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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shepherds Hut

163 replies

Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 14:47

We're thinking of setting up a shepherds hut as an air bnb next to our house, it won't have views but will have a hot tub and a beautiful enclosed sun trap courtyard garden. There are walks to open countryside all around us and we live in a beautiful village with a lovely pub. We're an hour from London and 30mins from Cambridge.... would you rent a shepherds hut with beautiful garden, fairly lights, hot tub but no view....

OP posts:
Original poster
Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:49

Defo having firepit and bbq will look into covered seating too

OP posts:
Original poster
Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:49

Thoughts on pizza ovens??

OP posts:
Movinghouseatlast · 21/08/2023 16:50

I have a shepherds hut in my garden. People absolutely love it and we sell out all summer and half of winter. It is in a separate part of the garden- they can't see our house. It also looks out onto farmland.

A few things to bear in mind...

You need Change of Use of Land Planning Permission to let anything you put on your land commercially. Most people don't bother, but if a neighbour complains to the council you would have to apply retrospectively.

The market is completely saturated at the moment. When we started there were 11 shepherds huts within 10 miles. Now there are 56. People are struggling for bookings.

If I were you I would research your local area on Air BnB to see what the local competition is and how many bookings they are getting. Also look on the Planning Portalto see what your councils attitude to this type of thing.

asterdaisy · 21/08/2023 16:53

Just googled and it is clear shepherds huts are going out of fashion. And those that are still for rent either tend to have amazing views or are offering lots of extras. Like this one in a village near Cambridge on a farm that offers a complimentary breakfast an a lounge in the farm you can use.

glampinghub.com/unitedkingdom/england/poundon/hut-rental-bicester-village-england/

Movinghouseatlast · 21/08/2023 16:57

Ours has an outdoor kitchen and pizza oven which is very popular. From the responses here Mumsnet is not the demographic you are seeking!!!

We get mostly young couples, but we do get a lot of people in their 40's- 50's. Our current guests are in their 60's and have booked for a week!

NeedToChangeName · 21/08/2023 16:57

If I stayed in a shepherd's hut, I'd want it to be remote, in the countryside, with views, like posh camping

If I wanted cooker, fridge freezer, microwave, coffee machine, hot tub, pizza oven etc, I'd want to stay in a proper house

Sorry not to be more enthusiastic, but I hope honest feedback is helpful

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 21/08/2023 16:57

Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:49

Thoughts on pizza ovens??

Absolutely love going somewhere with a pizza oven but you need to make sure there is somewhere nearby people can buy pizza bases or have space for people to make (and prove) their own dough.

You could make it an added on extra to have a stocked up pizza station ie bases, sauce, cheese, toppings etc.

fruitnutz · 21/08/2023 16:58

I have seen similar airbnbs listed (and reviewed). I think you'll be fine.

huuskymam · 21/08/2023 16:58

It's a no from me, not because it's a shepherd's hut, but because it would be too close to someone's house. We booked an Airbnb which had a hot tub,, stunning views and lovely cabin, but unfortunately it wasn't advertised as being in someones private garden. It was very awkward. While enclosed, you could hear the kids playing outside, adults coming and going and chatting on the doorstep. Never again.

SameOldTed · 21/08/2023 16:59

Yes I'm looking at booking one this year, and have stayed in similar.

  1. Self-contained/private is a MUST - I don't really enjoy going away and "making awkward small talk" with owners and animals and children.
  1. There's a lot of people with disposable income who want to do new stuff but don't or can't drive - London and Cambridge will be full of this type. Also able to take 2-3 days off but not weeks.
  1. Possibly market as solitary retreat/writers retreat/yoga or meditation or solo retreat (google for an idea of what I'm suggesting). Advantage being you'll get less heavy drinkers and Sex People and they'll just sit round doing yoga and breathing. Although Sex People may still be drawn to the hot tub sitch.
  1. Agree with pp keep decor nice but as plain and minimal as possible - no nicknacks or tat or specific "styles" as it tends to date and may put people off. Also don't get too attached to the venue and be "over present" Like many holidaymakers I have had the whole experience of someone doing the whole Tubbs "don't touch the PRECIOUS THINGS". Leave an instruction sheet and be available on WhatsApp.
  1. If you go to airbnb I think there's a whole search field where you can put "cabins" which I THINK includes shepherd's huts. This could give an idea of price and decor.
Original poster
Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 17:01

There are no shepherds huts in our immediate area.... but take the view if they are going out of fashion....

OP posts:
explainthistomeplease · 21/08/2023 17:03

It would have to be in a National Park or AONB to attract me. And only then at a push. Or possibly on a long distance footpath (like Pennine Way) where people stay just a night before pushing on.

43ontherocksporfavor · 21/08/2023 17:05

I think it depends on the price. Some shepherd huts on AirBnB are really punching! I wouldn’t choose one unless it was last minute and on a warm and sunny weekend because I’d want to sit outside in the countryside. It would have to be priced slightly above a tent pitch price as there is so little room. Not really fussed by a hot tub if it means I’d have to be a luxury price.

43ontherocksporfavor · 21/08/2023 17:09

Oh and a pizza oven is great but I wouldn’t be making dough on a break in a tiny hut so not much point. Would rather you left a bottle of wine and installed blackout blinds and curtains .

Zonder · 21/08/2023 17:10

Lots of air bnbs don't have great views but people stay in them for other reasons. I wouldn't be put off by the lack of a view although I would be put off by the sex pond and there's lots to see around that area so I think it could really work. If nothing else you would probably get business around graduation times!

rwalker · 21/08/2023 17:12

Depends on bathroom facilities

Daphnis156 · 21/08/2023 17:16

I'm not even sure what a shepherd's hut is.
Is it a basic wooden caravan on wheels, ideal for medieval peasants?
In fact did David Cameron have one? Surely a reason never to stay in one.
Would "guests" have to come to your house to wash and draw water?
It does not sound pleasant.

asterdaisy · 21/08/2023 17:18

Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 17:01

There are no shepherds huts in our immediate area.... but take the view if they are going out of fashion....

Sadly there may be none because the economics don't add up.
If you were happy to tell us the area people could give more targeted advice.

Diospyros · 21/08/2023 17:20

Are you in one of the villages just outside Cambridge?

When you say 30 minutes from Cambridge, do you mean 30 minutes from the city centre or 30 minutes from the city bounds then forever and a day to actually get anywhere in the traffic jams? Is there a decent bus or train service into the city that doesn't stop at 6pm?

If you mean 30 minutes from Cambridge city centre and there is good public transport or an Uber is reasonably priced or it is an easy and safe bike ride (maybe you could invest in some ebikes for guests), it could work at the right price. Accomodation is busy and expensive in Cambridge. It must be 30 minutes to get into the city from the out of town Travelodge type places.

In my head, I am thinking of somewhere like Fen Ditton with lovely countryside and nice riverside pubs. A shepherd's hut somewhere like that would be far more appealing to me than a faceless suburban Travelodge for a visit to Cambridge. It could be the best of both worlds - a city break in the countryside.

If you mean 30 minutes on the motorway, I think you are too far for the Cambridge tourist market. I would want to be able to have dinner and drinks in the city and get back without needing a car or remortgaging my house to afford a taxi.

BIossomtoes · 21/08/2023 17:20

No but then I live just up the road from you.

RojoCarlottaValdez · 21/08/2023 17:22

A fake shepherd's hut in someone's garden - absolutely not. I stayed in one 25 years ago in Northumberland set in 50 acres with no-one around. We could watch birds and animals, swim in the river and be out in nature. Only came back to eat something simple and sleep, like a bothy, which is what an actual shepherd's hut is for.

londonrach · 21/08/2023 17:25

Hot tub put me off. Is there a toilet and shower but no I wouldn't

Daffodilsandtuplips · 21/08/2023 17:26

Will it have a toilet, shower? I stayed in one without those facilities and hated it.

NettleTea · 21/08/2023 17:26

Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:48

@NettleTea what sort of cabin do you mean? Thanks for your thoughts!!

this is our big cabin but it needed be as big as this - like a rustic style log cabin, but quirky, not from the local garden centre. divide up inside. have a decking and a veranda

https://www.glottenham.com/de-glottyngham

de Glottyngham — GLOTTENHAM

https://www.glottenham.com/de-glottyngham

Seashor · 21/08/2023 17:28

Sadly no, but as a previous poster said, I wouldn’t stay in a shepherd’s hut full stop. They’re always well overpriced and very underwhelming. Sorry.