The idea sparked from a gap in the market...
Let's rewind to 2016, Andrew and Carol had just relocated to Great Mitton in the Ribble Valley, and with their new home came a few acres of land, so there were a few initial thoughts about what to with this, but NO-ONE COULD HAVE FORESEEN THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY THAT LAY AHEAD!
In 2018 when daughter Elouise was booked to get married at Mitton Hall, the family soon found a challenge on their hands to accommodate many wedding guests in the area. As the Ribble Valley is such a beautiful place, there are an abundance of stunning venues, however lots of local accommodation places at that time were wedding venues themselves, already booked up with wedding guests, or other options were simply not the standard of accommodation you wanted your nearest and dearest staying in. This was when BUSINESSMAN AND ENTREPRENEUR ANDREW HAD A LIGHT BULB MOMENT. He had spotted a gap in the market for some high-end accommodation in this beautiful area.
In 2019 Andrew and Carol decided it was time to sell their successful wholesale business in Blackburn. They had built this up from scratch for over 30 years and sadly it was time to say goodbye and focus on themselves and the next chapter in Mitton! What set out to be a SMALL RETIREMENT PROJECT SOON SNOWBALLED INTO A MUCH BIGGER ADVENTURE!
With the capital they had gained from the sale of their previous business, they had some good investments to get them started. Firstly, they needed some inspiration so eagerly got themselves off to an array of accommodation fairs, looking at options from caravans to shepherds' huts. Both Carol and Andrew have an eye for quality and aesthetics and when they came across a manufacturer they liked they were excited to look at designs. It was a lodge manufacturer with a distinctive style that caught their attention. They conducted a lot of market research and visited some popular lodge locations in the UK, speaking with park owners about the trials and tribulations of what they were getting themselves into!
The next crucial step was applying for planning permission, which they knew might be the first hurdle. The plot of land in question is set in a picturesque rural landscape, adjacent to a working farm and bordering the Forest of Bowland AONB. With the initial application for 3 lodges refused, the council proposed a surprisingly larger scale project to encourage more tourism in the area. This meant that to grant planning permission the couple needed to agree to a minimum of 10 units! AND THAT WAS THE MOMENT BOWLAND RETREAT LODGES WAS BORN! It was full steam ahead commencing with groundworks in the summer of 2019.
It swiftly changed from a simple field with grazing sheep to a site full of diggers, tractors and huge mounds of earth and rocks! CAROL WAS BEGINNING TO WONDER WHAT SHE HAD STARTED!
The subsequent challenge involved securing utility access to the site, including electricity, gas, and water, which proved to be a complex endeavour. This required obtaining permission from several farmers to install water taps and erect electric pylons, among other tasks. That's a tale for another day!
Transitioning from a modest retirement side-line to a full-time business venture required enhancing the team and bringing in some marketing support. That's when daughter Elouise eagerly jumped aboard. Getting started on designing a website, creating a brand, conducting market research on booking platforms and importantly creating an online presence and initializing a social media journey. Elouise was invested from the start and became a crucial part of the team. THIS CORE TRIO WERE DETERMINED TO MAKE THIS IDEA COME TO LIFE but not only that, create something special and thriving.
Early 2020, the COVID pandemic struck and this became an added factor in the challenging journey for this business and the family. However, it was the fun part which followed - designing the perfect lodge! After conducting their market research, Andrew had a clear vision for lodge number one; a luxury one bedroom open plan lodge with a striking extravagant bathroom. The family team got to work around the kitchen table with paper and pencil to work out the best floorplan and layout to deliver the ideal guest experience.
The couple spent much time corresponding with the lodge manufacturer to ensure the lodge was designed exactly how they envisaged. Travelling to Carlisle (manufacturer location) for meetings to discuss colour schemes, kitchen units, worktops, flooring, taps, beds and sofas. There were many debates in the family about the finer details, with Elouise and Carol having a similar style preference and Andrew wanting to stand out with some bold tile choices and top end fixtures and fittings. The family made choices on literally everything, down to the position of the plug sockets, which cupboard handles they wanted and the best pendant lighting to create the perfect ambiance. Whilst lodge number one was in construction, the team were underway with plans for number 2, a contemporary spacious 2 bedroom lodge suitable for families and friends. All the while, fighting with site infrastructure difficulties. Carol and Andrew are certainly a hands-on couple and became the project managers on site. This was extremely tiring and required them to oversee all groundworks activities. With such reliance on a range of tradesmen all turning up at the right time it became a huge frustration for Andrew to co-ordinate plans.
The start up faced numerous challenges, from water leaks to internet connection problems, testing everyone involved. With minimal experience in this area of work, the family trio learned on the job, relying on neighbours, family, friends, and acquaintances they had met along the way for guidance and support. Gradually, everything was falling into place; the site was taking form, and the website was becoming both attractive and functional. Everyone was nervous but enthusiastic about getting things operational!
Late 2020, the time had finally come for the first lodge to arrive! An exceedingly nerve-wracking time for the family. The lodge arrives in 2 halves, then gets positioned and winched together to secure. With only a few centimetres either side of the entrance for the vehicle to get through it was immensely tight! But EXTREMELY EXCITING TO SEE TO SEE THE PLANS COME TO LIFE.
Soon after, the first three lodges were sited, and project managers were actively designing custom decking for each one, installing Jacuzzi hot tubs, and choosing the finest paving stones to create a welcoming entrance for each lodge. Elouise focused on developing the website and testing booking forms and calendars to ensure a user-friendly and seamless booking experience for guests. Simultaneously, she handled all the required health and safety procedures, created policies, and established site rules. It was indeed a hectic period for the team!
The first five lodges were set to open in Summer 2021, and the Covid pandemic unexpectedly worked in their favour. With travel restrictions preventing people from going abroad, many opted for staycations in the UK. As a result, the season began fully booked!
Fast forward to today, the lodge park has been operational for 3 years, now featuring nine unique lodges, an increasing number of returning customers, and the team has expanded by adding 2 new staff members as the business grows.
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