Readers Field Glamping in Great Sampford, near Saffron Walden, has been named the best boutique place to stay in Essex in this year’s Muddy Stilettos awards, following a vote by readers.
The glamping business, which opened within the last year, is operated by Kim and Stephen Welch, who have lived at the property for 40 years. The site currently has four bell tents, with the limited number of accommodations intended to provide guests with additional privacy and a more individual outdoor stay.
Each tent includes a double bed, bedding, towels, two additional airbeds, a gas cooker, fire pit and barbecue. The setup is designed to provide guests with camping accommodations while reducing the amount of equipment they need to bring themselves.
Kim said: “We were so overwhelmed and excited because we didn’t know that we were the winners as it was the guests who voted. It is absolutely incredible that we are the best boutique stay and we opened in the last year, we just love seeing people’s response and reaction to this incredible place.”
The business was developed from the Welches’ own experiences of family camping. According to the owners, those trips sometimes involved the practical challenges of remembering equipment and determining what supplies were needed. Their glamping model was developed in response to those experiences, combining an outdoor setting with on-site amenities and equipment.
Kim said: “We wanted to create a space where families could come, be safe, be with nature but they didn’t have to bring anything, everything is provided. We wanted to provide an experience that was stress free for families which we have created. Seeing their faces makes us so proud of what we have created.”
The owners also work with local businesses to provide additional services for guests, according to EssexLive. One partnership is with a nearby farm shop, which prepares breakfast and barbecue boxes for visitors to collect or have ready when they arrive.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the Readers Field Glamping model highlights several considerations for smaller glamping businesses, including limiting accommodation numbers, providing essential equipment as part of the stay and developing partnerships with nearby businesses.
The approach can also create opportunities for local suppliers to become part of the guest experience rather than relying solely on the accommodation operator to provide every service.
The Muddy Stilettos award also provides an example of how guest voting and customer response can contribute to visibility for a newly opened property. For newer operators, recognition based on guest feedback can serve as an indication of how the experience is being received, while partnerships and bundled services can help differentiate a small site within an increasingly competitive glamping market.