Press Release
20 ReasonsWhy a Shepherd's Hut is the Must-Have
Luxury Christmas Gift
In recent years shepherd huts have become the must-have item for homes and gardens, and Blackdown Shepherd Huts, based in Somerset, have seen a rise in their huts given as Christmas gifts.
Will Vickery, who runs Blackdown Shepherd Huts, says: ‘Our huts are specially designed to make the best out of the room they have. However, they are more than just a relaxation space or garden office. We've kept a log of what our customers use their huts for in order to showcase the many uses of our oak or tin clad huts. We are always delighted to create our luxury handcrafted huts for so many different uses.'
To this end, Blackdown Shepherd Huts have collated their top 20 reasons why a shepherd's hut is the must-have gift for Christmas.
Garden office
Why have an office where you simply stare at a wall, when you can have an idyllic office at home or for your business that is a dedicated working area to help you get into the right frame of mind. Just imagine the view! Shepherd huts are perfect for this. Create your own quiet environment so you can think clearly and feel all smug!
Writer's nook
All good words come from somewhere, and where better than from your own shepherd hut masquerading as a writing nook, maybe with an old typewriter, or a note pad or pen. Whether you write at a desk, or on the cosy pull-down wall bed, the next great British novel can start with your shepherd hut experience.... ‘She sat alone, contemplating recent events, with a glass of wine in hand, when the sun began to set and the handsome stranger appeared in the doorway....'
Hygge
The Danish use the word ‘hygge' - this is theDanish ritual of enjoying life's simple pleasures. Friends. Family. Graciousness. Bring them on over to your shepherd hut. Play some games, get cosy, and appreciate each other's company. Eat well, live well, that's what this is all about.
Back to nature
If you're one for bird spotting, or simply appreciating all that Mother Nature has gifted us, then your shepherd hut is the place to sit and watch the wonder of the great outdoors. We recommend doing this whilst having a very British cuppa in a Doris mugwww.dorisandco.co.uk
Mindful space
This is about disconnecting to reconnect with yourself or each other. Your shepherd's hut can be a place of relaxation. Think candles, mood music, or just the sound of nature outside. Being mindful is one of life's key ways to bring about wellbeing in your life. If you need somewhere to simply find yourself again, a hut in the countryside is perfect to practice Yoga or Reiki since you will not be disturbed and can then enjoy the still outdoors.
Eat al fresco
Nothing says ‘outdoor living' more than eating outdoors, especially if you're cooking on a Garden Ovenwww.garden-oven.co.uk, which is all about getting culinary on a wood fired oven. Wood fired cooking is just better. By far, it was the first fuel used to cook with and a wood fire gives great flavours. It is carbon neutral too. Greener, cleaner, and tastier all round!
Legacy
Shepherd huts are very much part of English history, and Blackdown Shepherd Huts have been inspired by the traditional shepherd huts of yesteryear to create the ultimate dream huts for the English garden. Built to last for generations to come, they provide a perfect legacy for family members. After all, the English garden is a place that people feel is an extension of their home and shepherd huts are the ultimate celebration of a quintessentially English style to share down the family line.
Artist's den
Much like the writers' nook, artists can use a shepherd hut in order to create the perfect atmosphere to work in. Shepherd huts have beautiful windows creating natural light, meaning that you are able to see many views which may end up on your canvas. It also means you can keep all of your tools, brushes, canvases in one place too. Perfect.
Party room
Who doesn't like a party?! This is a classy party, though, in your shepherd hut - with fridge, stove, fire pit, moonlight (not provided), and an intimate area for a chilled out dinner party or outdoor barbeque, whatever the weather. And you might not get a complaint from the neighbours if your location is right! We look forward to our invite....
Spare room / guest accommodation
Your guests won't feel out in the cold if you pop them in your shepherd hut, because the hut is that little bit of exclusive luxury that is there to be enjoyed and shared. The huts come with their own bathroom, so there is no need for guests to be trudging back into the house for their ablutions. This is the perfect escape and private guest bedroom.
Glamping retreat
Shepherd huts are probably most well-known for being a great place to enjoy the countryside, but they also allow you to enjoy the luxurious things. Glamping is camping, but with style, meaning that you don't have to worry about conserving your battery life on your phone, because electricity is perfectly acceptable. Within a hut, you would have all the essentials you would normally expect from your usual hotel and more, as some even include stoves to cook on. Glamping in a fully fitted Turnkey shepherd hut fromBlackdown Shepherd Huts, allows you to create a luxurious experience. A perfect example of this is,Dimpsey Glamping. They have won many awards for their stunning 5* glamping retreat and it all started with a hut fromBlackdown Shepherd Huts.
Catering hut
Traditional shepherds spent their lives on the road (or, rather, the hills). All our shepherds huts are movable, but wait till you meet Blackdown's ‘Towby' which can be taken on road as a towable hut, perfectly kitted out for catering. These are perfect for festivals, fayres and other large events as their distinctive look stands out. Also, because they are towable you can travel across the country and cook up wonders for the awaiting crowds and store any food awaiting to be prepared for your customers.
Booklover's library
Whatever size hut you buy, shepherd huts can work amazingly well as a library for those who love to read. There's plenty of room not only to store your books, but also to relax on a sofa or laying in bed whilst reading them - and you won't be subjected to late return fees. Drift away into a good book today.......
Beauty salon
Using a shepherd hut for a beauty salon is a bang on trend for the ultimate manicure and pedicure. Not only will it be easier to have more of a one-to-one relationship with your customer, but it gives you plenty of room to store all of your supplies. Set it up as a vintage style salon or bring it up to a modern style, the choice is yours. No matter whether you offer manicures or facials, a shepherd hut can be perfect as either a static or, of course, portable beauty salon.
Photographer's hideout
If you need a base to upload your photos, or need more places to take photos from a hut can give you the space to not only have photography as a hobby but also as a business. Especially good as a wildlife hide, you can place your hut in the perfect place for those hard to shoot wildlife shots. Badgers beware!
Wedding delights
If your big day is ahead of you, having a shepherd's hut to get ready in is a delightful way to get ready with a touch of luxury. You might want it as a place for the bride to relax before, for the groom to chill out, or for the bridesmaids to gather. With all its British heritage, the hut is an idyllic backdrop for the wedding photographs, or use it as a photobooth for some fun shots with guests. Or, if you're after some real alone time, why not use a hut as honeymoon stop-over for the wedding night.....
Wine tasting room
Have you ever dreamed of having your own room for your collection of vintage and classic wines? Well, pull up a stool, and let's get some cheese because they're nothing more special than a flight of wine from around the world in the classic space of a shepherd hut. Wine always tastes so much better when you don't have to drive anywhere....!
Kid's playroom
We all love our kids, but do we always love their toys and their noise? It's been said that even the Royals have got their hands on a shepherd hut to become the little prince's playroom. Think of how much fun they can have out there, playing safely and making as much mess as they please. And with amazing storage solutions, all that can be tidied away in the click of a finger. Who needs Mary Poppins, hey?!
Shooting lodge
Green wellies and Barbour at the ready, one's shepherd hut is the place to mark out as the convenient, peaceful place to rest in-between shoots. The perfect country lodge, a shepherd hut can make a day's shooting even merrier. Ruddy cheeks, post-shoot gin and tonic in hand, and feet up with the log burner on? Job done.
Create your own....
You might have your own unique idea for using a shepherd's hut. Whatever you choose your hut to be, you know it will be full of character and unique to you. Blackdown Shepherd Huts are inspired by the traditional shepherd's huts of yesteryear and are based in Ilminster in Somerset. Find out more about the huts available viawww.blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk. Orders taken in 2016 will be available in 2017.
Will adds: ‘Blackdown Shepherd Huts create ultimate dream huts which are built to last - they're not just for Christmas! Customers can choose oak-clad or metal-clad exteriors and can include a bathroom and a kitchen, or just simply a log-burner. I have always been captivated by the heritage of shepherd huts, but also intrigued by the opportunity that the flexibility of the space presented. It seems both genders are jumping on the shepherd hut trend, and it's great to see so much passion for something that is so quintessentially British and traditional, but which allows us to transform it for the modern day use.'
Blackdown Shepherd Huts was established in 2011 and is based in Ilminster, Somerset. Self build huts start at£3,150 inc. VAT and hand-crafted bespoke huts start from £18,650 inc. VAT.
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For more information, interviews, or images of Blackdown Shepherd Huts, please contact Claire McGill onClaire@nichebrands.co.uk/ 07734 702653