Award-winning holiday lets prove a huge success for Somerset farmers

Ask Jeremy and Sarah what they are most proud of about their award-winning holiday let business, and the answer is quick and clear – the reviews. Set within 350 acres of rolling woodland countryside on the Devon/Somerset border, Peckmoor Farm Lodges has become one of self-catering specialist Hoseasons’ most popular locations over the last seven years, boasting an impressive average customer review score of 9.7/10.

It’s exactly what the couple hoped for when they made the decision to sell Jeremy’s international pig breeding business in 2014 and diversify into holiday lets. Opening with just three units in 2016, the pair have since added a further 13 luxury log lodges, with the most recent arriving last summer.

Jeremy and Sarah Barber

Hoseasons has been Jeremy and Sarah’s exclusive agent from the start, helping not only to market the location and secure bookings, but also to provide access to its large network of industry contacts and suppliers – something Jeremy says has been vital in achieving Peckmoor’s signature high-end vibe.

“We’ve built a very good exclusive relationship with Hoseasons over the years based on the consistently high number of bookings they achieve for us, but they’ve also helped us enormously by connecting us to trusted partners such as hot tub and accommodation providers – all of whom are vital in us achieving the high standards that keep our customers coming back for more.”

Determination to keep innovating

Luke Hansford was a business development manager when he first visited Jeremy and Sarah at their working farm nine years ago. Now senior vice president business development UK at Hoseasons’ parent company Awaze, he says Peckmoor is the perfect example of what can be achieved when a farmer with land and a drive to succeed works in partnership with the experts in self-catering holiday lets.

“It’s incredible to think what these guys have achieved in what is a comparatively short space of time when it comes to vacation rentals. When I visited for the first time, it was clear Jeremy and Sarah had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve, but they had a lot of work to do to get there. They were so passionate about the type of location and service they wanted to offer and I’m proud that we’ve been there every step of the way to help them on that journey. Peckmoor really is one of our most outstanding performers in terms of bookings and repeat bookings now and that’s in no small part down to their determination to keep innovating and investing to make sure they stand out from the competition.”

The finer things

Peckmoor is currently part of Hoseasons’ Autograph Lodge Holidays Collection – 62 luxury lodge escapes aimed at couples looking for an indulgent UK getaway featuring the finer things in life, including bubbling hot tubs, fluffy towels and luxury toiletries.

But such has been its popularity in recent years, it will soon feature as one of six locations invited by Hoseasons to launch its soon-to-be available Autograph Plus range – a collection of the ‘best of the best’ Autograph locations that have really gone the extra mile to give their customers an even greater holiday experience.

So, what’s next for Peckmoor? Jeremy knows he has to keep looking forward to stay relevant and attract new customers. The farm already has planning permission for another two lodges and Jeremy is also looking into ways to make the park more energy efficient, but the next innovation looks like it could be of the four-legged variety:

“The fact we are a working farm is a big draw for our guests,” he says, adding: “Not only do they get to relax in a beautiful countryside setting, they also get to experience nature close up in a way many people don’t get a chance to. We’re into the lambing season now and guests also love getting up close to our horses, alpacas, pygmy goats and Highland cattle. I’d also love to get some more exotic animals too. A zebra is on my wish list but I’m going to have to get that one past Sarah before it happens!”

Luke Hansford adds: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Peckmoor Farm Lodges, and we share Sarah and Jeremy’s excitement as we look ahead to the future of their holiday  rental accommodation.”

If you have a farm diversification project in mind and would like to find out more about how Hoseasons can help you bring your vision to market, visit their website or contact the team directly.