Holiday Parks Management | June 2019

Holiday Parks & FARM ATTRACTIONS Management FREERANGE

FARM

diversification may/June 2019 • Issue 38

incorporating

FOR RURAL RETAIL

G Food and Entertainment G Protect Your Business

from Cyber Crime G Take Cashless Payments G Managing Payroll

OUTDOOR

furniture

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Holiday Parks

Management This is an incredibly exciting time for tourism. The rules are changing and sustainable travel is front and centre. Holidaymakers want to make the most of the precious time they can spend with loved ones. They want the option to 'disconnect to reconnect’, they don’t want to queue, they want to eat local, sleep well and go away with a real impression of the place they have visited. More than anything, they want to make sure that their kids and grandkids can enjoy the same opportunities to enjoy wonderful holidays for generations to come.

There are so many incredible rural tourism businesses that we write about, holiday parks, glamping sites, farm shops, attractions and more that it made sense to bring them all together into one publication. We hope you will be inspired - as we are.

Steph Editor

What’s in this issue?

04 park news 13 protecting your business against cyber crime

14 taking cashless payments 20 plans for a £50m holiday park in Cornwall 22 payroll for holiday and caravan parks 24 indoor entertainment 32 outdoor furniture 35 free range news - farm shop round-up 40 farm shop and deli show report 42 diversification - essential to farming success

Published by: Upgrade Publishing Ltd. t: 07887 928819. Registered Business: 47 Oliver Close, London, W4 3RL Other Publications: International Glamping Business - www.glampingbusiness.com Publisher: Upgrade Publishing Ltd. Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Editor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh t: 07887 928819 e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Reporter: William Rusbridge Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: + 44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com Design: Dean Coulter, Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk www.holididayparksmanagement.com Other Events: The Glamping Show - www.glampingshow.com © Upgrade Publishing 2018. No part of this publication may be reproduced nor stored in a retrieval system by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.

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parkNews Atlas Leisure Homes MBO Andrew Innes, Managing Director of Atlas Leisure Homes Ltd has announced the sale of the business, to the Management buyout team for an undisclosed sum. The private limited company founded by the three current shareholders, Andrew Innes, Bruce Harry and Barry Pattison in 2009 have disposed of 100% of the company’s shareholding to the MBO team.

The business will continue trading as Atlas Leisure Homes under the new management team consisting of Steven McGawn, Colin Jeffery and Philip Spark.

Andrew Innes will remain engaged with the business for a period of 12 months as a consultant to the new MBO team.

Andy Innes, one of the founding

shareholders of Atlas, said: “For over 30 years, Atlas has been built on strong values and has grown a reputation as one of the leaders in our sector. We’re proud to leave the business in the safe hands of a management team which knows and understands it, and will continue to deliver first class products and first-class service to our loyal base of customers.”

The new management team, supported by HSBC, Mazars, BDO and Gately Plc in the transaction will continue with Atlas Leisure Homes’ strategy of continually developing its quality product range and steadily growing its business. Plus, with the introduction of lean manufacturing

Guests give thumbs up to Park Holidays UK Guests at Park Holidays UK say they enjoy a gold standard of service, and have put the group among a small elite of Britain's most outstanding holiday providers.

That's because, thanks to customers' comments, the company is now the proud bearer of the prestigious 2019 Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award.

Feefo's top-level award is made to companies which allow customers to post unedited reviews via its website, and then go on to achieve an exceptionally high scoring.

In 2018, said Feefo, almost all of the guests delivering their verdict on Park Holidays UK gave it a rating of 4.5 or 5 – the maximum score – based on their experiences.

Feefo is one of the world's most trusted independent review websites, and carries a special weight as only customers verified as genuine are permitted to comment.

Guests are allowed to score the company on any aspect, from how easily a booking can be made to the standards of accommodation and the quality of the entertainment.

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techniques and new technologies driving efficiencies they plan to relocate in the future to a new manufacturing facility on the recently acquired former Birds Eye site.

Speaking on the MBO. Phil Spark commented. “This is the next chapter in the history of Atlas Leisure Homes and will provide every employee with the opportunity to thrive and grow the business we all know and hold close to our hearts. It’s about looking after each other and doing the right thing for the business”.

Awards spotlight for Norfolk park declared Britain's best Tourism chiefs from across the UK gathered recently to see Norfolk's familyowned Searles Leisure Resort officially crowned as Britain's Holiday Centre of the Year by the AA.

The Hunstanton park took the overall title in the AA Caravan and Camping Awards which was celebrated at a glittering ceremony at Warwickshire's Manor Hotel.

Stepping forward to receive the trophy was Paul Searle and his wife Vicky whose family first began welcoming campers over 60 years ago onto what was then a farm.

Searles has since grown to become one of Eastern England's largest and best-loved holiday centres.

It provides more than 800 holiday home and touring pitches, including luxury lodges to buy and rent, plus a raft of familyfriendly attractions and outdoor activities.

parkNews

Landal GreenParks Becomes UK’s Fastest Growing Lodge Holiday Company Landal GreenParks, the European holiday resort specialist, has become the UK’s fastest growing lodge holiday business with bookings, revenue and capacity all increasing by over 200% in the last two years.

In 2019 alone the business has seen a 23% increase in bookings and a record Easter as holidaymakers discover the new resort concept, which offers top quality accommodation and on-site facilities situated on the doorstep of the UK’s best loved outdoor spaces.

“We are delighted with the last two years growth,” said Paul Hardingham, Managing Director of Landal GreenParks UK. “When we brought the concept to the UK we were confident it would appeal to British holidaymakers, as there wasn’t anything offering the same experience, but we’ve been astounded by the popularity of the five locations and we know we are currently outperforming a very competitive lodge and holiday park marketplace.”

“Not only have we seen strong demand from the domestic audience we’ve also seen increased inbound growth, particularly in Scotland. Guests from across Europe, where Landal GreenParks has 88 resorts across nine countries, are keen to explore the UK offering through a holiday experience they know and love, and as a consequence we’ve seen a 33% growth in bookings from overseas.”

“The next stage for us is to add more resorts within the UK to build on our successes, and we have new location launches planned for this year and more in the pipeline for 2020.”

The first two Landal GreenParks were launched in the UK in 2017, with more resorts added in 2018. By the end of 2020 the business is aiming for 10 resorts within the UK. “The development of Landal GreenParks in the UK has been identified as a key area of growth for the group,” said Henrik Kjellberg, Group CEO of Awaze, Landal GreenParks’ parent company. “The brand has been a real success in mainland Europe, and we are confident that by working in partnership with investors and park owners we can achieve the same level of growth in the UK marketplace.”

Landal GreenParks UK has resorts in Cornwall, Peak District, Northumberland and Scotland, and offers a unique combination of on-park facilities and luxury accommodation with a strong outdoor focus on helping guests get closer to nature. The resorts also encourages holidaymakers to explore the local area on foot and by bike, making the most of outstanding the natural environments surrounding the parks.

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Hoburne Hideaway Lodges brought to market Hoburne Holiday Parks, one of the UK’s leading familyowned and run holiday park operators, has instructed real estate advisor, Savills, to work in partnership with them to bring its bespoke luxury Hideaway Lodges, based at Hoburne St Mabyn, Cornwall, to the market.

The Hideaway Lodges are exclusive to Hoburne and only available on its newest holiday park in the village of St Mabyn. Savills has partnered with Hoburne to market the lodges to second home buyers.

Hoburne St Mabyn has undergone the first phase of redevelopment to create an idyllic countryside and coastal escape, designed to offer lodge owners the opportunity to relax in a private and tranquil environment, while being part of a community.

The well-appointed two-bedroom, two-bathroom luxury lodges are each built to make the most of the outdoors with a central living area, framed by large glass windows, overlooking a private outdoor space for entertaining. Lodges are available in a choice of three interior design themes - country, coastal and New York loft style – and have the provision for hot tubs built into the private landscaped recreational space. The communal grounds will be maintained by Hoburne and there is also the facility to use the Hoburne fullymanaged letting service.

As standard, every lodge includes a fully-fitted kitchen, with features including a wine fridge. There is also a bespoke holiday letting service, enabling lodge owners to generate an income from their second home.

parkNews Chester holiday park's green team takes top award Green-fingered staff at a top-rated North Wales holiday park have been praised by botanist David Bellamy after they helped secure it a major environmental accolade.

Fir Trees Caravan and Lodge Park, based in tranquil countryside near Chester, was named this winter as a winner of the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

The family-owned holiday park also received an extra commendation from Professor Bellamy for its work to protect endangered honey bees.

A long list of green initiatives at Fir Trees resulted in it being selected for the conservation award which recognises the achievements of businesses championing sustainable tourism.

Led by general manager Darren Battersby, the park has planted thousands of high nectar-bearing flowers which provide vital

foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

David Bellamy also praised the management of two wildlife ponds in the grounds which act as a magnet for dragonflies and other aquatic species as well as a wide variety of bird life.

He commended too the park's use of low-level lighting which helps visitors to enjoy the night sky, and its harvesting of rainwater for irrigating plants.

The park's luxury holiday caravans and lodges – available to both buy and rent – were also singled out for their energy efficiency and high levels of insulation.

Fir Trees is owned by Adrian Townsend as part of his family's business which also includes Sun Valley Caravan Park in Rhuddlam and two major North Wales caravan distributors: Lloyds Caravan Sales and Roy Kellett Caravan Sales.

Tamar View Holiday Park Set to Expand Carnforth Park is crowned best in North West Staff and the family owners of Old Hall Caravan Park near Carnforth in Lancashire are celebrating after winning a top tourism accolade from the AA.

The park has been officially named as the 2019 Campsite of the Year for the North West, beating scores of other businesses in the region to the title.

Awards given by the AA – based on guest reviews and a "secret shopper" visit by inspectors - are regarded as the Oscars of the holiday parks industry.

After putting its facilities, services and hospitality under the microscope, the AA's experts said that Old Hall was successfully meeting the gold standard in every respect.

The presentation of the park's trophy was made at the recent AA Caravan and

Camping Awards which took place at a glittering ceremony at Warwickshire's Manor Hotel.

Stepping forward to receive the praise of judges were Dot Wightman and her husband David whose family first began welcoming holiday guests 35 years ago onto what was then a farm.

The 30-acre park's picture-postcard setting and tranquil woodland walks soon won it a large and loyal following, encouraging the family to invest in further developing the business.

Today Dot and David manage the park with their son James, and provide 260 caravan holiday homes and lodges, plus fullyserviced pitches for guests with touring caravan and motorhomes.

Tamar View Holiday Park (Cornwall Caravan Parks) has been given the green light to further develop the existing park in Gunnislake with 14 additional pitches, set to house seasonal tourers.

With far-reaching views of over 18 miles across Tamar Valley and beyond to Plymouth, Ian and Francesca James, owners of Cornwall Caravan Parks wanted to expand the accessibility to anyone wanting to experience the true beauty of Cornwall through offering new seasonal touring pitches in the coming months.

Owner Ian James said: “We are extremely excited to have been given the go ahead to develop up to 14 more pitches on unused land adjacent to our existing park. Working closely with the council and planning board we were able to get confirmation to extend our existing offering and further build upon Cornwall’s tourism trade.”

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parkNews Tingdene Opens New Visitor Centre Tingdene showcased its new Visitor Centre to both trade and public in separate events.

After months of intense work following a detailed design plan and much excitement as the brand new show homes were positioned, the team were thrilled to show off the new centre and product range.

Thomas Marshall honoured Tingdene by officially cutting the ribbon to open the new Visitor Centre.

Simon Baker, Head of Sales for Tingdene, helped mark the occasion with Thomas while guests looked on.

Thomas Marshall is well known and very active within the industry, holding the role of Branch Director of the North West Branch and National Vice Chairman of the BH&HPA.

The star of the show was their brand-new model, The Harrington, with its contemporary open plan living area and two spacious bedrooms. The colourways, textures and finishes selected for this new model made it an instant hit.

During both trade and public days factory tours provided an insight into the Tingdene production process and an opportunity to see the quality build standards that Tingdene are precious about.

The public open day welcomed many new visitors and also many visitors keen to revisit and view the new models. The new centre also offered them the opportunity to explore the dedicated Quickmove Properties section, where they could search for their ideal park location and plan their requirements with the Quickmove team.

Park Leisure Appoints New CEO Luxury holiday park operator, Park Leisure 2000 Ltd, has appointed Mark Harper as Chief Executive Officer.

Caravan parks raising money for life-saving defibrillators Nine caravan holiday home parks and a resort owned by award winning leisure company Salop Leisure are raising money to each buy a potentially life-saving defibrillator in 2019.

Company chairman Tony Bywater said the health and wellbeing of customers whilst holidaying on the parks was paramount.

“We want to do everything we can to look after the wellbeing of our customers whilst they are on holiday with us,” he added.

“Customer research has told us that they like the comfort of having a defibrillator available on the park and that is our target for 2019.

“Each park will be fundraising to provide a defibrillator with the company’s support.”

Health and wellbeing are the key themes that will be developed by the company’s Love2Stay resort and Love2Live boutique fitness studio,gym, purposebuilt bootcamp training facility and adventure centre in 2019.

Mark brings more than 30 years’ experience in hospitality and leisure to the role, gained in positions as Joint Managing Director at Bourne Leisure for Haven Caravan Parks and more recently, Chief Operating Officer at Parkdean Resorts. He is also a Non-Executive Director of the South Westbased restaurant chain, Hubbox.

Park Leisure 2000 Ltd operates a 12-strong portfolio of luxury holiday parks, with locations in Cornwall, Wales, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Herefordshire and Northumberland. The business recently expanded with the launch of a holiday offering to complement its ownership product, owing to demand from the growing UK staycation market.

Mark succeeds outgoing CEO and co-founder of Park Leisure, Miles Dewhurst, who stepped down in February following 20 years at the helm, but will remain as an active investor in the business.

Mark Harper said: “This is an exciting time to be part of a growing business. As a brand, we offer a real antidote to the intensity of many of our competitors - a more personalised experience with all practicalities taken care of.

“I have been hugely impressed with the standards on the parks. I am enthused by the clear goals that our General Managers and our park teams have and I can see that there are lots of opportunities for 2019. My job now is to make sure these teams have the right support to achieve these goals.”

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parkNews

Lancashire park flushed with pride Devon Park serves up Snappy Donkey Creek Farm Caravan Park on Lancashire's Fylde coast is officially one of the best place to "go" in Britain, according to judges of the annual Loo of the Year awards.

For the park's washrooms have been named as top platinum winners in the latest Loo of the Year awards, bringing a chain of honour to the family-run business.

The prestigious accolade was made to Donkey Creek after the shower and toilet facilities provided for guests were "mystery shopped" by inspectors.

Celebrating the news of the award are Paul Lancaster and his wife Jane who opened the park last summer in a quiet rural location near the market town of Freckleton.

One of their first tasks was a built a state-of-theart washroom facility for guests pitching up at the park with motorhomes, touring caravans and tents. Enabling them to spend a penny in fivestar surroundings cost around a third of a million pounds – and has helped earn Donkey Creek a raft of glowing reviews.

And Paul and Jane also know that their success is not just a flash in the pan because, they say, advance bookings for 2019 are "way beyond our expectations".

According to Paul, the washroom building simply mirrors what the park itself aspires to:

"Donkey Creek has a very special appeal to people who enjoy away-from-it-all holidays in gorgeous surroundings, and we've tried to provide the perfect backdrop for that," he said.

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Clothing range

Shell clothing has taken on a whole new meaning at Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, which has just launched its own exclusive range of casual wear.

Lobster Blue is the brand name of the park's first-ever collection of t-shirts and hoodies – and guests are already voting them a top choice for laid-back holidays.

Made from top-quality pure cotton and designed for easy care, the garments have a relaxed style and comfortable feel with a very distinctive look.

But the clothing's striking logo isn't just the creative inspiration of Ladram Bay's graphics designer, for it recalls an eye-opening incident at the park a few years ago.

It occurred when one of the directors of the family-owned business, Robin Carter, landed an actual blue lobster from one of the pots he had tended in the bay for over 60 years.

Robin's discovery sparked a media frenzy with BBC Television's Spotlight team quickly on the scene, together with a shoal of press reporters and photographers.

Experts put chances of such a catch at around two million to one as the bright blue colouring occurs only in a tiny number of lobsters with an unusual genetic make-up.

But although most of the lobsters caught by Robin find their way onto the menu at Ladram Bay's restaurant, this spectacular specimen earned a reprieve.

Larry – as he was christened – enjoyed his fifteen minutes of fame under the spotlight, and was then rowed back out to sea in the company of BBC's film crew and released.

Now Larry's escape from the thermidor is being celebrated once again as grown-ups and youngsters chill out in the park's new clothing sporting his image.

Protecting your business against

CYBER CRIME

Compass reviews the very real risk that cyber crime poses to park businesses It is hard to exaggerate the damage a cyber attack could inflict on a park business.

A fraudulent email, for example, can release ransomware, viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, adware, crimeware and scareware. Any of these can crush a park’s operations by interrupting normal services and stealing information and data.

Cyber criminals are constantly developing their techniques, making it hugely challenging to spot a fraudulent email. For parks with employees, preventing one slip by one individual 24/7 can be very difficult to manage.

Fraudulent emails are not the only challenge parks face. A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is designed to make a service inaccessible. One that targets a park’s online booking platform could spell disaster, especially during busy booking periods when significant revenue could be lost.

leave the business. Some other areas to consider will include: n Keeping IT inventories n Keeping up-to-date records on IT systems access n Conducting regular IT Health Checks n Keeping on top of IT management – who is responsible for supervising and checking all the above? Remember holiday/sickness/maternity cover.

Finally, some estimates suggest over 90% of successful cyber breaches occur due to simple human error. A lack of IT security awareness from your staff could allow others to commit fraud against your customers via data you hold on them (the Information Commissioner’s Office suggest that 80% of all data breaches involve staff in some way).

Cyber-specific insurance cover

A successful hacking attack can also compromise stored data on customers, employees, contractors, products, strategic plans, sensitive data and commercial data.

This data is often then sold on to fraudsters. Hacking also has the potential of putting the operation of systems which control physical infrastructure at risk.

Nowadays even the most clued-up of businesses is still vulnerable to a cyber attack. As a result, parks are increasingly buying specialised cyber insurance policies to supplement their existing insurance arrangements, particularly if they: n hold sensitive customer details such as names and addresses or banking information n rely heavily on IT systems and websites to conduct their business n process payment card information as a matter of course.

Cyber criminals aside, it is often those inside your park business that could inflict the most damage. Disgruntled existing or past employees are of significant risk not least because they are familiar with a park’s operations and processes, and how to bypass them. They may also have access to your assets. Parks should sever employees’ access immediately after they

A good insurance account executive should be able to highlight any areas of cover you may need to consider. Add-on cyber insurance cover is widely available, but as with all insurance quality can vary and from an economical perspective, it would be sensible for parks to seek out add on products that “wrap around” their existing cover.

First-party cyber insurance covers your business’s own assets. This may include the costs of: n conducting an IT investigation following a data breach, security breach or damage to data n restoring data following a data security breach n payment of a ransom to end a credible threat to release confidential data or introduce malicious code n loss of profit due to the availability of computer systems being impaired.

Third-party cyber insurance covers the assets of others too, typically your customers. This may include (in addition to features such as in the above first-party cover): n legal liability claims arising from a data breach, security breach n cost to provide notification to affected data subjects and crisis communications support n insurable fines and defence costs related to a regulatory action following a data breach.

Many insurers, including Compass, include technical assistance with managing a breach as part of the insurance policy.

Keeping up with cyber crime “trends”, learning how to protect your IT systems and training ALL staff to be vigilant is important for all parks. UK businesses are fortunate to have a wealth of free guidance and support available to them to assist in risk assessing and managing their IT security. A good place to start is the “get safe Online” website https://www.getsafeonline.org/business/ Park owners and managers are welcome to contact the Compass team for free, impartial cyber insurance support on 0344 274 0277.

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cashless Payments E-Service Provides Change at the Tap of a Card The UK’s premier service and support company - E-Service - has launched a new addition to the Thomas change machine range.

Thomas machines can now be fitted with the Nayax contactless payment terminal to allow change to be dispensed at the tap of any contactless card. This innovative solution can be fitted to the vast majority of the Thomas range and is available as a simple to install retrofit kit, or can be installed during a machine refurbishment program.

E-Service Managing Director Mike Clokie explained “From our two depots in the UK, Leeds and North London, we supply new and refurbished models of all types of Thomas Change machines. This includes powder-coating the existing cabinet to the clients’ colour of choice and installing the latest software, electronics and peripherals. This type of refurbishment program ensures many more years of service from your Thomas Change machine at a fraction of the cost of new equipment. The program also implements peripherals that will be supported by manufacturers for years to come, so no worry regarding parts obsolescence or expensive upgrades when the polymer £20 note is released in early 2020.”

Clokie continued “We have seen enormous interest in the Nayax contactless card reader and the addition of this product to our stable has really caught the interest of AGC and FEC operators.

We have developed an interface board, software and looms to complete each installation quickly and efficiently. Following this, the client opens a merchant account with Nayax and receives their payments on a fortnightly basis.

We believe this is a simple, costeffective solution which bridges the gap between a traditional change machine and the tap-andgo generation. Equipment operators are certainly seeing the benefit of this retrofit kit and many are asking for this to be fitted during the refurbishment program”

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Whether it be client owned equipment that needs collecting, refurbishing and returning or the supply of new or completely refurbished units from stock, EService has a product to suit your business and budget.

In addition to the Thomas brand of equipment E-Service is the Gaming and Amusement industry’s preferred “go to” solutions provider. The company offers its many customers an unrivalled range of products, technical repairs and field service support and delivers these benefits nationwide.

E-Service provides fast, costeffective repairs to defective electronic peripherals such as note validators, MPUs, PC equipment and coin mechanisms, undertaking in excess of 1000 repairs each week.

From their two UK depots, E-Service supplies an extensive range of spare parts, plastic and metal tokens, lighting solutions and consumables such as cleaning sprays and adhesives. All are stock items, as are pool cloth and accessories. As E-Service are the UK distributors for the Hainsworth brand of Pool Cloth you are guaranteed to have a vast choice of pool cloth grades and colours to suit any venue.

Complimenting this huge stock-holding, E-Service also offers its clients a free-ofcharge collection and delivery service. Clients who utilise this service benefit from scheduled weekly deliveries and significant time savings, not to mention the cost saving for packaging materials and courier fees.

cashless Payments Leading Holiday Parks and Attractions are Going Cashless with BANDAI NAMCO The biggest benefit of a cashless system is convenience. The kids can carry on playing – even if dad has run out of coins in the arcade, or mum can budget a daily limit on their cards. The convenience doesn’t stop there either – holiday parks and attractions are also finding other benefits to doing away with cash handling – especially in high season.

Perhaps the biggest benefit however, has been getting to know our players better, through introducing the system to them and seeing the player data that the system offers to us.”

BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Europe Ltd (BNAE) is the leading supplier of amusement machines and prizes in the UK, as well as offering a revenue share operating option to customers. BNAE’S Management Solutions division is dedicated to working with sites to install cashless and redemption management systems from Embed.

“Sites are happy to do away with the risks associated with handling large cash floats and intakes,” says Steve Short, General Manager, BANDAI NAMCO Management Solutions, which is the exclusive distributor of the Embed cashless system in the UK and Ireland. “There is a reduced chance of theft or accounting errors that can arise and which can be timeconsuming to sort out. In addition, cash is often dirty and heavy to move around and banks limit what you can pay in and charge for the service.”

The UK is now the third most cashless society in the world, 41% of cards have contactless functionality and plastic transactions make up 54% of all retail payments by volume – according to the British Retail Consortium and research by Forex. Cashless is particularly convenient for those on holiday, as plastic is easier to carry around than coins and people want to spend less time in queues and more time having fun.

As consumers embrace cashless culture, it is no surprise that forward-thinking arcade operators do the same. Among these are Bourne Leisure’s Wild Duck Holiday Park.

Kevin Scott, Head of Arcades at Bourne Leisure says, “We went cashless at the beginning of last season, so we have had a full year. We are really seeing the benefits of the system, we are able to tailor our operations thanks to the player data and preferences we are harvesting. There are also the benefits of not having to handle coins. In addition, we have gone ticketless too and encountered very little resistance to that.”

Kevin would advise those who are thinking of going cashless, “Make sure you bring

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“We have been involved in several highprofile installations, including Lady’s Mile Holiday Park in Dawlish, which has been using the system for several years now, and has even extended it to include the launderette,” says Steve Short. “Jason Jeffery and team have found that it has done away with headaches such as a coin jam in an arcade machine at the busiest time of the day.”

your owners and holiday makers on board with you from the start. We engaged our owners with an evening where we demonstrated the system on free play. We also use social media and our portal to communicate with our guests and take on board their feedback. For example, some commented that it was too slow for them to get to play, so we added more terminals to speed up the process. My advice would be that you can’t introduce this during the season but we have a great working relationship with BANDAI NAMCO – they are also our operating partner and are extremely reliable and deliver everything on time.”

Kevin Young, Area Manager Namco UK/Bourne who works with Wild Duck adds, “The main benefit from our view has been a 20 per cent reduction in technical service calls since we introduced the cashless system. The cost of tickets has also gone down significantly as well.

Adventure Island theme park and resort in Southend has had the Embed cashless system for six seasons. Carl Stacey, Head of arcades at the Stockvale Group, which owns Adventure Island says, “The best thing about going cashless for us has been no more emptying machines, or unblocking coin mechs, we are also ticketless which is better for the environment and saves us money. We also like the fact that we can see reports at a click of a button and can see a full card’s history at any one time.”

Carl’s advice to those considering a similar install is, “Go full cashless and use the system to its full potential, plan your install well. At first, we gave away free plays to encourage people to play and top up, now we have no need for that and the system is well received. Our visitors love it, the fact that we are able to give them free Bonus credit as an incentive works very well. Families enjoy having their own cards and saving their own E-tickets for prizes. It also brings in regular customers which is a bonus!”

AT LAST! Holiday parks can Go Cashless

Consumers think of it as ‘appyfication’, whilst those who are in the know refer to it as ‘true digitisation’. Call it what you will: the fact remains that the holiday parks are one of the last consumer interfaces to jump on the ‘smart’ bandwagon - and enjoy the incumbent opportunities.

Having established a formidable reputation in the field of mobile phone top-ups, electric vehicle charging and arcade gaming, there’s no better-equipped organisation than Kwikpay to put that right. The company has now delivered an intelligent app solution that’s custom-made for the holiday parks.

“With Kwikpay, holiday park operators and brands can enable consumers to buy various services through an easy to use app, pay using credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, run loyalty programmes, entice repeat orders and run promotions,” said CEO Neeraj Bhatia. “With Kwikpay, operators can get to know their customers better than ever before and use that knowledge to offer bundled products that have been designed specifically for them.”

The Kwikpay arcade solution is an easily installed ‘plug-and-play’ solution for arcade game machines. It can convert any traditional cash and coin amusement gaming or kiddie ride machine into a cashless unit. The consumers are now able to pay on the app and start playing. Operators can reduce all the costs associated with a cash handling.

They can offer promotions, bundles, peak off peak pricing and much more.

Along with this, holiday park operators can

also implement a custom-made catering solution for their food and beverage business on the same app. They can offer preorder facilities for food and beverages to their consumers and let them know when their food is ready for collection. This allows the operator to focus their efforts on food preparation and reduce queues at their cafes, in addition to offering meal deals, promotions and loyalty offers to increase their sales.

“Due to technical limitations, holiday parks have, until now, had one arm tied behind their back when it comes to taking its share of the opportunities incumbent in the digital era,” Neeraj added. “But today, thanks to Kwikpay, holiday parks can offer cashless payments, run the kind of loyalty programmes that have hitherto been the preserve of the big brands. Operators can now entice frequent purchases from customers by offering them bundling, promos and time based offers that keep them happy and engaged.”

Crucially, this can be achieved without any change to their current amusement machines or their food and beverage business.

“Kwikpay is an all-new smartphone app based buying journey for the consumer,” Neeraj said. “It offers an app experience that enables the consumer to spend on amusement games as well as food and beverage whilst on holiday . The app comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect in app-based business. It gives the operator end-to-end control and visibility of their amusement and food business; it reduces operational cost, it increases efficiencies and boosts the bottom line. For their part, brand owners benefit from having a more accurate appreciation of consumer needs and preferences.” www.kwikpay.com

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Plans for £50 million Holiday Park

FOR NEWQUAY

Plans for a new £50 million holiday park have been announced for Newquay in Cornwall boasting around 1000 caravans and lodges which, once completed, will be larger than most towns in the area.

While still in the very early stages of development, Kingsley Developments (SW) Ltd are calling the proposal a “great opportunity for Newquay”. Currently, Kingsley Development (SW) Ltd have submitted a request to Cornwall Council for Pre-Application Advice for the project.

No Planning Application has been submitted to Cornwall Council as of yet, as Kingsley Development are seeking to acquire more land that adjoins the site, with the hopes of making the proposed Holiday Park even larger. However, the company is intending to submit an application later this year.

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The Holiday Park is planned for a site known as Bejowan Farm and adjoining land and once completed will be larger than most towns. Abe Simpson, Managing Director of Kingsley Developments said, “The aim is to develop one of the largest holiday parks in the South West, but certainly Newquay.” The proposed development site contains around 50 hectares of land across 17 adjoining plots.

Discussing the proposed location of the Holiday Park, Simpson said, “We are aware of both the increase in tourism demand on Newquay; and yet the decrease in bed spaces available as a direct result of old hotel sites being redeveloped into an array of apartment blocks.”

Kingsley Development aim to create one of the UK’s largest and finest holiday parks with approximately 950 holiday units comprised of static caravans, lodges and fixed units. The western side of the site will feature accommodation that is more private, with each unit spread out within a landscaped setting. Towards the Eastern side of the site, the accommodation will be closer together. The woodland that already exists on-site will be retained, however there are hopes to create an access route through it.

Arfton Hughes, Director at Mango Planning & Development Ltd, who is serving as the planning agent, produced a report based on another site of similar scale in the region showing promising results. The Holiday Park is expected to draw up to 200,000 visitors a year, generating an expenditure of about ÂŁ15 million per annum in the local economy.

The park is also likely to create 45 full-time job positions as well as 280 seasonal positions.

The proposed site of the park also makes the most out of its location. For public transport, the boundary of the site is just 200 meters from Quintrell Downs Railway Station. On top of this, it is located just north of the A392, which serves as the main vehicular route into Newquay. Abe Simpson has stated that, "With the highway works being carried out as part of the Newquay Strategic Route, the proposal site is perfectly located to be the first holiday park tourists will see when they approach Newquay."

Alongside the accommodation, a 2,000 square meter pool complex with a water play zone, a large swimming area and a toddler water confidence zone are planned. A food and beverage area featuring a bar restaurant, pizza deck and tea house is also planned for the site. For entertainment, there will be outdoor play zones suitable for all ages, rope works, adventure golf and a picnic meadow. There will also be a multipurpose venue added to provide activities during rainy days and also evening entertainment.

Once completed the Holiday Park would be open between the 1st of March And the 30th of November each year, which is consistent with other parks in the area.

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PAYROLL

for Holiday and Caravan Parks by Karen Thomson “When I think of caravan parks, it brings back many happy memories. I was brought up on a holiday park as my Dad worked for the Haulfryn group and then later owned his own park just outside Allonby in Cumbria.”

I recall as a young girl helping in the office, which included submitting hours for those who worked for the group and then later running my Dad’s payroll. Whilst this seemed relatively straightforward back then, there are many more key considerations for a holiday park in respect of payroll and employment law to consider today and below are just a few: n Seasonal workers – when to employ and what pay frequency to adopt; n Site closure – many shut for the winter with some offering residential or an eleven-month season;

n Working Time Regulations – in winter, permanent employees will often work reduced hours but in summer will take advantage of the longer days, constantly cutting the grass for the tourers/camping sites and round the owner/rental caravans and lodges to name just one of the many tasks; do the employees opt out of the 48 hour rule? n National Minimum/Living wage especially if providing accommodation where rent is charged - to ensure the pay still meets the correct minimum wage rate.

If accommodation is supplied and not charged for is it viewed as a benefit in kind? n What payroll system will be used? This is especially important for the smaller, family-owned business. In winter it isn’t as much of a chore as more time to process the payroll, therefore could perhaps use

Karen Thomson, Payroll Partner, Armstrong Watson

Karen has worked in the HR, finance, pensions and payroll industry for most of her career, focussing on the payroll and pensions industry for the last 20 years. She sits on a number of government consultation forums representing employer and client views.

She is qualified to Masters level and lectures for the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) in partnership with Derby University for the Masters programme and is one of only 10 people to be appointed as a Chartered Member of the CIPP. In addition, she is also a qualified tutor for the CIPP teaching their Foundation Degree in Payroll Management.

Karen became only the second known Payroll Partner of a UK accountancy firm in April 2019.

To learn more about how Armstrong Watson payroll services could assist your business, contact Karen Thomson on 01228 690100

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HMRC’s basic tools. However, once the season is in full swing, where is the time to run the payroll with all the potential additional casual workers? This is where a payroll service provider could prove invaluable; why?

• No system to purchase/lease • No annual upgrades to do • Just submit the hours and details of any new employees and the rest is done • Pensions – no need to worry here at Armstrong Watson that is all part of the service • Ensuring compliance with HMRC – again no need to worry, all done.

All in all, running a holiday park of any kind is a very busy and demanding job. As an owner why not get rid of at least one of the headaches?

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BEEBOX The only entertainment & music system you need to attract & retain customers The BeeBox Entertainment System supplied by Innstay is one of the UK’s leading multimedia systems for the hospitality industry. It features background music, digital signage and on-screen games such as key to the box and hi/lo cards.

Each BeeBox package is bespoke to the venue and only includes items that you will utilise. These can include:

Background music n Choose from over 100 professionally curated playlists and schedule them across the week to always ensure the atmosphere is perfect in your venue n You also have the ability to create your own playlists and be your own DJ by using the DJ Control feature

Digital Signage n Link the system to your TV screens to display digital signage to your customers.

Edit 1000s of easy to use templates or add your own to make each offer unique to your venue n There are also BT and Sky Sports fixture lists which are updated by the support

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team so your sports advertising will always be up to date n As you can upload your own images to the system you can sell advertising space to external suppliers – a great way of generating some extra income!

On Screen Games n A popular choice in holiday parks and social areas, host a quiz or game of key to the box without the need to hire a quiz master. These games come to life when displayed on you TV screens and the jackpot roll overs keep customers coming back

Additional Features n As well as all of the above; the system can also be utilised for karaoke, horse racing nights and push button games n The push button games are a particularly unique feature of the BeeBox. When your customers make a purchase ask them to “push the button” then watch your screens to see if they win an offer! Don’t worry you determine what offers you would like on screens and how often customers can win.

The BeeBox is a brilliant tool for saving money whilst also generating additional revenue. If you currently pay for a karaoke host, a DJ or a quiz master you can cut those costs immediately as the system can run all of those events for you. You can also generate extra income by charging external companies to advertise on your screens or

by charging entry to your game’s nights.

Innstay currently have the BeeBox system out in over 300 venues in the UK who are all using it to attract new customers and keep current customers on site for longer. Colin Coombes at The Doxy Lad in Sunderland said, “My Key to the Box nights are so successful it is like Christmas at The Grandale all over again!” as his wet sales had increased dramatically due to the extra footfall.

Martin Thomas, MD of Innstay states, “We have worked closely with the team at BeeBox to help them develop features that are perfect for the hospitality industry. At a time where customers want more from their night out than just a pint or two the BeeBox is coming to the forefront for affordable and diverse entertainment.”

Don’t worry if your venue doesn’t have speakers or TVs, Innstay can provide those items along with the BeeBox. Innstay are based in the North East of England but cover the entire mainland UK. The BeeBox system is available to rent from as little as £32 per week, for this you will receive full maintenance and support for the length of your contract. The Innstay support team are on hand to help you with any advertising or training needs you may require to get the most out of the system. Give Innstay a call now on 0191 217 3737 or visit www.innstay.co.uk for more information.

indoor Play

SMARTS

hits the Competitive Socialising bullseye

The popular trend of Competitive Socialising continues to gather pace, offering operators the benefits of increased dwell time, higher footfall and enhanced F&B sales. 501 Entertainment’s Jonathan Powell explains.

“With the ability to record and share everyday life through social media, consumers are shifting away from material purchases and are more willing to invest in on-demand experiences and the memories they create. Hospitality and holiday venues alike are capitalising on this phenomenon by offering guests new, exciting and often technology-driven experiences to drive footfall and increase sales.”

“Over the last year, 501 Entertainment has developed several solutions to allow operators to capitalise on this growing trend in consumer behaviour. The mainstay of our product line-up, SMARTS interactive darts, gives venue operators the

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opportunity to provide guests with a compelling, experience led offer, without incurring huge setup costs. The key to the SMARTS system is its accessibility – anyone can play, no darts experience required as all the games are beginner friendly. No more chalkboards and no more complicated maths; the SMARTS system features five carefully crafted, quick-fire games to drive maximum engagement while keeping the competitive atmosphere pumping!”

“The slick, touchscreen user interface makes operating the SMARTS system easy.

Simply input player names and snap a selfie before deciding which of the great games to play and picking teams. Guests can track their progress on the trophy table to see who’s winning the day!”

“Having partnered with Unicorn (The Big Name in Darts), guests can be confident they’re throwing at the very best. Using revolutionary Smartboard© technology, the

SMARTS system automatically detects where the dart has landed and instantly displays the result on the score screen.”

“The screen above the dart board uses stunning graphics to guide users through the games and display all the scores.

Everything is laid out to make the games easy to follow. The screen tells guests who’s to throw next and what to aim for.

“The system’s scalability allows anything from a designated darts area, to a completely darts themed venue. Its versatility, small footprint and low entry cost means that it can be rapidly deployed across venues. With both hosted and payto-play offers, SMARTS has a solution for all setups. “ SMARTS are looking for forward-thinking partners with awesome venues to deliver the #casualdarts revolution! More information can be found on their website www.smartsdarts.co.uk

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indoor Play

How the Jigsaw touchscreen tablet is turning the entertainment experience

UP TO ELEVEN! Connected Entertainment, whose Jigsaw brand has become the touchscreen entertainment system of choice with major holiday park groups and independents alike, has underlined its commitment to park owners with the provision of free of charge team training on the Jigsaw V3 which was launched in April 2019. The onsite training ensures that ents teams are fully up to speed with the latest capabilities of the PC-based platform that delivers best in class entertainment including music, karaoke, videos, bingo, quizzes and stage games as well as delivering in-venue advertising.

Andrew Ludlow, managing director of Connected believes the delivery of great entertainment is a must, due to its impact on return visits. He said: “The quality of the entertainment experience is one of the most quoted reasons on Trip Advisor for a guest wanting to return and we are committed to helping our customers in any way that we can. I believe that we are the only company in the sector to provide such a service which helps to maximise ROI from

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what is a key contributor to a holiday parks entertainment proposition.”

Expanding on exactly what the Jigsaw can provide, he confirmed: “When holiday parks invest in the Jigsaw system they gain access to a massive music library with remote content updates, karaoke, interactive games, cash, prize and linked bingo all with post game reporting and financial auditing to provide the allimportant gambling compliancy. There’s also digital signage advertising and multiroom audio zoning giving the entertainment team the flexibility to deliver different music to different areas.

"Walkabout software enables staff to operate Jigsaw wirelessly within the venue, bringing customer facing staff and the audience closer together. The Jigsaw interactive app, will soon enable customers to send pictures and messages to advertising screens, take a look at the music playlist, and request a track or a karaoke song direct from their phone. It can also be used in conjunction with the Jigsaw

Interactive Quiz which features multiple choice questions which have to be answered on a fastest finger first format.

Our Interactive platform also offers multivenue linked quizzes which provide enhanced player engagement as well as increased prize liquidity. It’s a hugely powerful platform that's transforming the way entertainment is delivered which explains why Jigsaw is installed in holiday parks stretching from Inverness to Dover and the Lizard Peninsula to Prestatyn."

Connected Entertainment provides an enhanced comprehensive national technical support function with a dedicated team on hand seven days a week, 364 days a year.

Jigsaw technical assistance is supported via remote PC access, a dedicated customer service phone number, as well as via Jigsaw WhatsApp User Groups that provide instant messaging and support to customers wishing to use this functionality.

The new Jigsaw website can be found at: www.connectedentertainment.co.uk.

indoor Play

SLKids: the UK’s Leading play solutions provider For the last ten years, SLKids has worked with multiple venues to create bright, fun & unique play areas for children. The family business creates distinct products that transform every room to a childfriendly space – using simple, natural products.

SLKids understand that no two organisations are alike and that each and every Holiday Park, catering outlet, retailer, or daycare centre has its own identity. Clients from these sectors draw on the SLKids team’s experience to assist them in the development of child friendly solution for their business.

Having the right solution in place can benefit all visitors (especially those with young children) by creating a more relaxed experience so that customers want to stay longer, and, in many cases, spend more money.

SLKids is the sole authorised UK distributor for its primary partner, Instore Kids Corners of Holland. Working together, they have developed a range of equipment

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allowing them to design play concepts for any business.

SLKids play concepts are just as unique as the locations they go into and the children that play in them. SLKids play designers can work with you to create a custom play area that perfectly meets your demands and revolves around your (young) visitors and guests.

One of SLKids’ most recent installations was at Swansgate, which is one of the largest shopping centres in Northamptonshire. Built in the early 1970s, the playcentre was formerly constructed internally. Recognising the need to hire a professional company to create a purpose-built play area, Swansgate appointed SLKids.

SLKids designed a bespoke play area for the children, which provides accompanying adults with more accessibility to be with them. Benches have been provided in the middle which face either way and encourages adults into the area too.

Marketing coordinator for Swansgate, Joanna Chapman said: “The new play area has been a huge hit with families visiting us. There is always somebody in there and barriers between adults and children have been reduced making it easier for them to remain involved with their children who enjoy the space.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Louise Laskey, National Sales Manager at SLKids Commercial Play Products said: “Having discussed the individual requirements, we have been able to create a wonderful children’s distraction area. We are delighted to hear the positive feedback and that the area is being utilised on a daily basis.

“Our main aim with this project was to create a space which would engage the children whilst encouraging parents to get involved in their play. Removing all barriers between the adult and child, we created an interactive, open plan space for all to enjoy and it’s great to hear such positive feedback.” www.slkids.co.uk

outdoorFurniture

Raise your environmental profile with NBB Recycled Furniture Each year consumers purchase approximately 13 billion plastic drinks bottles, and every person in the UK will generate an average of 167lbs of plastic waste.

With staggering figures such as these and plastic pollution in the world’s oceans now clearly visible from space, the demand for organisations to manufacture and provide sustainable products is ever increasing. Hospitality venues around the UK are striving to become greener, not only to benefit the earth but to raise sustainability profiles and meet the demand of environmentally minded visitors.

NBB Recycled Furniture has helped to tackle the issue of plastic waste from entering landfill for the past 25 years, with the production of high quality and visually stunning outdoor furniture made from 100% recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

Implementation of NBB Recycled Furniture at your venue is an easy way to raise your sustainability profile and promote your environmental credentials to your guests and supporters. NBB products also offer many more benefits than wooden alternatives, saving you a substantial amount of time and money over the product’s lifespan.

The hardwearing properties of recycled HDPE allow for our products to be left outside all year round without any risk of distortion or damage to the material. It doesn’t matter if it’s the

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hottest summer on record or the coldest ever winter, all products will withstand all weather conditions.

NBB Recycled Furniture will not rot or splinter like wooden alternatives making it a lot safer for your guests. It is resistant to wood boring insects, algae and bacteria that typically cause problems for timber equivalents and can be simply wiped clean when dirty.

NBB Recycled Furniture are so confident in their products that they guarantee them for 25 years. That’s five times longer than most wooden alternatives, saving you heaps of money in product replacement.

Once the furniture has come to the end of its life, it can be recycled again ensuring that the plastic bottles used in its production are never wasted.

To ensure all your guests feel included and comfortable, NBB offer picnic tables that are suitable for use with wheelchairs, mobility aids and pushchairs. They also offer a range of furniture and outdoor play items designed especially for children.

NBB Recycled Furniture have put together special bundle deals for multiple purchases. Delivery is also free on all UK mainland orders. www.recycledfurniture.co.uk

outdoorFurniture Quality Commercial Furniture for Holiday Parks LeisureBench Limited is an industry leading supplier of commercial quality outdoor furniture. Established 15 years ago, rapid expansion has seen the company grow into a major UK supplier. Major commercial establishments have put their trust in LeisureBench over the years, assured that the furniture is designed for strength and longevity to withstand commercial use.

The product range is extensive and is constantly evolving. 55,000 square feet of storage space, guarantees your order will be delivered quickly to you.

The collection of picnic tables can be supplied in ‘A’ Frame or round designs and the heavy duty range is pressure treated for long life.

There are also walk - in picnic tables available that are more user friendly, designed to be easily got in and out of.

LeisureBench can offer this service. For example, they can spray picnic tables to specific colours and brand awnings and parasols. The company has this year announced that they are now UK partners for Litex Parasols and Gazebos. The new stock has further enhanced their wide range of commercial parasols.

To view the full range of commercial furniture from LeisureBench, visit the website on www.leisurebench.co.uk

For an even more comfortable experience, the Oasis Rattan collection of sofas, chairs and tables provide the perfect solution.

For furniture that is easy to move, take a look at the aluminium range.

It is both lightweight and weatherproof. Hardwood dining sets are tough, long lasting and extremely durable, built with timber from trusted and sustainable sources.

The almost maintenance-free Madrid collection is made from highly durable resin made with glass fibre for extra strength and durability. It has the aesthetic appeal of rattan, but will never unravel, rust or decay.

LeisureBench also stock furniture made from 100% recycled plastic, that is weather enduring, anti decay and toxic free. It is also water, mildew and rust resistant.

The Hardwood and metal Dorset range of tables and chairs is suitable for tough environments. The steel frames are welded and then powder coated.

The mix and match range of designer chairs is extensive in a variety of designs and materials and colours, including a retro steel collection.

If you are looking for wooden buildings, there are many features and options available.

A full range of accessories is also stocked, including cushions and heaters.

Bespoke furniture is now on-trend, with many establishments wanting something different and in many instances, more upmarket.

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Clear Cool Offers Ware Washing & Catering Equipment On Small Weekly Rentals Clear Cool, a division of The Rudd Group is taking the hospitality market by storm as it offers ware washing and catering equipment on affordable weekly rental schemes.

Originally just a gaming and amusement machine supplier, The Rudd Group saw a gap in the market for the rental and servicing of back of bar equipment, they now offer a variety of products on rental agreements in a similar fashion to their gaming machines.

If you’re sick of forking out when your ice maker or bottle cooler goes on the blink then a rental agreement gives you perfect peace of mind, just call up the Clear Cool service team and they’ll take care of it.

All of the equipment supplied is from premium quality manufacturers such as world leading Hoshizaki ice makers and UK manufactured Classeq glass and dish washers. They have now diversified further in to Airack glass dryers and commercial pizza ovens.

“We couldn’t believe some of the upfront costs of commercial ware washing and catering equipment and knew there must be a market for venues that would rather rent these necessary items and keep the rest of the money in their business.” – Nick Rudd, MD of Clear Cool.

Clear Cool installs and maintains all of the equipment throughout the lifetime of the contract so no need to worry about your ice maker or bottle cooler breaking down at a key moment. Visit www.clearcool.co.uk or call 0800 7311 026 to see how Clear Cool’s rental model could help you free up time and money in your business.

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FREE RANGE News ADD A LITTLE SWEETNESS TO YOUR LIFE (WITHOUT ANY GUILT) almond, raspberry and strawberry -- to its range of Simply Sugar Free syrups.

The syrups can be mixed into coffees, cocktails, mocktails, shakes and smoothies as well as being an interesting ingredient in baked goods. The new flavours join the company’s existing range, which includes Amaretto, caramel, hazelnut, chocolate, vanilla, gingerbread, and salted caramel. There is also a flavourless option that can be used as an alternative to traditional sugar syrups.

Looking for low-cal, vegan, completely guilt-free drinks? Well, the Italian Beverage Company has added four new flavours – birthday cake, cinnamon,

How does this help farm shops? Well, any agri-business that has diversified into the cafe, restaurant or bar sector (or those looking to) will be well aware that some foods are trendy and some foods are not. Right now, consumers are looking for the same specialty drinks

they're used to but without the calories that traditionally go with them, which the IBC range caters to. Furthermore, the syrups meet the very hot trend of being vegan! In fact, Simply Sugar Free syrups are Vegan approved by the Vegetarian Society.

Ricky Flax, general manager of the Italian Beverage Company said of the new syrups: “So many customers routinely ask for skinny drinks and our Simply Sugar Free Syrups are a great addition to these beverages, making them increasingly popular. Extending the offer with additional flavours gives customers more choice and operators more scope to experiment with the lite menu using a range of products that are current, being less than 20 calories a serving and vegan too.”

Vegan Pie Crowned British Winner — No Longer Just a Pie in the Sky From Sweeney Todd’s less than savoury offerings, to Sing a Song of Sixpence, to a famous wedding in Game of Thrones, pies are very much ingrained in popular culture.

But far from the meat, veg and crust we’re used to, this year a vegan pie was crowned the supreme champion in the 11th British Pie Awards.

Woodhead said this pie had “cracked it,” with a “crispness that complimented” the “moist and well-balanced filling.” A fair win, it would seem, at these awards that came at the end of the British Pie Week, which ran between March 4th and March 8th, celebrating the heritage of this veryBritish dish, according to the publication.

This is the first time in the history of the British pie awards that a vegan product has won its highest accolade and it had to beat out almost 900 competitors from 176 producers to win, according to the Shropshire Star.

This turn of events is sure proof of a changing attitude to meat- and dairy-free products in the mainstream. A sentiment shared by the chairman of the British Pie Awards, Matthew O’Callaghan, who said “This pie isn’t just for vegans, it’s a pie for everybody.

With this award we can truly say that veganism is now entering the mainstream of British food,” according to the Shropshire Star.

The winning pie was made by butcher Jon Thorner’s Ltd and was of curried sweet potato and butternut squash, the publication writes. The makers of the award-winning product have been baking various hand-crimped pies since 2005 after opening their Somerset-based farm shop in 1979, according to the Shropshire Star.

It may not be easy to win over the judges with a vegan entry, but head judge Colin

That said, the meat-eaters of the world have nothing to fear just yet. It seems the UK’s appetite for baked meat snacks hasn’t lost its voraciousness, as evidenced by a Gloucestershire farm’s sausage roll being crowned winner of the first Food Glorious Food competition by the Midcounties Co-operative. The “'sausage rolls of exceeding enormity” secured the farm £10,000 of investment as well as business development support, mentoring and a marketing package.

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FREE RANGE News PROTECTED PRODUCE OF BRITAIN

“Did you know that champagne can only be made in France?” is a fun-fact question the nearly everyone has heard (and is asked at nearly every occasion that calls for a toast).

But, this sparkling wine isn’t alone in its protected status. In fact, that are a host products in the UK that have a similar status.

These products fall under the European Union’s Protected Geographical Status and will be part of one of three schemes: the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) or Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG).

All three schemes were put in place to promote agricultural businesses and traditional production and, more importantly, protect against non-genuine products and maintain regional reputations. This means that inferior (or simply different) products can't purport to be something their not — sparkling wine can’t say it’s champagne unless it is made in that region using designated procedures.

Despite the importance of promoting these traditional products, many consumers aren’t even aware that these schemes exist. Perhaps some will know of the more popular examples, such as Welsh PGI lamb or Scotch beef, but many of their favourite foods could be protected without them ever knowing. Here are just a select few with which to impress your friends: Melton Mowbray pork pies (PGI) — A far cry from fancy wines, but yes, the humble pork pie is protected, requiring a traditional recipe and proximity to, you guessed it, Melton Mowbray.

Traditional Cumberland sausage (PGI) — These, of course, must be made in Cumbria, but beyond that they must contain at least 80% meat and, bizarrely, be sold coiled, rather than linked.

Yorkshire Wensleydale (PGI) — It isn’t just Wallace and Gromit who hold this famed cheese so close to their hearts. It’s protected status means it to be made within a certain geographical area (you can guess which). Moreover, the cows from which the milk to make the cheese comes have to be grazed within that same area.

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and the national ceremony was no exception with Jolly Nice Farm Shop and Cafe taking home the award for Best Rural Food Business.

The awards aim to recognise and celebrate the successes of businesses operating in the UK’s rural economy, and the ceremony ceremony was the culmination of a series of regional awards that were announced last year.

This farm shop, based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, was founded by Rebecca and Simon Wilson in 2013, and has since grown into a team of 50 — with “butchers and baristas, chefs and cheesemongers, as well as expert ice cream makers and cake bakers”, according to their website.

The regional awards saw farm shops across the country get well-deserved recognition,

Other winners included Hillside Brewery, based in Gloucestershire for Best Rural Drink

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Jersey royal potatoes (PDO) — Buttery new potatoes with a little mint? That’s another protection, reserved for the island of Jersey.

Whitstable oysters (PGI) — A little fancier than the winkle-picking of days gone by, but these Kentish oysters are world renowned.

Cornish pasty (PGI) — This one may not come as a surprise, but the specifics might: each pasty must have at least 12.5% beef and 25% vegetables!

There are so many more, but these are just a few to give an idea of the range (and the popularity) of protected products.

So why is this important? Perhaps if we start to educate people about how unique large parts of British agriculture and food production are, they’ll be more inclined to protect and support it. Wolfing down some Wensleydale is all well and good, but do people stop to think that if they stop buying local, this cheese could disappear forever?

So, next time you find yourself raising a toast, perhaps forgo the usual champagne fact and instead ask your friends: “Did you know, Melton Mowbray pork pies can’t be made anywhere else in the world?”

Cornish clotted cream (PDO) — Could anything be more quintessentially British

The Rural Business Awards’ The Rural Business Awards’ national ceremony held in March, showcased the best of the British countryside with winners ranging from hot new brunch spots to the “perfect Hillside brew.”

than afternoon tea with cream scones?

Well, that’s another protected product, required to be produced, processed and prepared from Cornish milk with a minimum of 55% butterfat.

Business; William's Den, based in Yorkshire for Outstanding Rural Diversification Project; Durham Hens Limited, based in Tow Law for Best Rural Retail Business and Fen Farm Dairy Limited, based in Suffolk for Best Rural Manufacturing Business among many others.

Speaking about the awards, Rural Affairs Minister Lord Gardiner said: “I am delighted that so many forward-thinking businesses have been honoured with these muchdeserved awards… From regional start-ups to global logistics firms, it is essential that we recognise the vital role of these organisations in helping to deliver a thriving rural and national economy.”

FREE RANGE News NFU Scotland Calls on More Responsible Dog Walking The United Kingdom loves dogs, there’s no question of that. In fact, an estimated 24% of the UK adult population have a dog, which amounts to around 8.9 million of them!

But, while they can be great companions, they also mean responsibility and the National Farmers Union of Scotland is calling on all owners to control their pets when out on farmland.

The reason is twofold — avoiding attacks on livestock and reducing fouling that can spread disease. Unfortunately, both of these problems are on the rise, according to NFU Scotland, which can have serious implications for farmers and their livestock.

In Spring, there are many lambs in fields which increases the risks of letting dogs run free on farmland, which should never be done. This warning comes at the same time as NFU Scotland’s campaign, Control Your Dog on Farmland, which launched last month to “tackle the blight of irresponsible access

by dog walkers in Scotland’s countryside”.

The core arguments of the campaign, which is aimed at both farmers and dog owners, are to be informed, plan ahead and control your pet.

Being informed includes knowing your responsibilities under the Outdoor Access Code, whether as a farmer or walker.

Planning ahead means knowing the route you’re walking and taking everything you might need, including a lead and poo bags. It is also worthwhile planning for if things go wrong (such as your dog escaping its lead).

Controlling your pet should be considered all the time, but it is especially important when around livestock.

In a survey of farmers, crofters and landowners carried out by NFU Scotland last December, they found that 72% of respondents “had an issue with livestockworrying on their land” while 84% felt that the lead and control measures of the Outdoor Access Code didn’t do enough to protect them and their livestock.

Attacks can be an obvious problem of irresponsible owners, but another overlooked issue is dog fouling. The survey

found that 100% of respondents had an issue with this, including livestock contracting disease from dog waste and plastic bag pollution.

“Attacks on livestock happen all too often in Scotland and we are really pleading with the public to keep their dogs on a lead, avoid fields with livestock if possible and be responsible when walking on farmland,” Andrew McCornick, NFU Scotland President said.

“The industry can no longer tolerate the problem of dog owners who do not control their dogs on farmland. Many people underestimate the damage dogs can do to livestock – whether that is attacking them when being off a lead or causing them to contract dangerous diseases through their poo — we need dog owners to take responsibility for controlling their dogs whilst out enjoying the countryside,” according to McCornick. “Make sure your dog is on a lead when walking on farmland – even if you can’t see livestock they could just be over the hill or hidden in a dip. It’s not worth the risk, to you, your dog or the livestock.”

FARMERS’ MARKETS GET GIVEN A 21ST-CENTURY BOOST Forth Environment Link's NeighbourFood have taken the idea of “click and collect” and applied it to farmers’ markets, allowing consumers to get high-quality, local produce in a convenient way. Now, they have been awarded a considerable EU grant that will mean more click and collect markets across Scotland.

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development grant of £208,000 will be used to establish eight new weekly markets by 2020.

They will be across the Scottish Borders, Perth and Kinross, Forth Valley and Loch Lomond and Fife — a collaboration between their Scottish Rural Network LEADER programs.

The project aims to boost rural employment, offer small-scale producers a safe route to market and connect shoppers with the people who make or grow food locally. It seems to have been successful since its launch in 2016

with the Sterling local economy seeing a £135,000 boost — most of which went to producers.

And this focus on producers is what differentiated NeighbourFood from larger retailers. “We work with Forth Environment Link to ensure food producers get a fair price for every product sold. Our producers set their own prices and get to keep 80% of sales for every product, compared to 15-25% through supermarkets. The remaining 20% is split equally between the market host and NeighbourFood,” Jack Crotty, director of NeighbourFood, said.

NeighbourFood works by allowing shoppers to register online for free, place an order and then collect it from a central venue, which in Sterling is a local high school. Additionally, producers can sign up to gain another avenue to sell their produce. It gives them direct access to

consumers meaning better metrics to see what people want (and what they don’t) as well as reducing waste by knowing exactly how much produce to take to a drop-off point.

With the new investment, NeighbourFood is on the hunt for eight new market hosts, who will be given funding, training and promotional support to set up the scheme in their own area.

Once the scheme is up and running, hosts receive 10% of sales for ongoing maintenance and to support each weekly collection.

Any interested parties can contact: stuart@forthenvironmentlink.org.

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FREE RANGE News THE SOIL ASSOCIATION RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS OVER POST-BREXIT US TRADE DEAL 1. Antimicrobial resistance With the increase of antibiotics in general, the risk of resistant bacterial strains has become very real. Experts say that by 2050, 10 million people could die annually from antimicrobial resistance, according to the Soil Association.

This is exacerbated by antibiotic use in agriculture, and its use per animal is five times higher in the US than the UK. A US-UK trade deal could undermine the work UK famers have put in to reduce antibiotic use, eventually resulting in serious public health implications.

2. A ‘race to the bottom’ If British farmers are forced to compete against lower-quality, but cheaper, imports, it could seriously threaten the UK agricultural industry. According to the Soil Association, “this could create a ‘race to the bottom’ and the lowering of standards, including standards of food quality, environmental protection, and animal welfare.”

Concerns were raised following a comment by US ambassador that the EU is a “museum of agriculture.” In response, Soil Association head of policy, Rob Percival, said: “The US ambassador might complain that UK and EU farmers are operating in a ‘Museum of Agriculture’, but the simple fact is that British citizens don’t want the inadequate hygiene standards that result in chlorine-washed chicken, the cruelty of ractopamine-fed pork, or the health risks associated with hormonetreated beef. There is no public mandate for food and farming standards to be sacrificed in pursuit of a US trade deal. The government should offer further reassurance to UK farmers that our food and farming standards will be maintained and improved once the UK leaves the EU, and not undercut by a flood of low quality imports.”

The top ten risks that the Soil Association see with a US-UK trade deal are as follows.

6. Public health and nutrition labelling Nutritional labeling has become a core part of supporting public health in the UK, but the US considers it a “barrier to trade”, as evidenced by their ongoing battle with the EU. A trade deal could result in the slacking off of labeling or even a flood of cheap, ultra-processed foods from the US, negatively impacting UK public health.

7. Genetically modified foods Much like the use of hormones, the way the UK and US treat Genetically Modified foods is vastly different. Public opinion in the UK is generally against GM products in the food supply, whereas in the US, 88% of corn and 93% of soy are GM and products containing GM ingredients are common. And, like ultraprocessed foods, a trade deal could see a flood of US GM foods hit the UK market.

8. Pesticide regulation

If UK farming and food standards slip to compete with the US market, there could be serious barriers to exporting to the EU single market, which has far higher standards. This could have grave consequences for farmers and any food business looking to export to Europe.

Pesticide use has been linked with a decline in biodiversity and insect populations, and a US trade deal could see an increase in their use, which would damage UK wildlife. During the negotiations for the proposed Transatlantic Trade Partnership, the “pesticide industry and lobbyists in the US pushed to lower environmental and health standards.. to promote the use of toxic substances prohibited in the EU,” according to the Soil Association.

4. Chlorine-washed chicken

9. Food poisoning

Due to intensive poultry farming in the US, acid and chlorine washes are used at the end of the meat production chain to remove bacteria. UK citizens seem to be no rush to reduce the quality and standards of their food, but “recent comments from a senior representative of the US government have suggested that the US are ‘sick and tired’ of UK concerns over chlorine washed chicken.” according to the Soil Association.

The UKs high food safety standards means that only 1% of the population is affected by food poisoning annually, compared to 14% in the US. This is something that the majority of the UK population would like to see stay in place, with 82% of respondents to a recent IPPR poll choosing to retain standards rather than strike a US trade deal.

3. Loss of EU market access The Soil association has raised serious concerns about a US Trade Deal post-Brexit, and have put together the top ten risks if it goes ahead including undermining animal welfare standards and risking public health.

carcinogenic. A US-UK trade deal could see steroid-raised beef hitting the UK market.

5. Hormone-treated beef The use of steroid hormone drugs for beef production has been banned in the EU since 1989, but is still accepted practice under the US Food and Drug Administration. The hormones are used to make animals grow faster and bigger, bu recent EU studies have found some of the chemicals used to be

10. Food colourings A 2007 double-blind study found that certain food colouring cause hyperactivity in children, and these additives were subsequently banned in the UK. However, products that contains these colourings — such as Yellow 5 and 6, Red 3 and 40, Blue 1 and 2, Green 3 and Orange B — are still widely available in the US. A trade deal could reopen the UK market to these banned substances.

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Specialist retailers savour another successful

FARM SHOP & DELI SHOW The exhibition hall saw the sector’s leading delicatessens, farm shops, restaurants, garden centres, food halls, butcheries and bakeries in attendance and, for the second year running, announced record attendance as those from across the industry came together to see the hundreds of companies showcasing their best wares.

Many exhibitors have already confirmed their spot on the 2020 show floor including Cook, Dalston’s Soda, Mrs Bridges, Total Produce and Unilever to name just a few. One of the key trends this year is the desire for healthier products and the new Healthy & Natural zone proved extremely popular with visitors and exhibitors alike. The show looks forward to continuing to grow this area and exhibitors such as Seedlip and Projuice are already signed up for 2020.

Here are some of the highlights from this year’s show…

Sustainability cannot be ignored There is so much consumer awareness around plastics, sustainability and climate change and it’s often smaller, start-up brands, like many of those at the Farm Shop & Deli Show, that are in a strong position to act on this. There were some insightful sessions across both Farm Shop & Deli Live and The Ingredients Show Education Theatre covering this topic and, on the show floor, the team from Two Farmers impressed visitors with

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their first hand-cooked crisp brand to launch in 100% compostable bags which take 26 weeks to compost in a home composter and 12 weeks in an industrial facility.

be popular. Farm Shop & Deli Show exhibitor Small Beer Brew Co., is the world’s first brewery to specialise in beers brewed between 0.5% and 2.8% ABV.

Gluten free brands are stepping up their game

Celebrating the best in the business

Gluten free consumers have been demanding better looking and tasting options and at last, the levels of awareness surrounding this have translated into attractively packed, genuinely delicious foods. The show highlighted many gluten free snacks that looked every bit as good as others on the shelves such as Mummy Meagz vegan rocky road, KIND snack bars and Middleton Foods gluten free mixes.

Farm Shop & Deli Show 2019 once again celebrated the specialist retailers at the top of their game with the live finals of Farm Shop & Deli Awards 2019, sponsored by Garofalo Pasta, taking place at the heart of the show.

In addition to the twelve category and nine regional winners announced, Cannon Hall Farm Shop from Barnsley scooped the overall Retailer of the Year 2019 accolade.

Clean eating’s not a fad, it’s expected No-one really talks about “clean eating” any more – but this doesn’t mean it’s gone out of fashion, far from it in fact. At the show visitors encountered many brands with simple ingredients lists and lower sugar content.

From sauces to snack bars and drinks, it was a great demonstration of how far the industry has come.

Low and no alcohol is a trend that’s here to stay If you’re in the industry, you’ll no doubt have heard that young people today are drinking less alcohol. Overall, there has been a real trend for lower alcohol products and even no alcohol with brands like Seedlip continuing to

This April the NEC once again played host to Farm Shop & Deli Show, which ran alongside The Ingredients Show, National Convenience Show and The Forecourt Show. Across the 3 days 8th – 10th April, visitors met passionate producers, discovered the latest industry trends and celebrated awardwinners at this unmissable event for specialist retailers.

Other winners celebrated at the show include the Britain’s Best Loaf which saw Poppyseed Bakery’s Wholemeal sourdough loaf crowned the overall winner. Plus the popular Dragon’s Pantry retuned again this year. Daring entrepreneurs faced the ultimate test pitching new products to the show’s panel of industry ‘dragons’ after initially receiving top tips on perfecting their pitch. This year’s winner was Tom’s Teas with their dessert inspired, delicious quality fruit tea blends for children with no caffeine or added sugar.

Exhibitor Chris Morgan, Business Development Manager, Fentimans Ltd said

of the show: “We have had some great engaging customers who are genuinely interested in our flavours of tonics and soft drinks. We have also been approached by some of the higher profile retailers who have been here for the retail show. There are some fabulous brands at the show and I would definitely recommend the show to any business or brand who want to showcase any new products within the farm shop/garden centres or deli’s and obtain new distribution.”

Show visitor Susannah Hewett, Co-owner, Eggs to Apples Farm Shop said: “It’s a concentrated opportunity to see a number of

people under one roof. It’s great to network with existing suppliers but also to source new products, get ideas to take back and cascade down to the team. Good for networking and also having the baking contest is what’s brought me here today.”

Farm Shop & Deli Show returns 30th March – 1st April 2020 to the NEC, Birmingham and will run alongside National Convenience Show, Food & Drink Expo, Foodex and The Ingredients Show. The combined weight of these five shows next year will bring together 1,700 suppliers representing a huge array of companies and technologies within the UK’s food and drink industry.

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Diversification BECOMING INTEGRAL TO FARMING SUCCESS Uncertainty hangs in the air for farmers across the UK as they brace themselves for what a post-Brexit Britain looks like for the industry. Currently around 60% of farm incomes are supplemented by European farm payments and post-Brexit support is only promised until 2020. From 2021, a new system that rewards farmers for the public goods they provide will be phased in until 2027, replacing the land-based subsidies that are currently in use.

Currently, UK farmers receive around £3 billion a year under the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) which is offered based on the amount of land farmed. The new system will see farmers signing environmental land management contracts that show how they intend to protect habitats, improve flood management and enhance air and water quality.

On top of this, tariffs for agricultural imports and exports are liable to change, and probably not for the better, the amount of EU workers who are vital to farms may plummet depending on decisions on free movement, and let’s not even get started on the possible US trade deal.

The point is, uncertainty rules, and farmers are looking for a way to hedging their bets, which is where diversification comes in. Put simply, diversification in farming is scaling back from offering one very large service in favour of offering a larger number of smaller services. These services can range from

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opening a farm shop to sell the produce made on the farm and other local offerings, to setting aside land with which to offer accommodation.

Rankins Farm Owned by Tony and Sarah Sunnock, Rankins Farm is located in Linton Village, Kent. Up until fairly recently the farm spanned 250 acres, most of which was used to farming apples, pears, plums, rhubarb and raspberries. The farm supplied major supermarkets as well as the wholesale market and local farm shops.

During 2006, one of the barns on the farm was converted into what is now known as the Old Wagon Lodge, a two-bedroom cottage that is let out to guests. As of 2018, Rankins Farm now offers a glamping accommodation option in the form of six glamping pods.

Speaking to Sarah Sunnock about when the decision to start offering glamping happened

and why, she said, “We applied for a grant in 2017. Farming just wasn’t adding up, so we sold the majority of the farm and we already had a holiday cottage. Our daughters suggested tourism and glamping, so we decided that with the land that we had left, we’d turn a bit of it into glamping. It was an up and coming thing to do in the area as there aren’t many glamping sites in Kent, so we thought let’s get to it and go.”

Asked about the glamping on offer, Sarah replied, “We have wooden glamping pods.

We’ve got planning for twelve but we have only put six in to start with. They’re all ensuite with underfloor heating, they come with a double bed and a double sofa bed, and all of your cooking facilities. Each one also has a picnic bench area and an outside fire pit/bbq.

We also put in a little playground, a petanque area, and a wooden gazebo with pizza oven for communal use.”

Asked about why they went for glamping pods over other types of accommodation and how they got information about running a glamping site, Sarah said, “We had a little bit of a look around; one of our daughters was at a university in Lancaster, and there were quite a few pods up there so we went and looked at a few which was really why we ended up with a pod and didn’t go for something else such as a shepherds hut or a tent. We also visited a couple of The Glamping Shows as there was a rural payment grant for business and tourism which we applied for and eventually got. But

whilst we were waiting, we were investigating options open to us, which is what led us to the show. But because we had a holiday cottage we had a good idea of what we were getting ourselves into.”

wheat, rye and spelt from the farm into freshly baked bread and other treats.

As of 2018, Manor Organic Farm have started welcoming ‘Little Farmers’ to their farm classroom, where before and after school clubs are run, with school visits and farm holiday clubs also on offer.

The most recent addition to Manor Organic Farm comes in the form of Dirumah For Conscious Living, a store offering eco-friendly products and an alternative treatment room with multiple treatments available.

Manor Organic Farm Manor Organic Farm, located in Long Whatton, is a family-run farm owned by Joanna Herbert-Stepney. Having farmed organically since 1989, the family moved to Manor Organic Farm in 1995 and have certainly made their mark on the place.

The family opened a farm shop that sells all the meat produced on the farm both online and at the shop. A huge amount of products are on offer including organic beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, venison and an award winning range of home-made sausages, burgers and home dry-cured bacons and gammon. Also available are organic vegetables, dairy, groceries, beer and wine and an on-site bakery turns some of the

The owner of Dirumah, Chantal van de Louw told East Midlands Business Link, “I’m delighted that what started as a shop and therapy room last December has already become a creative and spiritual centre from which I run and co-host workshops, alongside the five therapists who provide their own treatments,”

Moving forward, diversifying the services offered at farms is going to become integral to success. With so much uncertainty it is safer for farms to offer a number of smaller services as opposed to just one very large one.

While the move away from farmed-land based subsidies to a public goods-based system may seem like the UK Government asking more from farmers for potentially smaller returns, there are some positives to

the change. Under the current system, the top 10% of recipients receive almost half of the total payments, whereas the bottom fifth only receive around 2%. This means that very large-scale farms are receiving the majority of the money, whereas small scale, often family-run farms, who are far more in need of the funding are receiving a lot less.

The move away from farms being rewarded for how much land they use to farm is what is driving diversification as a possible solution.

Owners are now looking for the most profitable ways to use the land at their disposal without having to worry about the loss of subsidies.

This is leading to more and more farms to look for alternative sources of income coming in the form of farm shops and cafes, alternative but related businesses located on-site, and the ability to offer accommodation.

For many farmers, Glamping offers the perfect way to quickly and easily start offering accommodation to guests on-site.

Due to the structures associated with the pastime, start-up costs are very small compared to more traditional brick and mortar offerings. The time it takes to install the structures is also far less than other accommodation types, and due to the growth of popularity in Glamping over the past decade the amount of options out there when it comes to choosing what it is you want on your farm is bigger than ever.

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