Glamping has grown from a niche into one of the most popular ways to holiday in the UK. That has created a healthy market for well run sites, but selling one is still very different from selling a house. Here is what we have learned from buying and operating glamping businesses ourselves.
Know what you are actually selling
Most glamping sales are the sale of a trading business, not just land and structures. Buyers will want to understand the whole picture: the land or lease, planning consents, the units and hot tubs, your website and booking channels, your reviews and your repeat guests.
Write it down in one place. A simple summary of units, sleeping capacity, planning position and booking channels makes a first conversation far more productive.
What buyers look at first
- Trading history. Two or three years of accounts, plus monthly revenue and occupancy if you have them.
- Booking mix. How much comes direct versus through online travel agents, and how far ahead guests book.
- Planning and licensing. Clear consents for the number of units and the season you trade.
- Condition of the units. Age of structures, hot tubs and saunas, and any work needed soon.
- Reviews. Consistently strong guest reviews are one of the best signs of a healthy business.
Prepare before you go to market
Tidy accounts that separate business and personal spending, an up to date list of fixtures and equipment, and copies of planning documents will save weeks later on. If anything is unusual, such as a lease with a short term left or a unit without consent, it is better raised early than discovered during due diligence.
Keep it confidential
Word that a site is for sale can unsettle staff and guests. Speak to serious buyers directly or through a specialist broker, and ask for a non disclosure agreement before sharing detailed figures.
Choose a buyer, not just a price
Think about what happens after completion. Will the buyer honour forward bookings? Keep your team? Look after the place you built? At TR2 Group we buy glamping sites to operate them, as we do at Coorie Retreats and Brecon View, so continuity is part of every offer we make.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Always speak to your own solicitor and accountant before selling.
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