Not your typical start up question

[NomDeClavier]

If you had a falling down castle/manor house/stately home with stunning grounds and no money and needed to make it at least pay its way (c.£8k p.a.) what could you use it for?

PILs are in this situation, desperate not to sell but very little money to make major improvements :( if they made a bit of money on top of the running costs they would reinvest it and turn it into a viable family business.

We've brainstormed and they would hire it out for weddings, photoshoots, conferences (if it were improved), parties, festivals etc but they have no idea where to start, whether there are agencies they could sign up to or who to approach and neither DH nor I have any expertise in the field.

Help?

This thread on MSE about renting your property out as a film location might be worth a read - lots of tips and places to register with!

Kelburn

This place was in the same situation. It's still dicey at times but they've managed to get a festival once a year (of their own creation) that brings in quite a bit of revenue.

Their kids woodland walk thing is very popular too.

I used to go to Kelburn Country Park for school trips. It was always a great day.

Is there any scope for this kind of business, aimed at day trips, in the grounds if the main house needs work before it would be viable for any sort of business inside?

I remember a tea shop and a gift shop too.

A couple of ideas:

• contact your local college to see if they need somewhere to "teach" their apprentices e.g. bricklaying, plastering or something - you might get a bit of maintenance work done for free or at least cheaply?
• try & appeal to the mid-week pre-school family market - is there anything you can do to bring in mums & pre-schoolers at this "quiet" time e.g. woodland play, adventure trail or treasure hunt for the little ones then tea & cakes for the mums after?
• can you become a "schools" venue for something e.g. history project or nature project - I don't know how many times my kids have come back from a school trip & then made me go & visit where they have been!
• are there any local charities that might be able to help you? Sometimes they might have some funding available - a long shot I know but there might be some sort of reciprocal agreement you can reach?

Anyway, good luck to you all

Camping

A plain 'no frills' tent only site will incur the least initial outlay (loos and showers) and is quick to set up.

To cover £8k pa all they would need to do is attract 16 tents a week, staying for an average of 2 nights per visit, every week for a 17 week season, paying £15 a night (per tent)

Then as business builds your PILs could invest in better facilities and any of the numerous 'glamping' options (pods, yurts, bell tents, converted horse boxes etc). These are seriously high margin.

From there they could start offering weddings etc.

Alternatively, there will a local events company who puts on all the local open air concerts and country fairs. Your PILS could contact them about using their grounds. This will be min work for your PILs.