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04 Oct 2012

Staycation trend boost for boutique camping

Rural holiday accommodation specialists Forest Holidays is gearing up to progress a boutique cabin rollout throughout the UK, after securing a major financial deal.

The company, which has grown despite the recession thanks to the staycation trend, offers rural retreats which it claims are equally as appealing for a romantic break as a family holiday. Its forest cabins ? in the Forest of Dean, Cornwall, Sherwood Forest and North Yorkshire ? have hot tubs, treehouses and offer a host of outdoor adventures, including Forest Rangers who teach children about wildlife.

The financial deal, which was brokered by SRP Risk & Finance LLP and GVA Leisure, involved the separation of Forest Holidays' cabin business from its camping business and introduced Lloyds Development Capital as leading shareholder.

The camping business has been renamed Camping in the Forest LLP, and is majority owned by the Camping & Caravanning Club and the Forestry Commission. The Foresty Commission is still a shareholder in Forest Holidays.

Director at GVA Leisure, John Anderson, says this deal shows confidence in the UK tourism market: "Continuing downward pressure on household expenditure and a growing demand for UK domestic short break holidays will continue to make business models like Forest Holidays and Camping in the Forest attractive investment propositions over the coming years."