A family that left central London to establish a vineyard and glamping business in the English countryside is preparing for its first grape harvest while planning future expansion of its tourism operations.
Chris Reynolds and Louise Marshall MBE relocated from a two-bedroom apartment in central London to a 10-acre property in Porton, near Salisbury, in May 2023, where they launched Liba Vineyard. The site includes a four-acre field for vineyards and three acres of mixed woodland now used for eco-friendly glamping accommodations.
Chris said: “In 2025, I gave up a stable job as a management consultant in London to launch and run our own vineyard and glamping business just outside Salisbury.”
“We wanted a life in balance, and so we came up with Liba.”
“That is really important for us so we took ‘life in balance’ and put them together to create Liba.”
The couple planted nearly 4,000 vines by hand in 2023 and said they are using organic and biodynamic growing methods. Their first small harvest is expected in 2026.
The vineyard aims to eventually produce between 5,000 and 10,000 bottles of white, red, rosé, and sparkling wine annually using natural production methods without herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers.
The woodland portion of the property currently hosts three glamping pods, with planning permission already approved for as many as six units. The accommodations are being marketed as nature-focused overnight stays that combine rural settings with modern amenities.
Louise Marshall was awarded an MBE for services to sustainability and climate change following her work connected to the 2021 United Nations COP26 climate conference. The couple said sustainability has influenced the direction of the business, including the decision to integrate biodynamic farming practices and maintain a smaller-scale tourism operation.
Chris told Salisbury Journal: “After over 10 years of living in central London and working in city jobs, we needed to make a change.”
“We wanted more space and the opportunity to spend more time outside.”
“To build something for our family and our friends to enjoy, and that could also give back to the community.”
“Despite having limited practical experience, during the Covid pandemic, we settled on the idea of setting up a biodynamic vineyard and luxury glamping business.”
In addition to the vineyard and accommodations, the property includes five alpacas that the family said help provide natural fertilizer for the vines, as well as several peacocks. The couple also plans to introduce vineyard tours, wine tastings, and an on-site winery as the business develops.
The project reflects a broader trend in rural tourism and outdoor hospitality in the United Kingdom, where operators are increasingly combining agricultural experiences with accommodations to diversify revenue streams and attract visitors seeking nature-based travel.
For glamping and outdoor hospitality business owners, the combination of agritourism, sustainability branding, and phased accommodation expansion may offer insight into how smaller operators are adapting to growing consumer interest in experiential travel and environmentally focused stays.
Liba Vineyard is currently accepting bookings for overnight stays in its woodland glamping pods while continuing development of its vineyard operations.