Festival season is well under way and if you follow me on Instagram you’ll have seen that I went to this year’s Isle of Wight festival to pay homage to the GODDESS that is Stevie Nicks and had the time of my life.
Aside from seeing the Mac live, the festival was made all the more dreamy by my accommodation (particularly so on the Friday night when it absolutely PISSED down with rain).
Thankfully, I was glamping (dah-ling), staying in the boutique camping section in a delightful little structure called a ‘squrt’ *snigger* furnished inside with an airbed complete with duvet and pillows (still can’t get over how comfy the bed was btw!), little low-level wooden bedside table, woven rugs and sparkling fairy lights (instead of having to find your PJs by the light of your iPhone).
So while it rained non-stop for what felt like 948073 hours, I squeezed into my squrt (so to speak) and did what any self-respected gal would do: I NAPPED. Solidly. Later that evening, I was able to squelch through the mud bath to make it to the boutique campsite bar (in a MAHOOSIVE teepee, obvy) for a quick nightcap (5 double vodkas) and, by the time the new day had dawned on Saturday, the sun was creeping out and on Fleetwood Mac Day AKA Sunday, it was positively sunshiney. Because Stevie Nicks is an angel and made it so.
Anyway, back to the yurts and squrts site, which also came with other little luxuries, like a manned-reception area, hot showers, posh toilets, free phone charging and even a pampering tent (a yurt that looked like a giant mushroom) with large gilt mirrors, chandeliers, hair dryers and straighteners. IDEAL.
The whole yurts and squrts concept is run by a company called Cloudhouses, and all the wooden-framed canvas structures are handmade in the UK. Created by Justine Lester after identifying an obvious gap in the market, now her Northumberland-based team travel the UK (and beyond!) during the summer months, so we can all enjoy a little bit of luxury at our favourite festivals. Intrigued by Justine’s story, I found out more about how Cloudhouses came to be…
You created Cloudhouses in 2007 – what were you doing work-wise before that?
I was a professional photographer and Iyengar yoga teacher; my husband Simon was studying natural building and permaculture.
Where did the idea for Cloudhouses come from?
We have always loved going to festivals and hated the nylon tent experience so in 2006 Simon made our first little yurt which we took to a couple of festivals as an upgrade from our old tent. From there we decided to explore the idea of yurt camping so Yurts and Squrts was born. As the company grew we rebranded ourselves as Cloudhouses (Home of Yurts and Squrts). The mongolians use the nickname ‘cloudhouse’ for their Ger-style yurts so we thought the name was fun but also very appropriate.
How did you discover you could make a yurt?
Simon, then my boyfriend, made the odd yurt when he was a student to help make ends meet. He used to order in canvas covers which were very poor quality so we drove to Wales one day, bought a secondhand sewing machine and from there the empire began – as well as a crash course in industrial sewing and woodworking for me!
Can you describe a typical day?
No such thing as a typical day in Cloud House land, ha! During the winter and spring months we spend our time in the office, training staff, making yurt frames and canvases, searching for new suppliers, updating the website, taking orders, etc. Now things are hotting up we are modifying some of our structures, checking and repacking the stillages, finalising crew and contracts, ordering trucks, ferries and generally running around like mad things. My PA always has a note pad with her for my never ending lists and ideas!
Would you consider living in a yurt long term?
Simon – then my boyfriend – did live in a yurt in the woods where we met. I have very fond memories of those days. We hope to buy some land one day and build a straw bale house – when this happens, I can see us living in yurts for a long time while we build our dream…
We associate yurts with festival fun-times, but what else do people hire them for?
Yurts are still everyday dewllings for the Mongolian people, but in the UK many people live in them as temporary homes. When I got married in 2012, we had a large yurt for our wedding breakfast! They have been used for private parties and functions, educational days, corporate team building and once we used one as an alternative art gallery. Last winter we had an adventure taking yurts by small boat across to Derwent Isle in the Lake District as part of a Halloween theatre production – that one was fun!
Which festival are you most looking forward to this season?
I love so many of the festivals, although I do prefer the more quirky events such as Wilderness, Electric Picnic and Secret Garden Party. The one I’m most looking forward to is small and Northern (Solfest) – my son’s band is one of the big acts so I can’t wait!
As a seasoned festival pro, what are your top tips for the perfect festival stay?
I guess I’m a bit of a festival veteran now. I say be prepared for all weather conditions which you may have in one day; wear lots of sunscreen, layer up your clothes i.e. leggings under shorts and if it gets too hot you can always slip your leggings off. Festivals can be very cold at night so layers are essential and cosy PJs for bed time. Comfy footwear is vital as you will be walking miles and dancing; also lipgloss, mascara and a huge smile.
What’s next for Cloudhouses?
We’re expanding, so as well as festivals we’re hoping to put yurts into glamp sites (like these ones) very soon. Then hopefully set up our own high end eco campsite, with turf-roofed shower blocks, pretty private yurts with their own gardens, hot tubs, saunas and of course the yoga yurt where I can run yoga courses and more.
What advice would you give someone wanting to start their own business venture?
Work hard, never give up, and be prepared to live your job. Life has never been quite our own since the birth of Cloudhouses.
Finally, which song will you have on repeat this festival season?
Who knows? Probably some lovely gypsy swing, but maybe for fun on the field it would be something more like Billy Ocean’s When the Going Gets Tough the Tough Gets Going (not really our taste but it would make my crew laugh)!
Cloud houses will be setting up camp at loads more festivals this season, including Wilderness, V Festival, Secret Garden Party and Bestival. To get your lamp on and find out more info, head to yurtsandsqurts.com.
Comments