Extraordinary to note, as of this very day, Rum Bridge has been trading for five whole years. Time, then, to break out the champagne.
Though whether that’s to celebrate, or to reflect, is moot.
Indeed, since we purchased the site for development, back in 2018, we’ve run the gamut of emotion. From excitement to bewilderment; elation to despair; exasperation to gratification, and… ultimately… some semblance of vindication.
We’ve transformed the complex from landfill, to a fishery with a couple of cabins, to a full-on ‘glampery’ with optional fishing (the latter being, both commercially and from a personal point of view, the right call).
Concurrently, the shop has evolved from a bankside bait and bits ‘convenience store’, to a fully stocked angling emporium and mail order operation.
We’ve added a further ten cabins and tipis, mostly lakeside. And a food concession, Carol’s Kitchen, whose breakfasts and burgers, baked taters and pizzas delight resident vegans, vegetabilists and carnivores alike.
Apropos: given that over 70% of this year’s current and future guests have stayed with us at least twice before, it’s reasonable to assume we’re doing something right.
Despite the turbulent trading conditions of the last half-decade – the impact of Brexit, the global COVID pandemic, and the most powerful storms, and highest levels of flooding, on record – Rum Bridge has continued to grow, year on year.
Perhaps most surprisingly of all, the prevailing cost of living crisis hasn’t really impacted the glamping side of our business at all: being offgrid, our utility costs are largely unchanged; and demand for budget conscious short breaks remains relatively buoyant.
And therein lies our key differentiator.
Eschewing Sky telly, fully equipped kitchens, hot tubs and the like – which are now de rigeur among ‘premium’ glamping providers – enables us to offer a peaceful, secure and (above all) affordable way to get away from it all; a unique opportunity to detox and recharge, without tapping too deeply into the overdraft .
And I can honestly say (obvious bias and modest price tag notwithstanding), Carol always goes the extra mile to provide the best possible experience for guests – as the positive feedback, and the numbers of repeat visits, attest.
So, given all of this, and looking back over the last five years, would we do things differently?
Well, yes. Being new to the area, we made a lot of costly decisions at the outset; not least, our choice of contractors – which comprised more crooks and incompetents than the current cabinet.
We should also have transitioned from ‘day ticket’ specimen fishing to fishing/glamping holidays from the get-go.
But, hey; that’s all behind us: we now have a handful of firms and individuals on whom we can depend in our ongoing battles with the elements (with flood defences and storm damage now a regular feature of our P&L).
We have a terrific – and terrifically loyal – customer base. All necessary residential and commercial planning consents are in place; and all the essential development work is complete.
Consequently, maybe this year – despite prevailing economic uncertainty (or maybe because of it) – we may actually begin recouping that not inconsiderable investment. And taking a little more time for ourselves.
Which naturally begs the biggest question of all: would we still sell up?
And the answer of course is: Hell, yes! Everything’s for sale, if the price is right.
That said, in unguarded (generally, Absolut-fuelled) moments, I’m actually quite proud of what we’ve achieved.
So, till the right offer comes along, we ain’t going anywhere.
And on that note, I shall now pop this cork…
