Issue 64
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glamping, festivals and outdoor events The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glamping, festivals and outdoor events
ISSUE 64 | 2024 | www.openairbusiness.com BUSINESS VENUES › Offsites GLAMPING › Making Fire EVENTS › Festival Branding INFRASTRUCTURE CASE STUDIES: CHAPEL HOUSE ESTATE • LYDCOTT GLAMPING • CHILFEST
- Page 2 and 3: THE DOME COMPANY DESIGN, MANUFACTUR
- Page 4 and 5: 77% of Corporate Bookers Prioritise
- Page 6 and 7: 19-21 SEPTEMBER 2024 NAEC STONELEIG
- Page 8 and 9: Manufacturers of quality bespoke ti
- Page 10 and 11: PEOPLE “OUR FIRST PROJECT WAS TO
- Page 12 and 13: PEOPLE INSPIRE IMAGES Wales advisor
- Page 14 and 15: Amazingly Versatile, Strikingly Bea
- Page 16 and 17: FUNCTION VENUES MEGAN DONATI PHOTOG
- Page 18 and 19: FUNCTION VENUES THE MODERN REVELRY
- Page 20 and 21: FUNCTION VENUES Offsites Darren Swa
- Page 22 and 23: FUNCTION VENUES GETTY IMAGES Brand
- Page 24 and 25: FUNCTION VENUES PRODUCT IN FOCUS In
- Page 26 and 27: FUNCTION VENUES New British Tipi Ma
- Page 28 and 29: https://shop.glampsan.com/ https://
- Page 30 and 31: GLAMPSITES How did you research the
- Page 32 and 33: GLAMPSITES “ONCE ALL GUESTS ARE I
- Page 34 and 35: GLAMPSITES HETAS Making Fire Teach
- Page 36 and 37: We are exhibiting at the Glamping S
- Page 38 and 39: Ease of installation Minimal prepar
- Page 40: GLAMPSITES Pre-Assembled Compost To
- Page 43 and 44: EVENTS CASE STUDY CHILFEST A two-da
- Page 45 and 46: EVENTS left that we haven’t worke
- Page 47 and 48: WOW - FACTOR Let us transform your
- Page 49 and 50: EVENTS managing large crowds, ensur
- Page 51 and 52: EVENTS “THE PHILOSOPHY AND PROMIS
ISSUE <strong>64</strong> | 2024 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
BUSINESS<br />
VENUES<br />
› Offsites<br />
GLAMPING<br />
› Making Fire<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Festival Branding<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
CASE STUDIES: CHAPEL HOUSE ESTATE • LYDCOTT GLAMPING • CHILFEST
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ISSUE <strong>64</strong> | 2024 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
WELCOME<br />
I’M WRITING this from a sunny poolside on a Greek<br />
island. Not the sort of thing the publisher of a magazine<br />
championing our great UK hospitality industry should admit<br />
to, but I thought it was about time my children saw another<br />
country. In fact, it has been 13 years since I got on a plane and<br />
my daughters, now seven and 11, were preparing for airflight<br />
as if going into space. After carefully choosing a destination<br />
based on weather (my husband), nice people (me), cats (my<br />
daughters) and affordability (my husband), we settled on<br />
Lesvos and it has been lovely.<br />
However, after six and a half days of blissful 27°C, calm<br />
turquoise seas and way too much good eating, my little ones have unanimously<br />
reported that our annual fortnight in Weymouth is ‘better’. It could only be improved<br />
with “some more cats”. So, there you have it – the next generation says staycations win.<br />
I can’t help but make observations about the hospitality industry here. And I have<br />
decided to officially name this Aegean Island as my favourite. It wins because it is<br />
authentic, not over commercial and most of the businesses are owned by locals who<br />
take pride in their offerings and also their environment. We won’t talk about the openair<br />
cinema surrounded by mature fruit trees that was levelled to make way for a new<br />
pay-as-you-go car park (I will mention that it is practically empty as both locals and<br />
returning visitors have boycotted it – there will always be unsympathetic opportunists).<br />
I’ve had fun looking at how businesses in the local town of Molyvos choose to present<br />
themselves. Their branding, for the most part, does an excellent job of conveying their<br />
core values of family, pride of place and authentic Greekness. From the olive wood<br />
sculptor to the high end contemporary Greek restaurant, to the fun beach bar, to the<br />
health food shop. They all make me want to discover more and try their wares. I am<br />
now a follower of many on Instagram and I know if I return, I will be a repeat customer.<br />
Branding is so important with so many mediums in which to present a business<br />
available today. We have two pieces in this issue addressing how to brand and rebrand<br />
effectively. And while thinking about corporate things, its great news that research<br />
is showing that ‘wellness’ and ‘outdoors’ is still featuring highly on event bookers’<br />
agendas for business get-togethers. If you are a venue, check out both the news (page<br />
4) and our piece on ‘offsites’ (pages 22-23).<br />
Tally Rix<br />
Editor / Publisher<br />
PUBLISHERS<br />
Steve Rix - steve@openairbusiness.com<br />
Tally Rix - tally@openairbusiness.com<br />
EDITOR<br />
Tally Rix - tally@openairbusiness.com<br />
ADVERTISING SALES<br />
Marney Whyte - 01892 677743<br />
marney@openairbusiness.com<br />
David Hobden - 01892 677741<br />
david@openairbusiness.com<br />
ADMINISTRATOR<br />
Kirsty Farrow – 01892 677740<br />
kirsty@openairbusiness.com<br />
DESIGN<br />
James English -<br />
www.jamesenglishdesign.co.uk<br />
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Coffee Shop Media Ltd<br />
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Contents ISSUE <strong>64</strong> – 2024<br />
UP FRONT<br />
4 News<br />
7 Product News<br />
9 Entrepreneur’s<br />
Chat – Guy Cutler<br />
and Natasha Davies-<br />
Puddy, Fron Farm Yurt<br />
Retreat<br />
VENUES<br />
15 Chapel House Estate<br />
– “quiet, five-star<br />
luxury” in Kent<br />
20 Brand Review – is<br />
it time to consider a<br />
rebrand?<br />
22 Offsites – meeting<br />
demand for outdoor<br />
corporate get-togethers<br />
24 Infrastructure –<br />
products in action<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
29 Lydcott Glamping<br />
– an award-winning<br />
retreat with sea views<br />
in Cornwall<br />
34 Making Fire – a<br />
foolproof method for<br />
guests to follow<br />
37 Industry Legend –<br />
Jon Trelfa, Glampsan<br />
38 Infrastructure –<br />
products in action<br />
EVENTS<br />
43 Chilfest – celebrating<br />
retro music<br />
48 Dogs on the Job –<br />
using security dogs at<br />
festivals and events<br />
50 Branding for<br />
Festivals – core values<br />
and consistency sell<br />
tickets<br />
53 Infrastructure –<br />
products in action<br />
56 Spotlight<br />
57 Classifieds<br />
58 Behind the Scenes<br />
– Shauna O’brien,<br />
Wonderland Retreats<br />
Find more expert advice online:<br />
www.openairbusiness.com<br />
SUBSCRIBE<br />
ONLINE<br />
VENUES<br />
› Offsites<br />
GLAMPING<br />
› Making Fire<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Festival Branding<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
CASE STUDIES: CHAPEL HOUSE ESTATE • LYDCOTT GLAMPING • CHILFEST<br />
COVER PHOTO<br />
15m x 12m chino stretch tent from TentStyle at the<br />
Nyetimber Vineyard used for events, experience days<br />
and wine tasting. TentStyle also provides annual<br />
management of the structure. See more on page 24.<br />
01403 333135, enquiries@tentstyle.co.uk,<br />
www.tentstyle.co.uk Photo by Nyetimber/MDRN Love<br />
BUSINESS<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 3
77% of Corporate Bookers<br />
Prioritise Wellness<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
Labour Party Welcomed<br />
by Events Industry<br />
THE LABOUR Party’s victory in the UK<br />
general election has been welcomed by<br />
representatives from across the live events<br />
industry, reported industry magazine Access<br />
All Areas.<br />
Jon Collins CEO of LIVE, which represents<br />
15 associations across the live music<br />
industry, said: “We have grounds for real<br />
optimism with a Labour government, partly<br />
because of what they’ve said but also<br />
partly because of who said it. It hasn’t just<br />
been DCMS, it’s been Jonathan Reynolds<br />
at business, it’s been Rachel Reeves at<br />
Treasury, it’s been Keir Starmer who<br />
launched the Labour’s creatives manifesto<br />
– there are so many things in there that we<br />
like.”<br />
“Lower VAT on ticket sales is the primary<br />
ask from us for independent music festivals,”<br />
said Association of Independent Festivals<br />
(AIF) CEO John Rostron. “Our priority after<br />
that is to explore a festival tax credit –<br />
another fiscal model that could be the silver<br />
bullet for independent festivals.<br />
“The live music sector generated over<br />
£6 billion in 2023, with one gig held every<br />
four minutes, but this growth has not been<br />
uniformly experienced across the sector.<br />
It is critical that the incoming Labour<br />
government delivers on the Culture,<br />
Media, and Sport Select Committee’s<br />
recommendations for an urgent review of<br />
reintroducing a lower rate of VAT on live<br />
music tickets and finding other ways to<br />
support grassroots music.”<br />
A Greener Future (AGF) CEO, Claire O’Neill,<br />
said: “I am pleased and confident in what<br />
Labour can now deliver with their support<br />
for the creative industries and commitment<br />
to the green economy. This is especially seen<br />
in the case of green energy, where they have<br />
a 2030 target for 100% renewable energy on<br />
the grid. That is huge.”<br />
HAND PICKED HOTELS<br />
NEW RESEARCH has revealed that<br />
wellness facilities for delegates is<br />
now a priority for corporate bookers<br />
when selecting a venue for a meeting<br />
or conference. Research<br />
conducted by One Poll on<br />
behalf of Hand Picked<br />
Hotels revealed 77% of<br />
respondents, whose<br />
role is booking<br />
offsite meetings<br />
and events, stated<br />
wellness facilities<br />
are at the top of<br />
their priority list.<br />
Over three quarters<br />
of those surveyed<br />
stated the top five things<br />
planners look for include<br />
nutritious food and beverage offering<br />
(48%); a wellness walk (34%); a wellness<br />
experience such as breathing and<br />
relaxation techniques or yoga (25%);<br />
access to spas and health club facilities<br />
(24%); outdoors activity (19%).<br />
The study also revealed the prominence<br />
of shorter lead times, with 43% of<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
planners admitting to booking offsites<br />
between one and four weeks out from<br />
the meeting or event date and only 2%<br />
booking six months out.<br />
Planners cited the top three<br />
biggest benefits of breaking<br />
out to offsite meetings<br />
as being free from<br />
distractions (47%),<br />
heightened employee<br />
engagement (43%)<br />
and building better<br />
workplace relations<br />
(38%).<br />
Ian Cross, director<br />
of sales at Hand Picked<br />
Hotels, commented: “Postpandemic,<br />
we have seen an<br />
unprecedented surge in corporate<br />
bookings, with 60% of enquiries<br />
requesting to incorporate mindfulness<br />
and wellbeing elements in away day<br />
bookings. This research also supports the<br />
industry trend of more off-site meetings<br />
being organised now, compared to five<br />
years ago, which is incredibly promising<br />
for us and our industry colleagues.”<br />
4 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GALGORM<br />
Galgorm Invests £3m in new ‘Forest Dens’<br />
GALGORM, A spa and golf resort in Northern Ireland, has invested £3m into expanding<br />
its accommodation offering with the launch of its new Forest Dens. Set within 40 acres<br />
of private forest, each unit sleeps two and features a private sauna, wood-fired bath,<br />
outdoor shower, kitchenette, outdoor seating with heating, BBQ facilities and a fire pit.<br />
Galgorm also has 125 bedrooms, 41 cottage suites, 16 shepherd huts, six log cabins<br />
and four exclusive residences. The resort was named Best Destination Spa 2024 in the<br />
Conde Nast Johansens Awards and won six awards at the 2023 World Luxury Awards,<br />
including Global Award Winner for Best Luxury Spa Resort.<br />
Registration Opens for<br />
The Glamping Show<br />
VISITOR REGISTRATION has now opened<br />
for The Glamping Show 2024, the UK’s<br />
flagship business-to-business event for<br />
the glamping industry. The event is taking<br />
place from 19-21 September at Stoneleigh<br />
Park in Warwickshire. Tickets, which are<br />
free of charge, give visitors access to<br />
the extensive exhibition showcasing the<br />
latest products and services for glamping<br />
operators, as well as a programme of<br />
seminars designed to help sites maximise<br />
return on investment.<br />
Organiser Peter Rusbridge said: “2024 is<br />
an exciting time for the glamping industry.<br />
The Glamping Show is celebrating 10<br />
years as the UK’s only dedicated glamping<br />
industry event and promises to be better<br />
than ever before. In addition, talks<br />
are taking place to set up a glamping<br />
industry association in the UK, reflecting<br />
the growth in the industry over the last<br />
decade. And 2024 also sees the launch of a<br />
brand-new summit – Redefining Outdoor<br />
Hospitality – which is designed for larger<br />
operators and is taking place the day<br />
before the show in Kenilworth. We expect<br />
that most, if not all, summit attendees will<br />
then visit The Glamping Show the next<br />
day.” Visit www.theglampingshow.com to<br />
register.<br />
Equipment Recovery Success<br />
A NATIONAL poster campaign from Bakers Basco, with support<br />
from the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), has driven<br />
a 24% boost in recoveries of reusable plastic bread baskets and<br />
dolly equipment from festivals and events across the UK.<br />
The campaign, aimed at festival organisers and event caterers,<br />
launched in 2022 to raise awareness of the environmental impact<br />
of misplaced bakery equipment that often gets left behind on<br />
sites at the end of festivals and events, and as a result finds<br />
its way to landfill or is used for purposes for which it was not<br />
designed.<br />
Since the campaign launch, Bakers Basco’s national recovery<br />
team has collected 16,125 (+24%) baskets and dollies from<br />
various event locations, including music festivals, Cheltenham<br />
and York Racecourses, CGC Events in Leeds, and Hull Fair.<br />
Bakers Basco is a membership scheme set up by Allied<br />
Bakeries, Fine Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts & Sons, Hovis and<br />
Warburtons to provide and manage an industry-wide bakery<br />
equipment solution to transport bread safely and cost-effectively<br />
between bakers, retailers, event caterers and organisers. Yet<br />
often, intentionally or otherwise, the equipment is diverted out<br />
of the bakery logistics supply chain, which has a negative impact<br />
on the environment as these baskets are designed to be part of a<br />
circular economy.<br />
For anyone in the festival and events industry who comes<br />
across these baskets, please contact the Bakers Basco team,<br />
who are willing to arrange collections for free. You can report<br />
via the recovery helpline on 08000 327323, or email enquiries@<br />
bakersbasco.co.uk<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 5
19-21 SEPTEMBER 2024<br />
NAEC STONELEIGH PARK<br />
Realise your land’s potential<br />
at The Glamping Show!<br />
n 3 days<br />
n 100+ exhibitors<br />
n Expert seminars<br />
n Free admission<br />
Join the adventure and register now at theglampingshow.com<br />
6 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
PRODUCT<br />
Staying Ahead in a Competitive<br />
Market with Glamping Finance<br />
Coir Store Expands<br />
FOUNDED IN 2015 by Andy Huett, Coir<br />
Store has gone from strength to strength,<br />
delivering coir matting to thousands of<br />
customers throughout the UK, Europe,<br />
North America, Australia and even within<br />
the Arctic circle.<br />
Having built up a reputation for high<br />
quality products, great service and<br />
competitive pricing the demand has<br />
become too great for Andy to maintain<br />
quality of service on his own. Andy is<br />
excited and pleased to announce his new<br />
partnership with Patrick Toland. Pat is<br />
already established in the event sector<br />
with his company Coalesce Productions,<br />
providing a one-stop-shop to help elevate<br />
brands and consumer engagement.<br />
Together, Andy and Pat will maintain<br />
and build on the great service customers<br />
have come to expect from Coir Store. With<br />
a fresh pair eyes and input from Pat, the<br />
pair intend to elevate Coir Store to new<br />
heights, expanding its product range to<br />
meet current demand for the variety of<br />
customer requirements.<br />
All Coir Store products are made from<br />
100% natural coir fibre, and ethically<br />
produced by village cooperative mills.<br />
Whether you have a marquee hire, event<br />
or glamping company, take a look at the<br />
products Coir Store offers and find your<br />
ideal flooring solution.<br />
079836 14410, info@coirstore.co.uk,<br />
www,coirstore.co.uk<br />
PORTMAN FINANCE Group has been<br />
working with a wide variety of holiday<br />
parks, farms, and sites since 2020’s<br />
restricted travel spurred a sharp growth<br />
for camping and glamping experiences. To<br />
continue capitalising on this opportunity,<br />
sites will need to invest in equipment, the<br />
facilities they offer, and the uniqueness<br />
of their accommodation. As glamping has<br />
become more competitive, customers are<br />
looking for points of difference, whether<br />
that be unique accommodation, luxury<br />
facilities, or even gourmet meal options.<br />
Privacy and a great view are no longer just<br />
enough.<br />
Opting for finance means landowners<br />
can ease their financial burden while still<br />
making purchases, retaining their cashflow<br />
for operational expenses and unforeseen<br />
circumstances. As one of the UK’s largest<br />
brokers and lenders and a finance<br />
partner to many industry manufacturers,<br />
Portman has sourced funding for lodges,<br />
pods, and domes across the UK. It has<br />
helped spread the cost of everything from<br />
accommodation, to catering facilities, hot<br />
tubs, and playgrounds with specifically<br />
tailored glamping solutions and flexible<br />
finance options.<br />
Invest in state-of-the-art pods to elevate<br />
customer experience, spread costs over<br />
time, respond to evolving customer<br />
preferences, and protect your cashflow.<br />
Whatever stage your glamping site is at<br />
Portman Finance Group can support you,<br />
allowing you to adjust your offerings and<br />
stay ahead in the competitive market.<br />
01604 669359, apeeran@<br />
portmanfinancegroup.co.uk,<br />
www.portmanfinancegroup.co.uk/open-air<br />
TRUDOMES<br />
Second Hand Melux Buggies for Sale<br />
A GREAT business opportunity to purchase 16 Melex electric buggies which<br />
have been used on open golf courses and at Wimbledon. They have a great<br />
variety of uses and include two, six seaters (12 and 25 hours) and one, 295.1.<br />
Buggies are low mileage with tipping bodies, trash cages and tow bars.<br />
Also available are 13, 366s, all with rear tipping bodies and between 200 and<br />
900 miles on the clock. All have built in chargers and a range of 25-30 miles. Top<br />
speed 20mph.<br />
Buy one or buy them all, they all need to be sold. Some are road registered<br />
and all are perfect for leisure complexes or just as run-arounds. £5,000+vat.<br />
07968 225805, affordablediggers@gmail.com<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 7
Manufacturers of quality bespoke timber products since 2003<br />
UK's No:1<br />
Glamping Specialist<br />
Crafting luxury custom pods and garden<br />
rooms tailored to your space<br />
Designed and made in the UK<br />
Over 20 years in business<br />
Contact us now and we can help guide you through the whole<br />
process to create & manufacture your bespoke pods!<br />
info@lvtb.co.uk | 01524 572311<br />
www.lunevalleypods.co.uk<br />
PARTY PODS<br />
Our Party Pods are so popular and are now appearing all over the UK.<br />
So many uses including Pub/Restaurant Seating/Dining, Beer Gardens,<br />
Outdoor Entertaining or a quiet place to sit and relax.<br />
We also now offer a custom fitted PVC cover to enable<br />
all year-round use.<br />
Fully treated timber and built to last.<br />
Removable table. 4 and 6 seater models.<br />
01760 308730 | INFO@WOODWIZARDS.CO.UK<br />
WWW.WOODWIZARDS.CO.UK/PARTY-PODS<br />
8 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
PEOPLE<br />
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT<br />
Guy Cutler & Natasha<br />
Davies-Puddy<br />
Natasha Davies-Puddy explains the journey she and<br />
husband Guy have been on to develop Fron Farm<br />
while working full time, raising two children and<br />
establishing three successful businesses<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 9
PEOPLE<br />
“OUR FIRST PROJECT WAS TO SET UP A YURT<br />
GLAMPING SITE, FRON FARM YURT RETREAT,<br />
IN AN UNUSED SOUTH FACING FIELD ON THE<br />
FARM. WE APPLIED FOR PLANNING PERMISSION,<br />
AND THIS WAS EVENTUALLY GRANTED IN 2012”<br />
JIM ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Guy and I met in Guy’s hometown of Lancaster in<br />
2000 when I was at university. Guy was working as<br />
a sign maker and designer and I trained to become<br />
a secondary school teacher. Guy also took on the<br />
renovation of various buy to let properties. Running<br />
our own business was not something we had ever<br />
thought about, but after 10 years living in the North<br />
of England, and following a year travelling around the<br />
world, in 2007 we decided to move to my home farm,<br />
Fron Eglwys Fair, in Wales. This 50-acre organic smallholding is in<br />
West Carmarthenshire at the foothills of the Preseli Mountains. My<br />
parents, Cathy and Dave, had bought the farm seven years prior<br />
and were now nearing retirement. They offered us a wonderful<br />
opportunity to move back to the country and start a new life there.<br />
I took a job teaching in a local secondary school and Guy began to<br />
work on building on the dream my parents had for the farm.<br />
My parents always had the intention of renovating the redundant<br />
farm buildings into a retreat centre. With that being a long-term<br />
project which required hefty funding, we took their dream and<br />
made it our own reality with our own ideas. We decided that, with<br />
the glamping industry just starting to grow, that we would develop<br />
a glamping holiday space which required less financial input than<br />
renovating large barns.<br />
Our first project was to set up a yurt glamping site, Fron Farm Yurt<br />
Retreat, in an unused south facing field on the farm. We applied for<br />
planning permission, and this was eventually granted in 2012. We<br />
spent a year clearing trees, putting in drainage and landscaping the<br />
site where the yurts were to be situated. As we had decided that we<br />
wanted our accommodation to be handcrafted here on the farm, Guy<br />
took up the challenge of building our own bespoke units in order to<br />
give our guests a unique and special stay. I continued to teach until<br />
2021, and over the last 10 years Guy has been working to build up the<br />
site.<br />
A MANUFACTURING BUSINESS IN BORN<br />
We self-funded the builds and have re-invested what has been made<br />
back into the business in order to add new units and improve the<br />
original ones – it really has been a true labour of love. After a couple<br />
of years, and our first two yurts built and in the field, people started<br />
to enquire about purchasing yurts from us, and Guy’s manufacturing<br />
business Fron Farm Yurts Ltd was born. Being blessed with the space<br />
of a large agricultural building on the farm, Guy made this into his<br />
workshop. He is lucky to be able to build big structures not only for<br />
our own site but for others too. Initially he began manufacturing<br />
traditional Mongolian gers and bentwood yurts, however it soon<br />
became apparent that there was a call for developing year-round<br />
structures that are more suited to the British climate, and Fron Farm<br />
Roundhouses were brought onto the market. The beauty of running<br />
the glamping site alongside the manufacturing business is that we<br />
are constantly learning from our own experiences and improving<br />
our products, ensuring that we build units that are stunning and<br />
affordable, while being low maintenance.<br />
Fron Farm Yurts Ltd has grown into a very profitable business,<br />
with a steady flow of orders and lead times of around six months<br />
or more. We have purposely kept the business small with only four<br />
hardworking staff who manufacture luxury roundhouses, hybrid<br />
yurts and traditional yurts and gers for the glamping sector as well<br />
as for schools, garden studios, office spaces and cafes with clients<br />
ranging from start-up glamping sites to the likes of the Caravan<br />
and Motorhome Club. We believe, and have been told, that our<br />
roundhouses are unique with nothing else quite like them, or as<br />
competitive on the market.<br />
WEDDINGS IN A MEDIEVAL RELIC<br />
We never set out to run weddings, but when my parents bought<br />
10 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
PEOPLE<br />
the farm, it came with a ruined medieval church in the grounds.<br />
This building was totally derelict, but it gave us the inspiration to<br />
set up a wedding venue. In 2016, local builders started work to<br />
save the ancient building and return it to its original glory. This<br />
also supported our commitment to bringing out the beauty of<br />
natural building materials and using local craftmanship to create<br />
a simple yet elegant space, which mirrors the roundhouses made<br />
in our workshop. During the time the church was being renovated,<br />
Guy took on the job of building the large event yurts for weddings<br />
and, with the help of volunteers (for whom we are forever grateful)<br />
landscaping the disused land behind some of the farm buildings<br />
which was chosen for the wedding reception space.<br />
Our intention was only to have a small number of weddings a year<br />
as we don’t want to overwhelm our family home, so we applied for<br />
and were granted permission to hold 15 wedding celebrations per<br />
season, with couples being able to hold humanist ceremonies in our<br />
church with their guests making the most of the weekend staying in<br />
our glamping site.<br />
Fron Farm has become a much sought after festival-style wedding<br />
venue, as couples love the uniqueness of the rustic church, the<br />
handcrafted roundhouses and stunning outside spaces and gardens.<br />
FACTS AND FIGURES<br />
The initial funding for setting up the first two glamping units was<br />
from a small bank loan. With Guy doing the bulk of the building,<br />
and me doing all the admin and marketing, our costs were kept to a<br />
minimum. With my income from teaching, almost all profit from the<br />
businesses were re-invested so we could continue to grow and give<br />
our guests an even better experience. Every year a new project has<br />
been developed, from upgrading roundhouses, building communal<br />
dining areas and fire-pits, soundproofing wedding yurts, adding<br />
saunas and hot tubs, landscaping pathways and planting shrubs and<br />
flower beds to name but a few.<br />
Guests who return year on year comment on how the site has<br />
changed since the last time they visited and that it’s always exciting<br />
to see the changes. We often use feedback we are given about how<br />
things could be better and add that to our next proposed changes.<br />
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT<br />
We are immensely grateful to my parents for giving us the<br />
opportunity to develop the site on the farm which has enabled us to<br />
create our vision. Due to this, we did not have to find huge amounts<br />
of money at the start of our journey. The early years were pretty crazy<br />
as we were building the site while also bringing up a young family, so<br />
plenty of childcare help was needed from both sets of parents.<br />
The Welsh government also provided support from the outset,<br />
and we were fortunate to have a huge amount of help from Business<br />
Outdoor Toilets<br />
and Showers<br />
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 11
PEOPLE<br />
INSPIRE IMAGES<br />
Wales advisors. Business Wales offers advice in the form of online<br />
webinars, face to face advice, IT support, website design and<br />
optimisation, marketing and much more. Using our own knowledge,<br />
IT skills gained from teaching and support from Business Wales,<br />
we set about building the website, setting up our online presence<br />
and doing all the administration tasks for the businesses. As the<br />
businesses have grown, so have our skills, and as and when needed<br />
we’ve taken advice and help from the business support team<br />
through Business Wales.<br />
Open Air Business was invaluable in promoting our products in<br />
the early days of marketing as well as Kate Morel who gave us some<br />
key advice. Mainly, we have used our own initiative and skills to<br />
grow our businesses. In order to get the roundhouses on the market,<br />
we took a gamble and took a unit to the Farm Business Innovation<br />
Show. Although this was a costly event for us, we wanted to get<br />
our products and name noticed. This certainly paid off, as Guy was<br />
nominated and then placed in the top three for the Innovation Award<br />
and orders came on the back of the show.<br />
JIM ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
CHALLENGES<br />
The biggest challenge was trying to do everything all at once. In the<br />
last 14 years we have not only brought up two children, but we’ve<br />
also set up three successful businesses. I have been working full time<br />
teaching an hour away from the farm, and Guy has had to continue<br />
to ensure that the yurts and roundhouses are innovative and at the<br />
cutting edge of glamping and temporary structures.<br />
We get our inspiration from our own glamping and wedding venue;<br />
we know what works and what doesn’t, so we ensure that what we<br />
offer is the best it can be, and if it works for us, then it will work for<br />
others. We often get told that there’s no one else out there building<br />
roundhouses like ours at an affordable price, and this is what we<br />
endeavour to maintain. Guests to weddings and glamping can see<br />
the thought, dedication and eye to detail that have been put into<br />
the site as a whole. Careful planning and layout of units has been<br />
important in ensuring our glamping guests have the opportunity to<br />
gather and be together while also having their own private spaces.<br />
Our mantra in business and life is ‘dare to dream big and don’t<br />
be afraid to give things a go and learn from your mistakes’. In 2023,<br />
after 23 years of being together, we got married in our little church<br />
surrounded by our friends and family. It was such a joyous occasion<br />
to be able to share and enjoy the results of our dedication and hard<br />
work.<br />
Our proudest moments have to include being a finalist for the<br />
Innovation Award at the Farm Business Show and getting recognition<br />
from the Caravan and Motorhome Club through a large order for<br />
Fron Farm Yurts Ltd. We also featured as a glamping site showcased<br />
on the S4C Welsh Language television programme, Heno, as I am a<br />
Welsh speaker. And of course, our children, who have had to grow<br />
alongside our vision for the farm and businesses.<br />
We’re happy that the glamping, wedding and manufacturing<br />
businesses have been developed to the point we want them to be. In<br />
the next chapter, we will be embarking on fulfilling the initial vision<br />
of my parents, which was to renovate the redundant farm buildings<br />
into further accommodation and health facilities. This will be a longterm<br />
project, and maybe even one for the next generation of Fron<br />
Farmers.<br />
ADDRESS BOOK<br />
Fron Farm Yurt Retreat<br />
Fron Eglwys Fair<br />
Llanboidy<br />
Whitland<br />
Carmarthenshire SA34 0EU<br />
www.fronfarmyurts.co.uk / www.yurtsforsaleuk.co.uk<br />
12 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 13
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14 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
Chapel<br />
House Estate<br />
A venue offering “quiet five-star luxury founded in history”<br />
When did you start your venue<br />
business, and what is its history?<br />
Chapel House Estate launched as a<br />
wedding, events and accommodation<br />
venue in 2022. It gets its name from<br />
a medieval chapel at the farmstead’s<br />
centre and was previously called<br />
Thorne Farm.<br />
Darren Ellis purchased Chapel House<br />
Estate in 2021 and set about converting<br />
the old buildings. The Old Malt Granary<br />
has been transformed into an indoor<br />
ceremony venue, the piggery now<br />
functions as the lounge bar, and the<br />
stunning Thorne Barn, which now seats<br />
up to 150 for wedding breakfasts, was<br />
built on the foundation of the old cow<br />
shed.<br />
Tell us about your location and site<br />
We’re nestled between Ramsgate and<br />
Canterbury, a stone’s throw from the<br />
picturesque Viking coast. Situated<br />
amidst the rich historical tapestry of<br />
Thanet, this enchanting estate offers a<br />
truly idyllic setting for a wedding, event<br />
or stay.<br />
At the heart of Chapel House Estate<br />
is the chapel itself, a breathtaking<br />
“WE OFFER<br />
AN ARRAY<br />
OF ACCOM-<br />
MODATION,<br />
MAKING IT<br />
THE PERFECT<br />
WEDDING<br />
VENUE FOR<br />
COUPLES<br />
TRAVELLING<br />
FROM AFAR”<br />
structure boasting over 700 years<br />
of history. Privately owned for over<br />
a century, its existence remained a<br />
secret, even to the locals.<br />
What facilities for outdoor functions<br />
do you offer?<br />
Owner Darren’s dedication to<br />
preserving the farm’s essence shines<br />
through in every corner of the estate.<br />
A property developer but also a<br />
father, grandfather, dog and nature<br />
lover, Darren understands he is the<br />
custodian of a unique piece of history.<br />
Consequently, he has made it his<br />
mission to honour the estate while<br />
breathing new life into its spaces.<br />
In the heart of the Wild Apple<br />
Orchard now stands an oak-framed<br />
gazebo. This elegant structure provides<br />
a picturesque setting for weddings<br />
and is a focal point for seasonal<br />
transformations.<br />
We offer an array of accommodation,<br />
making it the perfect wedding venue<br />
for couples travelling from afar. With<br />
accommodation options for up to<br />
34 adults plus children, wedding<br />
celebrations can also be a luxury<br />
Blending seamlessly into<br />
the Kentish countryside,<br />
Chapel House Estate is a<br />
luxury, family-run wedding<br />
and events venue with a<br />
five star feel. We talk to<br />
local consultant and regular<br />
contributor Sam Lloyd about<br />
how she helped owner Darren<br />
Ellis create what is now a<br />
sizable and award-winning<br />
business.<br />
retreat for couples and their guests.<br />
Our accommodation options include<br />
self-contained lodges, Chapel Cottage,<br />
and Chapel House.<br />
Our nine Hideaway Lodges offer<br />
a haven of comfort and indulgence<br />
with modern amenities, including<br />
ensuite luxury bathrooms, sumptuous<br />
king-sized beds, televisions, and air<br />
conditioning. The floor-to-ceiling<br />
doors open onto a private veranda that<br />
takes in the West Paddock. Each of the<br />
Hideaway Lodges bears the name of a<br />
bird spotted on the Estate.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 15
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
MEGAN DONATI PHOTOGRAPH<br />
FLEUR CHALLIS PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
CHRISTOPHER KEMP<br />
There is also a tenth lodge that has<br />
been transformed into a dedicated<br />
beauty lodge, providing a lavish space<br />
for one of the partners to prepare with<br />
their wedding party for their special day<br />
in style.<br />
What services do you offer?<br />
We offer a diverse range of experiences,<br />
corporate meetings, events, incentives,<br />
and experiences (MICE). Our team is<br />
dedicated and highly experienced in<br />
event planning. We meticulously plan<br />
and execute every event to ensure its<br />
perfection. Additionally, we provide<br />
access to a comprehensive list of<br />
recommended suppliers to ensure<br />
that every detail of a wedding or<br />
event is taken care of. From florists to<br />
photographers, we've handpicked the<br />
best in the business to bring couples' or<br />
event organisers' visions to life.<br />
Regarding catering and hospitality,<br />
our talented head chef and his dedicated<br />
team focus on creating seasonal menus<br />
using locally sourced ingredients<br />
for weddings, events and the No 9<br />
Restaurant.<br />
The Estate has three distinctive bars,<br />
each with its own charm. The Lounge<br />
Bar (the previous piggery) is adjacent<br />
to the secluded Walled Courtyard,<br />
offers a cosy retreat, and is great for<br />
pre-dinner drinks. The Thorne Barn<br />
boasts a spacious main bar area for up<br />
to 200 guests for an informal gathering.<br />
The main bar is complemented by an<br />
additional private cocktail bar, perfect<br />
for intimate gatherings and exclusive<br />
soirées.<br />
Describe how you researched and<br />
sourced your structures<br />
When envisioning the transformation of<br />
Chapel House Estate from a residential<br />
home and farm into a prestigious luxury<br />
destination wedding and events venue,<br />
16 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
SHELBY-ELLIS-PHOTOGRAPHY THE CAPTURED PICTURE COMPANY<br />
our primary goal was to support and<br />
showcase the abundance of local talent<br />
and resources with our local community<br />
of Thanet and the wider county of Kent.<br />
Driven by a desire to create a truly<br />
immersive experience for couples and<br />
event organisers, our ambition was<br />
nothing short of creating a five-star<br />
luxury venue where every element,<br />
from décor to dining, was meticulously<br />
curated and conveniently located onsite.<br />
How do you work with your<br />
customers to make their event<br />
unique?<br />
We pride ourselves on crafting truly<br />
unique and personalised experiences<br />
for every one of our couples or event<br />
organisers. From the moment someone<br />
considers the estate for their wedding<br />
or event, we embark on a collaborative<br />
journey to bring their vision to life.<br />
We understand that no two weddings<br />
or events are alike, and every detail<br />
should be tailored to reflect individual<br />
tastes, preferences, and personalities.<br />
We ensure each client event is as<br />
unique as the couple or organisation by<br />
offering a bespoke quote right from the<br />
beginning rather than packaged deals<br />
– although these are available for lastminute<br />
events or specific events such as<br />
Twilight Weddings.<br />
We work closely with our couples and<br />
clients through open communication<br />
and attentive listening to understand<br />
their desires, dreams, and must-haves<br />
for their events. Whether it's a specific<br />
theme (we recently hosted a Jurassic<br />
Park-inspired wedding), cultural<br />
tradition, or personal touch, we strive to<br />
incorporate these elements seamlessly<br />
“RECOGNISING<br />
THE IMPOR-<br />
TANCE OF<br />
STANDING OUT<br />
AMIDST THE<br />
CROWD, WE<br />
EMBARKED ON<br />
A TARGETED<br />
APPROACH TO<br />
RAISE AWARE-<br />
NESS AMONG<br />
SUPPLIERS,<br />
LEVERAGING<br />
THE POWER OF<br />
SOCIAL MEDIA<br />
AS OUR INITIAL<br />
OUTREACH<br />
TOOL”<br />
SHELBY-ELLIS-PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
into the event design, décor, and overall<br />
experience.<br />
How do you publicise yourself?<br />
In a fiercely competitive landscape,<br />
where Kent is the county with the<br />
highest number of wedding venues<br />
and hosts a significant portion of UK<br />
weddings, our strategic positioning as<br />
a luxury wedding and events venue<br />
offering comprehensive services ‘under<br />
one roof’ became paramount.<br />
Recognising the importance of<br />
standing out amidst the crowd, we<br />
embarked on a targeted approach<br />
to raise awareness among suppliers,<br />
leveraging the power of social media<br />
as our initial outreach tool. This was<br />
complemented by an exclusive inviteonly<br />
launch party, providing a firsthand<br />
experience of our exceptional offerings.<br />
To connect with potential couples,<br />
especially in the post-covid era where<br />
virtual browsing has become the<br />
norm, we’ve strategically focused on<br />
captivating online ‘wedding venue<br />
window shopping.’ This involved<br />
securing prominent placement<br />
on leading wedding platforms like<br />
Bridebook and Hitched, initially using<br />
styled shoots to entice prospective<br />
clients. Additionally, we’ve strategically<br />
advertised in digital publications such<br />
as Your Kent Wedding and A Kentish<br />
Ceremony, ensuring our presence is felt<br />
within the local wedding community<br />
and beyond.<br />
We’ve also bolstered couples’<br />
confidence in our capacity to orchestrate<br />
their dream wedding by actively<br />
participating in and securing several<br />
prestigious awards within the industry,<br />
such as The Beautiful South, Best<br />
Wedding Venue in the South East of<br />
England<br />
How would you describe your style or<br />
unique selling point?<br />
At Chapel House Estate, our style can<br />
best be described as “quiet five-star<br />
luxury founded in history”.<br />
What challenges have you faced<br />
historically?<br />
Darren’s resilience was tested when the<br />
Chapel House Estate project launched<br />
amidst the lockdown. Escalating<br />
prices and the scarcity of materials<br />
became significant hurdles, resulting<br />
in additional delays and complexities.<br />
Despite these challenges, Darren and<br />
the growing team’s commitment to<br />
excellence and unwavering dedication<br />
enabled us to overcome obstacles and<br />
realise our vision.<br />
How large is your team? Any special<br />
people you’d like to mention?<br />
As Chapel House Estate transitioned<br />
from the building phase to the realm<br />
of managing weddings and events, the<br />
demands on our team have undergone a<br />
remarkable evolution.<br />
Initially comprised of a dedicated<br />
set-up team, the surge in event bookings<br />
has necessitated a significant expansion.<br />
We’ve recruited key personnel including<br />
a senior events manager, dedicated<br />
bar manager, head chef and a talented<br />
culinary team, including a pastry chef,<br />
and a full-time gardener.<br />
In parallel, we’ve bolstered our<br />
support infrastructure adding a PR and<br />
marketing manager, a social media<br />
expert, plus someone dedicated to the<br />
finances.<br />
Have you worked with any industry<br />
bodies or consultants?<br />
Having embarked on launching a<br />
wedding and events venue without<br />
experience, Darren partnered with<br />
myself – a local wedding consultant.<br />
I have been able to provide industry<br />
insights, strategic marketing initiatives.<br />
connections and collaborations with<br />
suppliers, crisis management and<br />
support, and operational efficiency<br />
through streamlining.<br />
What are your plans for next season?<br />
In addition to catering to the wedding<br />
market, we are targeting businesses<br />
for corporate events and networking<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 17
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
THE MODERN REVELRY<br />
THE MODERN REVELRY<br />
opportunities. This expansion will<br />
broaden our horizons, allow us to<br />
tap into new revenue streams, and<br />
foster valuable connections within the<br />
corporate sector.<br />
Furthermore, we are committed<br />
to sustainability and environmental<br />
stewardship. As part of our<br />
ongoing plans, we have initiated a<br />
comprehensive program to record and<br />
monitor our carbon footprint.<br />
What do you enjoy about the<br />
business and why?<br />
In essence, what we love most about<br />
working in the wedding industry is the<br />
opportunity to play a meaningful role<br />
in the stories of love and celebration<br />
that unfold. From the initial booking<br />
to the jubilant cheers that fill the air<br />
as the newlyweds seal their vows,<br />
each milestone is a testament to the<br />
profound privilege of being entrusted<br />
with the most cherished moments in<br />
our clients' lives.<br />
What other outdoor hospitality<br />
sectors do you operate in?<br />
In addition to the onsite<br />
accommodation, couples can organise<br />
additional glamping, and we are<br />
planning our first outdoor cinema.<br />
What are you most proud of?<br />
As a newly established wedding and<br />
events venue, picking a moment<br />
we’re most proud of isn't easy.<br />
However, we recently began working<br />
with Nik Mitchell towards our goal of<br />
maintaining a hospitality business<br />
that achieves 5-star ratings while also<br />
implementing eco-friendly practices,<br />
reducing waste, and supporting local<br />
wildlife, which is a source of great pride<br />
for all of us.<br />
TOM CAWDRON<br />
“WORKING<br />
WITH SOME-<br />
ONE WHO<br />
CAN HELP<br />
FAST-TRACK<br />
YOUR<br />
BUSINESS<br />
CAN HELP<br />
YOU RE-<br />
SEARCH<br />
YOUR<br />
TARGET<br />
MARKET<br />
THOROUGH-<br />
LY TO ALIGN<br />
YOUR VENUE<br />
WITH YOUR<br />
COUPLES’<br />
NEEDS AND<br />
PREFERENC-<br />
ES”<br />
In addition, we are honoured to<br />
receive recognition and accolades<br />
within the wedding and events<br />
industry and to be interviewed by<br />
Open Air Business! It means we are<br />
starting to be noticed by a wider<br />
audience. Thank you.<br />
What advice could you give to<br />
someone coming into the industry?<br />
Opening a new wedding and events<br />
venue is thrilling but challenging.<br />
Here's some advice if you are about to<br />
embark on opening a new venue.<br />
Working with someone who can help<br />
fast-track your business can help you<br />
research your target market thoroughly<br />
to align your venue with your couples’<br />
needs and preferences. Choose a<br />
location that’s easily accessible,<br />
visually appealing and has something<br />
special at its heart. Offer a unique<br />
experience to stand out, whether<br />
through architecture, scenery, or your<br />
service. Forge strong relationships with<br />
reliable vendors. Prioritise exceptional<br />
customer service to build a positive<br />
reputation and encourage word-ofmouth<br />
business. Stay adaptable to<br />
industry trends and feedback from<br />
clients<br />
ADDRESS BOOK<br />
GAZEBO & GATES<br />
Swiftoak<br />
DIRECTORIES<br />
Bridebook.com<br />
Hitched.co.uk<br />
Your Kent Wedding<br />
www.yourkent.wedding<br />
A Kentish Ceremony<br />
www.akentishceremony.com<br />
CONSULTANCY<br />
The Wedding Owl<br />
www.theweddingowl.com<br />
SIGNAGE<br />
Premier Signs<br />
www.premiersigns-kent.co.uk<br />
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE<br />
Sonas Wedding and Events<br />
www.sonas.events<br />
DETAILS<br />
Chapel House Estate<br />
Thorne Hill<br />
Minster<br />
Ramsgate<br />
Kent CT12 5DS<br />
www.chapelhouseestate.co.uk<br />
18 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
ISSUE 51 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
ISSUE 52 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
BUSINESS<br />
ISSUE 46 | October/November 2021 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
BUSINESS<br />
BESPOKE GLAMPING<br />
ISSUE 49 | March/April 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
EVENT STRUCTURES<br />
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
› Bars & Catering<br />
› Outdoor Ceremonies<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Compost Toilets<br />
› Booking Systems<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Seeing Red<br />
› Total Immersion<br />
BUSINESS<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
› Sharing Snaps<br />
› Kitchen Efficiencies<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Architects<br />
› Natural Pools<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Green Hydrogen<br />
› Tent Waste<br />
GLAMPING<br />
SHOW<br />
PREVIEW<br />
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
› Accommodation<br />
› Eco Marketing<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Research<br />
› Sewage Strategy<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Stage Build<br />
› Ticketing<br />
BUSINESS<br />
FUNCTION<br />
VENUES<br />
› Pricing<br />
› Websites<br />
GLAMPSITES<br />
› Business Rates<br />
› Building Regulations<br />
EVENTS<br />
› Reusable Cups<br />
› Festival Costs<br />
ISSUE 53 | 2022 | www.openairbusiness.com<br />
STRUCTURES<br />
ENTREPRENEUR’S CHAT<br />
Tim Bowles -Campwell<br />
BUSINESS<br />
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
/ /<br />
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CASE STUDIES:<br />
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SYCHPWLL CENTRE • BROOK FARM SHEPHERD HUTS • IRLAM LIVE<br />
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CASE STUDIES:<br />
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FUNCTION VENUES<br />
Offsites<br />
Darren Swayne has built a thriving business around offsite<br />
get-togethers for corporates in which demand has surged<br />
THE MARKET for offsites and team-building<br />
events has been incredibly strong over<br />
recent years. Covid has changed working<br />
practices everywhere, and we believe the<br />
structural demand for internal corporate<br />
events has grown significantly.<br />
When I founded Elsewhere in 2012, I found<br />
that a number of the creative industries<br />
looked for annual events with us. The<br />
vast majority of clients saw these types of<br />
events as a treat or celebration (or ad-hoc<br />
business need) rather than something<br />
more permanent. Fast forward to 2024 and<br />
the offsites, away days, team-building and<br />
internal conference market is seen as a vital<br />
way to bring teams physically together,<br />
share information, bond as a unit and fire<br />
teams up for the future. Clients range across<br />
all sectors, and these events are seen as very<br />
important for building culture.<br />
Firms that previously didn’t see the need<br />
for an offsite are now reconsidering, and a<br />
number of our clients are telling us that they<br />
are now looking to increase their events to<br />
two a year from their previous annual gettogethers.<br />
The common denominator across all<br />
Elsewhere clients is that everyone is looking<br />
for 'different'. The same old, same old<br />
corporate hotels and spaces market no<br />
longer wins by default. Being functional is<br />
no longer good enough. Clients are looking<br />
for some X-factor, some magic, a place that<br />
creates the backdrop to really motivate and<br />
get everyone excited about the future ahead.<br />
Outdoor summer events are a huge<br />
component in meeting the demand for<br />
different and unusual corporate events. With<br />
a thriving festival scene in the UK, very little<br />
education is needed to sell-in the benefits of<br />
a corporate having their own festival-style<br />
event.<br />
As a specialist in this area, we have spent<br />
12 years building out our distribution. The<br />
venues and events industry is extremely<br />
fragmented and the most challenging part<br />
for an event booker is to know of a venue’s<br />
existence. From our experience, clients are<br />
looking for a clean corporate story, and this<br />
can often get lost on venue websites that can<br />
cover everything from weddings to wakes.<br />
It became apparent to us very quickly<br />
that clients are looking for an experience,<br />
rather than space. In a market geared up<br />
to selling spaces, this required a change<br />
in narrative. The right venues and spaces<br />
are vital for hosting the events, and it’s the<br />
event that clients are looking for. We think<br />
of it like going to the theatre – the theatre<br />
is important but the play is what you go<br />
for. The play and the theatre co-exist, hand<br />
in glove, to produce one fully packaged<br />
product. This is what people actually want,<br />
rather than having to piece it all together<br />
themselves and reinvent the wheel.<br />
We believe that the event organiser<br />
needs to understand what business needs<br />
clients are trying to address with their event.<br />
Essentially what’s the big idea behind it all?<br />
Of course, the industry usually starts the<br />
other way around and builds up a picture<br />
of what can happen in the location. We<br />
believe that this is a huge opportunity to<br />
differentiate and have more meaningful<br />
conversations with clients.<br />
EXTRA ELEMENTS<br />
On top of amazing, unusual places and<br />
wonderful food, the extra elements that<br />
business customers require are best-inclass<br />
audio/video, staging, corporate event<br />
management and team-building know-how.<br />
These are very specific needs for corporates,<br />
and we think the ability to speak their<br />
language and understand business needs is<br />
vital.<br />
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FUNCTION VENUES<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
The flexibility<br />
that business needs is a<br />
big differentiator. While a lot of clients have<br />
internal event organisers, most don’t. They<br />
have day jobs to do whilst at the same time<br />
co-ordinating their big event. They need to<br />
be walked through it all and, at the same<br />
time, reassured that they don’t need to have<br />
all of the answers straight away.<br />
While the event organiser and venue don’t<br />
always have to be the same firm, we believe<br />
that control is key. In our world, without<br />
control you are merely re-selling another<br />
person’s product, which is only ever good to<br />
a point. It’s the control of the narrative and<br />
execution that allows for consistency and a<br />
truly reliable track record.<br />
We’re all about the experience, and as<br />
corporate specialists, we’re here to help<br />
firms maximise their time together. We<br />
know the hospitality industry doesn’t think<br />
like that, and<br />
that’s why we built<br />
Elsewhere and have been<br />
growing swiftly since 2012.<br />
The keywords for us are flexibility,<br />
responsiveness and detail. Clients’ needs<br />
evolve and people can be hard to pin down.<br />
The broad-brush strokes are normally there<br />
early on, but lots of essential details can<br />
arrive days prior to the event. This is a big<br />
challenge as so many venues we have seen<br />
over the years try and impose the same type<br />
of processes that they use for weddings and<br />
other events onto their business clients. It<br />
simply doesn’t work and leads to frustration<br />
on both sides.<br />
We offer a selection of venues, and<br />
everything is within two hours of London,<br />
which is our point and focus. Events range<br />
from small working sessions with five people<br />
all the way to larger scale 200-400 people<br />
multi-day annual events<br />
Hill House<br />
Elsewhere all started at Hill House,<br />
an incredible Tudor Manor with six<br />
acres of grounds that my wife, Juliette,<br />
and I restored. Hill House was being<br />
rented out through an agent and I<br />
wanted to focus much more on the<br />
client experience, bringing a creative<br />
overlay and high level of service to an<br />
incredible building.<br />
From 2010 to 2012, revenues<br />
at Hill House tripled and more<br />
importantly, the client feedback was<br />
extremely strong, which pushed us<br />
to think bigger about the project.<br />
Extraordinary escapism was born, and<br />
we’re proud of what we are bringing to<br />
the party.<br />
ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
Elsewhere was created<br />
in 2012 to take forward a<br />
mission of making life more<br />
extraordinary with the core<br />
belief that experiences with<br />
friends, family, and colleagues<br />
are everything. Darren Swayne<br />
founded and runs Elsewhere and spends<br />
most of his time working on new client<br />
wins, strategy and creative.<br />
www.elsewhere-offsites.com<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 21
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
Brand Review<br />
Is it time to consider rebranding your wedding business? asks Sam Lloyd<br />
A WEDDING enables couples the unique<br />
opportunity to show their nearest and<br />
dearest and now, through social media,<br />
the world, their style, personalities and<br />
what is important to them.<br />
Recently engaged couples are therefore<br />
on the hunt for inspiring websites, blogs,<br />
trend reports, Pinterest and Instagram<br />
feeds, etc. Therefore, the majority of<br />
couples want to work with creative<br />
wedding vendors and a venue that excites,<br />
inspires and helps them to realise their<br />
dreams and aspirations.<br />
You might feel strongly that your<br />
wedding business is thriving – after all,<br />
you are busy. However, I might point out<br />
that while it is all well and good to be busy<br />
now, this is with couples who booked (say)<br />
18 months ago.<br />
You might not be giving yourself an<br />
opportunity, over the year or even years,<br />
to keep your brand fresh or up-to-date.<br />
And, without even realising it, your brand<br />
may no longer reflect how your business<br />
has evolved. It may no longer be appealing<br />
“MAINTAINING A STRONG<br />
BRAND IS ABOUT STAYING<br />
RELEVANT. THERE IS NO<br />
BAD TIME TO REBRAND, AND<br />
YOU SHOULD BE THINKING<br />
ABOUT IT ALL OF THE TIME”<br />
to potential couples booking now for<br />
the future and could be hindering your<br />
business growth. As a consequence, you<br />
might already be losing sales.<br />
A rebrand can represent the next<br />
chapter in the development of your<br />
wedding business and can be necessary if<br />
your brand:<br />
› no longer reflects your recent work, your<br />
ideal couples and the wedding venues<br />
you work at<br />
› no longer represents the size and nature<br />
of your business<br />
› looks similar to your competitors – this<br />
can be extremely confusing for your<br />
couples, so it is something you want<br />
to consider addressing immediately to<br />
differentiate your business<br />
› is something couples don’t feel<br />
comfortable sharing – they may love<br />
your work but not your website! You<br />
need to ensure that they feel proud to<br />
share your details.<br />
When is the right time to rebrand your<br />
wedding business?<br />
Maintaining a strong brand is about<br />
staying relevant. There is no bad time<br />
to rebrand, and you should be thinking<br />
about it all of the time. However, I always<br />
advise my clients to avoid undertaking<br />
a rebranding exercise during their peak<br />
seasons, which for a wedding venue,<br />
occurs twice:<br />
› January to the end of March, peak<br />
selling season<br />
› April to the middle of October and<br />
December, peak wedding season.<br />
I advise my clients to work on their<br />
rebranding, ideally over October and<br />
22 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
November with a launch in December,<br />
ready for the start of the new year<br />
engagement season. That way your<br />
beloved company has a well-deserved revamp<br />
or rebrand ready for the start of the<br />
selling and delivery seasons.<br />
What should a rebrand include?<br />
A rebrand of your wedding business can<br />
include your logo, your social media<br />
pages, website, leaflets, brochures,<br />
advertisements and newsletters. These<br />
are the physical representations of your<br />
brand, and their goal is to help you to<br />
create an identity for your company that<br />
appeals to your target couples. It is your<br />
collateral that needs to convey positivity<br />
and generate an emotional connection<br />
with your target audience.<br />
The three top tips I give to all my<br />
wedding vendors and venue clients is<br />
to pour your heart and soul into your<br />
rebranding exercise. It’s time to soulsearch<br />
what is important to you going<br />
forward, which inevitably can take time.<br />
Reviewing your brand helps you make sure<br />
that your public face is future-proofed,<br />
so it’s not likely to be an easy task. A<br />
rebrand of your whole collateral might, for<br />
instance, include:<br />
› a change of colour, to stay current and<br />
on-trend or perhaps reflect that you are<br />
concerned about the environment?<br />
› a change of typeface to appear more<br />
authoritative, luxurious or fun, for<br />
instance<br />
› changing your tagline<br />
› rethinking the wording or images on<br />
your website<br />
› updating your reviews to capture the<br />
very essence of your brand<br />
› rethinking your brochure – its shape,<br />
number of pages, layout and the paper<br />
stock you select can say so much about<br />
your business.<br />
Be sincere when rebranding. You need<br />
to think about the type of relationship<br />
you want to build with your potential<br />
wedding couples. You should consider,<br />
within the world of weddings, most<br />
couples will only work with you once, so<br />
it’s important that your brand:<br />
› is sincere, consistent, honest and<br />
relevant, or you could be wasting your<br />
and the couple’s time and leave them<br />
feeling disappointed after your wedding<br />
consultation meeting<br />
› represents the couple's values<br />
and beliefs and how they want to<br />
differentiate their wedding day<br />
› reflects what you want to deliver –<br />
otherwise you could end up holding<br />
stock that you sourced for that one<br />
wedding, that you would never share on<br />
social media as it’s ‘not you!’<br />
Finally, I recommend that all my clients<br />
consider the risks associated with change.<br />
Rebranding can be expensive. Work out<br />
in advance what you need to change and<br />
prioritise based on what is ‘dragging your<br />
brand down’.<br />
How do you get started on a rebrand for<br />
my wedding business?<br />
A good starting point is to revisit your<br />
couples' feedback and reviews – they<br />
might use words to describe you and your<br />
product that really capture the essence of<br />
what you deliver. Ultimately, the power<br />
of a brand lies in the minds of couples, in<br />
what they have experienced and learnt<br />
whilst working with you. Tapping into the<br />
couples’ perceptions and beliefs often<br />
uncovers the true meaning of ‘your’ brand.<br />
Once the analysis is complete, I<br />
recommend that my clients identify five<br />
words that best describe how they want<br />
their company to be portrayed, which can<br />
also help to deliver a new tagline.<br />
A note of caution<br />
when rebranding your<br />
wedding business!<br />
Remember, the look and feel of<br />
your refreshed or new brand is not<br />
going to appeal to everyone, but<br />
that’s ok. You only want to appeal to<br />
those couples who are going to fall<br />
in love with what you do and who<br />
feel a strong connection with you.<br />
And if you are a supplier working<br />
at a venue, for instance, a rebrand<br />
could lead to you becoming one of<br />
their recommended suppliers as<br />
your brand now dovetails nicely<br />
with theirs.<br />
So, just like a good marriage,<br />
consistently give your brand<br />
the love and attention it needs.<br />
Be proud and reflect on how<br />
your company is evolving and<br />
developing, or you might just fall<br />
out of love with your image!<br />
ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
Based in Kent, Sam<br />
Lloyd is a well-connected<br />
wedding venue and<br />
vendor consultant and<br />
founder of The Wedding<br />
Owl. 07957218340, info@<br />
theweddingowl.com,<br />
www.theweddingowl.com<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 23
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
PRODUCT IN FOCUS<br />
Infrastructure<br />
Nyetimber Vineyard<br />
Product: 15m x 12m stretch tent with annual management<br />
Supplier: TentStyle, 01403 333135, enquiries@tentstyle.<br />
co.uk, www.tentstyle.co.uk<br />
Details: Nyetimber Vineyards share similar characteristics<br />
with the best sparkling wine vineyards in the world. They<br />
approached TentStyle in 2018 and were recommended a<br />
15m x 12m chino stretch tent – the ideal size for the size for<br />
the events they would be hosting. The tent is used for wine<br />
tasting and experience days – the experience around the<br />
vineyard culminates under the tent with lunch and wine<br />
tasting. Not only is it a stunning feature, it is a functional<br />
space to dine within the vines.<br />
NYETIMBER/MDRN LOVE<br />
NYETIMBER/MDRN LOVE<br />
Luxury Bell Tent Hire for Weddings and Events<br />
Wild Hare Events<br />
07855 229568<br />
info@wildhareevents.com<br />
www.wildhareevents.com<br />
Wild Hare Events is a luxury bell tent hire company established in 2014.<br />
Although based in Somerset, we work across the whole of the UK. We are<br />
proud to be the largest supplier of luxury Lotus Belle tents in the country.<br />
We specialise in providing a boutique camping experience at the UK’s<br />
finest festivals. We also provide accommodation for bespoke, private events<br />
including weddings, parties and corporate events.<br />
Our tents come fully furnished with solid single or king-sized beds with<br />
memory foam toppers, winter duvets and pillows, cotton bed linen and<br />
handmade Indian throws. Along with tables and chairs, lighting, door mats,<br />
cushions and carpets, mineral water, and other lovely touches, they are<br />
guaranteed to be the talking point of any event!<br />
24 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
The Old Rectory at Whitewell<br />
Product: Two handcrafted shepherd huts<br />
Supplier: Cheshire Huts, 07967753289,<br />
cheshirehuts@gmail.com, www.cheshire-huts.co.uk<br />
Details: The Old Rectory is a timeless luxury home<br />
that offering weddings and accommodation for large<br />
parties.<br />
Cheshire Huts conceptualised and crafted two<br />
versatile shepherd huts, uniquely designed to serve a<br />
dual function as both a therapy room and a bedroom.<br />
The structures include a well-equipped kitchenette<br />
and comfortably accommodates two individuals,<br />
featuring two retractable king-sized beds that can<br />
be neatly tucked against the wall. This space-saving<br />
solution allows the area to transform seamlessly<br />
for therapy sessions, massages and other uses. The<br />
thoughtful design ensures that the shepherd hut not<br />
only provides a cozy and stylish sleeping space but<br />
also offers a flexible environment adaptable to<br />
various purposes, making it a distinctive and<br />
functional addition to any setting.<br />
Feedback: Clients were notably impressed<br />
by Cheshire Huts’ ability to tailor the<br />
therapy rooms/bedrooms to their specific<br />
needs. The attention to detail and the<br />
seamless integration of these spaces<br />
into the wedding venue garnered praise.<br />
Guests appreciated the unique combination<br />
of functionality and luxury, describing the<br />
addition as a highlight of their experience.<br />
Party Pods for Four or Six<br />
Wood Wizards<br />
01760 308730<br />
info@woodwizards.co.uk<br />
www.woodwizards.co.uk/party-pods<br />
Our Party Pods are proving very popular and are appearing all over<br />
the UK. There variety of uses include pub/restaurant seating/dining,<br />
in beer gardens, for outdoor entertaining or a quiet place to just sit<br />
and relax. We also now offer a custom fitted PVC cover to enable<br />
year-round use.<br />
Our Party Pods and Garden Pods are manufactured using fully<br />
treated timber and are built to last. Each pod comes with a sturdy<br />
floor frame which sits on its own bearers to allow airflow underneath<br />
the structure. Each pod is fitted with thick decking boards and the<br />
bearers underneath are fixed at 400mm centres to make a strong and<br />
sturdy floor with no bounce or flex.<br />
All of the frame components are cut using a CNC machine for<br />
precision and all pieces are rounded off and sanded to remove any<br />
sharp edges. Party Pods are available in four and six seat models with<br />
removable tables.<br />
Our Garden Pods do not feature seats or a table and are a nice<br />
alternative if you wish to add your own personal touch. Our Garden<br />
Pods have been used as BBQ huts, bistro table seating areas and<br />
even fishing shelters sat around a lake. There are lots of possibilities.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 25
FUNCTION VENUES<br />
New British Tipi Manufacturer<br />
Crafted Canvas<br />
07403 417524<br />
info@crafted-canvas.co.uk<br />
www.crafted-canvas.co.uk<br />
Tipi professionals Brett Jackson and Bronte Hall are excited<br />
announce the launch of their new tipi manufacturing<br />
business, Crafted Canvas. Brett and Bronte have many years<br />
of tipi and tent experience, running two leading tipi hire<br />
businesses, Garden Weddings and Boutipi along with their<br />
flagship wedding venue Skipbridge Country Weddings,<br />
which in 2021 was awarded UK’s Best Wedding Venue.<br />
This month Bronte has also been nominated to join the<br />
MUTA executive board, so it's safe to say this power couple<br />
know a thing or two about tents!<br />
Crafted Canvas was born out of frustration with the<br />
current tipi products available within the event structure<br />
market. Tents and events is all Brett and Bronte have ever<br />
known, and after years of working in the tipi hire industry<br />
they found themselves getting more and more frustrated<br />
with the current products on the market. This led them<br />
to develop their own way of doing things and so Crafted<br />
Canvas was born.<br />
As a company, Crafted Canvas prides itself on delivering<br />
high quality products for the rental and longer-term<br />
structure market. All woodwork is sourced from UK<br />
forests and industry leading coated Campshield is<br />
used as standard for durability. Crafted Canvas<br />
products are also interchangeable with the<br />
existing tipi brands on the market.<br />
Cube Sauna<br />
Woodpecker Creations<br />
07435 866929<br />
info@woodpeckertubs.co.uk<br />
www.woodpeckertubs.co.uk<br />
With every one of our product ranges, we are always looking to<br />
enhance the offerings available to our customers, whether that be in<br />
the hot tub, sauna or accommodation unit range. Importantly, we are<br />
able to design, create and develop bespoke, handcrafted products<br />
that benefit you, with you at the start and the end of our journey!<br />
We’d like to talk about one of our latest creations, one that will<br />
benefit any venue or site setting – the Cube sauna. Sleek in design and<br />
wonderfully spacious inside, it enables visitors to relax while taking in<br />
the views<br />
26 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
Handcrafted cabins and lodges<br />
Bakland half page ad_REPRO OUTLINED.indd 1 05/04/2024 13:2<br />
Stunning<br />
tents for<br />
stunning events!<br />
WE LOVE STRETCH TENTS!<br />
Years of experience, passion and<br />
enthusiasm to get what you want from<br />
your event. Sales, full installation<br />
and custom design services.<br />
t: 01920 830256 e: info@alternative-stretch.co.uk<br />
w: www.alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk<br />
@alternative_stretch_tents<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 27
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https://shop.glampsan.com/<br />
Here to support you<br />
Book https://bit.ly/49wHiHv<br />
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28 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
Lydcott Glamping<br />
Emma and Rich Liddle and<br />
their three children moved<br />
to Cornwall in pursuit of<br />
a quieter life by the sea.<br />
Leaving their corporate<br />
lives behind, they turned<br />
a derelict farmhouse and<br />
bramble-covered field into<br />
a family home and awardwinning<br />
rural retreat with<br />
sea views. We speak to<br />
Emma.<br />
What’s your back story – your life<br />
before glamping?<br />
We moved here from<br />
Buckinghamshire to escape the<br />
rat race. I had been working in<br />
big marketing agencies looking<br />
after large corporate clients and<br />
Rich was running a consultancy<br />
business for 5* resorts all around<br />
the world. We dreamed of a<br />
less frantic life where we could<br />
bring the kids up with space and<br />
freedom and live by the sea. We<br />
moved to Lydcott Farm in South<br />
East Cornwall in 2015 with three<br />
young children (aged 3 months,<br />
5 and 6) and a dog. We now have<br />
three slightly older children, four<br />
dogs and countless chickens – and<br />
our little glamping business. All of<br />
which keep us busy but happy.<br />
What made you decide to<br />
start offering glamping<br />
accommodation?<br />
We wanted to be able to make<br />
a living from home so that we<br />
could pay the bills and have the<br />
work-life balance we came to<br />
“OUR SEA<br />
VIEWS ARE<br />
SO AMAZING<br />
THAT IT<br />
FELT LIKE<br />
THE RIGHT<br />
THING TO DO<br />
TO SHARE<br />
THEM WITH<br />
OTHERS,<br />
AND WE<br />
HOPE THAT<br />
GUESTS WILL<br />
LOVE OUR<br />
LOCATION AS<br />
MUCH AS WE<br />
DO”<br />
Cornwall for. Originally, the plan<br />
was to convert the garage into<br />
a holiday let, but instead, we<br />
decided it would be cheaper to do<br />
something with the field - and use<br />
the garage as a garage (it is now<br />
completely full of Rich's tools!).<br />
We did most of the work on the<br />
farmhouse ourselves, with Delphi<br />
as a 3-month-old baby and the<br />
two boys aged 5 and 6 in tow; we<br />
then opened Lydcott Glamping in<br />
February 2019 with two cabins (The<br />
Pasty and Prosecco) and added<br />
The Pilchard cabin later that year.<br />
Rich continued with his consultant<br />
job, which meant he was away a<br />
lot, sometimes for 1-2 weeks at a<br />
time. We therefore wanted to do<br />
something that we could make<br />
work around our very busy lives,<br />
with me running the business<br />
but with the longer-term aim of<br />
working together in the future. Our<br />
sea views are so amazing that it felt<br />
like the right thing to do to share<br />
them with others, and we hope<br />
that guests will love our location as<br />
much as we do.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 29
GLAMPSITES<br />
How did you research the<br />
business before entering it?<br />
We wanted to do something<br />
unique - we loved the idea of<br />
luxury glamping but at the same<br />
time surrounded by nature and<br />
were initially looking at shepherd<br />
huts (even looked at building our<br />
own) before everyone seemed<br />
to start doing that - so when we<br />
found our gorgeous Estonian built<br />
cabins, we fell in love and knew<br />
straight away they were perfect<br />
for us.<br />
Tell us about your location<br />
and site.<br />
We are located rurally, just above<br />
the Seaton valley. Our site is on a<br />
slight incline, which means that all<br />
our cabins enjoy the stunning farreaching<br />
views across the valley<br />
and out to sea. On a clear day, you<br />
can see The Eddystone Lighthouse<br />
on the horizon.<br />
Aside from the incredible<br />
views and the beautiful and<br />
unique aesthetics of the cabins<br />
themselves, we are lucky to be<br />
surrounded by nature, so our<br />
guests can enjoy the wildlife on<br />
site (birds, hedgehogs, and all the<br />
field mice and voles that live in the<br />
wildflower areas of the glamping<br />
field). We’ve also recently dug a<br />
wildlife pond which is attracting<br />
lots more wildlife including frogs,<br />
dragonflies and damselflies.<br />
We pride ourselves on our<br />
uniquely fastidious customer<br />
service and live by the mantra<br />
‘nothing is too much trouble’.<br />
We’ve recently installed an<br />
outdoor hot and cold tub in the<br />
secret garden area that comes with<br />
one of our cabins, ‘Dreckly’.<br />
Children and pets are treated<br />
just as much as VIPs as their<br />
owners!<br />
We operate the site entirely<br />
by ourselves, which means<br />
when the site is full, there is very<br />
little downtime - although, as a<br />
seasonal tourism business, that is<br />
certainly not a complaint. Initially,<br />
we had the site on mains water,<br />
but after a few scarily huge water<br />
bills, we decided to reinstate the<br />
old well, which is fed by an aquifer.<br />
This means we now have fresh<br />
spring water at the farmhouse and<br />
in every cabin.<br />
How did you tackle getting<br />
planning?<br />
We basically just went through<br />
the standard process. Both of<br />
us were working full time in our<br />
desk jobs, so thankfully we were<br />
able to survive while applying for<br />
planning. We really tried to work<br />
with the local community and the<br />
30 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
parish council to ensure that we<br />
were aware of any concerns and<br />
addressed them in advance before<br />
anything became a problem.<br />
How did you finance the project?<br />
We financed the project by saving<br />
really hard, doing everything we<br />
could ourselves without getting<br />
external contractors in, and with<br />
some help from an inheritance.<br />
We benefitted from a grant to<br />
reinstate the well in 2021.<br />
What glamping accommodation<br />
do you offer?<br />
We offer a mixture of seven<br />
beautiful spruce-clad cabins<br />
that range from sleeping two to<br />
six people. We chose the cabins<br />
based on their unique ‘wow-factor’<br />
aesthetic - we just fell in love with<br />
them as soon as we saw them, and<br />
our guests do too!<br />
Our cabins are fully heated,<br />
so we are open all year round.<br />
They have their own kitchen<br />
and bathroom with shower, as<br />
well as king-sized beds, private<br />
decking, outdoor furniture, double<br />
hammocks, swinging egg chairs,<br />
and firepits, all with sea views from<br />
every window of every cabin.<br />
No need to venture outside for a<br />
shower or the toilet!<br />
What occupancy levels and price<br />
per night do you achieve?<br />
Prices range from £125 - £200<br />
per night depending on cabin<br />
and seasonality, and across all<br />
seven cabins we currently achieve<br />
approximately 35% occupancy<br />
across the year, because we<br />
choose to open 12 months of the<br />
year. We do work really hard with<br />
“OUR UNIQUE<br />
SELLING<br />
POINT,<br />
ASIDE FROM<br />
THE VIEWS<br />
AND THE<br />
BEAUTIFUL<br />
CABINS, IS<br />
PROBABLY<br />
OUR<br />
PERSONAL<br />
APPROACH<br />
TO ENSURING<br />
EVERY GUEST<br />
WANTS FOR<br />
NOTHING”<br />
our marketing efforts to achieve<br />
this though. Seasonally, Easter to<br />
September our occupancy is circa<br />
60% overall on average, and peak<br />
July and August months 95%. This<br />
year has been quite tough so far,<br />
but the weather certainly makes a<br />
difference.<br />
How did you work out your<br />
brand, and how do you publicise<br />
yourself?<br />
I come from a marketing<br />
background, so I built our<br />
website myself and handle all our<br />
marketing, social media, etc.<br />
How would you describe your<br />
ethos and unique selling point?<br />
Our ethos is centred around nature<br />
and being as eco-conscious and<br />
sustainable as we can be - but at<br />
the same time providing a luxury<br />
high-end glamping experience. Our<br />
unique selling point, aside from the<br />
views and the beautiful cabins, is<br />
probably our personal approach<br />
to ensuring every guest wants for<br />
nothing. Our 100% 5-star reviews<br />
are a testament to our commitment<br />
to customer service.<br />
How did you choose your interior<br />
decoration?<br />
Being the creative half of the<br />
business partnership, I take full<br />
ownership of the aesthetics! Our<br />
style could probably be described<br />
as quirky and whimsical, with<br />
unique little touches dotted around<br />
the cabins and the field.<br />
What challenges have you faced?<br />
The biggest challenge currently<br />
is filling cabins outside of school<br />
holidays and making the site work<br />
financially throughout the year,<br />
not just seasonally. Also, covid was<br />
tough on us, having to close only<br />
one year after opening. But we<br />
believed in our proposition so much<br />
that we decided it was all or nothing<br />
and put everything we had (and<br />
more!) into creating our beautiful<br />
glamping site.<br />
What are your plans for next<br />
season?<br />
We always have plans for what we<br />
can do next. We’d like to introduce<br />
a little shop on-site for bits that<br />
guests might have forgotten and<br />
for local creatives and producers<br />
to sell their wares. We also plan to<br />
do more foodie events, having run<br />
two very successful Cornish Feast<br />
weekends in the past few years.<br />
Please describe your average day<br />
mid-season<br />
Up 7am to let the chickens out.<br />
Then a coffee while making plans<br />
for managing the arrivals and<br />
departures that day.<br />
Prepare laundry bags for each<br />
cabin due to check in and get the<br />
turnaround trolley loaded with all<br />
the cleaning materials and refills<br />
needed.<br />
Go up onto the field to say our<br />
thank yous and goodbyes to any<br />
guests leaving. Often kids will want<br />
to cuddle a chicken or two or collect<br />
eggs.<br />
As soon as guests have left,<br />
we strip each cabin in turn and<br />
get towels, sleeping bags and<br />
duvets going through the washing<br />
machines.<br />
Cleaning and making up each<br />
cabin for new guests takes about<br />
1.5-2 hours per cabin, so if we<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 31
GLAMPSITES<br />
“ONCE ALL GUESTS ARE IN AND HAPPY, IT’S<br />
THEN TO THE DESK WORK TO PROCESS DEPOSIT<br />
REFUNDS TO GUESTS WHO HAVE CHECKED OUT<br />
AND REPLY TO ANY NEW ENQUIRIES THAT MAY<br />
HAVE COME IN”<br />
have three or more turnarounds<br />
to do in a day, then we enlist the<br />
help of the kids to run things back<br />
and forth and help out wherever<br />
possible. We have an excellent team<br />
arrangement whereby Rich does<br />
bathrooms (sometimes there may<br />
be minor maintenance jobs also),<br />
I do bedrooms, making up beds<br />
and living areas, and the kitchen<br />
is either a joint effort or whoever<br />
finishes first. I do the floors and final<br />
quality checks while Rich loads up<br />
the trolley to move on to the next<br />
cabin. Repeat this process until all<br />
cabins are ready, and we realise<br />
we’ve not eaten yet! Then I get<br />
onto baking fresh scones or bread<br />
for any hampers that have been<br />
pre-ordered for that day. Rich might<br />
take the sheets to the laundry and<br />
pop to the farm shop for any other<br />
bits needed for hampers.<br />
The rest of the day involves<br />
greeting guests, ensuring everyone<br />
has everything they need, more<br />
cuddles with chickens for the kids<br />
on site, and maybe our dogs will be<br />
requested by guests to come and<br />
play with them on the field.<br />
Once all guests are in and happy,<br />
it’s then to the desk work to process<br />
deposit refunds to guests who have<br />
checked out and reply to any new<br />
enquiries that may have come in.<br />
In between all this, we’re also<br />
ensuring our three children are<br />
fed, watered and happy, and often<br />
taxied to their various engagements<br />
all over Cornwall!<br />
What do you enjoy about the<br />
business and why?<br />
No two days are the same. We love<br />
seeing guests having a great time,<br />
especially when all the kids from<br />
different families—often speaking<br />
different languages—find ways of<br />
playing together.<br />
Our absolute favourite thing is<br />
reading the comments and reviews<br />
left by guests - it totally brings a tear<br />
to our eyes every time and makes<br />
the hard work so worth it.<br />
What are you most proud of?<br />
Our amazing reviews and awards.<br />
We won Glamping Business of the<br />
Year Gold Award the last two years<br />
running in the Cornwall Tourism<br />
Awards and the Wildlife Friendly<br />
Business of the Year Award this year<br />
too, as well as Gold and Bronze in<br />
the South West Tourism Awards in<br />
the past two years.<br />
What other outdoor hospitality<br />
sectors do you operate in?<br />
Recently, we’ve been hosting very<br />
successful outdoor foodie events,<br />
which we plan to do many more of<br />
- picture rustic Cornish food cooked<br />
over open fires by local chefs to the<br />
backdrop of stunning sea views and<br />
paired with Cornish wines, beers<br />
and ciders. This kind of vibe is the<br />
basis for our intimate wedding<br />
offering - we haven't yet hosted a<br />
wedding here, but we’d love to, as it<br />
would be amazing.<br />
What advice could you give<br />
to someone coming into the<br />
industry?<br />
Don’t expect it to be easy. Do<br />
something different that makes you<br />
stand out, don’t just think you can<br />
imitate another business because<br />
it’s successful - there is an awful<br />
lot of hard work, blood, sweat and<br />
tears going on behind the scenes to<br />
make that business successful that<br />
you don’t see! Be genuine and have<br />
a genuine care for your guests.<br />
32 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 33
GLAMPSITES<br />
HETAS<br />
Making<br />
Fire<br />
Teach guests how to light and maintain a wood<br />
stove fire using the top-down method for a<br />
cleaner, longer, and safer burn<br />
RUNNING A glampsite comes with its fair<br />
share of challenges, and one question that<br />
comes up quite frequently among site<br />
owners is how to ensure guests use wood<br />
stoves correctly. Many of you will know the<br />
frustration of finding a beautifully prepared<br />
stove left unused or, perhaps even worse,<br />
the irritation of having guests constantly<br />
asking for more kindling and firelighters<br />
due to their inability to light a fire properly.<br />
Despite providing detailed instructions and<br />
even demonstrations, many guests still<br />
struggle with the nuances of lighting and<br />
maintaining a fire, leading to unnecessary<br />
smoke, wasted wood, and even potential<br />
safety hazards.<br />
The top-down method is a highly<br />
recommended and reliable technique<br />
for lighting wood stoves that may finally<br />
relieve you of some of the pain associated<br />
with guests and fires. This article aims<br />
to provide a step-by-step guide on using<br />
this method and offers essential tips you<br />
can pass on to your guests for correctly<br />
operating wood stoves.<br />
UNDERSTANDING THE TOP-DOWN<br />
METHOD<br />
The top-down method of lighting a wood<br />
stove involves placing larger logs at the<br />
bottom and progressively smaller pieces<br />
of wood and kindling on top. This method<br />
has several advantages over the traditional<br />
bottom-up approach:<br />
1<br />
Reduced smoke<br />
It produces less smoke, as the fire<br />
burns down through the wood,<br />
preheating the logs below and promoting<br />
more complete combustion.<br />
2<br />
Longer burn time<br />
The top-down method ensures a more<br />
sustained and even burn, reducing the<br />
need for frequent refuelling.<br />
3<br />
Cleaner operation<br />
It results in a cleaner burn, leading to<br />
less soot and creosote buildup in the<br />
chimney.<br />
Materials needed<br />
› Dry, seasoned firewood (large, medium<br />
and small logs appropriate to the size of<br />
your stove, plus plenty of kindling)<br />
› Firelighters (we like the natural wood<br />
wool type)<br />
› A good quality, reliable lighter.<br />
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE<br />
TOP-DOWN METHOD<br />
STEP 1 Prepare the stove<br />
Before starting, ensure the stove is clean<br />
and free of ash from previous fires. Open<br />
the air vents fully to allow maximum<br />
airflow.<br />
STEP 2 Arrange the large logs<br />
Place two to three large logs parallel to<br />
each other at the bottom of the stove.<br />
Ensure they are dry and seasoned, as wet<br />
wood can create excessive smoke and burn<br />
inefficiently.<br />
STEP 3 Add medium-sized logs<br />
On top of the large logs, place a layer of<br />
medium-sized logs perpendicular to the<br />
ones below. This helps create a stable<br />
structure that promotes airflow.<br />
STEP 4 Arrange the kindling<br />
Arrange a generous amount of kindling on<br />
top of the medium-sized logs. Use small,<br />
dry sticks and twigs or split larger pieces of<br />
wood into smaller sections. The kindling<br />
should be loosely piled in a Jenga-style<br />
tower to allow air to circulate.<br />
STEP 5 Place the firelighters<br />
Add one or two firelighters on top of the<br />
kindling. If using newspaper, crumple it<br />
loosely to avoid compacting it too much,<br />
which can restrict airflow.<br />
STEP 1 Light the fire<br />
Light the firelighters using a reliable,<br />
longer-length, safety lighter. As the kindling<br />
catches fire, it ignites the medium-sized<br />
logs, which in turn sets the large logs<br />
ablaze. This top-down approach allows the<br />
fire to burn more efficiently from the top<br />
downwards and creates a nice bed of hot<br />
embers. If you find the logs aren't catching,<br />
more kindling can be added. Using the<br />
kindling to get things nice and hot and<br />
encourage a good draw from the chimney<br />
is essential, so don't scrimp on this.<br />
STEP 1 Adjust airflow<br />
Initially, leaving the door slightly ajar can<br />
help increase airflow and ensure things<br />
get off to a good start. Once the fire is<br />
well-established, the door can be closed<br />
and air vents adjusted to control the burn<br />
rate. Open vents allow more air in, making<br />
the fire burn hotter and faster. Closing the<br />
vents slightly can slow the burn and extend<br />
the fire's duration - although, depending<br />
on how much ventilation there is in your<br />
34 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
accommodation, it may be best to lean<br />
towards keeping the vents more open to<br />
avoid the frustration of fires going out.<br />
OPERATING THE WOOD STOVE SAFELY<br />
AND EFFICIENTLY<br />
Fuel selection and storage<br />
Use seasoned wood<br />
Only burn dry, seasoned hardwoods.<br />
These woods burn hotter and longer than<br />
softwoods and produce less creosote.<br />
Store wood properly<br />
Keep firewood in a dry, well-ventilated<br />
area to prevent moisture absorption. Stack<br />
wood off the ground and cover the top to<br />
protect it from rain and snow. There are<br />
plenty of good-quality, affordable wood<br />
stores available, or if you're handy, you can<br />
build your own.<br />
Starting, maintaining and finishing<br />
the fire<br />
Do not overload the stove<br />
Avoid overloading the stove with too much<br />
wood at once. This can reduce airflow and<br />
cause inefficient burning.<br />
Add wood gradually – little and often is the<br />
key<br />
Add one or two logs at a time to maintain<br />
a steady fire. Wait for the fire to catch each<br />
new load of wood before adding more.<br />
If refuelling has been delayed, add more<br />
kindling to re-establish a hot ember bed<br />
before adding more logs.<br />
Monitor the fire<br />
Never leave the stove unattended for long<br />
periods, especially when the fire is still<br />
getting established.<br />
End of the day<br />
When you have finished using the stove<br />
for the day, fully open the vents until any<br />
remaining fuel has burned away. This final<br />
burning of the day should always be fast<br />
and hot to help clear deposits from the<br />
glass and minimise soot/tar and creosote<br />
deposits in the appliance and chimney.<br />
Regular maintenance – not to be<br />
underestimated<br />
Clean the stove regularly<br />
Remove ash and unburned debris after<br />
each use to maintain good airflow and<br />
efficiency.<br />
Inspect the chimney<br />
Regularly check the chimney for creosote<br />
buildup, which can be a fire hazard. Have<br />
the chimney professionally cleaned at least<br />
once a year.<br />
Safety precautions<br />
Install carbon monoxide detectors<br />
Place detectors in the same room as<br />
the wood stove as well as any adjacent<br />
sleeping areas to alert guests to any<br />
buildup of this dangerous gas.<br />
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby<br />
Ensure an easily accessible fire extinguisher<br />
is available, and familiarise guests with its<br />
location and operation.<br />
Maintain clearances<br />
Keep flammable materials, such as<br />
curtains, furniture, and rugs, at a safe<br />
distance from the stove. Follow the<br />
manufacturer's guidelines for required<br />
clearances.<br />
Provide fireproof gloves<br />
When handling the stove, especially while<br />
adding wood or adjusting vents, use<br />
fireproof gloves to prevent burns.<br />
Educating Guests<br />
Provide clear instructions<br />
Leave a detailed manual in the glamping<br />
accommodation that covers how to light<br />
and maintain the wood stove using the<br />
top-down method.<br />
Link to video<br />
Many videos on YouTube demonstrate the<br />
top-down method, so consider adding a QR<br />
code link to one for guests to scan and view<br />
with their phone.<br />
Highlight emergency procedures<br />
Ensure guests know what to do in case of<br />
an emergency, including how to use the fire<br />
extinguisher and the location of emergency<br />
exits.<br />
I'm a firestarter<br />
Obviously, there are many other very<br />
effective ways of lighting and operating a<br />
wood stove. But armed with a set of clear<br />
and concise instructions based on the<br />
above (it does, of course, depend on them<br />
reading them - but let's not add another<br />
frustration into the mix!), guests should<br />
bother you less and enjoy the satisfaction<br />
of building a reliable, roaring fire every<br />
time.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 35
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specialise in toilets<br />
Complete waste handling<br />
No need for waste tank<br />
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Does not use water<br />
Produces only<br />
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36 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
GLAMPSITES<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
Jonathan Trelfa<br />
Role: General manager<br />
Company: Glampsan (Plastic Solutions<br />
Aldridge)<br />
Contact: 0800 999 6010,<br />
sales@glampsan.com,<br />
www.glampsan.com<br />
FUN FACTS<br />
Favourite tipple: In moderation, cask<br />
strength single malt whisky<br />
Last holiday destination: Northumberland<br />
– dark sky country<br />
Cats or dogs? Definitely cats<br />
Current TV must watch: Professor T –<br />
strangely compelling<br />
Something people may not know about<br />
you: I spent a lot of my higher education<br />
period in Germany, and ultimately ran a<br />
German company for some years... lots of<br />
water has since flowed under the bridge, but<br />
I’m still ‘rustily’ fluent in German.<br />
What is your background?<br />
I’ve been working in portable sanitation<br />
for over 30 years, and I’ve (probably)<br />
visited more portable toilet yards across<br />
the UK and Europe than I’ve had hot<br />
dinners. In my career I’ve spent time<br />
as managing director Europe for both<br />
a toilet manufacturing company and a<br />
manufacturer of ground and surface water<br />
monitoring equipment. You could say I’ve<br />
lived and breathed portable sanitation for<br />
several decades now – I have been known<br />
to dream about it too… but not too deeply.<br />
How did you get started in the business?<br />
After a casual phone call with a long-term<br />
customer/friend and industry colleague,<br />
who wanted to manufacture a bespoke<br />
effluent tank made from plastic. I offered<br />
advice to help jump start his fledgling idea<br />
into a product and then a company. Little<br />
did I think that a friendly chat over a cup<br />
of coffee would start with ‘helping out’ for<br />
two to three weeks, and that in turn would<br />
lead to 10 years at the helm this year.<br />
What features and benefits do your<br />
products offer?<br />
We design and manufacture many<br />
products ourselves and we’ve recently<br />
been awarded the prestigious ‘Made<br />
in Britain’ mark. I would say our most<br />
unique quality is our exceptional customer<br />
service. We don’t just sell; we ask lots of<br />
questions to get a fully rounded picture<br />
of our customers’ needs. We then advise<br />
them on the most suitable<br />
products for their site or<br />
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you.’ We’d rather we advised on<br />
the right solution even at the<br />
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What are your predictions for<br />
the future of the glamping<br />
industry?<br />
Since covid there’s been a rise<br />
in the number of people taking<br />
staycations and this has given<br />
a unique opportunity for the glamping<br />
industry to grow. Many people are<br />
diversifying from farming and using their<br />
land for glamping opportunities. This is<br />
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of managing waste and water systems<br />
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businesses. We believe there is still plenty<br />
more growth and opportunities for the<br />
glamping industry. It’s an exciting time for<br />
us all.<br />
What are you most proud of?<br />
Without hesitation, the team. We’re a small<br />
friendly group, totally dedicated to our<br />
niche business. We work hard, but there’s<br />
always laughter in the office (usually<br />
started by the sales team). It helps that we<br />
are all genuinely interested in what we do<br />
and how we can support our customers.<br />
It’s a welcoming and motivating place to<br />
work because of the people who are in it.<br />
Are you working on any exciting<br />
projects you can tell us about?<br />
Glampsan offers an evolution of toilet<br />
and waste handling solutions: there’s<br />
something to suit every customer and<br />
every need and we’re consistently adding<br />
extra products to the range. For example,<br />
we are currently expanding our above<br />
ground tank range which incorporates<br />
rainwater harvesting for those who want<br />
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provide above ground tanks for potable<br />
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reserves to be stored ready for showers,<br />
washing up sinks and motorhome water<br />
tank fills. For those that want to provide<br />
every creature comfort, our above ground<br />
tanks could even be used for an outdoor<br />
wash station for walking boots, dogs, surf<br />
boards or sandy feet.<br />
What plans do you and Glampsan have<br />
for the future?<br />
As the glamping industry grows, we<br />
will continue to adapt and innovate our<br />
product range. We’re constantly designing<br />
and producing UK made products to find<br />
the easiest solutions for the trickiest of<br />
sanitation challenges. All of this we will<br />
do alongside our top-notch customer and<br />
consultancy service. Watch this space,<br />
we’ve got lots in the pipeline.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 37
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GLAMPSITES<br />
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Infrastructure<br />
Private Retreat Centre<br />
Product: Two treatment plants and other services infrastructure<br />
Supplier: The Septic Tank Store, 01295 236101, sales@<br />
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Details: The Septic Tank Store (TSTS) assessed the plans for<br />
the installation of six glamping pods before replacing two<br />
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Customer feedback: The retreat project manager said: “It is rare<br />
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Rainwater<br />
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Glampsan<br />
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sales@glampsan.com<br />
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 39
GLAMPSITES<br />
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To ensure continuity of service the Sanifos has two<br />
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40 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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42 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
CHILFEST<br />
A two-day extravaganza, celebrating the music of the 1980s and 1990s<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLLIE BOWMAN<br />
We talk to festival owner Steve<br />
Butcher about rising from the<br />
ashes of the pandemic and<br />
bankruptcy to keep this heritage<br />
music event alive and kicking.<br />
Describe your event and how<br />
many people it attracts?<br />
Chilfest is a heritage music festival<br />
and attracts up to 10,000 people<br />
across a Friday and Saturday at<br />
the beginning of July. I founded<br />
the event 12 years ago with the<br />
aim of delivering a crowd-pleasing<br />
mix of nostalgic tunes alongside a<br />
boutique festival experience. Since<br />
then, we have welcomed over 80<br />
artistes (including The Human<br />
League, UB40, OMD, Sister Sledge,<br />
Rick Astley, Big Country, Boney<br />
M and Billy Ocean, to name but a<br />
few), and raised tens of thousands<br />
of pounds for charity.<br />
Explain a bit about your venue<br />
and your history with it<br />
Pre-pandemic, we were in a large<br />
field (meadow) owned by Pendley<br />
Manor Hotel with all the car<br />
parking on the Tring Rugby Clubs<br />
“AFTER THE PANDEMIC WE MOVED<br />
THE FESTIVAL ON TO THE RUGBY<br />
PITCHES TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE<br />
SPACE AS WE KNEW A PERCENTAGE<br />
OF THEM WERE WORRIED ABOUT<br />
LARGE CROWDS AND SOCIAL DIS-<br />
TANCING”<br />
pitches. After the pandemic we<br />
moved the festival on to the rugby<br />
pitches to give people more space<br />
as we knew a percentage of them<br />
were worried about large crowds<br />
and social distancing.<br />
We have built a very strong<br />
relationship with the sports<br />
committees in Tring.<br />
What is the event’s history and<br />
what made you decide to run it?<br />
In 2012, I was running a very<br />
successful audio-visual production<br />
company (Universal Event<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 43
EVENTS<br />
“WE HAVE FLOWN DRONES OVER THE SITE OVER<br />
THE YEARS TO WORK OUT PINCH POINTS ON<br />
SITE ETC”<br />
Productions/UEP) and we were<br />
about to celebrate our 15th<br />
anniversary, so I thought putting<br />
on a music festival would be a bit<br />
of a giggle!<br />
How is your relationship<br />
with the local authority and<br />
community?<br />
The relationship started slow as we<br />
were newcomers, however it has<br />
grown stronger and stronger over<br />
the years, to the degree that the<br />
police use Chilfest as a case study<br />
on how events should be run.<br />
How have you planned the<br />
layout of the event?<br />
We have flown drones over the site<br />
over the years to work out pinch<br />
points on site etc. We also listen<br />
to customer feedback and make<br />
small changes each year. We have<br />
a two bay Orbit stage (a clear-span<br />
modular system with aluminium<br />
ladder beams and tensioned fabric<br />
covers) and multiple marquees.<br />
The Chilfest arena comprises<br />
a top-quality stage and sound<br />
rig, a wide variety of food and<br />
drink outlets and plenty of<br />
toilet facilities, providing all the<br />
ingredients for a great weekend of<br />
live music.<br />
How did you research and source<br />
your infrastructure?<br />
We wanted to work with as<br />
many local companies as we<br />
could, providing they could<br />
accommodate a fairly big<br />
challenge!<br />
What entertainment do you<br />
offer?<br />
It’s actually getting harder and<br />
harder to book people, since the<br />
retro crowd is getting on a bit and<br />
there aren’t many 80s artistes<br />
GARRY JONES<br />
44 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
left that we haven’t worked with<br />
so we have moved into the 90s<br />
and Noughties. I have built up a<br />
very useful little black book over<br />
the years. Friday tends to be our<br />
Tribute night.<br />
What provisions do you make for<br />
power, lights and sound?<br />
Pre-pandemic my own<br />
production company supplied all<br />
lighting, mains distro and some<br />
infrastructure for the event. Sadly<br />
due to the pandemic I lost my<br />
production company after being in<br />
business for 24 years. Not properly<br />
trading for two years and not being<br />
able to host Chilfest in 2020 or<br />
2021 completely bankrupted me.<br />
socially distanced cinema events<br />
in summer 2020. These were a<br />
success to a degree, however August<br />
weather was bad and we had to<br />
cancel a series of events, thus not<br />
turning a profit<br />
What ground protection do you<br />
use for cars and footfall?<br />
We install a trackway for all our<br />
heavy plant. The car park is so well<br />
looked after by the rugby club that<br />
we have never had to protect the<br />
ground.<br />
How do you manage admissions<br />
and visitor safety?<br />
We take visitor safety very<br />
seriously. My core production team<br />
has close to 100 years combined<br />
experience in live events. Our age<br />
demographic tends to be between<br />
35 and 65, so a great age group<br />
that want to enjoy themselves and<br />
have fun. Since inception there<br />
has been zero trouble at Chilfest.<br />
Tickets are scanned on entry.<br />
How did you cope during 2020<br />
and 2021?<br />
We did run a series of outdoor<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 45
EVENTS<br />
How do you publicise the event?<br />
We have over 24K followers on<br />
social media and we also use radio<br />
and e-shots to our database.<br />
What additional challenges have<br />
you faced?<br />
Ticket sales have become difficult<br />
since the pandemic, with cost of<br />
living crisis, and I do feel that a<br />
percentage of our customers still<br />
do not want to mix in large crowds.<br />
Everything is a lot last minute now,<br />
with a fair percentage of ticket sales<br />
being purchased in the last couple<br />
of weeks leading up to the event as<br />
people watch the weather etc. This<br />
makes for many sleepless nights!<br />
“EVERYTHING IS A LOT LAST MINUTE<br />
NOW, WITH A FAIR PERCENTAGE OF<br />
TICKET SALES BEING PURCHASED IN<br />
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS LEADING<br />
UP TO THE EVENT AS PEOPLE WATCH<br />
THE WEATHER ETC”<br />
How have you financed the<br />
event?<br />
Pre-pandemic Chilfest was financed<br />
through my production company.<br />
Since 2022, I have investors<br />
onboard.<br />
What are your plans for next<br />
year?<br />
TBC – running an independent<br />
festival is tough, and we have yet to<br />
make a final decision on 2025.<br />
What advice could you give<br />
to someone coming into the<br />
industry?<br />
Don’t – lol. Sadly, since the<br />
Pandemic, the UK has been<br />
saturated by music festivals as<br />
everyone thinks it’s an easy way<br />
to make money. This is truly not<br />
the case. With the increase in fuel,<br />
labour and infrastructure costs we<br />
are probably paying 20% more than<br />
in 2019, which is very difficult to<br />
pass on to our loyal customers.<br />
ADDRESS BOOK<br />
MARQUEES<br />
Meadow Marquees<br />
www.meadowmarquees.co.uk<br />
STAGE<br />
Trust Events www.trustevents.co.uk<br />
LIGHTING<br />
LCH Production Services<br />
www.lchproductionservices.com<br />
POWER<br />
Ethix www.ethixmanagement.com<br />
BARS<br />
Dayla www.dayladrinks.co.uk<br />
FLOORING<br />
GAP www.gap-group.co.uk<br />
TOILETS<br />
Mawsley www.mawsleyevents.co.uk<br />
WI-FI<br />
NOBA www.noba.co.uk<br />
SECURITY<br />
Belmont Guard<br />
www.belmontguard.co.uk<br />
INSURANCE<br />
CONVEX www.convexin.com<br />
INFRASTRUCUTE<br />
GAP www.gap-group.co.uk<br />
DETAILS<br />
Chilfest<br />
5-6 July 2024<br />
Cow Lane<br />
Tring<br />
Hertfordshire HP23 5NS<br />
46 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 47
EVENTS<br />
How are dogs used at events?<br />
Having the relevant K9s at specific events<br />
can be of great benefit to organisers. From<br />
drug searches, explosive detection to<br />
reducing anti-social behaviour and stopping<br />
fence jumpers, there is a specifically trained<br />
dog to help.<br />
General purpose (GP) security dogs<br />
are used to reduce the amount of fence<br />
jumpers, anti-social behaviour and for crowd<br />
dispersal. They can also act as protection<br />
for expensive assets, reducing the amount<br />
of static security in vulnerable site-specific<br />
areas meaning they are a cost-effective<br />
solution.<br />
Drug detection (DD) dogs are used to<br />
tackle the amount of contraband being<br />
brought into events. The dogs are trained to<br />
detect those carrying class A, B and C drugs<br />
as well as some being trained to also detect<br />
pyrotechnics.<br />
Explosive detection dogs (EDD) are used<br />
to sweep areas prior to the start of the event<br />
for explosives. How many of these dogs are<br />
required will depend on the size of the venue<br />
as well as the time frame needed to carry out<br />
the search.<br />
What are the most common uses of dogs<br />
at festivals?<br />
K9 festival security units are meticulously<br />
trained to detect various threats, including<br />
explosives, drugs and more. A dog’s keen<br />
sense of smell and agility make them<br />
invaluable in crowded environments where<br />
traditional security measures might fall<br />
short. They are perfect for threat detection<br />
(including drugs and explosives) and their<br />
presence alone acts as a strong deterrent<br />
to potential criminals. By identifying and<br />
addressing threats before they escalate, dogs<br />
help prevent incidents that could otherwise<br />
lead to harm.<br />
Trained dogs are also great at assisting in<br />
Dogs on<br />
the Job<br />
Q&A with security dog expert Kirsty Armstrong,<br />
operations manager at UK K9 Security Group<br />
48 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
managing large crowds, ensuring smooth<br />
entry and exit flows, and preventing<br />
stampedes. Their presence can calm<br />
anxious attendees and provide a sense of<br />
order. Visible security measures, including<br />
patrols by security dogs, reassure attendees<br />
that their safety is a priority. This sense<br />
of security enhances the overall festival<br />
experience, encouraging attendees to relax<br />
and enjoy themselves.<br />
Give us an example from your work at UK<br />
K9 Security Group<br />
Drug detection dogs were used at the<br />
accreditation tent at one event festivalgoers<br />
were coming through to be searched. They<br />
were searched by the search team and<br />
finally scanned by the drugs dogs. A male<br />
had got through the search area without<br />
anything being detected on his person or<br />
belongings however the drugs dog indicated<br />
and suggested otherwise. Upon further<br />
questioning it was found he did have drugs<br />
with him, hidden inside his mouth. Safe to<br />
say the male was escorted off the property<br />
and his ticket made void.<br />
Tell us about the selection and training<br />
of dogs?<br />
This can vary dependent on the job role of<br />
the K9. There are a few governing bodies<br />
that certify and assess K9s for work, with<br />
NASDU being the most recognised. For GP<br />
they allow German shepherds, Dobermans,<br />
rottweilers, Belgian shepherds and Dutch<br />
herders, however for the DD & EDD they<br />
allow working gundog breeds such as the<br />
labrador retriever, cocker spaniel, English<br />
springer spaniel and German pointers to<br />
name but a few.<br />
The training process can cost thousands<br />
and its duration dependent on each specific<br />
dog as it continues until they are deemed fit<br />
and eligible for work. K9 teams are assessed<br />
quarterly and annually to ensure that each is<br />
compliant.<br />
“THE TRAINING PROCESS<br />
CAN COST THOUSANDS AND<br />
ITS DURATION DEPENDENT<br />
ON EACH SPECIFIC DOG AS IT<br />
CONTINUES UNTIL THEY ARE<br />
DEEMED FIT AND ELIGIBLE<br />
FOR WORK”<br />
How are dogs managed outside of their<br />
work time?<br />
All K9s live with their handlers. Handlers will<br />
take them home, exercise, feed and ensure<br />
full care is given to them when not deployed.<br />
We comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006,<br />
Guard Dogs Act 1975, Dangerous Dogs Act<br />
1991 as well as being compliant with the<br />
British Standard 8517 2016. As we comply<br />
with the above, we also must manage the<br />
K9s in a safe way. They are usually exercised<br />
in privately hired fields, at home or away<br />
from the general public. This is not only to<br />
keep the public safe but also to keep our<br />
K9s that have vital jobs to play safe from<br />
any person that may want to cause harm<br />
towards them.<br />
Does using dogs make financial sense for<br />
event organisers?<br />
Investing in security dogs offers advantages<br />
to event organisers beyond just safety.<br />
They can be very cost effective as dogs can<br />
cover large areas quickly and are often more<br />
reliable than technology or security officers<br />
alone. Insurance premiums may also be<br />
lower as insurance companies view the use<br />
of security dogs as a proactive step in risk<br />
management, reducing the likelihood of<br />
claims.<br />
Compliance is another big win when a<br />
local authority, police or planning team<br />
place certain requirements upon an event.<br />
Finally, there is reputation and customer<br />
loyalty – attendees who feel safe are<br />
more likely to return to future events and<br />
recommend the event to others.<br />
ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
Kirsty Armstrong is<br />
operations manager at<br />
UK K9 Security Group, a<br />
security dog provider. Her<br />
love for dogs has taken her on<br />
a journey starting with supporting<br />
dog fosterers to obtaining her Security<br />
Industry Association (SIA) License in 2017<br />
and NASDU Certification in 2018.<br />
UK K9 Security Group’s team of dogs<br />
ensures the safety of attendees at a<br />
number of large festivals and events,<br />
maintaining an enjoyable atmosphere<br />
for attendees while delivering a range<br />
of benefits to enhance the security and<br />
reputation. www.ukk9.co.uk<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 49
EVENTS<br />
How to Brand a Festival<br />
How to build brand image, personality and develop customer loyalty<br />
THE LURE of an immersive and unique<br />
experience full of fields and music is<br />
unbroken but with production costs<br />
higher than ever and a busy market,<br />
competition is fierce to stand out and<br />
attract ticket sales.<br />
But festivals are more than just their<br />
line-up; organisers need to consider<br />
aspects like price point, food, art,<br />
tent space and stages as a way to build<br />
their overall experience – which is where<br />
branding becomes important. Festival<br />
branding is a more holistic package where<br />
specific assets like logos, posters or<br />
signage are just as important as the overall<br />
brand.<br />
Branding is particularly useful for<br />
festivals as it reflects the brand persona<br />
and experience that you want your<br />
audience to feel. It’s a promise to deliver<br />
the same great experience to your<br />
audiences, that is unique and connects<br />
authentically to attendees.<br />
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT FESTIVAL<br />
BRANDING?<br />
The purpose of branding is to build your<br />
event’s image, ‘personality’ and develop<br />
brand loyalty. At the end of the day, you<br />
want your festival to have a unique essence<br />
and people that attend to have a unique<br />
experience and thus stand out from other<br />
festivals.<br />
Let’s be honest, people are only choosing<br />
one or two festivals to go to per year, so you<br />
want to play to the emotions to guarantee<br />
that attendees are going to have the best<br />
experience at your event. A good and<br />
consistent brand also makes your festival<br />
more reputable and trustworthy. It means<br />
that customers are going to feel excited to<br />
invest in your event.<br />
At the festival itself, consistent branding<br />
helps add value to your audiences’ overall<br />
experience too, making them more likely<br />
to return over and over again and tell their<br />
friends.<br />
Branding uses visuals to reflect your<br />
brand voice and persona so it is really<br />
useful at reflecting atmosphere and<br />
experience. When audiences see your brand<br />
colours, graphics or logo they immediately<br />
associate it with the positive feeling that<br />
you want to portray. In that respect, your<br />
branding must reflect the shared values of<br />
your festival and its community.<br />
50 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
“THE PHILOSOPHY AND PROMISE OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT<br />
ARE WHAT ORIGINALLY ATTRACTED PEOPLE TO THE<br />
FESTIVAL. IT IS A PROMISE OF A SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL<br />
EXPERIENCE AND A UNIQUE CONCEPT TO OTHER FESTIVALS”<br />
Most festivals hold the advantage of<br />
having a whole year to perfect their event<br />
and mould it to their brand personality.<br />
This also means they have all that time<br />
to adapt their brand and event to new<br />
trends or themes that’s going to give their<br />
attendees the best experience.<br />
IDENTIFY YOUR CORE VALUES<br />
Festival branding takes a similar approach<br />
to any branding journey. But what is more<br />
important with festivals is creating a<br />
unique and strong concept; this is what is<br />
going to attract audiences the most. To do<br />
this, you need to identify what your core<br />
values are, and use them to make a ‘brand<br />
personality’.<br />
For example, Burning Man festival<br />
started out as a niche event with the<br />
mission statement: “to bring experiences<br />
to people in grand, awe-inspiring and<br />
joyful ways that lift the human spirit,<br />
address social problems, and inspire<br />
a sense of culture, community, and<br />
civic engagement.” The philosophy and<br />
promise of self-improvement are what<br />
originally attracted people to the festival.<br />
It is a promise of a spiritual and cultural<br />
experience and a unique concept to other<br />
festivals.<br />
UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE<br />
As with any branding journey, you need to<br />
identify your audience – what does your<br />
ideal customer look like? Are they into<br />
rock music, aged between 18-25 and live<br />
locally? This allows you to directly cater<br />
your branding and your event around the<br />
customers’ wants and needs and attract<br />
your ideal festival-goer.<br />
A ‘brand booklet’ helps set clear<br />
guidelines for your brand colours, visuals<br />
and feel across communications. It will in<br />
turn clearly portray your core beliefs. The<br />
brand colours, font, logo, keywords and<br />
assets should be applied consistently from<br />
the ticketing page to your giveaway bags.<br />
Although it can be tempting to change<br />
your festival every year and add new<br />
concepts, music, sponsors etc. don’t be<br />
afraid to say no to new opportunities that<br />
don’t fit your brand. After developing a<br />
festival and community that shares the<br />
same beliefs, changing too much can be<br />
confusing to your audience and deviate<br />
from the experience you were originally<br />
promising them.<br />
Although festival branding may be easy<br />
to overlook when it comes to planning<br />
your event, the purpose of branding and<br />
festivals are inherently linked. Both want<br />
to create a unique experience and identity<br />
that instils loyalty in customers.<br />
Festivals are an immersive cultural<br />
experience that is highly valued by<br />
individuals over products. So, creating<br />
a unique brand concept that has strong<br />
core values is one of the most important<br />
aspects when promoting your festival.<br />
Tips for festival<br />
branding<br />
› Logos are going to be used across all<br />
your collateral – think signs, posters,<br />
merchandise, backgrounds – so it’s<br />
important to consider how one will<br />
look blown up or shrunk down.<br />
› Consistency is key for branding, you<br />
want to create a cohesive message<br />
that matches your brand personality,<br />
and what you want your attendees<br />
to feel when they go to your festival.<br />
When customers are constantly<br />
experiencing the same visuals, they<br />
are associating that with your brand<br />
or festival persona, and in turn with<br />
their positive experience. So, from the<br />
first social post of your line up to your<br />
festival signage or wristbands, there<br />
needs to be visual consistency.<br />
› That said, small tweaks will keep<br />
your festival looking fresh and<br />
exciting.<br />
› Give yourself a good amount of<br />
time to build the hype up for your<br />
festival. Not only will your audience<br />
get excited quickly, but it will help<br />
them get familiar with your brand.<br />
You can display branding across your<br />
website, in your logo, on social media<br />
posts, festival flags, stages, tents<br />
and structures, and on your signage,<br />
banners, backdrops, posters and<br />
merch.<br />
ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
Dee Darcy founded Utter<br />
Creatives in 2015 and has<br />
over 15 years of experience<br />
in the creative industries.<br />
She specialises in branding,<br />
brand strategy, graphic design<br />
and illustration<br />
hello@uttercreatives.co.uk<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 51
07973 7<strong>64</strong> 023<br />
Info@hollywoodevents.co.uk<br />
IF YOU ARE<br />
HOLDING AN EVENT...<br />
WE HAVE GOT<br />
IT COVERED!!<br />
“GREAT JOB, ON TIME, RIGHT PRICE!” MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL<br />
ONE-STOP-SHOP<br />
for Event Production<br />
CORPORATE<br />
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WEDDING<br />
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01323 819219<br />
enquiries@sussexeventsltd.co.uk<br />
www.sussexeventsltd.co.uk<br />
VINTAGE BARS EXTRAS<br />
FESTIVALS<br />
Established in 1988 we supply marquees, temporary structures to the Events industry.<br />
All our work is fully insured and our marquees are clean and of the highest quality.<br />
We aim to be the most competitive quality marquee hire company out there.<br />
CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE<br />
M: 07973 7<strong>64</strong> 023 E: Info@hollywoodevents.co.uk<br />
C RE®<br />
BAR& EVENTHIRE<br />
STYLISH CUSTOMISABLE BAR RENTAL<br />
TRUST EVENTS STAGES LTD<br />
Stages & Platforms for Shows &<br />
Festivals Including Film And TV<br />
DRY HIRE OR FULL SERVICE<br />
FESTIVAL STAGE HIRE | ORBIT STAGE | PROLYTE<br />
PORTABLE STAGE HIRE | CAMERA PLATFORMS<br />
FREE BAR HIRE*<br />
*Subject to minimum spend<br />
T: 0845 299 <strong>64</strong>99 - E: sales@core-barandeventhire.com<br />
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01749 841720 | 07909 636566<br />
spike@trustevents.co.uk | peter@trustevents.co.uk<br />
www.trustevents.co.uk<br />
Royal Bath and West Showground, Somerset, BA4 6QN<br />
52 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM<br />
ADVERT.indd 1 12/04/2021 10:05:45
EVENTS<br />
PRODUCT IN FOCUS<br />
Infrastructure<br />
Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival<br />
Product: All marquee structures<br />
Supplier: Hollywood Marquee Hire, 07973 7<strong>64</strong>023, info@<br />
hollywoodevents.co.uk, www.hollywoodmarqueehire.co.uk<br />
Details: Debuting in 2010, Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival<br />
is a diverse, vibrant festival, celebrating ground-breaking,<br />
innovative UK music alongside international trailblazers at<br />
Moseley Park, Birmingham.<br />
Hollywood Marquee Hire specialises in clear span marquee<br />
and event structures and has forged a long-standing<br />
relationship with the event over 12 years. The company<br />
supplies all the structures from main stage and second stage<br />
to all the bar structures and even the back stage dressing rooms.<br />
GARRY JONES PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
GARRY JONES PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Customer feedback: Festival director Gerv Havil said: “We have had the pleasure of working with<br />
Hollywood Marquee Hire for the past 12 years, and we couldn't be happier with the service they<br />
have provided. From the outset, they have consistently impressed us with the exceptional quality<br />
of their structures.<br />
“Beyond the quality of their products, what truly sets Hollywood Marquee Hire apart is<br />
their professionalism and attention to detail. From the initial planning stages to the final<br />
installation, their team has demonstrated a level of expertise and<br />
efficiency that is unmatched. They have always been responsive<br />
to our needs and proactive in addressing any concerns that arise,<br />
ensuring that every aspect of our event runs smoothly.<br />
“They consistently offer competitive pricing, allowing us to<br />
stay within budget without compromising on quality. Their<br />
commitment to affordability, combined with their dedication<br />
to excellence, makes them an invaluable partner for any event<br />
organiser.”<br />
Signs, Banners<br />
and Flags!<br />
HFE Signs<br />
01283 576017<br />
sales@hfe-signs.co.uk<br />
www.hfe-signs.co.uk<br />
Custom printed banners – ideal for<br />
both indoor and outdoor settings, these banners are perfect for<br />
corporate events, trade shows, festivals, weddings, and more.<br />
Made from durable, weather-resistant materials, they feature<br />
vibrant colours and clear graphics, ensuring your message stands<br />
out. With a variety of sizes and custom options, you can tailor<br />
your banner to match your event’s theme and branding perfectly.<br />
Roll-up banners – our roll-up banners are a versatile and<br />
portable solution for any event. Easy to set up and take down,<br />
these banners are perfect for trade shows, conferences, and<br />
promotional events. Featuring high-resolution printing and<br />
sturdy bases, they provide a professional look and are ideal for<br />
showcasing your brand, products, or services. The compact<br />
design makes them easy to transport and store, ensuring you can<br />
make an impact wherever you go.<br />
Feather flags – these draw attention to your event. Perfect for<br />
outdoor events like fairs, festivals, and sporting events, these<br />
flags are designed to flutter in the wind, attracting attention<br />
from afar. Available in various sizes and shapes, they can be<br />
customised with your logo, colours, and messaging to ensure<br />
maximum visibility and impact.<br />
We also supply printed signs and boards. Contact HFE Signs<br />
to discuss your needs and get a quote. Our team is here to help<br />
you every step of the way, from design to delivery. Rated No. 1 on<br />
Trustpilot!<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 53
EVENTS<br />
The Supercar<br />
Festival<br />
Product: Stretch tent<br />
Supplier: Alternative Stretch<br />
Tents, 01920 830256, info@<br />
alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk/<br />
www.alternative-stretch-tents.co.uk<br />
Details: Alternative Stretch Tents<br />
supplied Iconic Auction, a leading<br />
luxury automotive brand, with<br />
a stretch tent to elevate their<br />
presence at The Supercar Festival<br />
2024. The objectives included<br />
enhancing brand visibility, creating<br />
an immersive experience to foster<br />
deeper connections with potential<br />
customers, collect valuable leads<br />
and insights from attendees for<br />
future marketing and sales efforts,<br />
and to unveil its latest highperformance<br />
model in a controlled,<br />
prestigious environment.<br />
The 15x53m and 15x42m stretch<br />
tent was designed to reflect Iconic<br />
Auctions’ brand ethos of elegance<br />
and performance. It featured a sleek,<br />
modern aesthetic with sexy curves,<br />
ambient lighting, and symmetrical<br />
finishings. The layout included a<br />
central display showcasing cars in a<br />
symmetrical manner.<br />
The stretch tent attracted<br />
over 10,000 visitors during the<br />
festival and garnered substantial<br />
media attention, with features<br />
in top automotive and lifestyle<br />
publications.<br />
Feedback: The tent successfully<br />
achieved its objectives of enhancing<br />
brand visibility, engaging customers,<br />
generating leads, and launching<br />
a successful display of over a<br />
million pounds worth of cars. The<br />
combination of strategic planning,<br />
thanks to Sean at Alternative Stretch<br />
Tents, innovative experiences, and<br />
targeted marketing resulted in a<br />
memorable presence at the festival,<br />
reinforcing Iconic Auctions’ position<br />
as a leader in the luxury automotive<br />
market.<br />
Fully Integrated<br />
‘Stage Box’<br />
The Stage Bus<br />
01215 8592<strong>64</strong><br />
info@thestagebus.com<br />
www.thestagebus.com<br />
The Stage Box is the newest concept stage from the team<br />
at The Stage Bus. Built into a shipping container, this<br />
clever, fully-integrated stage boasts a PA system that<br />
covers up to 10,000, height-adjustable hydraulic legs and<br />
a built-in screen. Taking just an hour to set up, this stage<br />
makes light work of street closures and events where time<br />
is of the essence.<br />
The Stage Box can also be fully-brand wrapped making<br />
it a great option for events running on sponsorships,<br />
brand activations and sporting events. Owing to its<br />
design, the Stage Box makes a great modular unit and<br />
can easily be incorporated into installations with other<br />
containers and can be used in conjunction with<br />
large scale screens.<br />
54 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
EVENTS<br />
Cellar-in-a-Box<br />
CORE Bar and Event Hire<br />
0845 299 <strong>64</strong>99<br />
sales@core-barandeventhire.com<br />
www.core-barandeventhire.com<br />
Land Beyond Festival<br />
Product: MILOS MR2K 12 x 10 roof system and Layher Event deck system<br />
Supplier: Sussex Events, 01323 819219, accounts@sussexeventsltd.co.uk,<br />
www.sussex eventsltd.co.uk<br />
Details: The highly anticipated Land Beyond Festival returned to the<br />
picturesque Waterhall venue with its 2024 ‘Unchartered’ theme. The<br />
extraordinary experience included awe-inspiring installations and immersive<br />
encounters.<br />
Sussex Events has managed the festival production onsite for several years.<br />
With the upscale in many outdoor client events, it was the perfect time to<br />
invest in the MILOS MR2K roof system, enhancing production capabilities for<br />
its upcoming events and festivals. The advanced roofing solution represents<br />
the latest in event technology ensuring superior performance, safety, and<br />
flexibility for a wide range of live outdoor productions.<br />
With a maximum load capacity of three tons plus PA wings, the MR2K can<br />
support extensive lighting rigs, sound systems, and intricate stage designs.<br />
The build also incorporated two 6×4 MILOS LSGO LED screen support<br />
structures on either side of the stage with full video projection and live stage<br />
feed during the event.<br />
Feedback: Dave Jeffery, UK brand manager of Milos & Xstage, said: “We are<br />
delighted to have supplied Sussex Events with the MILOS MR2K roof system<br />
integrated onto the Layher event deck. The combination of MILOS and Layher<br />
systems forms the ultimate structure for these large outdoor music festivals<br />
and gigs. The planned pre-build was a success, with Bob and his team already<br />
being a regular MILOS customer they knew exactly what they were doing,<br />
and this structure flew up in a matter of hours. Our additional capability as<br />
a Layher Technical Partner, meant that we could combine training on both<br />
systems at the same time.”<br />
The CORE ‘Wheel-Inn Cellar-in-a-box’ kit is a mobile fully<br />
featured cellar set up that allows you to dispense kegged<br />
beers and ciders whenever and wherever needed – in<br />
minutes!<br />
Easily integrated into CORE’s modular bar solution<br />
(pictured), it means you can have a professional bar set up<br />
for any event irrespective of location. The CORE ‘Wheel-<br />
Inn Cellar-in-a-box’ kit can dispense up to three different<br />
drinks and ensures that professionally dispensed, ice-cold<br />
beverages can be served so you are not limited to only<br />
bottled drinks.<br />
The kit is ideal for any situation where you need to serve<br />
kegged beers and ciders in a temporary location without<br />
the need for expert installation crews. Kits are available to<br />
purchase or rent by contacting the friendly CORE team.<br />
Market Leading Flooring<br />
Marquee Floors<br />
01787 372988<br />
info@marqueefloors.co.uk<br />
www.marqueefloors.co.uk<br />
Market leaders for the marquee industry with high<br />
quality traditional matting for use in marquees,<br />
party tents and indoor/outdoor exhibitions and<br />
functions. From Dandy Dura – the market leading<br />
polypropylene matting for marquee flooring in the<br />
UK – through to Dandy Coco, Dandy Weave and<br />
some essential glamping and sundry products<br />
to ensure your event or structure has the perfect<br />
finishing touch.<br />
We offer a bespoke service with most of our<br />
ranges available in any size or bespoke shape<br />
complete with binding and eyelets.<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 55
Spot light<br />
A roundup of products for the<br />
outdoor hospitality industry<br />
INTRODUCING “THE REFUGE”<br />
Bakland Cabins<br />
01472 852704<br />
info@baklandcabins.co.uk<br />
www.baklandcabins.co.uk<br />
A quirky, but roomy cabin that<br />
sleeps two, with a separate,<br />
spacious double bedroom, ensuite<br />
shower, storage and living<br />
area. This cabin design was<br />
originally inspired by a love of<br />
alpine refuges and surf shacks with<br />
all their weathered charm, offering<br />
shelter, warmth and protection<br />
from the elements after a day in<br />
the great outdoors. Presented<br />
with traditional décor, in either<br />
a rustic or coastal finish with a<br />
choice of cladding. A kitchen,<br />
built-in seating and dining area<br />
with feature windows provides a<br />
stylish, atmospheric, and relaxing<br />
area to eat, drink and unwind. Also<br />
available as a micro unit.<br />
PERFO GROUND REINFORCEMENT<br />
SYSTEM<br />
S2T Group<br />
01992 522797<br />
www.perfo.co.uk<br />
S2T Group’s PERFO range of<br />
ground protection products<br />
comprises a system of interlocking,<br />
self-anchoring permeable plastic<br />
tiles which are embedded into an<br />
existing surface, eg. a mature grass<br />
area or prepared base consisting of<br />
a layer of crushed stone chippings,<br />
depending on the application.<br />
A number of light to heavy duty<br />
solutions are available to suit<br />
varied ground conditions, traffic<br />
profiles and loading requirements.<br />
Unlike other geogrid systems,<br />
PERFO tiles are usually installed<br />
without the need for excavation,<br />
being compacted directly into the<br />
existing surface using rollers or<br />
compactor plates. Installation is<br />
therefore rapid and planning issues<br />
less problematic.<br />
ODOURLESS PUMP OUT TOILET<br />
NatSol<br />
01686 412653<br />
info@natsol.co.uk<br />
www.natsol.co.uk<br />
The NatSol Zero Discharge 2 is an<br />
odourless pump out toilet taking<br />
around 5,000 uses before you need<br />
to service it. Compare that to a<br />
typical Portaloo! It is a permanently<br />
installed wheelchair accessible<br />
toilet for outdoor activity sites<br />
where ongoing use is expected.<br />
We can supply buildings for this<br />
toilet or you could design and<br />
construct your own with our<br />
guidance. Every toilet comes<br />
complete with grab rails, gel<br />
dispensers, urinal and passive<br />
ventilation system.<br />
Installation can usually be achieved<br />
in a day on a typical site. Road<br />
access is essential for installation<br />
and servicing.<br />
Classified Directory<br />
C RE®<br />
BAR& EVENTHIRE<br />
STYLISH CUSTOMISABLE BAR RENTAL<br />
DRY HIRE OR FULL SERVICE<br />
T: 0845 299 <strong>64</strong>99 - E: sales@core-barandeventhire.com<br />
www.core-barandeventhire.com<br />
56 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM<br />
Advert - small.indd 1 16/04/2021 16:04:43
Classified Directory<br />
When Nature Calls<br />
sales@leesan.com<br />
T: 01295 770000<br />
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• Sewage Treatment •<br />
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Innovative products<br />
for Temporary Structure installations<br />
• Structure Support and Levelling<br />
• Modular Steps & Ramps<br />
• Balustrades<br />
• Cassette Floors<br />
• Bespoke Engineering<br />
+44 121 526 6060<br />
info@regenteng.com<br />
www.floorstak.com<br />
Closing down sale<br />
all tents at cost, plus<br />
domain & website for sale.<br />
Contact Steven 07565949526<br />
Glampingtentsforsale.co.uk<br />
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 57
PEOPLE<br />
Behind the Scenes<br />
Shauna O’brien<br />
‘Down the rabbit hole’ with the creator of the Lancashire<br />
glamping sensation, Wonderland Retreats<br />
WONDERLAND RETREATS opened in May<br />
2023 and no two days are ever the same.<br />
We allow for one-night stays which means<br />
change overs happen daily. I manage a team<br />
of amazing cleaners which receive nothing<br />
but 5* cleanliness reviews. Our guests have<br />
the option to make their stay extra special by<br />
adding on optional packages which include<br />
champagne, chocolates, rose petals and<br />
lots more which I organise; we’ve had three<br />
proposals in the last six months!<br />
Day to day, social media is a massive<br />
part of our growth with 31k followers on<br />
Instagram and 15k on TikTok and climbing.<br />
Creating engaging daily content is my<br />
strength. Our social media has grown rapidly<br />
showing behind the scenes videos and site<br />
walk arounds; everyone loves to know what<br />
we’re up to and what crazy idea I have next.<br />
I’m naturally a creative person and the<br />
site has been all designed by myself from<br />
sourcing fabric, making our own beds, to<br />
hand sticking pink feathers onto walls – we<br />
want to give our guests a unique experience<br />
and the wow factor when they walk through<br />
the doors.<br />
Each pod is completely unique and a lot<br />
of time and thought has gone into each to<br />
give a unique spin on Alice in Wonderland.<br />
We’re currently in the process of starting our<br />
second site, Hidden Hills Luxury Glamping,<br />
which will be open by the end of the year! I’m<br />
already in the process of designing each pod<br />
with Lune Valley Pods, which is very exciting.<br />
They will be very luxurious but completely<br />
different to Wonderland Retreats. Each<br />
pod will be unique which I believe makes<br />
guests want to come back and keeps the<br />
excitement alive.<br />
Wonderland Retreats is nearly fully<br />
booked for the whole year, which still<br />
blows my mind! We are hoping to open<br />
sites up and down the country. Although<br />
I am extremely busy with the new site,<br />
I still personally email all our guests at<br />
Wonderland Retreats. We operate a selfcheck-in<br />
service with guests being sent a<br />
guidebook with all the information they’ll<br />
need to work everything in the pod and<br />
make the site run smoothly.<br />
We’re so proud of how much we have<br />
grown in our first year in business and we’ve<br />
received nothing but amazing reviews which<br />
again I’m very proud of! I’m constantly<br />
looking to improve the site and we’ll be<br />
introducing an honesty shop which will be<br />
stocked with lots of local produce to help<br />
support local businesses.<br />
Taking the leap and opening Wonderland<br />
Retreats was the best decision I ever made.<br />
I have two babies, who are one and two,<br />
and it gives me the flexibility to work but<br />
also spend time with my children. They are<br />
also great helpers but love eating all the<br />
biscuits that are for the guests! Being only<br />
28 I have so much planned for the future of<br />
Wonderland Retreats and we’re only just<br />
getting started. I know in the near future we<br />
will be known for operating some of the best<br />
glamping sites in the UK! Watch this space.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Wonderland Retreats<br />
North road<br />
Carnforth<br />
Lancashire LA61AA<br />
www.wonderlandretreats.co.uk<br />
58 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
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