Shepherds Hut

[Tigger83]

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....

Think about who you are aiming at - what is in your local vicinity. without the view its the neighbourhood that is going to appeal. Is it for couples (you may not hit the 'romantic break' market due to being in the garden) is it families? Is it dog walkers/ hikers. Pitch it at, and decorate it for, your market.

Dogs are massive. We have just started allowing dogs in our cottage, but not on the glampingsite yet. There are more people looking for breaks with dogs than with children nowdays, so that may be your ideal market - couples with a dog. avoids kids. they are generally less fussy about decor, a nice woodburner with a rug in front and a double / twin bed.

pizza ovens are popular on our site - for hampers our most popular is a pizza hamper, followed by a breakfast, and BBQ coming in last. You can get quite good ones that go on a BBQ rather than forking out for a massive one that takes an age to heat up, especially if there are just the two of them.

here are a whole ton of cabins

https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/glamping/cabins/

I've stayed in a couple and no way, never again, not in the UK - they really are a glorified shed with not enough space to really relax - eg in bad weather. They're never as big or comfortable as a decent hotel room, and at least then there's probably a bar or pool in the same building.
Tbh I also think they're a bit wanky/tacky faux-peasanty, and I'd always be thinking of David Cameron heading off to his one after humming a wee tune on resigning having tanked the country into Brexit. So, no - sorry OP.

Cheaper end of the market - they seem fairly fully booked. So no you're not offering a perfect holiday venue, but bit more exciting than a travelodge.

I travel a bit with conferences etc (which I don't like) and I do look for more "interesting" places as do some international colleagues, as it turns the grimness into more of an adventure.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/buzzard-holt-hosting.en-gb.html?aid=304142&label=gen173nr-1FCAEoggI46AdIM1gEaFCIAQKYAQm4AQnIARHYAQHoAQH4AQyIAgGoAgO4ArykjqcGwAIB0gIkMDczOWNmNmMtNDIwOS00ZjgxLTliNTQtNWY4NWQwMmViYTk12AIG4AIB&sid=628c7edf099aa7f6cc248047220ac26c&dist=0;group_adults=1;group_children=0;no_rooms=1;room1=A;sb_price_type=total;type=total;ucfs=1&

Did anyone else think this was a new, quirky shepherd's pie version of Pizza Hut???

I don't understand the 'sex pond' comments. The only people having sex in a hot tub would be you and your partner, hot tubs aren't shared, they are for the exclusive use of the guests in the shepherds hut. They are emptied, cleaned and filled and sanitised for each guest.

People like the romance of a shepherds hut I think- it's an experience rather than somewhere to stay. We have a one bed cottage as well and the shepherds hut has more bookings in the winter even though its much smaller and more expensive.

If it's a shepherd's hut with bathroom and wifi then maybe.

AirBnB is awash with shepherd's huts to the point I started thinking it would be a nice idea to stay in one.

Vast majority, however luxury, had no bathroom. No way am I walking across a field in the night to go to the loo.

@Tigger83 I am an ex health and safety enforcement officer and was in hospitality for 20+ years now sit on various advisory type bodies.

1. you will need planning permission
2. just because you call it an airbnb it isnt its a furnished holiday let and all the 70+ laws that apply to FHL's will apply to your shepherds hut. that includes paying for the rubbish to be taken away, fire risk assessments and fire safety, other general health and safety stuff as well. Look at the pink book published by visit britain and freely available on line.
3. If you have a hot tub it has to comply with HSG282 by law. No pop up or inflatable tubs, testing twice a day and emptying and refilling between guests. I know "loads of places dont do this" but its the law. And, hotels have inlining dosing systems like ones for swimming pools thats why they dont do this. Oh and if its a wooden one that needs emptying and cleaning after each and every use because its business not one at home.
4. Join an organisation called PASC - the professional association of self caterers. They have all the webinars and info you could need including things on terms and conditions etc.
5. Do a business plan including a customer avatar and run the numbers. Its hard work and not money for nothing.

Good luck.

I don’t think you have enough to offer. It is not wilderness so what have you got to attract people apart from the pub. Are there any local attractions? Cambridge for a day maybe but London is too far.
I also think hot tubs are chavvy.

Here is one 30 mins from Cambridge

https://air.tl/sEHoamk1

See that might look cute/cosy but say if it's raining out and you want to hang out there, where are you supposed to sit? On the two metal chairs at the 'bistro' table? So uncomfortable for any length of time.

Would prefer pod/wigwam to shepherds hut

I would only stay if I was interested in the area, not just for the accommodation

Hot tub is a turnoff rather than a bonus

Pizza oven would be a big bonus!

Private outdoor space a really big bonus so make that very clear

This has a shared swimming pool, sauna, kayak available and a river front view. I would have booked this pre children hoping it would be nice weather and I can spend the weekend swimming and kayaking.

Would you consider a vintage caravan instead? You can decorate them romantically or in a retro style that would appeal to so many people (so many ideas on Pinterest for decor). You would obviously need planning for the utilities to be connected, but bad weather would not impede the enjoyment to be had. You could have a (HETAS installed) wood burner, a TV with all the packages, WiFi and a fab outdoor space with bbq, (optional pizza oven), fire pit, comfortable seating and eating area, fairy lights, quirky garden and maybe a glazed section with seats for star gazing. The lack of view would not be an issue. Add dog-friendly and it would be a winner.

Can you draw us a diagram of where it would be in relation to your house/garden. Would it have its own separate entrance?

Having the hot tub under a covered space would be an advantage;we couldn't use the hot tub on our last holiday as it rained every day;we could have used it if under cover.

Ditch the hot tub and make it more affordable. Hot tubs add ridiculous amounts.

Make it more of a walkers sanctuary.

If it is a reasonable cost per night then it's more appealing than a hotel (if you have outdoor gear) and you can self cater.

We just stayed in a lovely one which didn't really have a view but was in a walled garden. The appeal was it's proximity to an attraction.

That's actually IN Cambridge!

It's so interesting that people's views are so mixed about everything!

No to be honest, I wouldn't. I'd stay in a shepherd's hut in glorious countryside but not in your garden.

I would absolutely stay in the one in Chesterton that a PP posted for £81 a night for 2. In fact, I might actually book it next time I have to go to Cambridge!

Have you looked at the going rate for airbnb's in your area and checked out demand? If there's loads of availability then it's prob not a goer but if similar places a booked up then it's a good idea! Someone I know has recently done similar in their garden and they are fully booked every weekend for the next few months.

I’d be up for the novelty factor for a night or two but wouldn’t rent it if dogs were allowed, too likely that it would smell.

Yes. I think the location sounds great for people who want to visit the area, and they won't mind what kind of thing they stay in. So probably not worth anything too expensive.

I would start without the hot tub and pizza oven and see how much business you get. You can always add those as you go.

Overpriced garden sheds. I’ve spent my life sleeping where I fall in often small spaces - If I’m paying to sleep somewhere it better be as comfy / comfier than my bed at home, with better views and more space.