If you are planning to keep your summer holiday local, there's only one award-winning glamping site you need to consider this year.
Stanley Villa Farm Fishing and Camping in Preston recently won a Lancashire Tourism Award and was named Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year – making it one of the best holiday accomodation sites in Lancashire.
Site owner, Alex Young, said staff weren’t expecting the win but were "over the moon" to be recognised.
He said: “I didn’t think we would win it and now we are representing Lancashire in the Visit England award for excellence in 2022.
“I thought we would go along for a night out, treat the staff and it was a total shock to win… but we are over the moon.”
The glamping site opened in 2012 and has cemented its name as a family-friendly glamping site with a focus on community.
The camping pods themselves are basic but the main attraction is what’s outside the pods.
Alex said: “Each one comes with its own firepit and guests can toast marshmallows.
“You get your own privacy but it’s a community feel and guests make friends with other guests.”
During the day, guests can even relax beside the four acre carp lake and spend a lazy day on the bank.
For guests wanting a touch of luxury, Alex and the team are currently building some Bell tents which will be ready by April.
Alex said: “The Bell Tents are a little bit more luxurious with more furnishings and fairy lights
“They will have a wood burning stove inside them and one will even have a wood-fired hot outside, which guests can relax in while overlooking the lake.
“We’ve already got a log of bookings coming thick and fast for these and they’re not even up yet.”
Currently, guests and families can feed the on site sheep and goats but Alex said there are plans to introduce even more animals to the site in the future.
Alex said the company’s journey hasn’t been easy and they have faced some challenges.
He said: “We’ve been open for nearly 10 years and we have faced some hard times in those year – especially in the pandemic.
“We had to close for so long, having to adapt and change. To come out of the other side of that and get support from the tourism awards has been fantastic.”
Instead of sitting around and doing nothing during lockdown, they made planning applications to build more lodges and build a new lake.
With a ban on accommodation which requires communal facilities last April, the company thought creatively and hired porta loos for guests meaning they could reopen.
Reviewers have been raving about the business, which has recieved a 4.7/5 rating on Google Reviews.
One person wrote:"Fabulous camping pods. We booked a heated one as it was November and it was perfect."
Another said: "Had a lovely stay and everything was perfect. The site is beautiful, clean, calm and if you forget anything the little shop sells everything you need."
According to Alex, it’s this level of detail and service that makes the business stand out.
He said: “I think people have mostly enjoyed our service. We answer every review we get and really take on board what they like and don’t like.
“The thing that people tend to love most is the personal service. They like that it is family run and that they are looked after.
“We treat staff like customers, not just numbers.
“we are so grateful to the customers. They are the reason we exist and trust us to look after them. They come back every year and we love.”
To find out more and book your stay visit the Stanley Villa Farm Fishing and Camping website.
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