRY JONES<br />
SIMPLY C PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
How is your relationship with the<br />
local authority and community?<br />
We have a great relationship<br />
with the local authorities and the<br />
licensing process is always an open<br />
one. We love working with the<br />
council and working with them to<br />
share expertise in order to create a<br />
successful and safe event.<br />
Our traditional curtain-raiser is<br />
the Malmesbury School Project.<br />
This project involves a week of<br />
workshops at Malmesbury School<br />
and local primary schools, run by<br />
a different artist each year. The<br />
project culminates in a performance<br />
on the mainstage at WOMAD. We<br />
also offer discounted tickets for<br />
residents living nearby in the SN16<br />
postcode.<br />
How have you planned the layout<br />
of the event?<br />
We have implemented a lot of<br />
permanent infrastructure on the<br />
site, such as water and fibre. We<br />
have a permanent ring road around<br />
our arena, which makes it a lot<br />
easier in wet weather for build and<br />
break and for buggies/vehicles<br />
to get around the site during the<br />
show. We hire in most of our stages<br />
and structures, but we have long-<br />
standing relationships with the<br />
suppliers of these, which makes the<br />
process very easy.<br />
How do you work with creatives<br />
to make these spaces work?<br />
We work with creatives across the<br />
site to add that bit of festival magic.<br />
In the World of Art we work with<br />
different visual and sound artists<br />
each year to produce an immersive<br />
art project which is showcased at<br />
the festival. We also put on over 200<br />
workshops over the weekend, which<br />
range from dance, drumming and<br />
singing, to still life drawing, yoga<br />
and breathwork. These workshops<br />
take place throughout the site – we<br />
have two workshop marquees in the<br />
main arena, as well as utilising the<br />
outdoor spaces of the Arboretum.<br />
Décor is also important<br />
throughout the site – for example,<br />
the way that our bars are decorated<br />
elevates them from traditional<br />
marquees to feeling like pubs.<br />
GARRY JONES<br />
“WE ALSO PUT ON OVER 200 WORKSHOPS<br />
OVER THE WEEKEND, WHICH RANGE<br />
FROM DANCE, DRUMMING AND SINGING,<br />
TO STILL LIFE DRAWING, YOGA AND<br />
BREATHWORK”<br />
GARRY JONES<br />
DJI<br />
52 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
How did you research and source<br />
your infrastructure?<br />
As the event has been running<br />
for over 40 years, we have a<br />
big database of suppliers. The<br />
production team also attends trade<br />
shows throughout the year, as we<br />
are always interested in new and<br />
interesting products and ideas as<br />
well as companies to add to the<br />
database.<br />
What entertainment do you offer?<br />
We offer a range of music, arts and<br />
dance from around the world along<br />
with the World of Words, Taste the<br />
World, adult workshops, world of<br />
children and physics. We have a<br />
team that work together in curating<br />
the content for the festival, which<br />
typically involves going to other<br />
festivals/events, agents, research,<br />
internet to name a few sources.<br />
What provisions do you make for<br />
power, lights and sound?<br />
We work with two wonderful<br />
contractors, who have been<br />
working alongside us for so long<br />
that they are considered part<br />
of the crew. Judgeday provides<br />
technical production and procures<br />
everything on the stages and<br />
Powerline provides our power and<br />
generators. We have a very close<br />
working relationship with both<br />
companies; Judgeday has an office<br />
next to ours at Realworld Studios,<br />
and Powerline is just down the<br />
road, and its team comes in for<br />
regular meetings throughout the<br />
year.<br />
How do you manage admissions<br />
and visitor safety?<br />
All tickets are purchased in<br />
advance, so we are aware of<br />
everyone on site. Similarly,<br />
with contractors, we work with<br />
competent contractors who<br />
provide information on crews and<br />
safety on site. We hold regular<br />
safety meetings onsite and carry<br />
out extensive pre-show checklists.<br />
LISA WHITING<br />
GARRY JONES-<br />
How did you cope during 2020 and<br />
2021?<br />
We didn’t manage to run events in<br />
the UK in 2020 or 2021. We were<br />
very vocal in the press about our<br />
cancellation in 2021; we had to<br />
pull the show a few weeks before,<br />
which hit us hard. We ran an event<br />
in Australia and NZ in March of 2020,<br />
just before lockdown commenced<br />
worldwide, and we managed a<br />
smaller, socially-distanced event in<br />
Gran Canaria in November of 2021.<br />
What ground protection do you<br />
use for cars and footfall?<br />
We use trackway and some<br />
trackmat. The ground at Charlton<br />
Park is very hard and rocky, which<br />
is good for vehicle movement until<br />
it rains, and then we have trouble<br />
with water soaking away. We had a<br />
wet year last year and had to bring<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 53
EVENTS<br />
RYLEY MORTON<br />
RYLEY MORTON<br />
in our wet weather contingency<br />
plan, which included lots of extra<br />
trackway and the creation of extra<br />
hardstanding points around the<br />
arena for off-loading.<br />
How do you publicise the event?<br />
We mainly publicise the event via<br />
our social media channels. Our<br />
80% customer return rate helps,<br />
with people coming back year after<br />
year! The WOMAD crowd is a special<br />
group dedicated to bringing the vibe<br />
every year.<br />
What additional challenges have<br />
you faced?<br />
Being a festival that promotes<br />
music from around the world, Brexit<br />
and the associated changes in<br />
immigration have been challenging.<br />
We – as well as many organisations<br />
in the industry – have struggled with<br />
quickly increasing prices over the<br />
last couple of years.<br />
How do you finance the event?<br />
WOMAD is a labour of love. It isn’t<br />
a money-making machine; it is a<br />
celebration of culture and music<br />
from around the globe.<br />
What are your plans for next year?<br />
We plan to continue into the future!<br />
GARRY JONES<br />
As well as WOMAD in the UK, next<br />
year, we will continue with our<br />
international events in Australia,<br />
New Zealand, Chile, Spain, South<br />
Africa and Gran Canaria, with other<br />
events on the cards as well.<br />
What advice could you give<br />
to someone coming into the<br />
industry?<br />
Working in the outdoor event<br />
industry isn’t for the faint-hearted.<br />
You need to be able to look after<br />
yourself and bring balance to a very<br />
full-on world.<br />
ADDRESS BOOK<br />
MARQUEES<br />
BES Marquees<br />
www.bes-marquees.co.uk<br />
Field & Lawn www.fieldandlawn.com<br />
Prickly Pear www.pricklypearstrtchtets.com<br />
Smiddereens www.smiddereens.com<br />
STAGES<br />
A&J Big Tops www.ajbigtophire.com<br />
Microspan www.microspan.uk<br />
SRG Events Structures www.srg-event.com<br />
DECOR<br />
Angus Watt Flags www.anguswatt.net<br />
Faulds Creative Works www.fauldscreativeworks.com<br />
Planet Gold www.planetgolddecor.co.uk<br />
Maeflower www.maeflower.co.uk<br />
Hana Sunny www.hanasunny.co.uk<br />
LIGHTING<br />
GLS Lighting www.glslighting.com<br />
HEAT & POWER<br />
Powerline www.thepowerline.co.uk<br />
BARS & CATERING<br />
Big Bars www.bigbars.co.uk<br />
The Occasional Kitchen<br />
www.theoccasionalkitchen.com<br />
GROUND PROTECTION<br />
Autotrak www.portableroadways.com<br />
Speedy Hire www.speedyservices.com<br />
BBC-@GARRYJONESPHOTOGRAPHY-7280<br />
WASHROOM & WC FACILITIES<br />
A1 www.a1groupuk.com<br />
Compoost www.compoost.com<br />
JustLoos www.justloos.com<br />
Laughton Loos www.laughtonloos.com<br />
PrestigeToilet Hire www.prestigetoilethire.co.uk<br />
TICKETING SYSTEMS<br />
Easol www.easol.com<br />
Eventree www.eventree.co.uk<br />
WI-FI / CARD MACHINES<br />
Etherlive www.etherlive.co.uk<br />
SECURITY/STEWARDING<br />
SES Security www.thesesgroup.co.uk<br />
Oxfam festivals.oxfam.org.uk<br />
FENCING<br />
Speedy Hire www.speedyservices.com<br />
Augusta Event Support (AES)<br />
www.augustaeventsupport.com<br />
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT<br />
TRACSIS www.tracsisevents.com<br />
DETAILS<br />
25-28 July<br />
Charlton Park<br />
Malmesbury<br />
Wiltshire SN16 9DG<br />
www.womad.co.uk<br />
54 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
WORKING ON SOME OF THE WORLD’S<br />
MOST PRESTIGIOUS EVENTS<br />
WE ARE A CREWING COMPANY FOR THE CLIENTS AND<br />
FOR THE CREW. WE ENSURE THE BEST SERVICES FOR YOU.<br />
• We can cater for any job, big or small, offering a high level<br />
of service at affordable price<br />
• We have a diverse skillset including carpentry, audio visual<br />
and with each member having a positive, can do attitude.<br />
• We have forklift and IPAF operators<br />
t: 07904 903 452 e: info@olympuscrew.co.uk<br />
www.olympuscrew.co.uk<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 55
EVENTS<br />
ROB LIPSIUS<br />
ROB LIPSIUS<br />
ROB LIPSIUS<br />
Reducing Waste<br />
Advice from A Greener Future and Yourope on reducing the impact of waste at events<br />
WASTE IS one of the most prominent<br />
environmental impacts of a festival.<br />
Not only is there a great deal generated<br />
but it is the most visible impact to the<br />
festival-goer. Besides the unsightly factor,<br />
waste can also pose health risks. Waste<br />
management is also one of the most costly<br />
expenses for festivals and should be given<br />
careful consideration in the planning<br />
process.<br />
Most festivals are now implementing<br />
some form of environmentally aware<br />
waste management schemes. Any who do<br />
not are sadly lagging behind.Organisers<br />
can consider:<br />
■ Allowing use of only biodegradable<br />
disposables or re-usable cups and<br />
plates on stalls<br />
■ Providing separate bins for recycling<br />
■ Utilising volunteers and potential<br />
sponsorship for the clean-up and sorting<br />
efforts<br />
■ Separating waste for recycling<br />
■ Involving the crowd by supplying<br />
recycling bin bags and either a<br />
returnable rubbish tax or reward<br />
incentives<br />
■ Providing standard, recycling and<br />
biodegradable bin bags for traders<br />
■ Creating sculptures using waste<br />
generated on site (e.g. plastic bottles)<br />
■ Considering health, safety and hygiene<br />
■ Being aware of legislation and being<br />
prepared.<br />
WASTE ATTITUDES<br />
From an internet survey of 649 festival<br />
visitors, the following was found with<br />
regards to attitudes to waste management<br />
at events:<br />
■ 71% strongly agreed or agreed that<br />
waste is a negative environmental<br />
impact of festivals. This was the factor<br />
that most agreed upon<br />
■ 18% of the comments made by festivalgoers<br />
related to this issue, and festival<br />
organisers also referred to waste as<br />
a key environmental impact, with six<br />
respondents with recycling schemes.<br />
81% agreed or strongly agreed that if<br />
provided with separate bins they would<br />
separate their rubbish<br />
■ Organisers and festival-goers<br />
themselves made comments indicating<br />
that even the most well intended<br />
person may drop litter, especially when<br />
alcohol is consumed. This could prove a<br />
challenge to enforcement<br />
■ Network Recycling indicated a 30%<br />
recycling rate by festival-goers as the<br />
average. There does need to be some<br />
planning beyond the provision of<br />
separate bins, as some litter picking and<br />
sorting is inevitable<br />
■ 57% of festival-goers agree or strongly<br />
agree that re-usable crockery and<br />
cutlery should be used instead of<br />
disposables at festivals. Two of the 56<br />
comments made highlighted hygiene<br />
issues with this approach and suggested<br />
that recyclable/bio-degradable<br />
disposables would be better.<br />
MATERIALS AND WASTE<br />
Festivals and events generally require a<br />
lot of material input in order to create<br />
scenography, to reflect the individual<br />
theme of the event. Stages, activation<br />
areas, bars, vendor outlets, production<br />
areas and backstage areas all must be<br />
built, decorated, maintained and then<br />
56 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
removed. Building and decorating a<br />
festival or event from raw materials can<br />
have multiple negative implications for<br />
the environment from the extraction<br />
of raw materials to energy used in the<br />
production and transportation. Through<br />
careful planning, hiring, sharing, reusing<br />
and recycling, direct and indirect<br />
impacts associated with the production<br />
of a festival can be dramatically reduced.<br />
Festivals and events can be a<br />
significant source of waste materials,<br />
from campsite waste to packaging and<br />
consumables front and back of house.<br />
Waste management is a very visual<br />
part of any sustainability strategy, and<br />
a badly managed waste strategy can<br />
leave a festival site looking like a rubbish<br />
dump.<br />
Improperly managed solid waste can<br />
kill wildlife and over one million animals<br />
die each year after becoming entrapped<br />
in or ingesting litter. Solid waste can also<br />
cause contamination of land and water<br />
through the release of microplastics and<br />
toxic substances, such as heavy metals,<br />
into the ecosystem.<br />
Solid waste management also<br />
indirectly impacts on the environment<br />
due to the energy used in waste disposal,<br />
as well as emissions generated from<br />
waste transport, landfill disposal,<br />
incineration and the recycling processes.<br />
Materials & Waste<br />
Action Plan<br />
A list of initiatives organisers<br />
can undertake to minimise<br />
impact from waste. Informed<br />
by the European Green Festival<br />
Roadmap 2030, published by<br />
Yourope<br />
KEY<br />
› Basic<br />
›› Moderate<br />
››› Ambitious<br />
›››› Challenging<br />
GOOD PURCHASING PROCEDURES<br />
› Consider reuse where possible, for<br />
example by buying used or recycled<br />
props. Think circularly.<br />
› For all purchases, assess whether it is<br />
necessary to buy anything at all and do<br />
not buy more than is necessary.<br />
› Purchase the right products, and<br />
ensure that they have a long service life.<br />
› Choose products that carry an<br />
environmental label that is based on<br />
the product’s environmental impact<br />
throughout their life cycle, such as the EU<br />
Ecolabel.<br />
MINIMISE WASTE PRODUCTION<br />
› Print only necessary material, and use<br />
ECO TEAMS, ROCH WERCHTER, FLO RUIKT GRAS<br />
both sides of the paper where possible.<br />
Avoid over production of wristbands,<br />
badges, lanyards, merchandise etc.<br />
› Communicate electronically with<br />
performers (registration, timetable etc.)<br />
and audiences (tickets, event programme<br />
etc.) and send all relevant documentation<br />
by email beforehand.<br />
› Accreditation, ticketing, accounting and<br />
invoicing should be done electronically.<br />
› Have a storage area for off-cuts and<br />
encourage the use of these for smaller<br />
items, such as signage.<br />
›› Prepare a Procurement Policy that<br />
bans single-use and difficult to recycle<br />
plastic products across all departments<br />
(particularly for traders, e.g. serve ware,<br />
sachets, straws, coffee cups).<br />
›› Use insights and data gathered from<br />
previous or other events to estimate<br />
specific needs and ensure little excess<br />
materials are purchased.<br />
›› Have clear designs and accurate<br />
measurements for all stages and<br />
props before purchasing materials or<br />
constructing sets.<br />
›› Minimise or ban the use of singleuse<br />
decorative elements and choose<br />
sustainable and reusable décor.<br />
EXTEND THE USE OF MATERIAL AND<br />
PRODUCTS<br />
›› Reuse, share, rent or donate material<br />
to maximise its use (stage equipment,<br />
fencing, banners, signage, tents,<br />
electronic material, etc.)<br />
›› Avoid date marking (banners, signage,<br />
etc.) to allow re-use.<br />
›› Create a system for material<br />
management and storage of equipment<br />
between events.<br />
››› Plan long term relationships with<br />
partners (sponsors, vendors, etc.) to<br />
develop banners for multi-year use.<br />
››› Eliminate disposable serve ware and<br />
invest in reusable versions.<br />
››› Consider introducing pre-pitched<br />
camping options to reduce tent waste.<br />
LITTER AND POLLUTION PREVENTION<br />
› Have volunteers and crew regularly<br />
check sensitive areas and to distribute<br />
rubbish collection bags and to encourage<br />
the audience to keep the site clean.<br />
› Provide bins at the toilets for feminine<br />
hygiene product waste, toilet roll tubes,<br />
tissue packets, baby wipe packets.<br />
› Put signs up to ask people not to spit<br />
toothpaste or mouthwash on the ground<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 57
EVENTS<br />
ROCH WERCHTER<br />
ROB LIPSIUS<br />
after brushing teeth.<br />
›› Ban the sale of disposable, nonrecyclable<br />
plastics, and throw away items.<br />
›› Supply campers with biodegradable<br />
tent pegs, which will biodegrade if left in<br />
the ground.<br />
›› Ensure that the number of bins and<br />
sanitation facilities are adequate to the<br />
number of ticket holders.<br />
›› Clean out toilets, sinks and unblock<br />
drains regularly during the festival.<br />
››› Collect uncontaminated food waste<br />
and compost toilet waste and turn into<br />
compost – use for soil conditioning.<br />
ENCOURAGE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION<br />
AND RECYCLING<br />
› Have efficient signage for waste<br />
management systems that can easily be<br />
understood and followed.<br />
› Communicate recycling initiatives<br />
to audience, crew, contractors and<br />
performers (pre-event, during,<br />
electronically, via volunteers, have waste<br />
areas on maps, etc.).<br />
›› Create a Resource and Waste<br />
Management Policy and communicate<br />
with all production teams in the planning<br />
stages to assess what waste streams are<br />
likely to arise on site during build, event<br />
and break.<br />
›› Communicate with waste collectors<br />
and removal contractors and prepare<br />
a dedicated Resource and Waste<br />
“ENSURE THAT WASTE IS COLLECTED DURING THE<br />
EVENT, AND PROPERLY SORTED FOR REUSE, RECYCLING,<br />
COMPOSTING AND RECOVERY”<br />
Management Plan for the specific event/<br />
site.<br />
›› Have dedicated areas for waste storage<br />
and segregation and ensure that they are<br />
easily accessed by the waste management<br />
teams.<br />
›› Ensure that waste is collected during<br />
the event, and properly sorted for reuse,<br />
recycling, composting and recovery.<br />
›› Have adequate cleaning teams and<br />
onsite waste sorting teams.<br />
››› Have volunteers manning bin stations<br />
to instruct/assist visitors with the waste<br />
separation system.<br />
››› Manage a wide range of bins (paper,<br />
glass, cardboard, wood, metal, food &<br />
organic, residuals) and deploy those<br />
across the site (offices, production<br />
compounds, arenas, camping, food<br />
courts, parking), ensuring that there are<br />
dedicated areas for the safe storage of<br />
hazardous wastes, e.g. WEEE, lightbulbs,<br />
batteries, and medical waste.<br />
››› Introduce a rubbish deposit, a fee that<br />
visitors pay with their ticket and that they<br />
can reclaim after they have cleaned up<br />
their campsites and returned their filled<br />
trash bags once the festival has finished.<br />
MONITORING, MEASUREMENT AND<br />
REDUCTION<br />
›› Monitor the types and amounts of<br />
different waste streams produced.<br />
›› Identify locations that produce a lot<br />
of waste and the areas that are worst for<br />
contamination.<br />
›››› Ultimately get to a point where there<br />
is no waste going to landfill and only very<br />
small amounts going to thermal treatment<br />
and energy recovery (e.g. sanitary and<br />
medical waste for autoclaving and<br />
destruction).<br />
RESOURCES<br />
A Greener Future, pioneers in event<br />
sustainability since 2005<br />
www.agreenerfuture.com<br />
Yourope, the European Festival Association<br />
www.yourope.org<br />
Vision: 2025, a network of events taking<br />
climate action www.vision2025.org.uk<br />
Green Festival Roadmap 2030<br />
www.yourope.org/know-how/green-roadmap<br />
Future Festival Tools<br />
www.futurefestivaltools.eu<br />
58 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
Kåta Event Tipis<br />
Our hand crafted tents<br />
are perfect for the<br />
outdoor event world<br />
and provide a wow<br />
factor to any event.<br />
To learn more about the<br />
Crafted Canvas product<br />
range contact us<br />
07403 417 524<br />
info@crafted-canvas.co.uk<br />
www.crafted-canvas.co.uk<br />
ESTABLISHED 2022<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 59
SPONSORED FEATURE<br />
Trust Events<br />
Producing stages, platforms and event structures<br />
without fuss and within budget. “We don’t have<br />
a client who isn’t a friend”, says Spike Brookes<br />
TRUST EVENTS was formed back in 2002<br />
with an initial investment of £5.00 (5 quid,<br />
it’s all I had). We brought together a group of<br />
stage builders and anyone who found they<br />
didn't fit in anywhere else to start building<br />
stages we didn't have, for clients we hadn't<br />
asked, from an office that didn't exist and<br />
no place to put any kit even if we had it.<br />
To say it was a leap of faith is a bit of an<br />
understatement.<br />
The firm grew against all odds and with<br />
proceeds being absorbed back into kit and<br />
premises, plant, office and refurbishment<br />
(and no wages for the first nine years), on<br />
a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday you<br />
would see me selling cheese from a market<br />
stall in Swindon).<br />
22 years have now passed since the<br />
start of Trust Events and some of our<br />
crew I have known all this time. The<br />
company has expanded organically with<br />
no external financial involvement and has<br />
purchased another stage company and<br />
absorbed the equipment, its customers<br />
and responsibilities (just as we were locked<br />
down, couldn’t make it up).<br />
Pre-covid we were looking at a very busy<br />
year but we all know about that. Post-covid,<br />
we came out of the blocks with a vengeance,<br />
built our own new premises at The Royal<br />
Bath and West Showground and moved our<br />
operational base there. We invested in more<br />
kit and spent the winter months looking<br />
inwards, consolidating and considering our<br />
appeal to not only clients, but those working<br />
with us.<br />
At the end of 2022 we decided to<br />
implement a structure that allows for the<br />
personal growth of our team for those who<br />
want to move into other fields or take on<br />
more responsibility here<br />
with us. We started with<br />
plant and licencing so<br />
that team members<br />
could further their skills,<br />
this will be an ongoing theme incorporating<br />
all aspects of a project, building personal<br />
confidence as well practical ability. We also<br />
encourage team members to make certain<br />
projects their own, to include a profit share<br />
and rate increase.<br />
In summary, we are a small but very<br />
effective team that believes in what we do.<br />
We don’t have a client who isn’t a friend, we<br />
will take up the slack and produce a stage<br />
for you in time, without fuss and within<br />
budget. We have a loyal crew whom we<br />
nurture, kit and equipment we are proud<br />
of and a whole list of friends from other<br />
companies within our glorious industry to<br />
call upon.<br />
We own Orbit stage systems, unique 16m<br />
G3 stage, 30m G2 stage, Prolyte and other<br />
structures and platforms. We operate all<br />
over the UK and sometimes into Europe,<br />
providing stages and platforms for shows,<br />
events, festivals, film and TV.<br />
22 years and counting, time flies when<br />
you’re having fun.<br />
Trust Events<br />
01749 841720<br />
07909 <strong>63</strong>6566<br />
spike@trustevents.co.uk<br />
www.trustevents.co.uk<br />
“Spike is one of the funniest, most generous, and professional<br />
people I have ever worked with. He would literally break his<br />
back to provide a quality service to his customers and would<br />
give his last pound to anyone that needs it. A man of integrity<br />
and kindness, I would recommend him to any potential clients.”<br />
Nick Doyle MSc MSyl, managing director and head of security risk<br />
management EMEA at Kroll<br />
60 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
PRODUCT IN FOCUS<br />
Hygiene & Waste<br />
Budget Flat Pack<br />
Outdoor Shower<br />
01865 600400<br />
julian@sheepshed.co.uk<br />
www.sheepshed.co.uk<br />
Silverstone,<br />
Boomtown,<br />
Latitude and<br />
more<br />
Product: Sanicompact<br />
small footprint flushable<br />
toilet<br />
Supplier: Saniflo, 020 8842<br />
0033, sales@saniflo.co.uk,<br />
www.saniflo.co.uk<br />
Details: Saniflo customer,<br />
Suitehuts, offers a glamping pod<br />
range with a difference. Its Suitehuts<br />
and Sleephuts are all flat packed ready to<br />
be delivered in bulk to events. Erection of the<br />
units is exceptionally swift and they offer a comfortable, glamping style experience<br />
at events including Silverstone, Download, Latitude and Rewind among others.<br />
The Suitehut version has an en-suite bathroom with a shower and sink as well<br />
as a flushable Sanicompact WC from Saniflo. The benefit of the Sanicompact is<br />
not just its tiny footprint, but its function as a fully flushable, proper WC – far more<br />
appealing than the chemical toilets often found at large events. It even takes the<br />
waste from the small basin unit in the en-suite of the Suitehut and discharges it<br />
with the WC waste through unnoticeable, small-bore pipework into a well-hidden<br />
holding tank. Ideal for visitors that prefer additional privacy.<br />
Customer feedback: Steve Smith, founder and director of Suitehut, said: “Prior<br />
to the Sanicompact, we used a WC with a cistern and a macerator, but it took a<br />
bit too much space in the small bathroom. Many customers definitely prefer an<br />
integrated en-suite with a flushable WC as opposed to using communal WC and<br />
shower blocks. When we found the Saniflo Sanicompact it offered us the best of<br />
both worlds – a proper working loo that took less space therefore offering extra<br />
room to move around the en-suite. We are now building many of these for future<br />
events. We’re delighted to have found this solution.”<br />
Based on Sheep Shed Creations’<br />
original off-grid shower, the Naked<br />
Shower is a stripped-down budget version in kit<br />
form. It arrives on a pallet that becomes the base<br />
of the unit when assembled.<br />
Built using a range of sturdy exterior-grade<br />
materials, everything – apart from the hot water<br />
source – is included in the flat-packed kit. The<br />
base and side panels are pre-assembled, but<br />
the rest just needs slotting, screwing, sanding<br />
and staining. Sheep Shed can also recommend<br />
options for stains, paints and suitable hot water<br />
boilers.<br />
“It’s easy and satisfying; almost anyone can<br />
build one of these,” says Julian from Sheep Shed.<br />
“Despatch and delivery is quick, so this solution<br />
can be up and in place in no time. It also retains<br />
the gothic good looks and style of the rest of the<br />
range but provides a low-cost outdoor shower<br />
solution.”<br />
The Cinderella Travel<br />
Incineration Toilet<br />
LeeSan<br />
01295 770000<br />
karl@leesan.com<br />
www.leesan.com<br />
The Cinderella<br />
Travel incineration<br />
toilet represents<br />
an entirely new<br />
concept for<br />
waste handling<br />
in static and mobile units. It is now possible<br />
to get rid of toilet waste in a hygienic simple<br />
and environmentally friendly manner. Perfect<br />
for event environments, Cinderella Travel<br />
represents a totally new way to handle waste,<br />
easily, without the hassle of emptying in<br />
designated areas.<br />
The toilets are designed and produced in<br />
Norway, known for longevity and high quality<br />
with excellent capacity and sustainable,<br />
ecological design – without polluting<br />
outcomes. Cinderella Travel provides a<br />
hygienic and easy way to dispose of toilet<br />
waste safely.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 61
Spot light<br />
A roundup of products for the outdoor hospitality industry<br />
FLEXIBLE FINANCING<br />
Principal Business Finance<br />
01604 217998<br />
@principalbusinessfinance.co.uk<br />
www.principalbusinessfinance.co.uk<br />
Principal Business Finance offers<br />
tailored financial solutions<br />
for hospitality and glamping<br />
businesses. With years of expertise<br />
in the industry’s nuances, we<br />
provide flexible financing options<br />
to fuel growth and enhance<br />
operations. Our solutions include<br />
business loans, buying/selling<br />
finance, equipment finance<br />
and more. We understand the<br />
challenges of new starts, growth<br />
periods, and seasonal fluctuations<br />
by offering strategic guidance to<br />
navigate them. Partner with us to<br />
unlock the full potential of your<br />
exciting venture. Contact our team<br />
today to make your dreams a<br />
reality.<br />
SOLAR POWERED MOBILE STAGES<br />
The Stage Bus<br />
0121 585 9264<br />
info@thestagebus.com<br />
www.thestagebus.com<br />
We are The Stage Bus, a mobile<br />
stage hire company with a<br />
difference! All of our stages are<br />
solar-powered and fast set-up. We<br />
can be ready to go within an hour<br />
of arriving on site and be packed<br />
away in the same time, making<br />
light work of street closures.<br />
What’s more, our stages come with<br />
lighting, PA and sound system and<br />
we even include a sound engineer.<br />
We have a fleet of eight stages<br />
covering audiences from 500 up to<br />
8,000 and our stages are perfect<br />
for Christmas light switch-ons,<br />
food festivals, community events,<br />
carnival days and much more.<br />
ODOURLESS PUMP OUT TOILET<br />
NatSol<br />
01686 412653<br />
info@natsol.co.uk<br />
www.natsol.co.uk<br />
The NatSol Zero Discharge 2 is an<br />
odourless pump out toilet taking<br />
around 5,000 uses before you need<br />
to service it. Compare that to a<br />
typical Portaloo! It is a permanently<br />
installed wheelchair accessible<br />
toilet for outdoor activity sites<br />
where ongoing use is expected.<br />
We can supply buildings for this<br />
toilet or you could design and<br />
construct your own with our<br />
guidance. Every toilet comes<br />
complete with grab rails, gel<br />
dispensers, urinal and passive<br />
ventilation system.<br />
Installation can usually be achieved<br />
in a day on a typical site. Road<br />
access is essential for installation<br />
and servicing.<br />
PERFO GROUND REINFORCEMENT<br />
SYSTEM<br />
S2T Group<br />
01992 522797<br />
www.perfo.co.uk<br />
S2T Group’s PERFO range of<br />
ground protection products<br />
comprises a system of interlocking,<br />
self-anchoring permeable plastic<br />
tiles which are embedded into an<br />
existing surface, eg. a mature grass<br />
area or prepared base consisting of<br />
a layer of crushed stone chippings,<br />
depending on the application.<br />
A number of light to heavy duty<br />
solutions are available to suit<br />
varied ground conditions, traffic<br />
profiles and loading requirements.<br />
Unlike other geogrid systems,<br />
PERFO tiles are usually installed<br />
without the need for excavation,<br />
being compacted directly into the<br />
existing surface using rollers or<br />
compactor plates. Installation is<br />
therefore rapid and planning issues<br />
less problematic.<br />
62 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
INSTANT GROUND PROTECTION<br />
Mudcontrol<br />
01933 669<strong>63</strong>0<br />
sales@mudcontrol.co.uk<br />
ww.mudcontrol.co.uk<br />
MUDCONTROL slabs are<br />
revolutionary – a simple DIY way to<br />
create instant, removable hardstanding<br />
for people, animals and<br />
almost any vehicle, rated to 60<br />
tonnes load capacity.<br />
Instant heavy-duty ground<br />
protection creates solid pathways,<br />
driveways and storage areas, quickly<br />
and easily with minimal mess and<br />
disturbance. You can solve your<br />
mud issues in a matter of minutes,<br />
making muddy gateways and high<br />
traffic areas safer and more robust<br />
for your business.<br />
Each slab measures 50 x 50 x 5.3cm<br />
and weighs 7kg. They interlink to<br />
provide a stable, self-supporting,<br />
free-draining surface, either<br />
temporary or permanent, on any<br />
soil type.<br />
MAXIMISE VIEWS WITH THE<br />
MUNRO<br />
Podz R Us<br />
07767 733044<br />
sales@podzrus.com<br />
www.podzrus.com<br />
The stand-out feature of our Munro<br />
pod has to be the full height and<br />
width glass front. If you have a<br />
location with a stunning outlook,<br />
this is the best way to view it,<br />
no matter the outside weather<br />
conditions.<br />
The pod comes complete with a<br />
full-sized double bed, kitchen area<br />
and en-suite. The layout offers a<br />
spacious interior living area and a<br />
partitioned-off sleeping zone for<br />
some extra privacy. There's a fullsized<br />
shower in the bathroom too.<br />
Like all our pods, the Munro is fully<br />
insulated and double-glazed. With<br />
the addition of underfloor heating,<br />
it is suitable for use all year round.<br />
ONLINE WASTE AND WATER<br />
SOLUTIONS<br />
Glampsan<br />
0800 999 6010<br />
sales@glampsan.com<br />
shop.glampsan.com<br />
Glampsan is pleased to announce<br />
the launch of a brand new web shop<br />
which helps customers navigate<br />
waste and water solutions in a<br />
one-stop-shop. The Glampsan<br />
team is on hand to support and<br />
advise customers from Monday to<br />
Friday but if your working hours<br />
are different you now have the<br />
opportunity to research and source<br />
most of the company’s products<br />
from the comfort of your armchair,<br />
whenever the time is right for you.<br />
With over 30 years of experience<br />
in the waste industry, Glampsan<br />
supplies waste and water solutions<br />
for the glamping, camping,<br />
caravanning and event industries.<br />
MARQUEE HEATING<br />
Thermobile UK<br />
02476 357960<br />
andy@thermobile.co.uk<br />
www.thermobile.co.uk<br />
Thermobile heaters are<br />
manufactured in Holland and built<br />
to a very high quality. They have a<br />
minimum efficiency of 90 per cent,<br />
which means that 90 per cent of<br />
the fuel burned goes as useful heat<br />
into the heated space and only 10<br />
per cent via the flue. This is a very<br />
high efficiency in comparison to<br />
other heaters on the market.<br />
The Thermobile ITA range is ideal<br />
for heating marquees and other<br />
temporary structures. It comprises<br />
small, mobile units with a 5-10m<br />
range for ducting and 15hr integral<br />
fuel tanks. The larger IMA units<br />
require a separate fuel tank and<br />
can be ducted up to 40m.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM <strong>63</strong>
Classified Directory<br />
C RE®<br />
BAR& EVENTHIRE<br />
STYLISH CUSTOMISABLE BAR RENTAL<br />
DRY HIRE OR FULL SERVICE<br />
T: 0845 299 6499 - E: sales@core-barandeventhire.com<br />
www.core-barandeventhire.com<br />
Advert - small.indd 1 16/04/2021 16:04:43<br />
When Nature Calls<br />
sales@leesan.com<br />
T: 01295 770000<br />
Only LeeSan truly specialise in toilets<br />
From<br />
Finman £5,540<br />
Glamping<br />
Cabins and<br />
BBQ Huts<br />
• UNIQUE • QUALITY • CUSTOMISABLE<br />
01389 500 950<br />
• Sewage Treatment •<br />
• Sales •<br />
• Installation •<br />
TEAM<br />
SEPTIC<br />
01295 236 101<br />
sales@theseptictankstore.co.uk<br />
64 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
CREATED BY YOU, MADE BY US!<br />
The Natural Way To Build<br />
Tel: 01580 212141 Email: info@timberspecs.com<br />
MULTI-USE<br />
EVENT VENUE<br />
Set in idyllic 24ac Kent countryside (ME19 5DD)<br />
All weather access, 2 minutes from Jn 2 M20/26<br />
Contact Joe 07795 967609<br />
HOMESTEAD SET IN 42.8 ACRES WITH TWO<br />
HOLIDAY-LET BARN CONVERSIONS<br />
9 4 5 42.8 acres<br />
Detached 3 bedroom farmhouse with established holiday<br />
letting business<br />
Detached 5 bedroom barn conversion (sleeps 12)<br />
Detached open-plan barn with mezzanine level (sleeps 3)<br />
42.8 acres including pasture, meadow, ancient woodland and a<br />
stream<br />
North Wales Borders near Lake Vyrnwy OIRO £1,495,000<br />
Perfect opportunity to extend existing holiday-let business to camping,<br />
glamping or shepherd huts.<br />
With breathtaking 360-degree views, Tanyfoel is a detached, three-bedroom<br />
farmhouse set in 42.8 acres, with an established holiday letting business<br />
recently earning up to £50,000 per annum. The buildings hold an elevated<br />
position within the acreage, offering excellent views of the valley and the<br />
surrounding hills. The 42.8 acres are a wildlife haven, comprising a range of<br />
natural habitats including pasture, meadow, ancient woodland and a private<br />
stream. In addition, the sites elevated position, and the area's minimal light<br />
pollution makes Tanyfoel a 'dark sky' paradise for stargazers.<br />
Contact us for a viewing:<br />
Email: shrewsbury@rogerparry.net<br />
Tel: 01743 343343<br />
www.rogerparry.net<br />
Roger Parry<br />
& Partners<br />
Local, Trusted, & Experienced Property Specialists Since 1981<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 65
PEOPLE<br />
Behind the Scenes<br />
Ilke Durmay<br />
A day in the life of Ilke Durmay at creating the pop-up<br />
camping event, Wild Canvas<br />
I'M ILKE Durmay, the managing director and<br />
one of the founding partners of Wild Canvas.<br />
Originally from Istanbul, I've called London<br />
home for the past six years with my partner<br />
Serkan and our two sons.<br />
Wild Canvas offers a unique blend of<br />
camping and family friendly festival vibes,<br />
nestled amidst the picturesque meadows<br />
of the historic Turvey House Estate in<br />
Bedfordshire. This five-week summer event,<br />
now in its fifth year, lets you escape the<br />
ordinary and reconnect with nature, music,<br />
creativity and wellness. It's a truly welcoming<br />
space for all ages.<br />
I oversee every aspect of Wild Canvas, from<br />
planning and marketing to programming,<br />
sales, and operations, ensuring a seamless<br />
experience for everyone. With over 25<br />
years of experience in events, from music<br />
festivals and theatre to corporate events,<br />
my passion is creating unique experiences.<br />
From founding a music festival and an indie<br />
film festival, to now running Wild Canvas, I'm<br />
driven by the joy of bringing people together.<br />
My typical day involves juggling work from<br />
my home office while navigating school<br />
runs. Our team mostly connects virtually,<br />
but we prioritise in-person meetings when<br />
possible. Come summertime, the pace<br />
changes dramatically. It's an all-hands-ondeck<br />
experience, with long but rewarding<br />
days spent on-site, ensuring everything runs<br />
smoothly.<br />
Currently, I'm busy finalising the activities<br />
program for 2024. We are working on an<br />
exciting schedule brimming with diverse<br />
activities ranging from yoga and wellness<br />
practices to martial arts like Capoeira, and<br />
from arts and crafts to river sports. I love this<br />
aspect – connecting with new and returning<br />
instructors who bring their creativity and<br />
skills to the event, transforming spreadsheets<br />
into vibrant experiences at Wild Canvas.<br />
For most of the year, it's mostly me leading<br />
the planning with support from our amazing<br />
team. While the solo responsibility can be<br />
a bit stressful at times, the passion for and<br />
growth of Wild Canvas year after year fuels<br />
my motivation.<br />
The first Wild Canvas, a 10-day event held<br />
during lockdown at a regenerative sheep<br />
farm on the Mendip Hills in Somerset, was<br />
memorable for more than just its scenic<br />
setting. We faced constant rain throughout,<br />
culminating in a dramatic finale – a 40 mph<br />
storm on our last night. While we had to<br />
evacuate some guests to their cars at 3am,<br />
the expertly erected tipis by Hearthworks<br />
stood strong, keeping everyone safe.<br />
Our core team, united over the years,<br />
collaborates throughout the year on all<br />
aspects of the event. We believe in open<br />
communication and seek consensus on<br />
major decisions. This year, we're excited to<br />
welcome new members to support us in onsite<br />
management and other roles. Though<br />
the event period can be demanding, the<br />
overall vibe is relaxed and supportive, with<br />
everyone pitching in and looking out for each<br />
other.<br />
What started as a creative lockdown<br />
project has blossomed into a growing<br />
business with a loyal community of<br />
returning guests. Witnessing this inclusive<br />
and diverse community coming together<br />
year after year on the fields is incredibly<br />
rewarding. It's tremendously gratifying to see<br />
people connect, unwind and create lasting<br />
memories at Wild Canvas.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Wild Canvas<br />
25 July-27 August<br />
Turvey House Estate<br />
Coppey Moor<br />
Carlton Road<br />
Turvey<br />
Bedfordshire MK43 8EQ<br />
www.wildcanvas.uk<br />
FUN FACT<br />
Lola, our beloved<br />
family cat, joins us<br />
on-site, ensuring the<br />
perimeter stays<br />
pest-free!<br />
66 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
Are you on the list?<br />
BUSINESS<br />
Little<br />
Black<br />
Book<br />
2024<br />
The must have supplier guide<br />
Sent to Open Air Business Subscribers<br />
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Partner or Franchise<br />
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