How we've helped Dennis Cove Campsite

Growth Hub case study

Business overview

Husband and wife team Harry and Rebecca have run Dennis Cove campsite for 12 years, and it has been in the family for over 30 years. Four generations live on the site from ninety-two-year-old Granny to the family’s young children.

Dennis Cove is a traditional campsite, nestled in Padstow on the edge of the Camel Trail, with view out to the estuary.

“If you can picture the nostalgia of a camping holiday when you were a kid, we provide that!”

Harry is a retained fire fighter and his experience in managing risk prompted the decision to close for the full season due to COVID-19. The priority was the health of the family, guests, staff and local community.

Harry has been busy refurbishing their site facilities which were originally the old farm pig sheds, whilst Rebecca has picked up home-schooling duties.

The only way to successfully work on your business is by putting your head up, looking out and reaching out to people that are going to question what you do.

Harry Smith

How we helped

Harry first met with the Growth Hub about five years ago. Following a review with the team, he had coaching from Oxford Innovation and was later signposted to Visit Cornwall to tap into support from the industry.

Having business support has given Harry and his family the ability to be more productive, concentrate on what is important with the business, but also at home.

“The last three or four  years we have seen an increase in turnover, life has become a lot better for us.

We are spending more time with family and we have a real work life balance.  I remember it started by meeting someone from the Growth Hub. From there we were signposted to various places which over time has helped to put us in the position we are in.”

Harry was also successful in applying for a Kickstart COVID-19 recovery grant. This investment is gearing the business up for the season with website development to facilitate an online booking service.

“Benefiting from consultancy services on web design we are going to be able to create a website to give people a feel for what it is like to be here through video content and facilitate online bookings which will give us a kickstart for this year”.

 

 

 

 

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The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub from May 2016 -  June 2023 was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and match funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.  The project received £2,848,591.49 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. 

Business name Dennis Cove Campsite
Website https://www.denniscovecampsite.co.uk/
Contact number 01841 532 349
Contact email [email protected]
Dennis Cove campsite Cornwall Padstow
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I remember it started by meeting someone from the Growth Hub…