Category Archives: Leisure

Leisure, Tourism

Awards success for leisure retailer following Coronavirus lockdown sales surge

AN ENTREPENEUR nominated for a string of national business awards continues to make waves in the leisure sector.

UK Leisure Living Group has sold more hot tubs in 2020 than previous years put together, with the Coronavirus and Spring heatwave leading to a surge in sales.

The trend continued across the summer at their revamped 6,000 sq ft Mochdre showroom and Managing Director Gareth Jones marked this success at the second annual North Wales Hot Tub Expo, by unveiling new products and international partnerships.

He is also proud to have been named a finalist in three categories at the National SME Business Awards, to be held at Wembley Arena next Spring – Best Enterprising Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, and for Service Excellence.

“While this year has been challenging for all businesses, we have been able to retain all of our staff and employ an apprentice full-time by capitalising on the initial lockdown period,” said Gareth.

“Protecting our local supply chain has also been hugely important to us and supporting companies in the Welsh tourism and hospitality sector when they need it most.

“By introducing new product lines – outdoor kitchens, the swim spas centre, saunas and the US-based Bull barbecue and grill range – the company will be even more sustainable in the future and not reliant on one product to get us through dire and unprecedented circumstances such as these.

“This is on top of our already popular international partnerships with Stop Digging in Sweden, Hot Springs in California and Aspen in St Louis, Missouri.”

By focusing on the end-to-end leisure experience. Gareth has also launched the Holiday Let Advice Centre, an independent hub for owners of holiday cottages, park owners and glamping site owners to get free and friendly advice.

“We will be a single port of call for the staycation market, offering free guidance on a range of topics from energy saving advice to maximizing bookings, hot tub maintenance, accommodation types, electric car charging and any number of issues they will come across. We will also bring in key partners to help with funding, taxation and planning,” he said.

“There will be a presence here in Mochdre and online, so we can offer support and specialist expertise locally and across the UK.”

Gareth added: “We have a broad range of experience across these subjects and can meet all of their needs from under one roof, and our collaboration with Cottages.com will be a big factor in this.

“For example, research has shown an increased occupancy in a holiday accommodation is roughly 40% by having a hot tub, and with properties with an already high occupancy it can boost the tariffs by up to 27%.

Admitting the next six months will be tough for the leisure sector, Gareth is hopeful next year will bring green shoots of recovery.

“Stock in the hot tub industry is scarce and some manufacturers are quoting 67 weeks to wait. Not six or seven weeks – 67.

“We have hundreds of tubs on order for delivery into next summer and free stock arriving almost weekly up until Christmas now. Getting hold of quality stock is difficult but with our buying power and connections, we have it covered.

“However, it is a tough place and I think we will see some hot tub companies go out of business, with no stock to sell.”

Gareth added: “I would not like to set up a hot tub company in these times, with the challenges facing this sector. These companies will potentially leave consumers high and dry, with lost deposits and no warranties.

“From a personal perspective, we have the awards to look forward to as well, and in past weeks were honoured to once again be named in the Wales Fast Growth 50 list.”

“We have used 2020 to lay the foundations for future years and while sales did rise, we didn’t get carried away. We have invested wisely, and that will pay dividends for the profitability of the business over the coming years.

“We want to create more jobs and support more investment in North Wales and the regional economy with our future masterplan – that’s our priority.”

For more information on UK Leisure Living, visit www.ukleisureliving.co.uk and follow @ukleisurelivinggroup on social media.

Leisure, News, Travel

Boost for UK tourism as Park Leisure sees 74% increase in bookings

A staggering 74% year-on-year increase in summer bookings1 has been reported by UK holiday home operator, Park Leisure, with September dates almost fully booked, as domestic holidays surge in popularity.

Amidst uncertainty regarding international travel, with more and more locations being added to the quarantine list and government guidelines changing almost daily, YouGov data2 shows that over three quarters of Brits (77%) have no intention of travelling abroad this year. In fact, 43% say they intend to take more or the same number of UK holidays than they usually would this year3.

And as British holidaymakers increasingly seek UK getaways, Park Leisure has seen a huge boost in bookings for its pet-friendly countryside and coastal holiday parks. From the likes of Cornwall, Northumberland and North Wales, to Yorkshire and Herefordshire, Park Leisure’s l holiday parks showcase the best of the UK’s natural beauty and are open all year round. Of all the locations, Littondale, based in the Yorkshire Dales, has seen the biggest increase, taking a huge 91% more bookings this summer (June – August) compared to the same period last year.

The company also reports a 47% increase in sales of its luxury caravans since June 2020, suggesting that an increasing number of people are ready to invest in holiday home ownership amid the uncertainty of the current travel climate.

Lisa Williams, director of marketing and holiday sales at Park Leisure, said: “It goes without saying that this year has been completely unpredictable and there were challenges to overcome to make sure that we were able to welcome holiday home owners and holiday makers to our parks safely and comfortably this summer.

“Alongside the benefit of avoiding international travel regulations, our holiday homes are completely self-contained with everything you need for your prefect break. Staying in our holiday homes mean any unnecessary social interaction is avoided and our guests can cocoon themselves in their own little sanctuary or explore the beautiful great outdoors!

“We have, of course, redesigned our processes to keep people safe, as well as introducing hand sanitising facilities and regular signage displaying the guidelines and best practice, alongside a host of other measures to give holiday home owners and holidaymakers peace of mind.”

  • To put customers at ease, Park Leisure has implemented several measures such as:
  • A reduced deposit to help customers secure the dates they want
  • Free amendments to bookings*
  • An adapted check-in process to minimise unnecessary contact
  • Industry leading cleaning regularly implemented in each accommodation
  • COVID-19 secure certification from VisitBritain

Lisa added: “The surge in bookings has confirmed something we’ve believed for a long time: the UK has some of the most beautiful and most relaxing holiday spots. From the gorgeous coasts of Cornwall, the breathtaking mountain scenery of North Wales to the lush countryside of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Herefordshire, you don’t need to travel abroad for a break when you can tuck yourself away into an idyllic spot right on your doorstep. With all the difficulty of the last few months, a lot of people are in need of a well-deserved break, so we’re not surprised to see so many taking advantage of our UK locations.

“What’s been really interesting to see is that there’s no sign of things slowing down now the school holidays are over. In fact, September is heading towards full capacity for us, and October seems to be going the same way too. We’re open 12 months of the year and with holidays abroad so uncertain for the foreseeable future, now is a great time to book a stress-free and relaxing break for you, your family, and even your pets!”

To book your stay in one of Park Leisure’s stunning UK locations, visit https://www.parkleisureholidays.co.uk/

 

Conwy, Leisure, Retirement

North Wales retirement coach supporting people on road to their golden years

MORE than 40 years as a senior HR leader saw Nigel Evans support hundreds of colleagues on the road to retirement.

But when it came to enjoying his own withdrawal from professional life, the 64-year-old found the transition to be more difficult than he ever imagined.

Having returned to North Wales from Hong Kong and a leading role in human resources at a company employing 40,000 staff across Asia, the dad-of-three decided the time was right to leave work behind and begin a new journey.

Three years later Nigel “hit a wall” and decided to launch Riverbridge Coaching, a business focused on helping people with their retirement plans, a process most assume is pretty simple.

“That often could not be further from the truth,” said Nigel, who lives in the Conwy Valley with his wife Yvonnie.

“The adverts and photos we see of happy silver-haired retirees skipping along a beach or doing their daily workout do not reflect the reality.

“As I found myself, there is a honeymoon period immediately after you retire, which is great. You do the things you want to do, travel, spend time with famil and enjoy pastimes and hobbies.

“But eventually you hit a wall and realise that 20-30 years is a lot of leisure time to fill.”

The financial side is what most prospective retirees are concerned with. But as Nigel discovered, the value of physical, mental and spiritual well-being as well as social support are far more crucial considerations.

“More important than a financial plan is a non-financial plan that looks at how you replace work,” he said.

“People don’t realise the value that work provides them. Structure, purpose, routines, deadlines, social interaction and a sense of accomplishment were your day to day life for decades.

“It’s almost a sense of loss, and you question whether you are contributing to society.

“I remember sitting in the kitchen and hearing the clock tick, a sound I had never noticed before.

“I am still full of energy and have so much to give, which is why I started coaching.”

He added: “This myth that retirement is easy and stress free is just that – a myth.

“Research reveals around 55% of people get to where they want to be and are content, but that leaves a huge amount of people who don’t, those who struggle with mental health issues, the financial burden, anxiety and even suicide because they cannot replace what they had.

“Many people lose their identity when they stop working, and helping them discover a new one is often a central theme in coaching conversations”

The latter part of Nigel’s role in the Far East was as an executive coach, and he has brought those skills into this new venture.

He partners with clients to find “creative solutions” to the retirement challenges they are facing and helps them put realistic action plans together.

“I always conduct a complimentary discovery session first so we can explore what issues they are facing,” said Nigel.

“Some people get to solutions and action plans in a few hours – whilst other want to reflect and explore issues over a longer period of time.

“The perception is that coaching is purely advice and guidance, but it’s not like that. You have to get your own solutions because the best answers are yours – ultimately you are the expert on you.”

He added: “I sometimes ask the client to envision what the perfect day in retirement would look like, then the perfect week and the perfect month. Very often this helps people hone right down to what counts and helps to clarify what is important to them about retirement.”

So, what does the perfect day in retirement look like for Nigel? And has he found a new identity?

“My personal mission is to be present and live in the day,” he said.

“I have a wonderful family who I am lucky enough to be able to spend lots of time with. I play the piano, keep fit and am studying for a degree in Psychology and Counselling having achieved my coaching credentials in the past couple of years.

“Much of the remaining time is spent on what I love to do most – inspiring people to retire well and to the best years of their lives.

“Put simply, retirement should not be a struggle, not after decades of hard work. You can still enjoy your life and pursue your dreams. There are many things I want to go on and do, and I know many people out there feel the same.”

For more information and to contact Nigel, visit the website: www.riverbridgecoaching.com

COVID-19, Environment, Leisure

Business is bubbling for ethical manufacturer after lockdown sales surge

BUSINESS is bubbling up nicely for one of the country’s most ethical and inspiring manufacturers.

Dr Zigs distributed 10,000 litres of its popular products during the Coronavirus lockdown – that equates to a staggering 10 million giant bubbles.

And the sales surge comes as the company, based on the Vaynol Estate near Bangor, approaches its 10th anniversary.

Bubbler-in-Chief Paola Dyboski-Bryant has big plans for the future; she wants to create a viable, sustainable organisation with a minimal carbon footprint that reflects her own ethics and activism.

A former professional sailor and lighting technician – Paola was the West End’s first ever female spot operator – she is a campaigner for myriad appeals and charities, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, end-of-life-care, refugees and homelessness.

Raised in Italy, her father was a Polish war refugee who fought for Britain as an SOE (Special Operations Executive) agent and championed the values of humanity and selflessness.

That attitude and drive has carried Paola and Dr Zigs Extraordinary Bubbles from a kitchen table in Tregarth to every corner of the world, and the best is yet to come.

“We will be launching in the United States soon and have just done so in Australia and South Korea, but my main focus is on being an innovative business that does things differently, and in a much more ethical way, with a huge focus on the circular economy,” said the mum-of-three, who lives in Llanberis with lecturer husband, Daniel.

“We manufacture bubbles, but they are not just toys, there is an important message and they genuinely make a difference to people’s lives.

“That was certainly the case in lockdown; we had so much feedback from families of children with disabilities, or people who had been blowing bubbles for elderly neighbours, gifting them for friends and family, or just using them to keep little children entertained when they needed it most.

“Sales went through the roof, but the most rewarding factor was knowing they had made people happy at such a difficult time.”

Employing five staff and inspired by her youngest son Ziggy – who would erupt in fits of giggles when treated to a bubble display – the company is now focused on eradicating plastic from all packaging and processes.

“I’m aiming for a circular economy model, I want us to be as sustainable possible,” said Paola.

“We are working with a firm in Thailand to introduce sustainable rubber wood, and a community farm in Vietnam. Replacing our buckets with coconuts is another option, and in a couple of weeks we will be delivering bubbles overseas via a sailboat, a completely carbon-neutral shipment.

“At present people send the bottles back to us and we refill them in exchange for a discount voucher, so we are constantly recycling, and encouraging re-use but it’s not enough.”

Neither was a series of giant bubble world records she and hundreds of participants broke at Caernarfon Castle in 2018.

Paola is always thinking bigger, and more importantly, better. Especially for the environment.

“From the moment I sat down and started making the bubbles, all these different mixtures that led to different scents and senses, I knew Dr Zigs was going to be special,” she said.

“I had £20 worth of stickers and bottles and never looked back, but it’s not all been down to me, I have a brilliant team who have worked so hard, particularly in past months.

“We have gone on to complete a PhD in bubbles, provided bubbles for a collection of artists at Paris Fashion Show, and even appeared on stage with the Kaiser Chiefs!

“I am a Big Ideas Wales mentor and I tell the children and young people, if I can make a living by making bubbles, you can do anything.”

Paola added: “Our Bubbles not Bombs project is testament to that, to bringing peace and happiness to others.

“It’s not just about bubbles, but they are the vehicle for all of this. If you see something not right in the world, go and change it. That is not easy to do, but you can make a difference.

“I would love Dr Zigs to be the name people think of when they make bubbles, we just want to be different and shake things up – it’s a different way of doing business

“I want to change the world and make it a better place, it’s that simple.”

For more information, visit the website www.drzigs.com and follow @drzigs on social media.

FInance, Leisure, News, North of England

Yorkshire Bank helps hotel group reopen for business

A family-owned hotel group is welcoming guests back to its venues and has secured Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) funding from Yorkshire Bank, which is owned by Virgin Money UK, to support its economic recovery.

The Webb Hotel Group, which owns Moor Hall Hotel and Spa in Sutton Coldfield, The George Hotel and The Cathedral Hotel in Lichfield, The Gables Hotel near Bristol and The Red Lion pub in Newborough, Staffordshire, reopened on 4 July in line with government guidance after a 15-week closure because of the coronavirus lockdown.

The company’s 250-strong workforce has returned to work from furlough and has been busy preparing venues by implementing physical distancing and hygiene measures based on the hotel and accommodation guidance provided by the UK government.

While the management team is optimistic about restaurant bookings and business accommodation returning to normal quickly, around half of the group’s income is generated from weddings, other events and spa bookings.

Michael Webb, owner and chairman, Webb Hotel Group, said:

“We expect to see a bit of a surge in demand from a portion of our customers. We had to maintain a small skeleton staff during lockdown to handle a large volume of enquiries from people who wanted to move their dates and make future bookings. However, there is still a lot of uncertainty around events, such as weddings, corporate functions and entertainment, such as tribute nights, and we don’t know when we can resume that side of the business. We also welcome lots of guests for spa breaks, which is a significant part of our income.

“At the moment, we don’t know how much business we can expect to see in the next few months. It remains to be seen how confident people will feel about using hospitality businesses with ongoing health and safety measures in place. It means we still don’t know how our income is going to be affected for the rest of the year.

“The CBILS funding from Yorkshire Bank will be vital to maintain cashflow if we don’t see enough return business. It has also covered the cost of reopening, which has been considerable with all the new measures we need to implement to keep our employees and guests safe.

“Yorkshire Bank has provided excellent support during this challenging time. Our relationship manager was so easy to deal with and handled everything quickly and smoothly.”

Adam Woodall, relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank, said:

“The hospitality sector is one of the hardest hit industries of the coronavirus lockdown and while businesses can now begin to reopen, there’s still a lot of uncertainty in the months ahead. The Webb Hotel Group is a well-established business with an excellent track record, so we expect them to bounce back but understand this might take a bit of time to gain momentum.

“We’re aware that all businesses will be thinking about their return to operations as the lockdown restrictions are steadily lifted. We’re here to provide financial support and guidance to help our customers get back up and running.”

More information on CIBLS is available on the Yorkshire Bank website: https://secure.ybonline.co.uk/business/our-products/loans-and-finance/borrowing-facilities/business-loan/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme/

Camping Kit News, Leisure, News

Introducing NowLight – award-winning tech that charges phone and tablets, and illuminates gardens and campsites just from pulling a cord

A recently launched British tech product is already winning awards and is hoping to capture the attention of British campers as campsites re-open.

The London designed product creates instant light and power just from pulling a cord.

Through pulling on NowLight’s cord for just one minute, you can create up to two hours of light to illuminate rooms and outdoor spaces, or enough power for 15-minutes of talk-time on a mobile phone. A fully charged NowLight will provide up to 50 hours of light. The kit includes a whole host of extras including a SatLight to spread light even further, a solar panel to create easy energy when its sunny and a charging cable to power your NowLight from the mains.

As we enter the summer months, NowLight is great for the garden, from finding tools in the shed and to brightening up a family BBQ. It is also perfect for outdoors adventures like camping and hiking. In a power cut or other emergency, NowLight is always ready, just pull the cord for light and power.

NowLight has also been designed to support households who live without electricity or who have been displaced by natural disasters or conflict, providing a reliable source of lighting and power for mobile devices – and through partnerships with humanitarian organisations, purchasers have the option to donate a NowLight when buying one for yourself.

Nowlight can be purchased online here and retails at £99 – and we’ll hopefully be reviewing one soon, so watch this space!

Awards, Leisure, News

Outdoor activity centre named winner of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Walton Firs Foundation & Activity Centre is celebrating after being named as a winner of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

This is the highest national award presented to local volunteer groups across the UK and is the equivalent of the MBE. It is presented to exceptional groups that are volunteer-led and whose levels of initiative and impact make a significant difference to beneficiaries in their communities. Created in 2002 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of HM The Queen’s Coronation, the list of winners is published on 2nd June each year.

Walton Firs offers accessible outdoor education opportunities, such as camping, climbing, caving, archery and bushcraft, to young people, and its team of volunteers are invaluable in supporting the delivery of the programmes, as well as maintaining the facilities and equipment. Since opening in 2008, Walton Firs has enabled over 250,000 young people to develop new skills and abilities within the natural environment.

All award nominees were subject to an appraisal of their volunteering policies and practices by the Surrey Lieutenancy local assessment panel, whose reports were forwarded to the National Award Committee. This national committee subsequently made its own independent recommendations to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which sent a final list of award recipients to the Queen for her approval.

With a proud tradition of supporting adults and young people to volunteer within its organisation, Walton Firs has more than 100 volunteers engaged as trustees, patrons, crew members and leaders. The activity centre also supports vulnerable and ‘at risk’ young people to develop their social and vocational skills though mentored work experience placements, and it was these youth support programmes which were, in part, key to Walton Firs receiving the award.

Izzy Devonshire, age 17, explained what she had gained from being a Walton Firs volunteer:

“Volunteering at Walton Firs has taught me valuable skills. It has helped me stay connected with my friends since finishing school. It’s helped me develop team working skills and brought me and my friends closer together.”

Rob Woolford, Chairman of the Walton Firs Foundation, commented:

“On behalf of Walton Firs Foundation, I’m delighted our organisation has been chosen to receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. We have a long-standing commitment to deliver high quality volunteering opportunities, and we’re all thrilled our tradition of supporting young people to develop the skills and knowledge required to become happy and successful adults has been recognised.

“As with many charitable organisations, the present difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic is giving the Activity Centre some financial difficulties, with enforced closure at a time which would normally provide a substantial proportion of the annual income. Sadly, this lockdown also means our volunteer service teams and corporate sponsored work teams are not able to help with their volunteer days. Every little counts and we are hoping to find a few generous sponsors to help us through these difficult times.”

Chris Scott, the Centre Manager at Walton Firs, added:

“Receiving The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is a tribute to the many hundreds of people who have given their time as volunteers to the activity centre over the past twelve years. I have to say a big thank you to every one of our past and present crew members and leaders for their inputs to Walton Firs!”

Walton Firs Foundation & Activity Centre will be formally presented with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service by the Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey during a commemorative event at a future date where all past and present volunteers will join directors to celebrate.

For further information about becoming a Walton Firs sponsor, please contact Christopher Scott on 01932 863243. Alternatively, donations can be made by via Walton Firs’ Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/WaltonFirs/.