Glamping Near London scoops Tourism Award

Gathering with other shortlisters at Theatre Royal

We were so proud to be nominated for the Hertfordshire Tourism Awards 2017 in the "Rest your Head" category for small accommodation providers. Up against every boutique hotel and B&B in the county, not to mention other glamping sites, it was a tough category and we definitely felt like relative newbies! The voting date passed and we were called up by the lovely people at Visit Herts to be told that we had been shortlisted and it was down to three.... The Herts Camping and Caravanning Club, Emerald Cottages, and us!

The awards ceremony was held jointly with Visit Kent, and took place at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I took our friend Colleen from the wonderful Sainlo Events as my date (Clare had abandoned the English winter in search of adventure in Patagonia by then).. and we gathered with all the other shortlisters from the two counties to await the verdict.

Seeing everyone else there and swapping stories about who we are and how we started really made me think back over the last three years and the huge journey we've been on.. The three years have gone so fast and I sometimes cant believe that we managed to turn a muddy farm field into our beautiful glamping meadow, which has hosted so many amazing memories and events. Talking to the other guests I began to feel very proud of what we have achieved, and hearing our name read out as the winner of our category was an absolutely fantastic moment! I think I fluffed it a bit - I was so overwhelmed I nearly fell off the stage, and I definitely wished I'd brushed my hair a bit more carefully when all the photos started!

There I am.. back row on the left. Definitely looking a bit dishevelled!

Big smile from me.. couldn't quite believe we'd won!