Creating the perfect stay

Since Louise and Greg Holmes bought Poole Farm near St Giles on the Heath in 2015, a lot has changed.  At the time, they were looking to create a new lifestyle. With Louise’s background in hospitality, Poole Farm, with its existing B&B and caravan site, offered them the perfect opportunity to put their plans in motion.

 

Refurbishing, converting and upgrading

The couple soon got to work and fully refurbished the main house, where they operate the B&B. This was followed by converting the adjoining piggery into a two-bedroomed holiday cottage and upgrading the caravan site into a prestigious Caravan Club CL site, which provides five fully serviced pitches, a shower and toilet block, and a convenience store. They have also extended their offering so that the B&B, holiday cottage and caravan site are open all year round.

Their hard work has definitely paid off. They have bookings for all three enterprises throughout the year, many of which are repeat visitors who travel from all over the UK. They have also won many awards over the years and were featured on the BBC’s Escape to the Country as an example of a first-class CL caravan site in the area.

Louise and Greg run the accommodation business and do most of the changeover cleaning, gardening, and maintenance. Louise cooks for the B&B guests and prepares delicious homemade dishes, jams, and chutneys that visitors to the caravan site and cottage can buy from the on-site shop. She is also a director at St Joseph’s School in Launceston. Greg works full-time as an IT computer engineer.

 

Customer service is the key

The couple has developed a thriving accommodation business by creating a welcoming environment where their guests can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. However, their attention to detail in meeting and greeting guests, providing luxurious accommodation, and using local produce has secured them an enviable reputation for being superb hosts. This is why many of their guests come back year on year.

They always look for ways to add value and improve the customer experience so that new and returning guests have something to look forward to. This year, Louise will provide gala dinners to guests in the holiday cottage and caravan park over Christmas and New Year. Next summer, they are introducing a new communal BBQ area and plan to organise social events for their guests.

 

Overcoming tourism-related challenges

Like many tourism businesses in Devon and Cornwall, Louise and Greg have experienced the challenges a slower economy can bring. While a lot of the business comes from former guests and recommendations, they also find social media has helped generate new customers.

However, they also monitor costs closely. To address their ever-increasing electricity bill, they have erected solar panels for the caravan site and installed additional panels in the paddock to help with the electricity costs of the house and cottage. The solar panels have made a big difference and mean they don’t have to keep passing on high cost increases to their guests.

 

Approachable and invaluable advice

Louise and Greg have been using Haines Watts since 2016. They said;

“Over the years, Haines Watts has provided us with a range of services from doing the accounts and tax returns to giving us detailed advice on furnished holiday lets. They have been instrumental in helping us to identify ways to save money and time, answering any questions quickly and succinctly when we have them. We’ve been so impressed with how they’ve handled our accommodation business that we recommended St. Joesphs use the Haines Watts Exeter office, which has a specialist team who audit the school’s accounts.”