Cycling UK Forum

WOW! Thanks so much for the replies!!

I'll address a few of the points below and welcome any other suggestions too. What you've given me has been so helpful. I'm not a cyclist (I find those crazy seats that you all have do not fit my derrière!) But I'm going to try the C2C as research. Will def check out wayfarers too, thanks.

The ethos I'm going for is group accommodation but I want it to be as luxurious as possible without pricing ourselves out of the market, and also considering that some people want a bed to turn up to late and leave early. I am aiming at the £20 per night price. We'll try and keep the rooms as flexible as possible, maybe having the rooms all bookable by the room except one by the bed. I need to allocate them for the booking tool on the website but will put a phone number on so we can be flexible.

The Bunkhouse Word... We have got bunks but I have had them built in as 'cabins' rather than standard bunks. Each one is a generous sized enclosed cabin with curtains to close for privacy, a cubby near the head that will fit in a bag and essentials as well as a light and socket (with USB) so that if people arrive late it causes minimal disruption. We've bought high quality mattresses and good bedding will be included. I will have a think about the name and try and get away from the YHA image.

Big Smiles all round! We already have glamping on the farm and love having people here so you will always be welcomed.

Drying Room - There is a heated drying room with lockers. I'll put up a washing line and we can take in washing in the laundry room. Love the spinner idea.

The kitchen has kettles, toasters, pans, crockery, free tea & coffee etc and we'll put a vending machine in too. We will include a breakfast of cereal, porridge etc for those who want it and there is a cafe 1/2 mile away that does full brekkies.

We'll provide a 'tinkering' area, we can help with most tools on the farm too. Will put in a hose and sink outside.

Seating - comfy chairs and sofas around a wood burner, tables and chairs in a dining area too. We will add in picnic tables and a heater outside too. We are converting a shipping container into storage for bikes and will have the ability to lock bikes in it as well as have a code lock on the door.

The website is in production, I'm waiting for the barn to be finished to get photos for it. There will be an access statement for disabled guests.

We'll try and get an alcohol licence (my husband likes this idea!).

I'll get a vending machine to stock with gel packs, ear plugs etc.

Will add in towels too.

Thank you again, it's really important to me to understand exactly what you want.

Alison

Hi there, hope you don't mind me posting but I'm trying to get the views of cyclists as we're converting a barn on the National Cycle Route 1 into a bunkhouse for cyclists. We're in Northumberland but in fairness to other accommodation providers I won't state where exactly.

What I'm struggling with is how to let the rooms, we have a 6 bed, 2x 4 beds and 2x 2 bed rooms, each with code locks on the doors. I don't know whether to advertise them as the whole room or have it where you book a bed and share with others you might not know. Or shall I have some that you book the room and a male dorm/female dorm?

The other thing is whether you want things like breakfast included, what you want for breakfast, what should be in a vending machine etc.

And finally what things can we do to make it the perfect cycling bunkhouse (it will be furnished to a high standard), things like what should we include in the secure storage, drying room etc.


Thanks so much in advance, Alison