Issue 64

ISSUE 64 | 2024 | www.openairbusiness.com
BUSINESS
VENUES
› Offsites
GLAMPING
› Making Fire
EVENTS
› Festival Branding
INFRASTRUCTURE
CASE STUDIES: CHAPEL HOUSE ESTATE • LYDCOTT GLAMPING • CHILFEST

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ISSUE 64 | 2024 | www.openairbusiness.com
WELCOME
I’M WRITING this from a sunny poolside on a Greek
island. Not the sort of thing the publisher of a magazine
championing our great UK hospitality industry should admit
to, but I thought it was about time my children saw another
country. In fact, it has been 13 years since I got on a plane and
my daughters, now seven and 11, were preparing for airflight
as if going into space. After carefully choosing a destination
based on weather (my husband), nice people (me), cats (my
daughters) and affordability (my husband), we settled on
Lesvos and it has been lovely.
However, after six and a half days of blissful 27°C, calm
turquoise seas and way too much good eating, my little ones have unanimously
reported that our annual fortnight in Weymouth is ‘better’. It could only be improved
with “some more cats”. So, there you have it – the next generation says staycations win.
I can’t help but make observations about the hospitality industry here. And I have
decided to officially name this Aegean Island as my favourite. It wins because it is
authentic, not over commercial and most of the businesses are owned by locals who
take pride in their offerings and also their environment. We won’t talk about the openair
cinema surrounded by mature fruit trees that was levelled to make way for a new
pay-as-you-go car park (I will mention that it is practically empty as both locals and
returning visitors have boycotted it – there will always be unsympathetic opportunists).
I’ve had fun looking at how businesses in the local town of Molyvos choose to present
themselves. Their branding, for the most part, does an excellent job of conveying their
core values of family, pride of place and authentic Greekness. From the olive wood
sculptor to the high end contemporary Greek restaurant, to the fun beach bar, to the
health food shop. They all make me want to discover more and try their wares. I am
now a follower of many on Instagram and I know if I return, I will be a repeat customer.
Branding is so important with so many mediums in which to present a business
available today. We have two pieces in this issue addressing how to brand and rebrand
effectively. And while thinking about corporate things, its great news that research
is showing that ‘wellness’ and ‘outdoors’ is still featuring highly on event bookers’
agendas for business get-togethers. If you are a venue, check out both the news (page
4) and our piece on ‘offsites’ (pages 22-23).
Tally Rix
Editor / Publisher
PUBLISHERS
Steve Rix - steve@openairbusiness.com
Tally Rix - tally@openairbusiness.com
EDITOR
Tally Rix - tally@openairbusiness.com
ADVERTISING SALES
Marney Whyte - 01892 677743
marney@openairbusiness.com
David Hobden - 01892 677741
david@openairbusiness.com
ADMINISTRATOR
Kirsty Farrow – 01892 677740
kirsty@openairbusiness.com
DESIGN
James English -
www.jamesenglishdesign.co.uk
PUBLISHED BY
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Milroy House, Sayers Lane,
Tenterden, TN30 6BW
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RECEIVE 7 ISSUES FOR £20
To start a paid subscription, please visit
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Contents ISSUE 64 – 2024
UP FRONT
4 News
7 Product News
9 Entrepreneur’s
Chat – Guy Cutler
and Natasha Davies-
Puddy, Fron Farm Yurt
Retreat
VENUES
15 Chapel House Estate
– “quiet, five-star
luxury” in Kent
20 Brand Review – is
it time to consider a
rebrand?
22 Offsites – meeting
demand for outdoor
corporate get-togethers
24 Infrastructure –
products in action
GLAMPSITES
29 Lydcott Glamping
– an award-winning
retreat with sea views
in Cornwall
34 Making Fire – a
foolproof method for
guests to follow
37 Industry Legend –
Jon Trelfa, Glampsan
38 Infrastructure –
products in action
EVENTS
43 Chilfest – celebrating
retro music
48 Dogs on the Job –
using security dogs at
festivals and events
50 Branding for
Festivals – core values
and consistency sell
tickets
53 Infrastructure –
products in action
56 Spotlight
57 Classifieds
58 Behind the Scenes
– Shauna O’brien,
Wonderland Retreats
Find more expert advice online:
www.openairbusiness.com
SUBSCRIBE
ONLINE
VENUES
› Offsites
GLAMPING
› Making Fire
EVENTS
› Festival Branding
INFRASTRUCTURE
CASE STUDIES: CHAPEL HOUSE ESTATE • LYDCOTT GLAMPING • CHILFEST
COVER PHOTO
15m x 12m chino stretch tent from TentStyle at the
Nyetimber Vineyard used for events, experience days
and wine tasting. TentStyle also provides annual
management of the structure. See more on page 24.
01403 333135, enquiries@tentstyle.co.uk,
www.tentstyle.co.uk Photo by Nyetimber/MDRN Love
BUSINESS
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 3

77% of Corporate Bookers
Prioritise Wellness
GETTY IMAGES
Labour Party Welcomed
by Events Industry
THE LABOUR Party’s victory in the UK
general election has been welcomed by
representatives from across the live events
industry, reported industry magazine Access
All Areas.
Jon Collins CEO of LIVE, which represents
15 associations across the live music
industry, said: “We have grounds for real
optimism with a Labour government, partly
because of what they’ve said but also
partly because of who said it. It hasn’t just
been DCMS, it’s been Jonathan Reynolds
at business, it’s been Rachel Reeves at
Treasury, it’s been Keir Starmer who
launched the Labour’s creatives manifesto
– there are so many things in there that we
like.”
“Lower VAT on ticket sales is the primary
ask from us for independent music festivals,”
said Association of Independent Festivals
(AIF) CEO John Rostron. “Our priority after
that is to explore a festival tax credit –
another fiscal model that could be the silver
bullet for independent festivals.
“The live music sector generated over
£6 billion in 2023, with one gig held every
four minutes, but this growth has not been
uniformly experienced across the sector.
It is critical that the incoming Labour
government delivers on the Culture,
Media, and Sport Select Committee’s
recommendations for an urgent review of
reintroducing a lower rate of VAT on live
music tickets and finding other ways to
support grassroots music.”
A Greener Future (AGF) CEO, Claire O’Neill,
said: “I am pleased and confident in what
Labour can now deliver with their support
for the creative industries and commitment
to the green economy. This is especially seen
in the case of green energy, where they have
a 2030 target for 100% renewable energy on
the grid. That is huge.”
HAND PICKED HOTELS
NEW RESEARCH has revealed that
wellness facilities for delegates is
now a priority for corporate bookers
when selecting a venue for a meeting
or conference. Research
conducted by One Poll on
behalf of Hand Picked
Hotels revealed 77% of
respondents, whose
role is booking
offsite meetings
and events, stated
wellness facilities
are at the top of
their priority list.
Over three quarters
of those surveyed
stated the top five things
planners look for include
nutritious food and beverage offering
(48%); a wellness walk (34%); a wellness
experience such as breathing and
relaxation techniques or yoga (25%);
access to spas and health club facilities
(24%); outdoors activity (19%).
The study also revealed the prominence
of shorter lead times, with 43% of
GETTY IMAGES
planners admitting to booking offsites
between one and four weeks out from
the meeting or event date and only 2%
booking six months out.
Planners cited the top three
biggest benefits of breaking
out to offsite meetings
as being free from
distractions (47%),
heightened employee
engagement (43%)
and building better
workplace relations
(38%).
Ian Cross, director
of sales at Hand Picked
Hotels, commented: “Postpandemic,
we have seen an
unprecedented surge in corporate
bookings, with 60% of enquiries
requesting to incorporate mindfulness
and wellbeing elements in away day
bookings. This research also supports the
industry trend of more off-site meetings
being organised now, compared to five
years ago, which is incredibly promising
for us and our industry colleagues.”
4 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

GALGORM
Galgorm Invests £3m in new ‘Forest Dens’
GALGORM, A spa and golf resort in Northern Ireland, has invested £3m into expanding
its accommodation offering with the launch of its new Forest Dens. Set within 40 acres
of private forest, each unit sleeps two and features a private sauna, wood-fired bath,
outdoor shower, kitchenette, outdoor seating with heating, BBQ facilities and a fire pit.
Galgorm also has 125 bedrooms, 41 cottage suites, 16 shepherd huts, six log cabins
and four exclusive residences. The resort was named Best Destination Spa 2024 in the
Conde Nast Johansens Awards and won six awards at the 2023 World Luxury Awards,
including Global Award Winner for Best Luxury Spa Resort.
Registration Opens for
The Glamping Show
VISITOR REGISTRATION has now opened
for The Glamping Show 2024, the UK’s
flagship business-to-business event for
the glamping industry. The event is taking
place from 19-21 September at Stoneleigh
Park in Warwickshire. Tickets, which are
free of charge, give visitors access to
the extensive exhibition showcasing the
latest products and services for glamping
operators, as well as a programme of
seminars designed to help sites maximise
return on investment.
Organiser Peter Rusbridge said: “2024 is
an exciting time for the glamping industry.
The Glamping Show is celebrating 10
years as the UK’s only dedicated glamping
industry event and promises to be better
than ever before. In addition, talks
are taking place to set up a glamping
industry association in the UK, reflecting
the growth in the industry over the last
decade. And 2024 also sees the launch of a
brand-new summit – Redefining Outdoor
Hospitality – which is designed for larger
operators and is taking place the day
before the show in Kenilworth. We expect
that most, if not all, summit attendees will
then visit The Glamping Show the next
day.” Visit www.theglampingshow.com to
register.
Equipment Recovery Success
A NATIONAL poster campaign from Bakers Basco, with support
from the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), has driven
a 24% boost in recoveries of reusable plastic bread baskets and
dolly equipment from festivals and events across the UK.
The campaign, aimed at festival organisers and event caterers,
launched in 2022 to raise awareness of the environmental impact
of misplaced bakery equipment that often gets left behind on
sites at the end of festivals and events, and as a result finds
its way to landfill or is used for purposes for which it was not
designed.
Since the campaign launch, Bakers Basco’s national recovery
team has collected 16,125 (+24%) baskets and dollies from
various event locations, including music festivals, Cheltenham
and York Racecourses, CGC Events in Leeds, and Hull Fair.
Bakers Basco is a membership scheme set up by Allied
Bakeries, Fine Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts & Sons, Hovis and
Warburtons to provide and manage an industry-wide bakery
equipment solution to transport bread safely and cost-effectively
between bakers, retailers, event caterers and organisers. Yet
often, intentionally or otherwise, the equipment is diverted out
of the bakery logistics supply chain, which has a negative impact
on the environment as these baskets are designed to be part of a
circular economy.
For anyone in the festival and events industry who comes
across these baskets, please contact the Bakers Basco team,
who are willing to arrange collections for free. You can report
via the recovery helpline on 08000 327323, or email enquiries@
bakersbasco.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 5

19-21 SEPTEMBER 2024
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6 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

PRODUCT
Staying Ahead in a Competitive
Market with Glamping Finance
Coir Store Expands
FOUNDED IN 2015 by Andy Huett, Coir
Store has gone from strength to strength,
delivering coir matting to thousands of
customers throughout the UK, Europe,
North America, Australia and even within
the Arctic circle.
Having built up a reputation for high
quality products, great service and
competitive pricing the demand has
become too great for Andy to maintain
quality of service on his own. Andy is
excited and pleased to announce his new
partnership with Patrick Toland. Pat is
already established in the event sector
with his company Coalesce Productions,
providing a one-stop-shop to help elevate
brands and consumer engagement.
Together, Andy and Pat will maintain
and build on the great service customers
have come to expect from Coir Store. With
a fresh pair eyes and input from Pat, the
pair intend to elevate Coir Store to new
heights, expanding its product range to
meet current demand for the variety of
customer requirements.
All Coir Store products are made from
100% natural coir fibre, and ethically
produced by village cooperative mills.
Whether you have a marquee hire, event
or glamping company, take a look at the
products Coir Store offers and find your
ideal flooring solution.
079836 14410, info@coirstore.co.uk,
www,coirstore.co.uk
PORTMAN FINANCE Group has been
working with a wide variety of holiday
parks, farms, and sites since 2020’s
restricted travel spurred a sharp growth
for camping and glamping experiences. To
continue capitalising on this opportunity,
sites will need to invest in equipment, the
facilities they offer, and the uniqueness
of their accommodation. As glamping has
become more competitive, customers are
looking for points of difference, whether
that be unique accommodation, luxury
facilities, or even gourmet meal options.
Privacy and a great view are no longer just
enough.
Opting for finance means landowners
can ease their financial burden while still
making purchases, retaining their cashflow
for operational expenses and unforeseen
circumstances. As one of the UK’s largest
brokers and lenders and a finance
partner to many industry manufacturers,
Portman has sourced funding for lodges,
pods, and domes across the UK. It has
helped spread the cost of everything from
accommodation, to catering facilities, hot
tubs, and playgrounds with specifically
tailored glamping solutions and flexible
finance options.
Invest in state-of-the-art pods to elevate
customer experience, spread costs over
time, respond to evolving customer
preferences, and protect your cashflow.
Whatever stage your glamping site is at
Portman Finance Group can support you,
allowing you to adjust your offerings and
stay ahead in the competitive market.
01604 669359, apeeran@
portmanfinancegroup.co.uk,
www.portmanfinancegroup.co.uk/open-air
TRUDOMES
Second Hand Melux Buggies for Sale
A GREAT business opportunity to purchase 16 Melex electric buggies which
have been used on open golf courses and at Wimbledon. They have a great
variety of uses and include two, six seaters (12 and 25 hours) and one, 295.1.
Buggies are low mileage with tipping bodies, trash cages and tow bars.
Also available are 13, 366s, all with rear tipping bodies and between 200 and
900 miles on the clock. All have built in chargers and a range of 25-30 miles. Top
speed 20mph.
Buy one or buy them all, they all need to be sold. Some are road registered
and all are perfect for leisure complexes or just as run-arounds. £5,000+vat.
07968 225805, affordablediggers@gmail.com
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 7

Manufacturers of quality bespoke timber products since 2003
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Crafting luxury custom pods and garden
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Contact us now and we can help guide you through the whole
process to create & manufacture your bespoke pods!
info@lvtb.co.uk | 01524 572311
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PARTY PODS
Our Party Pods are so popular and are now appearing all over the UK.
So many uses including Pub/Restaurant Seating/Dining, Beer Gardens,
Outdoor Entertaining or a quiet place to sit and relax.
We also now offer a custom fitted PVC cover to enable
all year-round use.
Fully treated timber and built to last.
Removable table. 4 and 6 seater models.
01760 308730 | INFO@WOODWIZARDS.CO.UK
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8 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

GLAMPSITES
PEOPLE
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT
Guy Cutler & Natasha
Davies-Puddy
Natasha Davies-Puddy explains the journey she and
husband Guy have been on to develop Fron Farm
while working full time, raising two children and
establishing three successful businesses
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 9

PEOPLE
“OUR FIRST PROJECT WAS TO SET UP A YURT
GLAMPING SITE, FRON FARM YURT RETREAT,
IN AN UNUSED SOUTH FACING FIELD ON THE
FARM. WE APPLIED FOR PLANNING PERMISSION,
AND THIS WAS EVENTUALLY GRANTED IN 2012”
JIM ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY
Guy and I met in Guy’s hometown of Lancaster in
2000 when I was at university. Guy was working as
a sign maker and designer and I trained to become
a secondary school teacher. Guy also took on the
renovation of various buy to let properties. Running
our own business was not something we had ever
thought about, but after 10 years living in the North
of England, and following a year travelling around the
world, in 2007 we decided to move to my home farm,
Fron Eglwys Fair, in Wales. This 50-acre organic smallholding is in
West Carmarthenshire at the foothills of the Preseli Mountains. My
parents, Cathy and Dave, had bought the farm seven years prior
and were now nearing retirement. They offered us a wonderful
opportunity to move back to the country and start a new life there.
I took a job teaching in a local secondary school and Guy began to
work on building on the dream my parents had for the farm.
My parents always had the intention of renovating the redundant
farm buildings into a retreat centre. With that being a long-term
project which required hefty funding, we took their dream and
made it our own reality with our own ideas. We decided that, with
the glamping industry just starting to grow, that we would develop
a glamping holiday space which required less financial input than
renovating large barns.
Our first project was to set up a yurt glamping site, Fron Farm Yurt
Retreat, in an unused south facing field on the farm. We applied for
planning permission, and this was eventually granted in 2012. We
spent a year clearing trees, putting in drainage and landscaping the
site where the yurts were to be situated. As we had decided that we
wanted our accommodation to be handcrafted here on the farm, Guy
took up the challenge of building our own bespoke units in order to
give our guests a unique and special stay. I continued to teach until
2021, and over the last 10 years Guy has been working to build up the
site.
A MANUFACTURING BUSINESS IN BORN
We self-funded the builds and have re-invested what has been made
back into the business in order to add new units and improve the
original ones – it really has been a true labour of love. After a couple
of years, and our first two yurts built and in the field, people started
to enquire about purchasing yurts from us, and Guy’s manufacturing
business Fron Farm Yurts Ltd was born. Being blessed with the space
of a large agricultural building on the farm, Guy made this into his
workshop. He is lucky to be able to build big structures not only for
our own site but for others too. Initially he began manufacturing
traditional Mongolian gers and bentwood yurts, however it soon
became apparent that there was a call for developing year-round
structures that are more suited to the British climate, and Fron Farm
Roundhouses were brought onto the market. The beauty of running
the glamping site alongside the manufacturing business is that we
are constantly learning from our own experiences and improving
our products, ensuring that we build units that are stunning and
affordable, while being low maintenance.
Fron Farm Yurts Ltd has grown into a very profitable business,
with a steady flow of orders and lead times of around six months
or more. We have purposely kept the business small with only four
hardworking staff who manufacture luxury roundhouses, hybrid
yurts and traditional yurts and gers for the glamping sector as well
as for schools, garden studios, office spaces and cafes with clients
ranging from start-up glamping sites to the likes of the Caravan
and Motorhome Club. We believe, and have been told, that our
roundhouses are unique with nothing else quite like them, or as
competitive on the market.
WEDDINGS IN A MEDIEVAL RELIC
We never set out to run weddings, but when my parents bought
10 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

PEOPLE
the farm, it came with a ruined medieval church in the grounds.
This building was totally derelict, but it gave us the inspiration to
set up a wedding venue. In 2016, local builders started work to
save the ancient building and return it to its original glory. This
also supported our commitment to bringing out the beauty of
natural building materials and using local craftmanship to create
a simple yet elegant space, which mirrors the roundhouses made
in our workshop. During the time the church was being renovated,
Guy took on the job of building the large event yurts for weddings
and, with the help of volunteers (for whom we are forever grateful)
landscaping the disused land behind some of the farm buildings
which was chosen for the wedding reception space.
Our intention was only to have a small number of weddings a year
as we don’t want to overwhelm our family home, so we applied for
and were granted permission to hold 15 wedding celebrations per
season, with couples being able to hold humanist ceremonies in our
church with their guests making the most of the weekend staying in
our glamping site.
Fron Farm has become a much sought after festival-style wedding
venue, as couples love the uniqueness of the rustic church, the
handcrafted roundhouses and stunning outside spaces and gardens.
FACTS AND FIGURES
The initial funding for setting up the first two glamping units was
from a small bank loan. With Guy doing the bulk of the building,
and me doing all the admin and marketing, our costs were kept to a
minimum. With my income from teaching, almost all profit from the
businesses were re-invested so we could continue to grow and give
our guests an even better experience. Every year a new project has
been developed, from upgrading roundhouses, building communal
dining areas and fire-pits, soundproofing wedding yurts, adding
saunas and hot tubs, landscaping pathways and planting shrubs and
flower beds to name but a few.
Guests who return year on year comment on how the site has
changed since the last time they visited and that it’s always exciting
to see the changes. We often use feedback we are given about how
things could be better and add that to our next proposed changes.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
We are immensely grateful to my parents for giving us the
opportunity to develop the site on the farm which has enabled us to
create our vision. Due to this, we did not have to find huge amounts
of money at the start of our journey. The early years were pretty crazy
as we were building the site while also bringing up a young family, so
plenty of childcare help was needed from both sets of parents.
The Welsh government also provided support from the outset,
and we were fortunate to have a huge amount of help from Business
Outdoor Toilets
and Showers
• Portable
• Customisable
• Quick delivery
• Instant solution
www.sheepshed.co.uk • 01865 600400
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 11

PEOPLE
INSPIRE IMAGES
Wales advisors. Business Wales offers advice in the form of online
webinars, face to face advice, IT support, website design and
optimisation, marketing and much more. Using our own knowledge,
IT skills gained from teaching and support from Business Wales,
we set about building the website, setting up our online presence
and doing all the administration tasks for the businesses. As the
businesses have grown, so have our skills, and as and when needed
we’ve taken advice and help from the business support team
through Business Wales.
Open Air Business was invaluable in promoting our products in
the early days of marketing as well as Kate Morel who gave us some
key advice. Mainly, we have used our own initiative and skills to
grow our businesses. In order to get the roundhouses on the market,
we took a gamble and took a unit to the Farm Business Innovation
Show. Although this was a costly event for us, we wanted to get
our products and name noticed. This certainly paid off, as Guy was
nominated and then placed in the top three for the Innovation Award
and orders came on the back of the show.
JIM ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY
CHALLENGES
The biggest challenge was trying to do everything all at once. In the
last 14 years we have not only brought up two children, but we’ve
also set up three successful businesses. I have been working full time
teaching an hour away from the farm, and Guy has had to continue
to ensure that the yurts and roundhouses are innovative and at the
cutting edge of glamping and temporary structures.
We get our inspiration from our own glamping and wedding venue;
we know what works and what doesn’t, so we ensure that what we
offer is the best it can be, and if it works for us, then it will work for
others. We often get told that there’s no one else out there building
roundhouses like ours at an affordable price, and this is what we
endeavour to maintain. Guests to weddings and glamping can see
the thought, dedication and eye to detail that have been put into
the site as a whole. Careful planning and layout of units has been
important in ensuring our glamping guests have the opportunity to
gather and be together while also having their own private spaces.
Our mantra in business and life is ‘dare to dream big and don’t
be afraid to give things a go and learn from your mistakes’. In 2023,
after 23 years of being together, we got married in our little church
surrounded by our friends and family. It was such a joyous occasion
to be able to share and enjoy the results of our dedication and hard
work.
Our proudest moments have to include being a finalist for the
Innovation Award at the Farm Business Show and getting recognition
from the Caravan and Motorhome Club through a large order for
Fron Farm Yurts Ltd. We also featured as a glamping site showcased
on the S4C Welsh Language television programme, Heno, as I am a
Welsh speaker. And of course, our children, who have had to grow
alongside our vision for the farm and businesses.
We’re happy that the glamping, wedding and manufacturing
businesses have been developed to the point we want them to be. In
the next chapter, we will be embarking on fulfilling the initial vision
of my parents, which was to renovate the redundant farm buildings
into further accommodation and health facilities. This will be a longterm
project, and maybe even one for the next generation of Fron
Farmers.
ADDRESS BOOK
Fron Farm Yurt Retreat
Fron Eglwys Fair
Llanboidy
Whitland
Carmarthenshire SA34 0EU
www.fronfarmyurts.co.uk / www.yurtsforsaleuk.co.uk
12 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

Isolated retreat,
underground
and discreet
Reliable, flexible and neat waste
water management solutions
A Sanifos lifting station can handle waste water from multiple structures on your caravan,
camping or glamping site. Sited underground, you may not see Sanifos at work, but this range
of powerful lifting stations gets the job done, pumping up, and along to mains drains, a septic
tank or waste treatment plant.
The Saniflo team works with you; from site visits, installation training, technical assistance and
first-class aftercare.
Easy installation
& maintenance
Different
tank sizes
Different pumps
for different uses
2 year
warranty
Reliable
Flexible
saniflo.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 13

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14 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

FUNCTION VENUES
CASE STUDY
Chapel
House Estate
A venue offering “quiet five-star luxury founded in history”
When did you start your venue
business, and what is its history?
Chapel House Estate launched as a
wedding, events and accommodation
venue in 2022. It gets its name from
a medieval chapel at the farmstead’s
centre and was previously called
Thorne Farm.
Darren Ellis purchased Chapel House
Estate in 2021 and set about converting
the old buildings. The Old Malt Granary
has been transformed into an indoor
ceremony venue, the piggery now
functions as the lounge bar, and the
stunning Thorne Barn, which now seats
up to 150 for wedding breakfasts, was
built on the foundation of the old cow
shed.
Tell us about your location and site
We’re nestled between Ramsgate and
Canterbury, a stone’s throw from the
picturesque Viking coast. Situated
amidst the rich historical tapestry of
Thanet, this enchanting estate offers a
truly idyllic setting for a wedding, event
or stay.
At the heart of Chapel House Estate
is the chapel itself, a breathtaking
“WE OFFER
AN ARRAY
OF ACCOM-
MODATION,
MAKING IT
THE PERFECT
WEDDING
VENUE FOR
COUPLES
TRAVELLING
FROM AFAR”
structure boasting over 700 years
of history. Privately owned for over
a century, its existence remained a
secret, even to the locals.
What facilities for outdoor functions
do you offer?
Owner Darren’s dedication to
preserving the farm’s essence shines
through in every corner of the estate.
A property developer but also a
father, grandfather, dog and nature
lover, Darren understands he is the
custodian of a unique piece of history.
Consequently, he has made it his
mission to honour the estate while
breathing new life into its spaces.
In the heart of the Wild Apple
Orchard now stands an oak-framed
gazebo. This elegant structure provides
a picturesque setting for weddings
and is a focal point for seasonal
transformations.
We offer an array of accommodation,
making it the perfect wedding venue
for couples travelling from afar. With
accommodation options for up to
34 adults plus children, wedding
celebrations can also be a luxury
Blending seamlessly into
the Kentish countryside,
Chapel House Estate is a
luxury, family-run wedding
and events venue with a
five star feel. We talk to
local consultant and regular
contributor Sam Lloyd about
how she helped owner Darren
Ellis create what is now a
sizable and award-winning
business.
retreat for couples and their guests.
Our accommodation options include
self-contained lodges, Chapel Cottage,
and Chapel House.
Our nine Hideaway Lodges offer
a haven of comfort and indulgence
with modern amenities, including
ensuite luxury bathrooms, sumptuous
king-sized beds, televisions, and air
conditioning. The floor-to-ceiling
doors open onto a private veranda that
takes in the West Paddock. Each of the
Hideaway Lodges bears the name of a
bird spotted on the Estate.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 15

FUNCTION VENUES
MEGAN DONATI PHOTOGRAPH
FLEUR CHALLIS PHOTOGRAPHY
CHRISTOPHER KEMP
There is also a tenth lodge that has
been transformed into a dedicated
beauty lodge, providing a lavish space
for one of the partners to prepare with
their wedding party for their special day
in style.
What services do you offer?
We offer a diverse range of experiences,
corporate meetings, events, incentives,
and experiences (MICE). Our team is
dedicated and highly experienced in
event planning. We meticulously plan
and execute every event to ensure its
perfection. Additionally, we provide
access to a comprehensive list of
recommended suppliers to ensure
that every detail of a wedding or
event is taken care of. From florists to
photographers, we've handpicked the
best in the business to bring couples' or
event organisers' visions to life.
Regarding catering and hospitality,
our talented head chef and his dedicated
team focus on creating seasonal menus
using locally sourced ingredients
for weddings, events and the No 9
Restaurant.
The Estate has three distinctive bars,
each with its own charm. The Lounge
Bar (the previous piggery) is adjacent
to the secluded Walled Courtyard,
offers a cosy retreat, and is great for
pre-dinner drinks. The Thorne Barn
boasts a spacious main bar area for up
to 200 guests for an informal gathering.
The main bar is complemented by an
additional private cocktail bar, perfect
for intimate gatherings and exclusive
soirées.
Describe how you researched and
sourced your structures
When envisioning the transformation of
Chapel House Estate from a residential
home and farm into a prestigious luxury
destination wedding and events venue,
16 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

FUNCTION VENUES
SHELBY-ELLIS-PHOTOGRAPHY THE CAPTURED PICTURE COMPANY
our primary goal was to support and
showcase the abundance of local talent
and resources with our local community
of Thanet and the wider county of Kent.
Driven by a desire to create a truly
immersive experience for couples and
event organisers, our ambition was
nothing short of creating a five-star
luxury venue where every element,
from décor to dining, was meticulously
curated and conveniently located onsite.
How do you work with your
customers to make their event
unique?
We pride ourselves on crafting truly
unique and personalised experiences
for every one of our couples or event
organisers. From the moment someone
considers the estate for their wedding
or event, we embark on a collaborative
journey to bring their vision to life.
We understand that no two weddings
or events are alike, and every detail
should be tailored to reflect individual
tastes, preferences, and personalities.
We ensure each client event is as
unique as the couple or organisation by
offering a bespoke quote right from the
beginning rather than packaged deals
– although these are available for lastminute
events or specific events such as
Twilight Weddings.
We work closely with our couples and
clients through open communication
and attentive listening to understand
their desires, dreams, and must-haves
for their events. Whether it's a specific
theme (we recently hosted a Jurassic
Park-inspired wedding), cultural
tradition, or personal touch, we strive to
incorporate these elements seamlessly
“RECOGNISING
THE IMPOR-
TANCE OF
STANDING OUT
AMIDST THE
CROWD, WE
EMBARKED ON
A TARGETED
APPROACH TO
RAISE AWARE-
NESS AMONG
SUPPLIERS,
LEVERAGING
THE POWER OF
SOCIAL MEDIA
AS OUR INITIAL
OUTREACH
TOOL”
SHELBY-ELLIS-PHOTOGRAPHY
into the event design, décor, and overall
experience.
How do you publicise yourself?
In a fiercely competitive landscape,
where Kent is the county with the
highest number of wedding venues
and hosts a significant portion of UK
weddings, our strategic positioning as
a luxury wedding and events venue
offering comprehensive services ‘under
one roof’ became paramount.
Recognising the importance of
standing out amidst the crowd, we
embarked on a targeted approach
to raise awareness among suppliers,
leveraging the power of social media
as our initial outreach tool. This was
complemented by an exclusive inviteonly
launch party, providing a firsthand
experience of our exceptional offerings.
To connect with potential couples,
especially in the post-covid era where
virtual browsing has become the
norm, we’ve strategically focused on
captivating online ‘wedding venue
window shopping.’ This involved
securing prominent placement
on leading wedding platforms like
Bridebook and Hitched, initially using
styled shoots to entice prospective
clients. Additionally, we’ve strategically
advertised in digital publications such
as Your Kent Wedding and A Kentish
Ceremony, ensuring our presence is felt
within the local wedding community
and beyond.
We’ve also bolstered couples’
confidence in our capacity to orchestrate
their dream wedding by actively
participating in and securing several
prestigious awards within the industry,
such as The Beautiful South, Best
Wedding Venue in the South East of
England
How would you describe your style or
unique selling point?
At Chapel House Estate, our style can
best be described as “quiet five-star
luxury founded in history”.
What challenges have you faced
historically?
Darren’s resilience was tested when the
Chapel House Estate project launched
amidst the lockdown. Escalating
prices and the scarcity of materials
became significant hurdles, resulting
in additional delays and complexities.
Despite these challenges, Darren and
the growing team’s commitment to
excellence and unwavering dedication
enabled us to overcome obstacles and
realise our vision.
How large is your team? Any special
people you’d like to mention?
As Chapel House Estate transitioned
from the building phase to the realm
of managing weddings and events, the
demands on our team have undergone a
remarkable evolution.
Initially comprised of a dedicated
set-up team, the surge in event bookings
has necessitated a significant expansion.
We’ve recruited key personnel including
a senior events manager, dedicated
bar manager, head chef and a talented
culinary team, including a pastry chef,
and a full-time gardener.
In parallel, we’ve bolstered our
support infrastructure adding a PR and
marketing manager, a social media
expert, plus someone dedicated to the
finances.
Have you worked with any industry
bodies or consultants?
Having embarked on launching a
wedding and events venue without
experience, Darren partnered with
myself – a local wedding consultant.
I have been able to provide industry
insights, strategic marketing initiatives.
connections and collaborations with
suppliers, crisis management and
support, and operational efficiency
through streamlining.
What are your plans for next season?
In addition to catering to the wedding
market, we are targeting businesses
for corporate events and networking
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 17

FUNCTION VENUES
THE MODERN REVELRY
THE MODERN REVELRY
opportunities. This expansion will
broaden our horizons, allow us to
tap into new revenue streams, and
foster valuable connections within the
corporate sector.
Furthermore, we are committed
to sustainability and environmental
stewardship. As part of our
ongoing plans, we have initiated a
comprehensive program to record and
monitor our carbon footprint.
What do you enjoy about the
business and why?
In essence, what we love most about
working in the wedding industry is the
opportunity to play a meaningful role
in the stories of love and celebration
that unfold. From the initial booking
to the jubilant cheers that fill the air
as the newlyweds seal their vows,
each milestone is a testament to the
profound privilege of being entrusted
with the most cherished moments in
our clients' lives.
What other outdoor hospitality
sectors do you operate in?
In addition to the onsite
accommodation, couples can organise
additional glamping, and we are
planning our first outdoor cinema.
What are you most proud of?
As a newly established wedding and
events venue, picking a moment
we’re most proud of isn't easy.
However, we recently began working
with Nik Mitchell towards our goal of
maintaining a hospitality business
that achieves 5-star ratings while also
implementing eco-friendly practices,
reducing waste, and supporting local
wildlife, which is a source of great pride
for all of us.
TOM CAWDRON
“WORKING
WITH SOME-
ONE WHO
CAN HELP
FAST-TRACK
YOUR
BUSINESS
CAN HELP
YOU RE-
SEARCH
YOUR
TARGET
MARKET
THOROUGH-
LY TO ALIGN
YOUR VENUE
WITH YOUR
COUPLES’
NEEDS AND
PREFERENC-
ES”
In addition, we are honoured to
receive recognition and accolades
within the wedding and events
industry and to be interviewed by
Open Air Business! It means we are
starting to be noticed by a wider
audience. Thank you.
What advice could you give to
someone coming into the industry?
Opening a new wedding and events
venue is thrilling but challenging.
Here's some advice if you are about to
embark on opening a new venue.
Working with someone who can help
fast-track your business can help you
research your target market thoroughly
to align your venue with your couples’
needs and preferences. Choose a
location that’s easily accessible,
visually appealing and has something
special at its heart. Offer a unique
experience to stand out, whether
through architecture, scenery, or your
service. Forge strong relationships with
reliable vendors. Prioritise exceptional
customer service to build a positive
reputation and encourage word-ofmouth
business. Stay adaptable to
industry trends and feedback from
clients
ADDRESS BOOK
GAZEBO & GATES
Swiftoak
DIRECTORIES
Bridebook.com
Hitched.co.uk
Your Kent Wedding
www.yourkent.wedding
A Kentish Ceremony
www.akentishceremony.com
CONSULTANCY
The Wedding Owl
www.theweddingowl.com
SIGNAGE
Premier Signs
www.premiersigns-kent.co.uk
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Sonas Wedding and Events
www.sonas.events
DETAILS
Chapel House Estate
Thorne Hill
Minster
Ramsgate
Kent CT12 5DS
www.chapelhouseestate.co.uk
18 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

ISSUE 51 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com
ISSUE 52 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com
BUSINESS
ISSUE 46 | October/November 2021 | www.openairbusiness.com
BUSINESS
BESPOKE GLAMPING
ISSUE 49 | March/April 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com
EVENT STRUCTURES
FUNCTION VENUES
› Bars & Catering
› Outdoor Ceremonies
GLAMPSITES
› Compost Toilets
› Booking Systems
EVENTS
› Seeing Red
› Total Immersion
BUSINESS
INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNCTION VENUES
› Sharing Snaps
› Kitchen Efficiencies
GLAMPSITES
› Architects
› Natural Pools
EVENTS
› Green Hydrogen
› Tent Waste
GLAMPING
SHOW
PREVIEW
FUNCTION VENUES
› Accommodation
› Eco Marketing
GLAMPSITES
› Research
› Sewage Strategy
EVENTS
› Stage Build
› Ticketing
BUSINESS
FUNCTION
VENUES
› Pricing
› Websites
GLAMPSITES
› Business Rates
› Building Regulations
EVENTS
› Reusable Cups
› Festival Costs
ISSUE 53 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com
STRUCTURES
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT
Tim Bowles -Campwell
BUSINESS
FUNCTION VENUES
/ /
GLAMPSITES
EVENTS
› Shoot Styling
› Logo Protection
› Insurance
› Saying Thanks
› Treehouse Builds
› Going Hybrid
CASE STUDIES:
ROKA BELLA ROSE WEDDINGS • THE MEADOWS AT POLEHANGER • BURRS LIVE
CASE STUDIES:
GREEN & AWAY • BIRDHOLME GLAMPING • SHREWSBURY FOOD FESTIVAL
CASE STUDIES:
SYCHPWLL CENTRE • BROOK FARM SHEPHERD HUTS • IRLAM LIVE
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT
Derry Green - The Secret Garden Glamping
› Derry Green - The Secret Garden Glamping
CASE STUDIES:
HYDE ESTATE WILD GARDENS • BROCKLOCH ECO RETREAT • TRAMLINES FESTIVAL
CASE STUDIES:
OLD OAK FARM • DRAGONFLY CAMPING • TORCHLIGHT FESTIVAL OF CAMPING
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FUNCTION VENUES
Offsites
Darren Swayne has built a thriving business around offsite
get-togethers for corporates in which demand has surged
THE MARKET for offsites and team-building
events has been incredibly strong over
recent years. Covid has changed working
practices everywhere, and we believe the
structural demand for internal corporate
events has grown significantly.
When I founded Elsewhere in 2012, I found
that a number of the creative industries
looked for annual events with us. The
vast majority of clients saw these types of
events as a treat or celebration (or ad-hoc
business need) rather than something
more permanent. Fast forward to 2024 and
the offsites, away days, team-building and
internal conference market is seen as a vital
way to bring teams physically together,
share information, bond as a unit and fire
teams up for the future. Clients range across
all sectors, and these events are seen as very
important for building culture.
Firms that previously didn’t see the need
for an offsite are now reconsidering, and a
number of our clients are telling us that they
are now looking to increase their events to
two a year from their previous annual gettogethers.
The common denominator across all
Elsewhere clients is that everyone is looking
for 'different'. The same old, same old
corporate hotels and spaces market no
longer wins by default. Being functional is
no longer good enough. Clients are looking
for some X-factor, some magic, a place that
creates the backdrop to really motivate and
get everyone excited about the future ahead.
Outdoor summer events are a huge
component in meeting the demand for
different and unusual corporate events. With
a thriving festival scene in the UK, very little
education is needed to sell-in the benefits of
a corporate having their own festival-style
event.
As a specialist in this area, we have spent
12 years building out our distribution. The
venues and events industry is extremely
fragmented and the most challenging part
for an event booker is to know of a venue’s
existence. From our experience, clients are
looking for a clean corporate story, and this
can often get lost on venue websites that can
cover everything from weddings to wakes.
It became apparent to us very quickly
that clients are looking for an experience,
rather than space. In a market geared up
to selling spaces, this required a change
in narrative. The right venues and spaces
are vital for hosting the events, and it’s the
event that clients are looking for. We think
of it like going to the theatre – the theatre
is important but the play is what you go
for. The play and the theatre co-exist, hand
in glove, to produce one fully packaged
product. This is what people actually want,
rather than having to piece it all together
themselves and reinvent the wheel.
We believe that the event organiser
needs to understand what business needs
clients are trying to address with their event.
Essentially what’s the big idea behind it all?
Of course, the industry usually starts the
other way around and builds up a picture
of what can happen in the location. We
believe that this is a huge opportunity to
differentiate and have more meaningful
conversations with clients.
EXTRA ELEMENTS
On top of amazing, unusual places and
wonderful food, the extra elements that
business customers require are best-inclass
audio/video, staging, corporate event
management and team-building know-how.
These are very specific needs for corporates,
and we think the ability to speak their
language and understand business needs is
vital.
20 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

FUNCTION VENUES
CASE STUDY
The flexibility
that business needs is a
big differentiator. While a lot of clients have
internal event organisers, most don’t. They
have day jobs to do whilst at the same time
co-ordinating their big event. They need to
be walked through it all and, at the same
time, reassured that they don’t need to have
all of the answers straight away.
While the event organiser and venue don’t
always have to be the same firm, we believe
that control is key. In our world, without
control you are merely re-selling another
person’s product, which is only ever good to
a point. It’s the control of the narrative and
execution that allows for consistency and a
truly reliable track record.
We’re all about the experience, and as
corporate specialists, we’re here to help
firms maximise their time together. We
know the hospitality industry doesn’t think
like that, and
that’s why we built
Elsewhere and have been
growing swiftly since 2012.
The keywords for us are flexibility,
responsiveness and detail. Clients’ needs
evolve and people can be hard to pin down.
The broad-brush strokes are normally there
early on, but lots of essential details can
arrive days prior to the event. This is a big
challenge as so many venues we have seen
over the years try and impose the same type
of processes that they use for weddings and
other events onto their business clients. It
simply doesn’t work and leads to frustration
on both sides.
We offer a selection of venues, and
everything is within two hours of London,
which is our point and focus. Events range
from small working sessions with five people
all the way to larger scale 200-400 people
multi-day annual events
Hill House
Elsewhere all started at Hill House,
an incredible Tudor Manor with six
acres of grounds that my wife, Juliette,
and I restored. Hill House was being
rented out through an agent and I
wanted to focus much more on the
client experience, bringing a creative
overlay and high level of service to an
incredible building.
From 2010 to 2012, revenues
at Hill House tripled and more
importantly, the client feedback was
extremely strong, which pushed us
to think bigger about the project.
Extraordinary escapism was born, and
we’re proud of what we are bringing to
the party.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elsewhere was created
in 2012 to take forward a
mission of making life more
extraordinary with the core
belief that experiences with
friends, family, and colleagues
are everything. Darren Swayne
founded and runs Elsewhere and spends
most of his time working on new client
wins, strategy and creative.
www.elsewhere-offsites.com
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 21

FUNCTION VENUES
GETTY IMAGES
Brand Review
Is it time to consider rebranding your wedding business? asks Sam Lloyd
A WEDDING enables couples the unique
opportunity to show their nearest and
dearest and now, through social media,
the world, their style, personalities and
what is important to them.
Recently engaged couples are therefore
on the hunt for inspiring websites, blogs,
trend reports, Pinterest and Instagram
feeds, etc. Therefore, the majority of
couples want to work with creative
wedding vendors and a venue that excites,
inspires and helps them to realise their
dreams and aspirations.
You might feel strongly that your
wedding business is thriving – after all,
you are busy. However, I might point out
that while it is all well and good to be busy
now, this is with couples who booked (say)
18 months ago.
You might not be giving yourself an
opportunity, over the year or even years,
to keep your brand fresh or up-to-date.
And, without even realising it, your brand
may no longer reflect how your business
has evolved. It may no longer be appealing
“MAINTAINING A STRONG
BRAND IS ABOUT STAYING
RELEVANT. THERE IS NO
BAD TIME TO REBRAND, AND
YOU SHOULD BE THINKING
ABOUT IT ALL OF THE TIME”
to potential couples booking now for
the future and could be hindering your
business growth. As a consequence, you
might already be losing sales.
A rebrand can represent the next
chapter in the development of your
wedding business and can be necessary if
your brand:
› no longer reflects your recent work, your
ideal couples and the wedding venues
you work at
› no longer represents the size and nature
of your business
› looks similar to your competitors – this
can be extremely confusing for your
couples, so it is something you want
to consider addressing immediately to
differentiate your business
› is something couples don’t feel
comfortable sharing – they may love
your work but not your website! You
need to ensure that they feel proud to
share your details.
When is the right time to rebrand your
wedding business?
Maintaining a strong brand is about
staying relevant. There is no bad time
to rebrand, and you should be thinking
about it all of the time. However, I always
advise my clients to avoid undertaking
a rebranding exercise during their peak
seasons, which for a wedding venue,
occurs twice:
› January to the end of March, peak
selling season
› April to the middle of October and
December, peak wedding season.
I advise my clients to work on their
rebranding, ideally over October and
22 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

FUNCTION VENUES
November with a launch in December,
ready for the start of the new year
engagement season. That way your
beloved company has a well-deserved revamp
or rebrand ready for the start of the
selling and delivery seasons.
What should a rebrand include?
A rebrand of your wedding business can
include your logo, your social media
pages, website, leaflets, brochures,
advertisements and newsletters. These
are the physical representations of your
brand, and their goal is to help you to
create an identity for your company that
appeals to your target couples. It is your
collateral that needs to convey positivity
and generate an emotional connection
with your target audience.
The three top tips I give to all my
wedding vendors and venue clients is
to pour your heart and soul into your
rebranding exercise. It’s time to soulsearch
what is important to you going
forward, which inevitably can take time.
Reviewing your brand helps you make sure
that your public face is future-proofed,
so it’s not likely to be an easy task. A
rebrand of your whole collateral might, for
instance, include:
› a change of colour, to stay current and
on-trend or perhaps reflect that you are
concerned about the environment?
› a change of typeface to appear more
authoritative, luxurious or fun, for
instance
› changing your tagline
› rethinking the wording or images on
your website
› updating your reviews to capture the
very essence of your brand
› rethinking your brochure – its shape,
number of pages, layout and the paper
stock you select can say so much about
your business.
Be sincere when rebranding. You need
to think about the type of relationship
you want to build with your potential
wedding couples. You should consider,
within the world of weddings, most
couples will only work with you once, so
it’s important that your brand:
› is sincere, consistent, honest and
relevant, or you could be wasting your
and the couple’s time and leave them
feeling disappointed after your wedding
consultation meeting
› represents the couple's values
and beliefs and how they want to
differentiate their wedding day
› reflects what you want to deliver –
otherwise you could end up holding
stock that you sourced for that one
wedding, that you would never share on
social media as it’s ‘not you!’
Finally, I recommend that all my clients
consider the risks associated with change.
Rebranding can be expensive. Work out
in advance what you need to change and
prioritise based on what is ‘dragging your
brand down’.
How do you get started on a rebrand for
my wedding business?
A good starting point is to revisit your
couples' feedback and reviews – they
might use words to describe you and your
product that really capture the essence of
what you deliver. Ultimately, the power
of a brand lies in the minds of couples, in
what they have experienced and learnt
whilst working with you. Tapping into the
couples’ perceptions and beliefs often
uncovers the true meaning of ‘your’ brand.
Once the analysis is complete, I
recommend that my clients identify five
words that best describe how they want
their company to be portrayed, which can
also help to deliver a new tagline.
A note of caution
when rebranding your
wedding business!
Remember, the look and feel of
your refreshed or new brand is not
going to appeal to everyone, but
that’s ok. You only want to appeal to
those couples who are going to fall
in love with what you do and who
feel a strong connection with you.
And if you are a supplier working
at a venue, for instance, a rebrand
could lead to you becoming one of
their recommended suppliers as
your brand now dovetails nicely
with theirs.
So, just like a good marriage,
consistently give your brand
the love and attention it needs.
Be proud and reflect on how
your company is evolving and
developing, or you might just fall
out of love with your image!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Based in Kent, Sam
Lloyd is a well-connected
wedding venue and
vendor consultant and
founder of The Wedding
Owl. 07957218340, info@
theweddingowl.com,
www.theweddingowl.com
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 23

FUNCTION VENUES
PRODUCT IN FOCUS
Infrastructure
Nyetimber Vineyard
Product: 15m x 12m stretch tent with annual management
Supplier: TentStyle, 01403 333135, enquiries@tentstyle.
co.uk, www.tentstyle.co.uk
Details: Nyetimber Vineyards share similar characteristics
with the best sparkling wine vineyards in the world. They
approached TentStyle in 2018 and were recommended a
15m x 12m chino stretch tent – the ideal size for the size for
the events they would be hosting. The tent is used for wine
tasting and experience days – the experience around the
vineyard culminates under the tent with lunch and wine
tasting. Not only is it a stunning feature, it is a functional
space to dine within the vines.
NYETIMBER/MDRN LOVE
NYETIMBER/MDRN LOVE
Luxury Bell Tent Hire for Weddings and Events
Wild Hare Events
07855 229568
info@wildhareevents.com
www.wildhareevents.com
Wild Hare Events is a luxury bell tent hire company established in 2014.
Although based in Somerset, we work across the whole of the UK. We are
proud to be the largest supplier of luxury Lotus Belle tents in the country.
We specialise in providing a boutique camping experience at the UK’s
finest festivals. We also provide accommodation for bespoke, private events
including weddings, parties and corporate events.
Our tents come fully furnished with solid single or king-sized beds with
memory foam toppers, winter duvets and pillows, cotton bed linen and
handmade Indian throws. Along with tables and chairs, lighting, door mats,
cushions and carpets, mineral water, and other lovely touches, they are
guaranteed to be the talking point of any event!
24 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

FUNCTION VENUES
The Old Rectory at Whitewell
Product: Two handcrafted shepherd huts
Supplier: Cheshire Huts, 07967753289,
cheshirehuts@gmail.com, www.cheshire-huts.co.uk
Details: The Old Rectory is a timeless luxury home
that offering weddings and accommodation for large
parties.
Cheshire Huts conceptualised and crafted two
versatile shepherd huts, uniquely designed to serve a
dual function as both a therapy room and a bedroom.
The structures include a well-equipped kitchenette
and comfortably accommodates two individuals,
featuring two retractable king-sized beds that can
be neatly tucked against the wall. This space-saving
solution allows the area to transform seamlessly
for therapy sessions, massages and other uses. The
thoughtful design ensures that the shepherd hut not
only provides a cozy and stylish sleeping space but
also offers a flexible environment adaptable to
various purposes, making it a distinctive and
functional addition to any setting.
Feedback: Clients were notably impressed
by Cheshire Huts’ ability to tailor the
therapy rooms/bedrooms to their specific
needs. The attention to detail and the
seamless integration of these spaces
into the wedding venue garnered praise.
Guests appreciated the unique combination
of functionality and luxury, describing the
addition as a highlight of their experience.
Party Pods for Four or Six
Wood Wizards
01760 308730
info@woodwizards.co.uk
www.woodwizards.co.uk/party-pods
Our Party Pods are proving very popular and are appearing all over
the UK. There variety of uses include pub/restaurant seating/dining,
in beer gardens, for outdoor entertaining or a quiet place to just sit
and relax. We also now offer a custom fitted PVC cover to enable
year-round use.
Our Party Pods and Garden Pods are manufactured using fully
treated timber and are built to last. Each pod comes with a sturdy
floor frame which sits on its own bearers to allow airflow underneath
the structure. Each pod is fitted with thick decking boards and the
bearers underneath are fixed at 400mm centres to make a strong and
sturdy floor with no bounce or flex.
All of the frame components are cut using a CNC machine for
precision and all pieces are rounded off and sanded to remove any
sharp edges. Party Pods are available in four and six seat models with
removable tables.
Our Garden Pods do not feature seats or a table and are a nice
alternative if you wish to add your own personal touch. Our Garden
Pods have been used as BBQ huts, bistro table seating areas and
even fishing shelters sat around a lake. There are lots of possibilities.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 25

FUNCTION VENUES
New British Tipi Manufacturer
Crafted Canvas
07403 417524
info@crafted-canvas.co.uk
www.crafted-canvas.co.uk
Tipi professionals Brett Jackson and Bronte Hall are excited
announce the launch of their new tipi manufacturing
business, Crafted Canvas. Brett and Bronte have many years
of tipi and tent experience, running two leading tipi hire
businesses, Garden Weddings and Boutipi along with their
flagship wedding venue Skipbridge Country Weddings,
which in 2021 was awarded UK’s Best Wedding Venue.
This month Bronte has also been nominated to join the
MUTA executive board, so it's safe to say this power couple
know a thing or two about tents!
Crafted Canvas was born out of frustration with the
current tipi products available within the event structure
market. Tents and events is all Brett and Bronte have ever
known, and after years of working in the tipi hire industry
they found themselves getting more and more frustrated
with the current products on the market. This led them
to develop their own way of doing things and so Crafted
Canvas was born.
As a company, Crafted Canvas prides itself on delivering
high quality products for the rental and longer-term
structure market. All woodwork is sourced from UK
forests and industry leading coated Campshield is
used as standard for durability. Crafted Canvas
products are also interchangeable with the
existing tipi brands on the market.
Cube Sauna
Woodpecker Creations
07435 866929
info@woodpeckertubs.co.uk
www.woodpeckertubs.co.uk
With every one of our product ranges, we are always looking to
enhance the offerings available to our customers, whether that be in
the hot tub, sauna or accommodation unit range. Importantly, we are
able to design, create and develop bespoke, handcrafted products
that benefit you, with you at the start and the end of our journey!
We’d like to talk about one of our latest creations, one that will
benefit any venue or site setting – the Cube sauna. Sleek in design and
wonderfully spacious inside, it enables visitors to relax while taking in
the views
26 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

Handcrafted cabins and lodges
Bakland half page ad_REPRO OUTLINED.indd 1 05/04/2024 13:2
Stunning
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stunning events!
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Years of experience, passion and
enthusiasm to get what you want from
your event. Sales, full installation
and custom design services.
t: 01920 830256 e: info@alternative-stretch.co.uk
w: www.alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 27

https://shop.glampsan.com/
https://shop.glampsan.com/
Here to support you
Book https://bit.ly/49wHiHv
a consultation on our website
sales@glampsan.com
www.glampsan.com
28 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

GLAMPSITES
CASE STUDY
Lydcott Glamping
Emma and Rich Liddle and
their three children moved
to Cornwall in pursuit of
a quieter life by the sea.
Leaving their corporate
lives behind, they turned
a derelict farmhouse and
bramble-covered field into
a family home and awardwinning
rural retreat with
sea views. We speak to
Emma.
What’s your back story – your life
before glamping?
We moved here from
Buckinghamshire to escape the
rat race. I had been working in
big marketing agencies looking
after large corporate clients and
Rich was running a consultancy
business for 5* resorts all around
the world. We dreamed of a
less frantic life where we could
bring the kids up with space and
freedom and live by the sea. We
moved to Lydcott Farm in South
East Cornwall in 2015 with three
young children (aged 3 months,
5 and 6) and a dog. We now have
three slightly older children, four
dogs and countless chickens – and
our little glamping business. All of
which keep us busy but happy.
What made you decide to
start offering glamping
accommodation?
We wanted to be able to make
a living from home so that we
could pay the bills and have the
work-life balance we came to
“OUR SEA
VIEWS ARE
SO AMAZING
THAT IT
FELT LIKE
THE RIGHT
THING TO DO
TO SHARE
THEM WITH
OTHERS,
AND WE
HOPE THAT
GUESTS WILL
LOVE OUR
LOCATION AS
MUCH AS WE
DO”
Cornwall for. Originally, the plan
was to convert the garage into
a holiday let, but instead, we
decided it would be cheaper to do
something with the field - and use
the garage as a garage (it is now
completely full of Rich's tools!).
We did most of the work on the
farmhouse ourselves, with Delphi
as a 3-month-old baby and the
two boys aged 5 and 6 in tow; we
then opened Lydcott Glamping in
February 2019 with two cabins (The
Pasty and Prosecco) and added
The Pilchard cabin later that year.
Rich continued with his consultant
job, which meant he was away a
lot, sometimes for 1-2 weeks at a
time. We therefore wanted to do
something that we could make
work around our very busy lives,
with me running the business
but with the longer-term aim of
working together in the future. Our
sea views are so amazing that it felt
like the right thing to do to share
them with others, and we hope
that guests will love our location as
much as we do.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 29

GLAMPSITES
How did you research the
business before entering it?
We wanted to do something
unique - we loved the idea of
luxury glamping but at the same
time surrounded by nature and
were initially looking at shepherd
huts (even looked at building our
own) before everyone seemed
to start doing that - so when we
found our gorgeous Estonian built
cabins, we fell in love and knew
straight away they were perfect
for us.
Tell us about your location
and site.
We are located rurally, just above
the Seaton valley. Our site is on a
slight incline, which means that all
our cabins enjoy the stunning farreaching
views across the valley
and out to sea. On a clear day, you
can see The Eddystone Lighthouse
on the horizon.
Aside from the incredible
views and the beautiful and
unique aesthetics of the cabins
themselves, we are lucky to be
surrounded by nature, so our
guests can enjoy the wildlife on
site (birds, hedgehogs, and all the
field mice and voles that live in the
wildflower areas of the glamping
field). We’ve also recently dug a
wildlife pond which is attracting
lots more wildlife including frogs,
dragonflies and damselflies.
We pride ourselves on our
uniquely fastidious customer
service and live by the mantra
‘nothing is too much trouble’.
We’ve recently installed an
outdoor hot and cold tub in the
secret garden area that comes with
one of our cabins, ‘Dreckly’.
Children and pets are treated
just as much as VIPs as their
owners!
We operate the site entirely
by ourselves, which means
when the site is full, there is very
little downtime - although, as a
seasonal tourism business, that is
certainly not a complaint. Initially,
we had the site on mains water,
but after a few scarily huge water
bills, we decided to reinstate the
old well, which is fed by an aquifer.
This means we now have fresh
spring water at the farmhouse and
in every cabin.
How did you tackle getting
planning?
We basically just went through
the standard process. Both of
us were working full time in our
desk jobs, so thankfully we were
able to survive while applying for
planning. We really tried to work
with the local community and the
30 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

GLAMPSITES
parish council to ensure that we
were aware of any concerns and
addressed them in advance before
anything became a problem.
How did you finance the project?
We financed the project by saving
really hard, doing everything we
could ourselves without getting
external contractors in, and with
some help from an inheritance.
We benefitted from a grant to
reinstate the well in 2021.
What glamping accommodation
do you offer?
We offer a mixture of seven
beautiful spruce-clad cabins
that range from sleeping two to
six people. We chose the cabins
based on their unique ‘wow-factor’
aesthetic - we just fell in love with
them as soon as we saw them, and
our guests do too!
Our cabins are fully heated,
so we are open all year round.
They have their own kitchen
and bathroom with shower, as
well as king-sized beds, private
decking, outdoor furniture, double
hammocks, swinging egg chairs,
and firepits, all with sea views from
every window of every cabin.
No need to venture outside for a
shower or the toilet!
What occupancy levels and price
per night do you achieve?
Prices range from £125 - £200
per night depending on cabin
and seasonality, and across all
seven cabins we currently achieve
approximately 35% occupancy
across the year, because we
choose to open 12 months of the
year. We do work really hard with
“OUR UNIQUE
SELLING
POINT,
ASIDE FROM
THE VIEWS
AND THE
BEAUTIFUL
CABINS, IS
PROBABLY
OUR
PERSONAL
APPROACH
TO ENSURING
EVERY GUEST
WANTS FOR
NOTHING”
our marketing efforts to achieve
this though. Seasonally, Easter to
September our occupancy is circa
60% overall on average, and peak
July and August months 95%. This
year has been quite tough so far,
but the weather certainly makes a
difference.
How did you work out your
brand, and how do you publicise
yourself?
I come from a marketing
background, so I built our
website myself and handle all our
marketing, social media, etc.
How would you describe your
ethos and unique selling point?
Our ethos is centred around nature
and being as eco-conscious and
sustainable as we can be - but at
the same time providing a luxury
high-end glamping experience. Our
unique selling point, aside from the
views and the beautiful cabins, is
probably our personal approach
to ensuring every guest wants for
nothing. Our 100% 5-star reviews
are a testament to our commitment
to customer service.
How did you choose your interior
decoration?
Being the creative half of the
business partnership, I take full
ownership of the aesthetics! Our
style could probably be described
as quirky and whimsical, with
unique little touches dotted around
the cabins and the field.
What challenges have you faced?
The biggest challenge currently
is filling cabins outside of school
holidays and making the site work
financially throughout the year,
not just seasonally. Also, covid was
tough on us, having to close only
one year after opening. But we
believed in our proposition so much
that we decided it was all or nothing
and put everything we had (and
more!) into creating our beautiful
glamping site.
What are your plans for next
season?
We always have plans for what we
can do next. We’d like to introduce
a little shop on-site for bits that
guests might have forgotten and
for local creatives and producers
to sell their wares. We also plan to
do more foodie events, having run
two very successful Cornish Feast
weekends in the past few years.
Please describe your average day
mid-season
Up 7am to let the chickens out.
Then a coffee while making plans
for managing the arrivals and
departures that day.
Prepare laundry bags for each
cabin due to check in and get the
turnaround trolley loaded with all
the cleaning materials and refills
needed.
Go up onto the field to say our
thank yous and goodbyes to any
guests leaving. Often kids will want
to cuddle a chicken or two or collect
eggs.
As soon as guests have left,
we strip each cabin in turn and
get towels, sleeping bags and
duvets going through the washing
machines.
Cleaning and making up each
cabin for new guests takes about
1.5-2 hours per cabin, so if we
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 31

GLAMPSITES
“ONCE ALL GUESTS ARE IN AND HAPPY, IT’S
THEN TO THE DESK WORK TO PROCESS DEPOSIT
REFUNDS TO GUESTS WHO HAVE CHECKED OUT
AND REPLY TO ANY NEW ENQUIRIES THAT MAY
HAVE COME IN”
have three or more turnarounds
to do in a day, then we enlist the
help of the kids to run things back
and forth and help out wherever
possible. We have an excellent team
arrangement whereby Rich does
bathrooms (sometimes there may
be minor maintenance jobs also),
I do bedrooms, making up beds
and living areas, and the kitchen
is either a joint effort or whoever
finishes first. I do the floors and final
quality checks while Rich loads up
the trolley to move on to the next
cabin. Repeat this process until all
cabins are ready, and we realise
we’ve not eaten yet! Then I get
onto baking fresh scones or bread
for any hampers that have been
pre-ordered for that day. Rich might
take the sheets to the laundry and
pop to the farm shop for any other
bits needed for hampers.
The rest of the day involves
greeting guests, ensuring everyone
has everything they need, more
cuddles with chickens for the kids
on site, and maybe our dogs will be
requested by guests to come and
play with them on the field.
Once all guests are in and happy,
it’s then to the desk work to process
deposit refunds to guests who have
checked out and reply to any new
enquiries that may have come in.
In between all this, we’re also
ensuring our three children are
fed, watered and happy, and often
taxied to their various engagements
all over Cornwall!
What do you enjoy about the
business and why?
No two days are the same. We love
seeing guests having a great time,
especially when all the kids from
different families—often speaking
different languages—find ways of
playing together.
Our absolute favourite thing is
reading the comments and reviews
left by guests - it totally brings a tear
to our eyes every time and makes
the hard work so worth it.
What are you most proud of?
Our amazing reviews and awards.
We won Glamping Business of the
Year Gold Award the last two years
running in the Cornwall Tourism
Awards and the Wildlife Friendly
Business of the Year Award this year
too, as well as Gold and Bronze in
the South West Tourism Awards in
the past two years.
What other outdoor hospitality
sectors do you operate in?
Recently, we’ve been hosting very
successful outdoor foodie events,
which we plan to do many more of
- picture rustic Cornish food cooked
over open fires by local chefs to the
backdrop of stunning sea views and
paired with Cornish wines, beers
and ciders. This kind of vibe is the
basis for our intimate wedding
offering - we haven't yet hosted a
wedding here, but we’d love to, as it
would be amazing.
What advice could you give
to someone coming into the
industry?
Don’t expect it to be easy. Do
something different that makes you
stand out, don’t just think you can
imitate another business because
it’s successful - there is an awful
lot of hard work, blood, sweat and
tears going on behind the scenes to
make that business successful that
you don’t see! Be genuine and have
a genuine care for your guests.
32 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

CHESHIRE HUTS
BESPOKE SHEPHERD'S HUTS
Custom-built to your specifications. Choose from a range of sizes, layouts,
and interior finishes to create a personalised hut. Meticulously handcrafted,
feature high-quality materials, craftsmanship for enduring beauty and adaptable
for various purposes. Turney service, providing continuous communication
throughout design and build process.
Telephone: 07967753289 • Email: cheshirehuts@gmail.com • www.cheshire-huts.co.uk
Odour-free
waterless and
composting toilets
1,000 NatSol
Installations
Rates from 6.39% annual flat
Business loans & asset finance
01604 669 359
www.natsol.co.uk
portmanfinancegroup.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 33

GLAMPSITES
HETAS
Making
Fire
Teach guests how to light and maintain a wood
stove fire using the top-down method for a
cleaner, longer, and safer burn
RUNNING A glampsite comes with its fair
share of challenges, and one question that
comes up quite frequently among site
owners is how to ensure guests use wood
stoves correctly. Many of you will know the
frustration of finding a beautifully prepared
stove left unused or, perhaps even worse,
the irritation of having guests constantly
asking for more kindling and firelighters
due to their inability to light a fire properly.
Despite providing detailed instructions and
even demonstrations, many guests still
struggle with the nuances of lighting and
maintaining a fire, leading to unnecessary
smoke, wasted wood, and even potential
safety hazards.
The top-down method is a highly
recommended and reliable technique
for lighting wood stoves that may finally
relieve you of some of the pain associated
with guests and fires. This article aims
to provide a step-by-step guide on using
this method and offers essential tips you
can pass on to your guests for correctly
operating wood stoves.
UNDERSTANDING THE TOP-DOWN
METHOD
The top-down method of lighting a wood
stove involves placing larger logs at the
bottom and progressively smaller pieces
of wood and kindling on top. This method
has several advantages over the traditional
bottom-up approach:
1
Reduced smoke
It produces less smoke, as the fire
burns down through the wood,
preheating the logs below and promoting
more complete combustion.
2
Longer burn time
The top-down method ensures a more
sustained and even burn, reducing the
need for frequent refuelling.
3
Cleaner operation
It results in a cleaner burn, leading to
less soot and creosote buildup in the
chimney.
Materials needed
› Dry, seasoned firewood (large, medium
and small logs appropriate to the size of
your stove, plus plenty of kindling)
› Firelighters (we like the natural wood
wool type)
› A good quality, reliable lighter.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE
TOP-DOWN METHOD
STEP 1 Prepare the stove
Before starting, ensure the stove is clean
and free of ash from previous fires. Open
the air vents fully to allow maximum
airflow.
STEP 2 Arrange the large logs
Place two to three large logs parallel to
each other at the bottom of the stove.
Ensure they are dry and seasoned, as wet
wood can create excessive smoke and burn
inefficiently.
STEP 3 Add medium-sized logs
On top of the large logs, place a layer of
medium-sized logs perpendicular to the
ones below. This helps create a stable
structure that promotes airflow.
STEP 4 Arrange the kindling
Arrange a generous amount of kindling on
top of the medium-sized logs. Use small,
dry sticks and twigs or split larger pieces of
wood into smaller sections. The kindling
should be loosely piled in a Jenga-style
tower to allow air to circulate.
STEP 5 Place the firelighters
Add one or two firelighters on top of the
kindling. If using newspaper, crumple it
loosely to avoid compacting it too much,
which can restrict airflow.
STEP 1 Light the fire
Light the firelighters using a reliable,
longer-length, safety lighter. As the kindling
catches fire, it ignites the medium-sized
logs, which in turn sets the large logs
ablaze. This top-down approach allows the
fire to burn more efficiently from the top
downwards and creates a nice bed of hot
embers. If you find the logs aren't catching,
more kindling can be added. Using the
kindling to get things nice and hot and
encourage a good draw from the chimney
is essential, so don't scrimp on this.
STEP 1 Adjust airflow
Initially, leaving the door slightly ajar can
help increase airflow and ensure things
get off to a good start. Once the fire is
well-established, the door can be closed
and air vents adjusted to control the burn
rate. Open vents allow more air in, making
the fire burn hotter and faster. Closing the
vents slightly can slow the burn and extend
the fire's duration - although, depending
on how much ventilation there is in your
34 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

GLAMPSITES
accommodation, it may be best to lean
towards keeping the vents more open to
avoid the frustration of fires going out.
OPERATING THE WOOD STOVE SAFELY
AND EFFICIENTLY
Fuel selection and storage
Use seasoned wood
Only burn dry, seasoned hardwoods.
These woods burn hotter and longer than
softwoods and produce less creosote.
Store wood properly
Keep firewood in a dry, well-ventilated
area to prevent moisture absorption. Stack
wood off the ground and cover the top to
protect it from rain and snow. There are
plenty of good-quality, affordable wood
stores available, or if you're handy, you can
build your own.
Starting, maintaining and finishing
the fire
Do not overload the stove
Avoid overloading the stove with too much
wood at once. This can reduce airflow and
cause inefficient burning.
Add wood gradually – little and often is the
key
Add one or two logs at a time to maintain
a steady fire. Wait for the fire to catch each
new load of wood before adding more.
If refuelling has been delayed, add more
kindling to re-establish a hot ember bed
before adding more logs.
Monitor the fire
Never leave the stove unattended for long
periods, especially when the fire is still
getting established.
End of the day
When you have finished using the stove
for the day, fully open the vents until any
remaining fuel has burned away. This final
burning of the day should always be fast
and hot to help clear deposits from the
glass and minimise soot/tar and creosote
deposits in the appliance and chimney.
Regular maintenance – not to be
underestimated
Clean the stove regularly
Remove ash and unburned debris after
each use to maintain good airflow and
efficiency.
Inspect the chimney
Regularly check the chimney for creosote
buildup, which can be a fire hazard. Have
the chimney professionally cleaned at least
once a year.
Safety precautions
Install carbon monoxide detectors
Place detectors in the same room as
the wood stove as well as any adjacent
sleeping areas to alert guests to any
buildup of this dangerous gas.
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby
Ensure an easily accessible fire extinguisher
is available, and familiarise guests with its
location and operation.
Maintain clearances
Keep flammable materials, such as
curtains, furniture, and rugs, at a safe
distance from the stove. Follow the
manufacturer's guidelines for required
clearances.
Provide fireproof gloves
When handling the stove, especially while
adding wood or adjusting vents, use
fireproof gloves to prevent burns.
Educating Guests
Provide clear instructions
Leave a detailed manual in the glamping
accommodation that covers how to light
and maintain the wood stove using the
top-down method.
Link to video
Many videos on YouTube demonstrate the
top-down method, so consider adding a QR
code link to one for guests to scan and view
with their phone.
Highlight emergency procedures
Ensure guests know what to do in case of
an emergency, including how to use the fire
extinguisher and the location of emergency
exits.
I'm a firestarter
Obviously, there are many other very
effective ways of lighting and operating a
wood stove. But armed with a set of clear
and concise instructions based on the
above (it does, of course, depend on them
reading them - but let's not add another
frustration into the mix!), guests should
bother you less and enjoy the satisfaction
of building a reliable, roaring fire every
time.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 35

We are exhibiting at the Glamping Show 2024
BUSINESS LOANS
HIRE PURCHASE
LEASE FINANCE
What can be financed?
Glamping equipment
Groundworks
Spas, Saunas, Amenities
Vehicles
Entertainments
And so much more
www.principalbusinessfinance.co.uk
info@principalbusinessfinance.co.uk
Securing finance for our pods was seamless
and incredibly helpful. Working with PBF was
a pleasure, and their expertise expedited our
growth in a way we couldn't have achieved on
our own. Not to mention, we were able to
secure unbeatable rates. Highly
recommended.
Jack Brundle
Choller Lake Lodges
01604 217 998
Principal Business Finance Ltd is an Appointed Representative of AFS Compliance Limited which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 625035
Only LeeSan truly
specialise in toilets
Complete waste handling
No need for waste tank
Child safe operation
Does not use water
Produces only
clean ash
When Nature
Calls
sales@leesan.com
T: 01295 770000
36 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

GLAMPSITES
INDUSTRY
Jonathan Trelfa
Role: General manager
Company: Glampsan (Plastic Solutions
Aldridge)
Contact: 0800 999 6010,
sales@glampsan.com,
www.glampsan.com
FUN FACTS
Favourite tipple: In moderation, cask
strength single malt whisky
Last holiday destination: Northumberland
– dark sky country
Cats or dogs? Definitely cats
Current TV must watch: Professor T –
strangely compelling
Something people may not know about
you: I spent a lot of my higher education
period in Germany, and ultimately ran a
German company for some years... lots of
water has since flowed under the bridge, but
I’m still ‘rustily’ fluent in German.
What is your background?
I’ve been working in portable sanitation
for over 30 years, and I’ve (probably)
visited more portable toilet yards across
the UK and Europe than I’ve had hot
dinners. In my career I’ve spent time
as managing director Europe for both
a toilet manufacturing company and a
manufacturer of ground and surface water
monitoring equipment. You could say I’ve
lived and breathed portable sanitation for
several decades now – I have been known
to dream about it too… but not too deeply.
How did you get started in the business?
After a casual phone call with a long-term
customer/friend and industry colleague,
who wanted to manufacture a bespoke
effluent tank made from plastic. I offered
advice to help jump start his fledgling idea
into a product and then a company. Little
did I think that a friendly chat over a cup
of coffee would start with ‘helping out’ for
two to three weeks, and that in turn would
lead to 10 years at the helm this year.
What features and benefits do your
products offer?
We design and manufacture many
products ourselves and we’ve recently
been awarded the prestigious ‘Made
in Britain’ mark. I would say our most
unique quality is our exceptional customer
service. We don’t just sell; we ask lots of
questions to get a fully rounded picture
of our customers’ needs. We then advise
them on the most suitable
products for their site or
application. And we’re not
afraid to say, ‘We don’t think
that’s the right product for
you.’ We’d rather we advised on
the right solution even at the
expense of sending customers
elsewhere if it’s a product we
don’t offer.
What are your predictions for
the future of the glamping
industry?
Since covid there’s been a rise
in the number of people taking
staycations and this has given
a unique opportunity for the glamping
industry to grow. Many people are
diversifying from farming and using their
land for glamping opportunities. This is
where Glampsan’s exceptional knowledge
of managing waste and water systems
comes into play. We help glamping owners
put the right sanitation infrastructure
into place to kick start and grow their
businesses. We believe there is still plenty
more growth and opportunities for the
glamping industry. It’s an exciting time for
us all.
What are you most proud of?
Without hesitation, the team. We’re a small
friendly group, totally dedicated to our
niche business. We work hard, but there’s
always laughter in the office (usually
started by the sales team). It helps that we
are all genuinely interested in what we do
and how we can support our customers.
It’s a welcoming and motivating place to
work because of the people who are in it.
Are you working on any exciting
projects you can tell us about?
Glampsan offers an evolution of toilet
and waste handling solutions: there’s
something to suit every customer and
every need and we’re consistently adding
extra products to the range. For example,
we are currently expanding our above
ground tank range which incorporates
rainwater harvesting for those who want
to take advantage of a free resource to
flush toilets or irrigate gardens. We also
provide above ground tanks for potable
and non-potable water which allows large
reserves to be stored ready for showers,
washing up sinks and motorhome water
tank fills. For those that want to provide
every creature comfort, our above ground
tanks could even be used for an outdoor
wash station for walking boots, dogs, surf
boards or sandy feet.
What plans do you and Glampsan have
for the future?
As the glamping industry grows, we
will continue to adapt and innovate our
product range. We’re constantly designing
and producing UK made products to find
the easiest solutions for the trickiest of
sanitation challenges. All of this we will
do alongside our top-notch customer and
consultancy service. Watch this space,
we’ve got lots in the pipeline.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 37

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What’s more, the Kinedo team works with you; from site visits, installation
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kinedo.co.uk/kinewall

GLAMPSITES
PRODUCT IN FOCUS
Infrastructure
Private Retreat Centre
Product: Two treatment plants and other services infrastructure
Supplier: The Septic Tank Store, 01295 236101, sales@
theseptictankstore.co.uk, www.theseptictankstore.co.uk
Details: The Septic Tank Store (TSTS) assessed the plans for
the installation of six glamping pods before replacing two
septic tanks with sewage treatment plants at a private retreat
centre. The team also installed new drainage fields to building
regulations, advised on grease traps and designed, sourced and
installed infrastructure to each of the pods including water pipes
and electrics.
Customer feedback: The retreat project manager said: “It is rare
to find a company with such a wonderful team that works hard
to solve problems. There are always issues with scope, price and
schedule that can cause contractual issues. However, Wayne
and his team were so detailed in preparing multiple proposals,
tracking changes and finding creative ways to minimise costs or
change designs mid-project to keep the overall project on track
and on budget. Absolute pleasure to work with and will continue
working with them on our future projects.”
Rainwater
Harvesting with
Glampsan
Glampsan
0800 999 6010
sales@glampsan.com
www.glampsan.com
Glampsan rainwater harvesting tanks. Who wouldn’t
be interested in cutting costs, saving the planet and
reducing environmental impact by harvesting a free
resource? With some careful planning (and some expert
advice from Glampsan) you could be reaping the ecofriendly
rewards of harvesting rainwater into one of our
Above Ground Tanks, to flush toilets – great for camping
toilet blocks, water gardens and plants, irrigation of
fields, or to wash down machinery and vehicles.
An above ground storage tank is easy to maintain: all
of your drainage pipes, filters and vents will be in sight
and easily accessible. This is good news when it comes to
maintenance and inspection – we all welcome quick and
simple ways to make life easier.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 39

GLAMPSITES
Pre-Assembled
Compost Toilets
Sheep Shed Creations
01865 600400
hello@sheepshed.co.uk
www.sheepshed.co.uk
Purveyors of Premium Quality Coir Matting
Coir Store
07983 614410
andy@coirstore.co.uk / pat@coirstore.co.uk
www.coirstore.co.uk
Coir flooring products have been used for centuries
due the natural material’s durability and longevity.
Coir is naturally flame resistant, nevertheless all our
products have been flammability tested & certified
by UKAS to BS 5287:1998/BS 4790:1987.
Ideal for bell tents, yurts, tipis and geo domes,
our range of half-moon mats are the ideal flooring
solution to provide a luxury finish to any structure.
Constructed from 100% unbleached and natural
Vycome yarns in a Panama weave, each half-moon
is hemmed on the circumference edge and double
machine stitched. The mats feature reversible
weave with no latex backing.
Available in nine sizes from 3.6m to 7m diameter,
we also offer two specifications of matting for
marquees and larger structures; M4A4 & M2BV3.
High quality Anjengo/Vycome yarns in herringbone
weave, and 100% Vycome yarns in a Panama
weave. These mats are currently available in 9m,
10m and 12m lengths.
We welcome early contact from customers so
we can fully understand your requirements. This
way we can offer advice and a variety of solutions
to suit every situation. We provide free delivery
on all orders within the UK mainland. We deliver
throughout the British Isles and further afield if
required.
For an instant solution to your toilet
troubles, these waterless toilets arrive
pre-assembled and ready for action. Choose from a range of
colours and options and even add your own branding. Delivery is
quick and easy via the UK pallet network. Sheep Shed Creations
also makes a larger wheelchair accessible composting toilet for
users with disabilities.
Quality Stretch Tents for
Outdoor Hospitality
Tentickle
0121 740 1385
info@tenticklestretchtents.co.uk
www.tenticklestretchtents.co.uk
As the need for suitable
outdoor spaces
increases, stretch
tents are the perfect
solution. The flexibility
of the technical fabric allows tents to be installed
in numerous positions and spaces, creating unique
installations for each setting.
Size and colours can be chosen to suit the venue’s environment. These
tents are built to endure even strong storms and will protect from direct sun
thanks to the UV light absorbing fabric which blocks rays and keeps people
comfortable underneath.
Sanifos 610 Underground Lifting Station for
black and grey water waste
Saniflo
020 8842 0033
sales@saniflo.co.uk
www.saniflo.co.uk
Farmer, Nick Welltrough, of Welltrough
Hall Farm in Cheshire, has a caravan and
motor home park on his large arable farm, as
well as a small glamping site. The staycation
trend of the last few years has led to an increase
in visitors to the site and Nick decided to expand
the caravan pitches into an adjacent hillside field at the
farm. To search for ideas for a discreet drainage solution, Nick
attended the Glamping Show where he found a Saniflo solution
on the Glampsan stand.
The site offers 17 hard standing pitches
with five additional plots currently in
construction. To provide a discreet,
reliable drainage solution for the caravans
and Elsan points, the owner selected a
Sanifos 610 underground lifting station
which has been installed in an adjacent
field to handle grey and black water waste.
The unit pumps up a bank approximately
10m and along a distance of almost 200m
horizontally to connect to the main sewer on the
site.
To ensure continuity of service the Sanifos has two
pumps and is fully alarmed. Once the final landscaping has
been completed, the only visible part of the unit will be the lid.
40 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

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42 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

EVENTS
CASE STUDY
CHILFEST
A two-day extravaganza, celebrating the music of the 1980s and 1990s
PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLLIE BOWMAN
We talk to festival owner Steve
Butcher about rising from the
ashes of the pandemic and
bankruptcy to keep this heritage
music event alive and kicking.
Describe your event and how
many people it attracts?
Chilfest is a heritage music festival
and attracts up to 10,000 people
across a Friday and Saturday at
the beginning of July. I founded
the event 12 years ago with the
aim of delivering a crowd-pleasing
mix of nostalgic tunes alongside a
boutique festival experience. Since
then, we have welcomed over 80
artistes (including The Human
League, UB40, OMD, Sister Sledge,
Rick Astley, Big Country, Boney
M and Billy Ocean, to name but a
few), and raised tens of thousands
of pounds for charity.
Explain a bit about your venue
and your history with it
Pre-pandemic, we were in a large
field (meadow) owned by Pendley
Manor Hotel with all the car
parking on the Tring Rugby Clubs
“AFTER THE PANDEMIC WE MOVED
THE FESTIVAL ON TO THE RUGBY
PITCHES TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE
SPACE AS WE KNEW A PERCENTAGE
OF THEM WERE WORRIED ABOUT
LARGE CROWDS AND SOCIAL DIS-
TANCING”
pitches. After the pandemic we
moved the festival on to the rugby
pitches to give people more space
as we knew a percentage of them
were worried about large crowds
and social distancing.
We have built a very strong
relationship with the sports
committees in Tring.
What is the event’s history and
what made you decide to run it?
In 2012, I was running a very
successful audio-visual production
company (Universal Event
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 43

EVENTS
“WE HAVE FLOWN DRONES OVER THE SITE OVER
THE YEARS TO WORK OUT PINCH POINTS ON
SITE ETC”
Productions/UEP) and we were
about to celebrate our 15th
anniversary, so I thought putting
on a music festival would be a bit
of a giggle!
How is your relationship
with the local authority and
community?
The relationship started slow as we
were newcomers, however it has
grown stronger and stronger over
the years, to the degree that the
police use Chilfest as a case study
on how events should be run.
How have you planned the
layout of the event?
We have flown drones over the site
over the years to work out pinch
points on site etc. We also listen
to customer feedback and make
small changes each year. We have
a two bay Orbit stage (a clear-span
modular system with aluminium
ladder beams and tensioned fabric
covers) and multiple marquees.
The Chilfest arena comprises
a top-quality stage and sound
rig, a wide variety of food and
drink outlets and plenty of
toilet facilities, providing all the
ingredients for a great weekend of
live music.
How did you research and source
your infrastructure?
We wanted to work with as
many local companies as we
could, providing they could
accommodate a fairly big
challenge!
What entertainment do you
offer?
It’s actually getting harder and
harder to book people, since the
retro crowd is getting on a bit and
there aren’t many 80s artistes
GARRY JONES
44 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

EVENTS
left that we haven’t worked with
so we have moved into the 90s
and Noughties. I have built up a
very useful little black book over
the years. Friday tends to be our
Tribute night.
What provisions do you make for
power, lights and sound?
Pre-pandemic my own
production company supplied all
lighting, mains distro and some
infrastructure for the event. Sadly
due to the pandemic I lost my
production company after being in
business for 24 years. Not properly
trading for two years and not being
able to host Chilfest in 2020 or
2021 completely bankrupted me.
socially distanced cinema events
in summer 2020. These were a
success to a degree, however August
weather was bad and we had to
cancel a series of events, thus not
turning a profit
What ground protection do you
use for cars and footfall?
We install a trackway for all our
heavy plant. The car park is so well
looked after by the rugby club that
we have never had to protect the
ground.
How do you manage admissions
and visitor safety?
We take visitor safety very
seriously. My core production team
has close to 100 years combined
experience in live events. Our age
demographic tends to be between
35 and 65, so a great age group
that want to enjoy themselves and
have fun. Since inception there
has been zero trouble at Chilfest.
Tickets are scanned on entry.
How did you cope during 2020
and 2021?
We did run a series of outdoor
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 45

EVENTS
How do you publicise the event?
We have over 24K followers on
social media and we also use radio
and e-shots to our database.
What additional challenges have
you faced?
Ticket sales have become difficult
since the pandemic, with cost of
living crisis, and I do feel that a
percentage of our customers still
do not want to mix in large crowds.
Everything is a lot last minute now,
with a fair percentage of ticket sales
being purchased in the last couple
of weeks leading up to the event as
people watch the weather etc. This
makes for many sleepless nights!
“EVERYTHING IS A LOT LAST MINUTE
NOW, WITH A FAIR PERCENTAGE OF
TICKET SALES BEING PURCHASED IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS LEADING
UP TO THE EVENT AS PEOPLE WATCH
THE WEATHER ETC”
How have you financed the
event?
Pre-pandemic Chilfest was financed
through my production company.
Since 2022, I have investors
onboard.
What are your plans for next
year?
TBC – running an independent
festival is tough, and we have yet to
make a final decision on 2025.
What advice could you give
to someone coming into the
industry?
Don’t – lol. Sadly, since the
Pandemic, the UK has been
saturated by music festivals as
everyone thinks it’s an easy way
to make money. This is truly not
the case. With the increase in fuel,
labour and infrastructure costs we
are probably paying 20% more than
in 2019, which is very difficult to
pass on to our loyal customers.
ADDRESS BOOK
MARQUEES
Meadow Marquees
www.meadowmarquees.co.uk
STAGE
Trust Events www.trustevents.co.uk
LIGHTING
LCH Production Services
www.lchproductionservices.com
POWER
Ethix www.ethixmanagement.com
BARS
Dayla www.dayladrinks.co.uk
FLOORING
GAP www.gap-group.co.uk
TOILETS
Mawsley www.mawsleyevents.co.uk
WI-FI
NOBA www.noba.co.uk
SECURITY
Belmont Guard
www.belmontguard.co.uk
INSURANCE
CONVEX www.convexin.com
INFRASTRUCUTE
GAP www.gap-group.co.uk
DETAILS
Chilfest
5-6 July 2024
Cow Lane
Tring
Hertfordshire HP23 5NS
46 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 47

EVENTS
How are dogs used at events?
Having the relevant K9s at specific events
can be of great benefit to organisers. From
drug searches, explosive detection to
reducing anti-social behaviour and stopping
fence jumpers, there is a specifically trained
dog to help.
General purpose (GP) security dogs
are used to reduce the amount of fence
jumpers, anti-social behaviour and for crowd
dispersal. They can also act as protection
for expensive assets, reducing the amount
of static security in vulnerable site-specific
areas meaning they are a cost-effective
solution.
Drug detection (DD) dogs are used to
tackle the amount of contraband being
brought into events. The dogs are trained to
detect those carrying class A, B and C drugs
as well as some being trained to also detect
pyrotechnics.
Explosive detection dogs (EDD) are used
to sweep areas prior to the start of the event
for explosives. How many of these dogs are
required will depend on the size of the venue
as well as the time frame needed to carry out
the search.
What are the most common uses of dogs
at festivals?
K9 festival security units are meticulously
trained to detect various threats, including
explosives, drugs and more. A dog’s keen
sense of smell and agility make them
invaluable in crowded environments where
traditional security measures might fall
short. They are perfect for threat detection
(including drugs and explosives) and their
presence alone acts as a strong deterrent
to potential criminals. By identifying and
addressing threats before they escalate, dogs
help prevent incidents that could otherwise
lead to harm.
Trained dogs are also great at assisting in
Dogs on
the Job
Q&A with security dog expert Kirsty Armstrong,
operations manager at UK K9 Security Group
48 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

EVENTS
managing large crowds, ensuring smooth
entry and exit flows, and preventing
stampedes. Their presence can calm
anxious attendees and provide a sense of
order. Visible security measures, including
patrols by security dogs, reassure attendees
that their safety is a priority. This sense
of security enhances the overall festival
experience, encouraging attendees to relax
and enjoy themselves.
Give us an example from your work at UK
K9 Security Group
Drug detection dogs were used at the
accreditation tent at one event festivalgoers
were coming through to be searched. They
were searched by the search team and
finally scanned by the drugs dogs. A male
had got through the search area without
anything being detected on his person or
belongings however the drugs dog indicated
and suggested otherwise. Upon further
questioning it was found he did have drugs
with him, hidden inside his mouth. Safe to
say the male was escorted off the property
and his ticket made void.
Tell us about the selection and training
of dogs?
This can vary dependent on the job role of
the K9. There are a few governing bodies
that certify and assess K9s for work, with
NASDU being the most recognised. For GP
they allow German shepherds, Dobermans,
rottweilers, Belgian shepherds and Dutch
herders, however for the DD & EDD they
allow working gundog breeds such as the
labrador retriever, cocker spaniel, English
springer spaniel and German pointers to
name but a few.
The training process can cost thousands
and its duration dependent on each specific
dog as it continues until they are deemed fit
and eligible for work. K9 teams are assessed
quarterly and annually to ensure that each is
compliant.
“THE TRAINING PROCESS
CAN COST THOUSANDS AND
ITS DURATION DEPENDENT
ON EACH SPECIFIC DOG AS IT
CONTINUES UNTIL THEY ARE
DEEMED FIT AND ELIGIBLE
FOR WORK”
How are dogs managed outside of their
work time?
All K9s live with their handlers. Handlers will
take them home, exercise, feed and ensure
full care is given to them when not deployed.
We comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006,
Guard Dogs Act 1975, Dangerous Dogs Act
1991 as well as being compliant with the
British Standard 8517 2016. As we comply
with the above, we also must manage the
K9s in a safe way. They are usually exercised
in privately hired fields, at home or away
from the general public. This is not only to
keep the public safe but also to keep our
K9s that have vital jobs to play safe from
any person that may want to cause harm
towards them.
Does using dogs make financial sense for
event organisers?
Investing in security dogs offers advantages
to event organisers beyond just safety.
They can be very cost effective as dogs can
cover large areas quickly and are often more
reliable than technology or security officers
alone. Insurance premiums may also be
lower as insurance companies view the use
of security dogs as a proactive step in risk
management, reducing the likelihood of
claims.
Compliance is another big win when a
local authority, police or planning team
place certain requirements upon an event.
Finally, there is reputation and customer
loyalty – attendees who feel safe are
more likely to return to future events and
recommend the event to others.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kirsty Armstrong is
operations manager at
UK K9 Security Group, a
security dog provider. Her
love for dogs has taken her on
a journey starting with supporting
dog fosterers to obtaining her Security
Industry Association (SIA) License in 2017
and NASDU Certification in 2018.
UK K9 Security Group’s team of dogs
ensures the safety of attendees at a
number of large festivals and events,
maintaining an enjoyable atmosphere
for attendees while delivering a range
of benefits to enhance the security and
reputation. www.ukk9.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 49

EVENTS
How to Brand a Festival
How to build brand image, personality and develop customer loyalty
THE LURE of an immersive and unique
experience full of fields and music is
unbroken but with production costs
higher than ever and a busy market,
competition is fierce to stand out and
attract ticket sales.
But festivals are more than just their
line-up; organisers need to consider
aspects like price point, food, art,
tent space and stages as a way to build
their overall experience – which is where
branding becomes important. Festival
branding is a more holistic package where
specific assets like logos, posters or
signage are just as important as the overall
brand.
Branding is particularly useful for
festivals as it reflects the brand persona
and experience that you want your
audience to feel. It’s a promise to deliver
the same great experience to your
audiences, that is unique and connects
authentically to attendees.
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT FESTIVAL
BRANDING?
The purpose of branding is to build your
event’s image, ‘personality’ and develop
brand loyalty. At the end of the day, you
want your festival to have a unique essence
and people that attend to have a unique
experience and thus stand out from other
festivals.
Let’s be honest, people are only choosing
one or two festivals to go to per year, so you
want to play to the emotions to guarantee
that attendees are going to have the best
experience at your event. A good and
consistent brand also makes your festival
more reputable and trustworthy. It means
that customers are going to feel excited to
invest in your event.
At the festival itself, consistent branding
helps add value to your audiences’ overall
experience too, making them more likely
to return over and over again and tell their
friends.
Branding uses visuals to reflect your
brand voice and persona so it is really
useful at reflecting atmosphere and
experience. When audiences see your brand
colours, graphics or logo they immediately
associate it with the positive feeling that
you want to portray. In that respect, your
branding must reflect the shared values of
your festival and its community.
50 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

EVENTS
“THE PHILOSOPHY AND PROMISE OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT
ARE WHAT ORIGINALLY ATTRACTED PEOPLE TO THE
FESTIVAL. IT IS A PROMISE OF A SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL
EXPERIENCE AND A UNIQUE CONCEPT TO OTHER FESTIVALS”
Most festivals hold the advantage of
having a whole year to perfect their event
and mould it to their brand personality.
This also means they have all that time
to adapt their brand and event to new
trends or themes that’s going to give their
attendees the best experience.
IDENTIFY YOUR CORE VALUES
Festival branding takes a similar approach
to any branding journey. But what is more
important with festivals is creating a
unique and strong concept; this is what is
going to attract audiences the most. To do
this, you need to identify what your core
values are, and use them to make a ‘brand
personality’.
For example, Burning Man festival
started out as a niche event with the
mission statement: “to bring experiences
to people in grand, awe-inspiring and
joyful ways that lift the human spirit,
address social problems, and inspire
a sense of culture, community, and
civic engagement.” The philosophy and
promise of self-improvement are what
originally attracted people to the festival.
It is a promise of a spiritual and cultural
experience and a unique concept to other
festivals.
UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE
As with any branding journey, you need to
identify your audience – what does your
ideal customer look like? Are they into
rock music, aged between 18-25 and live
locally? This allows you to directly cater
your branding and your event around the
customers’ wants and needs and attract
your ideal festival-goer.
A ‘brand booklet’ helps set clear
guidelines for your brand colours, visuals
and feel across communications. It will in
turn clearly portray your core beliefs. The
brand colours, font, logo, keywords and
assets should be applied consistently from
the ticketing page to your giveaway bags.
Although it can be tempting to change
your festival every year and add new
concepts, music, sponsors etc. don’t be
afraid to say no to new opportunities that
don’t fit your brand. After developing a
festival and community that shares the
same beliefs, changing too much can be
confusing to your audience and deviate
from the experience you were originally
promising them.
Although festival branding may be easy
to overlook when it comes to planning
your event, the purpose of branding and
festivals are inherently linked. Both want
to create a unique experience and identity
that instils loyalty in customers.
Festivals are an immersive cultural
experience that is highly valued by
individuals over products. So, creating
a unique brand concept that has strong
core values is one of the most important
aspects when promoting your festival.
Tips for festival
branding
› Logos are going to be used across all
your collateral – think signs, posters,
merchandise, backgrounds – so it’s
important to consider how one will
look blown up or shrunk down.
› Consistency is key for branding, you
want to create a cohesive message
that matches your brand personality,
and what you want your attendees
to feel when they go to your festival.
When customers are constantly
experiencing the same visuals, they
are associating that with your brand
or festival persona, and in turn with
their positive experience. So, from the
first social post of your line up to your
festival signage or wristbands, there
needs to be visual consistency.
› That said, small tweaks will keep
your festival looking fresh and
exciting.
› Give yourself a good amount of
time to build the hype up for your
festival. Not only will your audience
get excited quickly, but it will help
them get familiar with your brand.
You can display branding across your
website, in your logo, on social media
posts, festival flags, stages, tents
and structures, and on your signage,
banners, backdrops, posters and
merch.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dee Darcy founded Utter
Creatives in 2015 and has
over 15 years of experience
in the creative industries.
She specialises in branding,
brand strategy, graphic design
and illustration
hello@uttercreatives.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 51

07973 764 023
Info@hollywoodevents.co.uk
IF YOU ARE
HOLDING AN EVENT...
WE HAVE GOT
IT COVERED!!
“GREAT JOB, ON TIME, RIGHT PRICE!” MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL
ONE-STOP-SHOP
for Event Production
CORPORATE
PARTY
WEDDING
01323 819219
enquiries@sussexeventsltd.co.uk
www.sussexeventsltd.co.uk
VINTAGE BARS EXTRAS
FESTIVALS
Established in 1988 we supply marquees, temporary structures to the Events industry.
All our work is fully insured and our marquees are clean and of the highest quality.
We aim to be the most competitive quality marquee hire company out there.
CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE
M: 07973 764 023 E: Info@hollywoodevents.co.uk
C RE®
BAR& EVENTHIRE
STYLISH CUSTOMISABLE BAR RENTAL
TRUST EVENTS STAGES LTD
Stages & Platforms for Shows &
Festivals Including Film And TV
DRY HIRE OR FULL SERVICE
FESTIVAL STAGE HIRE | ORBIT STAGE | PROLYTE
PORTABLE STAGE HIRE | CAMERA PLATFORMS
FREE BAR HIRE*
*Subject to minimum spend
T: 0845 299 6499 - E: sales@core-barandeventhire.com
www.core-barandeventhire.com
01749 841720 | 07909 636566
spike@trustevents.co.uk | peter@trustevents.co.uk
www.trustevents.co.uk
Royal Bath and West Showground, Somerset, BA4 6QN
52 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
ADVERT.indd 1 12/04/2021 10:05:45

EVENTS
PRODUCT IN FOCUS
Infrastructure
Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival
Product: All marquee structures
Supplier: Hollywood Marquee Hire, 07973 764023, info@
hollywoodevents.co.uk, www.hollywoodmarqueehire.co.uk
Details: Debuting in 2010, Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival
is a diverse, vibrant festival, celebrating ground-breaking,
innovative UK music alongside international trailblazers at
Moseley Park, Birmingham.
Hollywood Marquee Hire specialises in clear span marquee
and event structures and has forged a long-standing
relationship with the event over 12 years. The company
supplies all the structures from main stage and second stage
to all the bar structures and even the back stage dressing rooms.
GARRY JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
GARRY JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
Customer feedback: Festival director Gerv Havil said: “We have had the pleasure of working with
Hollywood Marquee Hire for the past 12 years, and we couldn't be happier with the service they
have provided. From the outset, they have consistently impressed us with the exceptional quality
of their structures.
“Beyond the quality of their products, what truly sets Hollywood Marquee Hire apart is
their professionalism and attention to detail. From the initial planning stages to the final
installation, their team has demonstrated a level of expertise and
efficiency that is unmatched. They have always been responsive
to our needs and proactive in addressing any concerns that arise,
ensuring that every aspect of our event runs smoothly.
“They consistently offer competitive pricing, allowing us to
stay within budget without compromising on quality. Their
commitment to affordability, combined with their dedication
to excellence, makes them an invaluable partner for any event
organiser.”
Signs, Banners
and Flags!
HFE Signs
01283 576017
sales@hfe-signs.co.uk
www.hfe-signs.co.uk
Custom printed banners – ideal for
both indoor and outdoor settings, these banners are perfect for
corporate events, trade shows, festivals, weddings, and more.
Made from durable, weather-resistant materials, they feature
vibrant colours and clear graphics, ensuring your message stands
out. With a variety of sizes and custom options, you can tailor
your banner to match your event’s theme and branding perfectly.
Roll-up banners – our roll-up banners are a versatile and
portable solution for any event. Easy to set up and take down,
these banners are perfect for trade shows, conferences, and
promotional events. Featuring high-resolution printing and
sturdy bases, they provide a professional look and are ideal for
showcasing your brand, products, or services. The compact
design makes them easy to transport and store, ensuring you can
make an impact wherever you go.
Feather flags – these draw attention to your event. Perfect for
outdoor events like fairs, festivals, and sporting events, these
flags are designed to flutter in the wind, attracting attention
from afar. Available in various sizes and shapes, they can be
customised with your logo, colours, and messaging to ensure
maximum visibility and impact.
We also supply printed signs and boards. Contact HFE Signs
to discuss your needs and get a quote. Our team is here to help
you every step of the way, from design to delivery. Rated No. 1 on
Trustpilot!
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 53

EVENTS
The Supercar
Festival
Product: Stretch tent
Supplier: Alternative Stretch
Tents, 01920 830256, info@
alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk/
www.alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk
Details: Alternative Stretch Tents
supplied Iconic Auction, a leading
luxury automotive brand, with
a stretch tent to elevate their
presence at The Supercar Festival
2024. The objectives included
enhancing brand visibility, creating
an immersive experience to foster
deeper connections with potential
customers, collect valuable leads
and insights from attendees for
future marketing and sales efforts,
and to unveil its latest highperformance
model in a controlled,
prestigious environment.
The 15x53m and 15x42m stretch
tent was designed to reflect Iconic
Auctions’ brand ethos of elegance
and performance. It featured a sleek,
modern aesthetic with sexy curves,
ambient lighting, and symmetrical
finishings. The layout included a
central display showcasing cars in a
symmetrical manner.
The stretch tent attracted
over 10,000 visitors during the
festival and garnered substantial
media attention, with features
in top automotive and lifestyle
publications.
Feedback: The tent successfully
achieved its objectives of enhancing
brand visibility, engaging customers,
generating leads, and launching
a successful display of over a
million pounds worth of cars. The
combination of strategic planning,
thanks to Sean at Alternative Stretch
Tents, innovative experiences, and
targeted marketing resulted in a
memorable presence at the festival,
reinforcing Iconic Auctions’ position
as a leader in the luxury automotive
market.
Fully Integrated
‘Stage Box’
The Stage Bus
01215 859264
info@thestagebus.com
www.thestagebus.com
The Stage Box is the newest concept stage from the team
at The Stage Bus. Built into a shipping container, this
clever, fully-integrated stage boasts a PA system that
covers up to 10,000, height-adjustable hydraulic legs and
a built-in screen. Taking just an hour to set up, this stage
makes light work of street closures and events where time
is of the essence.
The Stage Box can also be fully-brand wrapped making
it a great option for events running on sponsorships,
brand activations and sporting events. Owing to its
design, the Stage Box makes a great modular unit and
can easily be incorporated into installations with other
containers and can be used in conjunction with
large scale screens.
54 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

EVENTS
Cellar-in-a-Box
CORE Bar and Event Hire
0845 299 6499
sales@core-barandeventhire.com
www.core-barandeventhire.com
Land Beyond Festival
Product: MILOS MR2K 12 x 10 roof system and Layher Event deck system
Supplier: Sussex Events, 01323 819219, accounts@sussexeventsltd.co.uk,
www.sussex eventsltd.co.uk
Details: The highly anticipated Land Beyond Festival returned to the
picturesque Waterhall venue with its 2024 ‘Unchartered’ theme. The
extraordinary experience included awe-inspiring installations and immersive
encounters.
Sussex Events has managed the festival production onsite for several years.
With the upscale in many outdoor client events, it was the perfect time to
invest in the MILOS MR2K roof system, enhancing production capabilities for
its upcoming events and festivals. The advanced roofing solution represents
the latest in event technology ensuring superior performance, safety, and
flexibility for a wide range of live outdoor productions.
With a maximum load capacity of three tons plus PA wings, the MR2K can
support extensive lighting rigs, sound systems, and intricate stage designs.
The build also incorporated two 6×4 MILOS LSGO LED screen support
structures on either side of the stage with full video projection and live stage
feed during the event.
Feedback: Dave Jeffery, UK brand manager of Milos & Xstage, said: “We are
delighted to have supplied Sussex Events with the MILOS MR2K roof system
integrated onto the Layher event deck. The combination of MILOS and Layher
systems forms the ultimate structure for these large outdoor music festivals
and gigs. The planned pre-build was a success, with Bob and his team already
being a regular MILOS customer they knew exactly what they were doing,
and this structure flew up in a matter of hours. Our additional capability as
a Layher Technical Partner, meant that we could combine training on both
systems at the same time.”
The CORE ‘Wheel-Inn Cellar-in-a-box’ kit is a mobile fully
featured cellar set up that allows you to dispense kegged
beers and ciders whenever and wherever needed – in
minutes!
Easily integrated into CORE’s modular bar solution
(pictured), it means you can have a professional bar set up
for any event irrespective of location. The CORE ‘Wheel-
Inn Cellar-in-a-box’ kit can dispense up to three different
drinks and ensures that professionally dispensed, ice-cold
beverages can be served so you are not limited to only
bottled drinks.
The kit is ideal for any situation where you need to serve
kegged beers and ciders in a temporary location without
the need for expert installation crews. Kits are available to
purchase or rent by contacting the friendly CORE team.
Market Leading Flooring
Marquee Floors
01787 372988
info@marqueefloors.co.uk
www.marqueefloors.co.uk
Market leaders for the marquee industry with high
quality traditional matting for use in marquees,
party tents and indoor/outdoor exhibitions and
functions. From Dandy Dura – the market leading
polypropylene matting for marquee flooring in the
UK – through to Dandy Coco, Dandy Weave and
some essential glamping and sundry products
to ensure your event or structure has the perfect
finishing touch.
We offer a bespoke service with most of our
ranges available in any size or bespoke shape
complete with binding and eyelets.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 55

Spot light
A roundup of products for the
outdoor hospitality industry
INTRODUCING “THE REFUGE”
Bakland Cabins
01472 852704
info@baklandcabins.co.uk
www.baklandcabins.co.uk
A quirky, but roomy cabin that
sleeps two, with a separate,
spacious double bedroom, ensuite
shower, storage and living
area. This cabin design was
originally inspired by a love of
alpine refuges and surf shacks with
all their weathered charm, offering
shelter, warmth and protection
from the elements after a day in
the great outdoors. Presented
with traditional décor, in either
a rustic or coastal finish with a
choice of cladding. A kitchen,
built-in seating and dining area
with feature windows provides a
stylish, atmospheric, and relaxing
area to eat, drink and unwind. Also
available as a micro unit.
PERFO GROUND REINFORCEMENT
SYSTEM
S2T Group
01992 522797
www.perfo.co.uk
S2T Group’s PERFO range of
ground protection products
comprises a system of interlocking,
self-anchoring permeable plastic
tiles which are embedded into an
existing surface, eg. a mature grass
area or prepared base consisting of
a layer of crushed stone chippings,
depending on the application.
A number of light to heavy duty
solutions are available to suit
varied ground conditions, traffic
profiles and loading requirements.
Unlike other geogrid systems,
PERFO tiles are usually installed
without the need for excavation,
being compacted directly into the
existing surface using rollers or
compactor plates. Installation is
therefore rapid and planning issues
less problematic.
ODOURLESS PUMP OUT TOILET
NatSol
01686 412653
info@natsol.co.uk
www.natsol.co.uk
The NatSol Zero Discharge 2 is an
odourless pump out toilet taking
around 5,000 uses before you need
to service it. Compare that to a
typical Portaloo! It is a permanently
installed wheelchair accessible
toilet for outdoor activity sites
where ongoing use is expected.
We can supply buildings for this
toilet or you could design and
construct your own with our
guidance. Every toilet comes
complete with grab rails, gel
dispensers, urinal and passive
ventilation system.
Installation can usually be achieved
in a day on a typical site. Road
access is essential for installation
and servicing.
Classified Directory
C RE®
BAR& EVENTHIRE
STYLISH CUSTOMISABLE BAR RENTAL
DRY HIRE OR FULL SERVICE
T: 0845 299 6499 - E: sales@core-barandeventhire.com
www.core-barandeventhire.com
56 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
Advert - small.indd 1 16/04/2021 16:04:43

Classified Directory
When Nature Calls
sales@leesan.com
T: 01295 770000
Only LeeSan truly specialise in toilets
• Sewage Treatment •
• Sales •
• Installation •
TEAM
SEPTIC
01295 236 101
sales@theseptictankstore.co.uk
CREATED BY YOU, MADE BY US!
Innovative products
for Temporary Structure installations
• Structure Support and Levelling
• Modular Steps & Ramps
• Balustrades
• Cassette Floors
• Bespoke Engineering
+44 121 526 6060
info@regenteng.com
www.floorstak.com
Closing down sale
all tents at cost, plus
domain & website for sale.
Contact Steven 07565949526
Glampingtentsforsale.co.uk
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 57

PEOPLE
Behind the Scenes
Shauna O’brien
‘Down the rabbit hole’ with the creator of the Lancashire
glamping sensation, Wonderland Retreats
WONDERLAND RETREATS opened in May
2023 and no two days are ever the same.
We allow for one-night stays which means
change overs happen daily. I manage a team
of amazing cleaners which receive nothing
but 5* cleanliness reviews. Our guests have
the option to make their stay extra special by
adding on optional packages which include
champagne, chocolates, rose petals and
lots more which I organise; we’ve had three
proposals in the last six months!
Day to day, social media is a massive
part of our growth with 31k followers on
Instagram and 15k on TikTok and climbing.
Creating engaging daily content is my
strength. Our social media has grown rapidly
showing behind the scenes videos and site
walk arounds; everyone loves to know what
we’re up to and what crazy idea I have next.
I’m naturally a creative person and the
site has been all designed by myself from
sourcing fabric, making our own beds, to
hand sticking pink feathers onto walls – we
want to give our guests a unique experience
and the wow factor when they walk through
the doors.
Each pod is completely unique and a lot
of time and thought has gone into each to
give a unique spin on Alice in Wonderland.
We’re currently in the process of starting our
second site, Hidden Hills Luxury Glamping,
which will be open by the end of the year! I’m
already in the process of designing each pod
with Lune Valley Pods, which is very exciting.
They will be very luxurious but completely
different to Wonderland Retreats. Each
pod will be unique which I believe makes
guests want to come back and keeps the
excitement alive.
Wonderland Retreats is nearly fully
booked for the whole year, which still
blows my mind! We are hoping to open
sites up and down the country. Although
I am extremely busy with the new site,
I still personally email all our guests at
Wonderland Retreats. We operate a selfcheck-in
service with guests being sent a
guidebook with all the information they’ll
need to work everything in the pod and
make the site run smoothly.
We’re so proud of how much we have
grown in our first year in business and we’ve
received nothing but amazing reviews which
again I’m very proud of! I’m constantly
looking to improve the site and we’ll be
introducing an honesty shop which will be
stocked with lots of local produce to help
support local businesses.
Taking the leap and opening Wonderland
Retreats was the best decision I ever made.
I have two babies, who are one and two,
and it gives me the flexibility to work but
also spend time with my children. They are
also great helpers but love eating all the
biscuits that are for the guests! Being only
28 I have so much planned for the future of
Wonderland Retreats and we’re only just
getting started. I know in the near future we
will be known for operating some of the best
glamping sites in the UK! Watch this space.
DETAILS
Wonderland Retreats
North road
Carnforth
Lancashire LA61AA
www.wonderlandretreats.co.uk
58 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM

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