Staycations, our new business, help and feedback appreciated
Discussion
egor110 said:
Meat wise, if you want to make profit you need to get in with the local farmers and buy from them.
ie £40-£50 for half a lamb which you'd then sell on , pheasants and game are dirt cheap because on a shoot they end shooting too much.
With the lodges maybe link up and provide luxury digs for shooting parties?
Oh yes I wouldn’t be going to Tesco or the farm shop and buying off the shelf, I would try and go directly to the source and get the freshest produce and hopefully at a decent price. ie £40-£50 for half a lamb which you'd then sell on , pheasants and game are dirt cheap because on a shoot they end shooting too much.
With the lodges maybe link up and provide luxury digs for shooting parties?
Good idea with the shooting parties, wherever we buy i will be making a real effort to establish relationships with all of the local businesses as it could be a mutually beneficial business relationship both ways.
BoRED S2upid said:
If you keep one dog free and allow special dispensation for well behaved 2 year olds you can count me in.
If it's a total ban on children then count me in in about 15 years time.
Best of luck.
Thanks for the positive words If it's a total ban on children then count me in in about 15 years time.
Best of luck.
for obvious reasons if we advertise as adults only we would have to 100% stick to that, which will be hard, turning away willing and paying customers but that’s the model.Im sure you can find a babysitter for a dirty weekend away
geeks said:
I really like the sound of this, where when do I book? 
2017 most probably, I'll update this tread along the journey 21TonyK said:
If I was going away with the Mrs and my dog I would love the same level of freedom for her (the dog!!) as she has at home. Open the back door and let her go. Not having to keep her cooped up inside. Not an easy one to do but a massive selling point. Your dog has the ability to roam freely in your own private grounds?
Also, more realistically, offer a private hire chef to cook for the couple in their cabin. Luxury breakfast deliveries and high-end hampers for lunch. I wouldn't pay for it myself (being a chef!) but I know people who are happy to pay £100's per head for a private chef to do a 5 course tasting menu in private accommodation.
Yes another poster on the first page mentioned about fencing off the plots so dogs can roam free, its a very good point and something we would look to do for sure. Last thing you want is to put your dog on a lead and go for a pee walk at midnight. Also, more realistically, offer a private hire chef to cook for the couple in their cabin. Luxury breakfast deliveries and high-end hampers for lunch. I wouldn't pay for it myself (being a chef!) but I know people who are happy to pay £100's per head for a private chef to do a 5 course tasting menu in private accommodation.
In regards to the Chef, as ive mentioned above I would be looking to build rapports with lots of local business's and a in-house chef would be a good one to offer, as well as activities like off roading, clay shooting, sports/supercar hire, cider making/tours, wine tasting evenings and lots more, they are completely optional so the more I can offer for people to pick from the better.
thainy77 said:
I think it's a great idea and i think too many people are getting hung up on the dog thing, about 25% of UK households have dogs and it's difficult to find dog friendly places.
Perhaps some kind of onsite kennel would be an option so the lodges don't get that "dog smell"?
I wonder if perhaps the way to market this is as a dog holiday, but with the owners allowed to stay as guests of the dog.Perhaps some kind of onsite kennel would be an option so the lodges don't get that "dog smell"?
(Me and Mrs H are dog lovers but not owners, we'd book a dog free one if there was that option)
Aside from buying the house and land, I wonder what you think the investment is and how long it would take to pay back and start getting a revenue stream?
I keep looking at this place, which suggests each of the 3 cottages brings in £10k pa.
https://www.onthemarket.com/details/1683207/
thainy77 said:
Perhaps some kind of onsite kennel would be an option so the lodges don't get that "dog smell"?
That would put me off completely. I only go to places that are dog friendly not just dog tolerant. OP having dogs knows that doggie has to be on holiday too. Not stuck in kennels away from owners. In the welcome pack will you be having some doggie treats and maps of nice walks etc. You could even make doggie "beer" basically a beef stock.
desolate said:
it's a lovely idea but isn't the cost of putting in services going to be prohibitive?
Thats going to be one of the hardest things to overcome, however I think ive managed to narrow the services required to electric and fresh water, these can be spurred from the main house (providing they are upto scratch) and run in underground trenches.Grey water will be delt with by a soakaway and there will be a septic tank for waste.
No need for gas/oil etc as there will be an electric water heater and electric heating, as well as a log burning stove.
There are various other options but these are my first thoughts.
We know these are not going to be cheap to build, but hopefully worth it!
Petrol Only said:
That would put me off completely. I only go to places that are dog friendly not just dog tolerant. OP having dogs knows that doggie has to be on holiday too. Not stuck in kennels away from owners.
In the welcome pack will you be having some doggie treats and maps of nice walks etc. You could even make doggie "beer" basically a beef stock.
Oh yes, If we are going to be dog friendly then we will do it properly, there will be ground rules though, not on sofa/chairs or in the bedroom for example.In the welcome pack will you be having some doggie treats and maps of nice walks etc. You could even make doggie "beer" basically a beef stock.
And of course, there will be homemade goodies for both 2 legged and 4 legged guests (if one booked).
sidekickdmr said:
Oh yes, If we are going to be dog friendly then we will do it properly, there will be ground rules though, not on sofa/chairs or in the bedroom for example.
That will never work.The best way would be to have a pet free one as the one with dogs will definitely dilapidate more quickly.
Centre Parcs do something similar.
mybrainhurts said:
sidekickdmr said:
Genuine question, considering "camping" is normally a small pitch on a field with acess to communial washing facilities, no noise or fun to be had past 10pm and a club house run by Janice and Clive the 70 year old retired couple from sheffield, how would you distuinguish yourself from this in one word?
If you wanted a pre set up, thick canvas walled tipi with log buring stove, decking, 4 posted double bed, ensuite bathroom with a copper roll top bath and flushing toilet what would you suggest I call it? What would you search google for?
I thought it was known as a yurt or, if solid walled, a lodge would do the trick...If you wanted a pre set up, thick canvas walled tipi with log buring stove, decking, 4 posted double bed, ensuite bathroom with a copper roll top bath and flushing toilet what would you suggest I call it? What would you search google for?
Excellent idea by the way, I'd be rather tempted by this
desolate said:
That will never work.
The best way would be to have a pet free one as the one with dogs will definitely dilapidate more quickly.
Centre Parcs do something similar.
Yes there will be one or even 2 that are completely dog free, so you have the option The best way would be to have a pet free one as the one with dogs will definitely dilapidate more quickly.
Centre Parcs do something similar.
And I know some owners will have dogs on the bed/sofa etc regardless, but at least if we set the ground rules out clearly, if someone takes the mick and the sofa/bed is covered in mud and dog hair etc or a sofa is marked by claws, we can charge a cleaning/repair charge (Will be set out in the T&C's and welcome pack).
I think its only fair that I allow their dogs to come, on the proviso that they show a little respect.
Edited by sidekickdmr on Wednesday 27th January 10:53
Petrol Only said:
That would put me off completely. I only go to places that are dog friendly not just dog tolerant. OP having dogs knows that doggie has to be on holiday too. Not stuck in kennels away from owners.
In the welcome pack will you be having some doggie treats and maps of nice walks etc. You could even make doggie "beer" basically a beef stock.
I'm a dog owner too and agree they should be on vacation and should have free run of the acre you book but a nice kennel next to the lodge for sleeping wouldn't be a bad thing. In the welcome pack will you be having some doggie treats and maps of nice walks etc. You could even make doggie "beer" basically a beef stock.
What if you have been out all day and get caught in the rain and your dog is filthy, it would be hard to maintain the lodge if that happened regularly.
thainy77 said:
Petrol Only said:
That would put me off completely. I only go to places that are dog friendly not just dog tolerant. OP having dogs knows that doggie has to be on holiday too. Not stuck in kennels away from owners.
In the welcome pack will you be having some doggie treats and maps of nice walks etc. You could even make doggie "beer" basically a beef stock.
I'm a dog owner too and agree they should be on vacation and should have free run of the acre you book but a nice kennel next to the lodge for sleeping wouldn't be a bad thing. In the welcome pack will you be having some doggie treats and maps of nice walks etc. You could even make doggie "beer" basically a beef stock.
What if you have been out all day and get caught in the rain and your dog is filthy, it would be hard to maintain the lodge if that happened regularly.
When he comes back filthy, a quick hose of his undercarriage (whilst blasting off the wellies) followed by a brisk towelling down does the trick, so a generous supply of dog towels would be to the advantage of all.....
market it more towards women, its the sort of place that my mrs is always looking out for and dragging me to. For me it would always be city breaks or action. So for the photos, bubble bath, candles, fluffy towels....
No sort of phone signal would be an absolute deal breaker for me too.
No sort of phone signal would be an absolute deal breaker for me too.
I think there is way too much talk about whether dogs should or shouldn't be allowed unless you are aiming directly at dog owners as your core business. If you are then you are counting out the vast majority of couples as most don't have a dog or want to be near them.
The dog decision can come later after you've established if you think there is a market for a luxury break of this nature.
The core business of people paying say £500 for a weekend break needs to stack up and pay the bills plus provide a return.
I think talk of dogs, hampers, chefs coming in, cider talks is only going to distract.
Put a hat on of a cold, hard businessperson and forget what people say they will do and pay look at what they ACTUALLY do.
Then write a realistic three year business plan and see if it delivers what you want.
The dog decision can come later after you've established if you think there is a market for a luxury break of this nature.
The core business of people paying say £500 for a weekend break needs to stack up and pay the bills plus provide a return.
I think talk of dogs, hampers, chefs coming in, cider talks is only going to distract.
Put a hat on of a cold, hard businessperson and forget what people say they will do and pay look at what they ACTUALLY do.
Then write a realistic three year business plan and see if it delivers what you want.
Edited by Thankyou4calling on Wednesday 27th January 19:48
Sounds a great concept but my initial thought was that to do it well you'd be seriously struggling to make a profit... Depends how 'high end' your pricing will be. Watching with interest, I'd love to do something similar in the future as my mum has a little money to invest and I need a new occupation.
We have a one bed holiday cottage and take dogs. We've found that the majority of our guests are nearly/early retirees with dogs (which might be due to the decor...) and they mostly leave the place spotless. We have had a couple of people who really haven't though.
I suspect the dog friendly/high end cabin market is very limited, and as you've seen some being put off by the potential for dog smells (we clean our place properly so it really isn't an issue.) and people with dogs generally have kids.
ETA we've been solidly booked from Easter to October, with some other bookings and I think £10k a cabin is optimistic.
I suspect the dog friendly/high end cabin market is very limited, and as you've seen some being put off by the potential for dog smells (we clean our place properly so it really isn't an issue.) and people with dogs generally have kids.
ETA we've been solidly booked from Easter to October, with some other bookings and I think £10k a cabin is optimistic.
Edited by Bill on Wednesday 27th January 22:35
Until a couple of years ago we owned a site in Mid Wales which had a couple of Wigwams on (the wooden type look like an upturned boat..) they cost approx 10k each so i too reckon similar for a 'proper' cabin is optimistic. Great idea/lifestyle but really depends on the numbers stacking up and whether or not you are 'living the dream' or are in it to make money !
Great idea and 100% somewhere we would visit.
Stayed here last year, very impressed. May give you some pointers / ideas.
Possibly same sort of vision but totally different end of the country.
www.eaglebrae.co.uk
Stayed here last year, very impressed. May give you some pointers / ideas.
Possibly same sort of vision but totally different end of the country.
www.eaglebrae.co.uk
tighnamara said:
Great idea and 100% somewhere we would visit.
Stayed here last year, very impressed. May give you some pointers / ideas.
Possibly same sort of vision but totally different end of the country.
www.eaglebrae.co.uk
That looks an amazing place.Stayed here last year, very impressed. May give you some pointers / ideas.
Possibly same sort of vision but totally different end of the country.
www.eaglebrae.co.uk
I can't imagine what it would cost to set up and the effort involved in obtaining the requisite permissions.
You would need very deep pockets to get close to that.
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