kick the idea around!

paddyrg

Actually Horace's idea is rather interesting - have a satellite site with nice showers, etc., then run a shuttle bus/taxi to and from site. I guess the traffic will be what affects this most, Pilton gets quite busy, but perhaps you can see about secondary access? I can't imagine you will get anyone to agree to letting you use the production gate, but there may be another way round the back somewhere? It solves a lot of big problems and the ones that arise are easier to negotiate!

Horace

I am brimming with ideas today (mostly on the how can I make money quick but I can spare a few for Jex).

What made me think of being outside of the festival site was something that I was looking at on the internet last night where people are shuttled via taxi/minibus to the festival site. I think that if you are wanting to drive the minibus then you will need a PSV licence.

Horace

To get an idea of what is available at festivals - have a look at https://www.cornburyfestival.com/glamping (the festival has finished for the year now but the glamping details are still there only without prices). The Pod site mentioned has a list of the various festivals around the UK too which might be helpful.

jexygirl

Horace you read my mind!
It occurred to me this morning, that I would have to have the bus on site and the people arrive at it, (rather than pick them up and drive them in) as it would be down rated to a camper van, to allow me to drive it, otherwise, I would need a PSV! (as well ofc as seatbelts /coifs or whatever). I would prefer to be on site, so they can come and go as they pleased, rather than having to tow a further bus or car, and them have to call me for collection at all hours of the day or night!
I LOVE the deckerdence thanks for the link! Shame I cant buy it to live on!!!
JEx

Horace

Jex - keep the bus outside the site, people can come and go as they please but they will be customers with more cash than the average festival goer, you can then arrange with a local taxi/minibus firm to shuttle them in then saves you having to drive them yourself. Or you could try and hook up some of the companies on the Cornbury Festival site maybe?

If you get them to book and pay in advance - you still have the cash if they don't turn up.

Or get a catering waggon and serve delicious food such as homemade cake, a proper fried breakfast etc.

The one stall that does really well at the Bulldog Bash (not that I ever go as it is run by Hells Angels) is the WI stall where they get nice cups of tea and homemade cakes. I know this because there was something on the local tv news last year and one HA was saying how wonderful it was to have the WI there because they served proper slabs of cake with real tea.

jexygirl

OH used to do tyhe bulldog, (and yes it is arranged by HA, but they are not what they are always made out to be) there is LOTS of cash to be made there - and yes I almost bought a double decker catering bus, that had a "room /living space" as well as full catering equipment which is what I know and could go that route - but whilst the B&B idea seems mad to most, that is limited hours, compared ot being open 7am till god knows when offering good food to suit. There is also a "hospitality" bus available which is fully equipped, and I figured a double decker gives a great vantage point! However, I think I am focussing less on buisness (kind of need a semi break ) and more on "getting by /living / having a mini life" kind of thing once this place sells.
Like us all with our own buisness, we are never or rarely off duty - the other day i did 16 full hours, but then spent another 3 on the PC sorting all the advertising banners and leaflets for xmas as well as menus, and then was up at 7 to do the 8am brekkies - housekeeper didnt come in, so went up and did 4 full room cleans, then started the lunch prep - I think I was thinking about halving the hours I work (yep a weekend of even 17 hour days is what I do now, then add the other 4 days a week!) so a weekend, of being at a festival (something i miss) running a B&B all be it mobile (something I do) feeding people (something I do - and would also stipulate breakfast hours!) Just trying to get my midlife gap year!
I think I was trying to merge what I do, with what I love, and be able to get a little bit of life back! (was hoping with contacts to get cheaper pitches by doing some stage get ins and out / set ups - so if I was going to be there anyhow, be up anyhow, cook brekkie anyhow, seemed a good plan to rent some of my house out!) I wouldnt do it as a serious buisness, it wouldn't work - but as an indulgent way of getting me time and funding it as I go, it could!
As we all know, there is no santa claus!!
Parking outside and getting taxis could work, but as I said, it was more a lifestyle, with the potential to earn some money to pay the fuel to get me to the next place, rinse and repeat - I NEED TIME OUT!
Again thanks for help and humouring - now if someone wants an inn and restaurant on the edge of a loch in Scotland CASH - pm me so I can buy a bus!
Jex

Savvy_Sue

jexy, I am tickled pink at the idea of a WI stall at a Hells Angels festival, and all those big hairy bikers getting a big slab of cake and a 'proper' cup of tea like their mothers used to make.

Also :rotfl: at the antics of your residents the other night! Students, by any chance?

I just hope whoever decides to buy your idyllic place never finds your threads here, however, even as part of the 'due diligence' checks we urge on everyone who wants to open a teashop / chip shop / burger van: you give too much of the reality away! Make sure you don't mention MSE to anyone sniffing around ... and hope you find a buyer soon.

jexygirl

hehe, thats part of the problem Sue, we are too honest!
People come view, with the money to buy the place, wanting a "lifestyle change" (that translates as idyllic Inn on a loch side /chocolate box place, working a few hours answering emails / phone or taking a plate of food out here and there, then leaving to go boating or whatever, you know, living the dream...) and we tell them the reality and shatter all illusions!!!

I also ADORE the idea of a WI stall at the bulldog, imagine all these big butch blokes (sorry to be sexist!) minding their Ps and Qs and being told off and scared of the likes of "Roy Croppers Mum!"
And... fyi... no the residents were not students... they were early 30's professionals... walk ins on a "rebellious" stuff it lets go and see where we end up type break.
On the plus side, just found a bus that is a combination of live aboard, with 12 "sleeper" bunks ... now then 12 bunks @ even £15 with cooked brekkie, low average per night, at the right location (translates at wherever I happen to be!), bumped up to an inflated price for certain premium events... anyone know any free parking spots around London as I think there maybe something fairly lucrative happening next year???? :D:D
Jex

paddyrg

In which case have a look at the sleeper coaches with say 12 bunks accessed through a small office with a double bedroom upstairs (for you! You need some space!) and strict house rules - maybe one girls bus and a blokes bus separate to reduce wear and tear?! And £15/night? It would have to be £50/night+ for me to be interested, but people spend money like water at festis. And pick your festi well! And watch out, metaller festis seem to have less aversion to urine than is healthy.

Cleaning costs could be high, you don't want to need to wash sheets etc, and some festis are muddy, which is where a bit of hard standing offsite has advantages!!

Horace

You're 'aving a larf Jex if you think there is free parking around London:rotfl:

£15 a night is awfully cheap - certainly charge a bit more ask them to bring their own sleeping bag too so that way you are not laden down with washing sheets etc all the time. I hate to say it but girls can be a lot muckier than men:o:eek:

As for the idyllic lochside location with midges...don't be too honest, let them look at the books if they are serious and then when they have bought you out, let them find out for themselves what the reality is.