| Glamping
How to diversify
into Glamping
In this hectic high tech world, it’s not surprising that
Glamping has proved so popular. The term, which blends
Glamorous and Camping, has even just been added to the
Oxford English Dictionary. Many Landowners with a
scenic spot to spare are finding this is a lucrative way to
diversify, not least because they can start small with a
couple of tents and gradually grow the business.
oldscan’s Albion
Canvas range has
been at the
forefront of the
Glamping trend,
as well as being
able to advise on everything from
the positioning of the tents to
planning permission, green
finance, making, setting up and
kitting out, then maintaining the
structure.
Albion’s products have evolved
from traditional Safari style tents,
to futuristic Geodesic Domes, plus
the new contemporary Etosha
range. Boldscan has also
developed a Clubhouse to use as
shop, tearoom or activity centre.
The structures are hand made at
the Somerset factory using high
quality British canvas and can be
equipped with wood burning
stoves, kitchens and en-suite
bathrooms – hence the
Glamorous.
Tommy Noel launched The
Gathering in an idyllic setting at
the start of the Pennine Way in
April. The sheep farm has been in
the family for around 400 years
and the upkeep of the listed
buildings meant that extra income
had to be generated.
The Gathering offers four safari
tents, plus a Victorian shooting
lodge, sleeping 32 in total. One of
the Tsavo tents has been widened
and adapted to ensure complete
accessibility throughout, with the
help of a wheelchair bound friend.
Bookings are already excellent
throughout the summer, mostly for
groups taking over the whole site,
and the website has only been live
for a few months.
Boldscan also helped
Francesca Newell to set up
Monmouthshire’s first site, The
Seven Hills Hideaway. Her family
had tended the 110 acre farm with
its 16th Century farmhouse for
several generations. When the
unmodernised farm passed to her
mother, they wanted to keep the
farm in the family and researched
ways of diversifying.
To get the low down, marketing
expert Bella Given runs courses
and bespoke consultations –
“Learnings from Longlands” Bella
started with three safari tents in
B
2012 and generated 95%
occupancy in the first year and a
turnover of almost £200k in year
two. It is no surprise that
24 | Farming Monthly | August 2016
The Kora
Seven Hills Hideaway
Longlands is the bench mark for
successful Glamping.
Boldscan, Managing Director,
Steve Hansford, has witnessed the
rapid growth of sites in the UK.
“There are still plenty of pockets of
the UK where Glamping would be
very successful.” He commented.
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