ABOUT US

In the autumn of 2021, after the summer season at the Cedar Valley glamping and camping, a notion commenced. For 10 years, Cedar Valley had developed into a hugely popular destination for holidaymakers from near and far. Located on the Bereleigh Estate, a stunning 2500 acres of valleys and lush farmland in the heart of the Meon Valley, the attraction of pristine, perfectly manicured fields for campers, handsome safari tents, decked out with chic interiors and all the modern conveniences has proven itself a hit. Within easy reach of both London and the South Coast, Cedar Valley has gone from strength to strength and with the addition of luxury cabins for guests, clad in cedar wood (a delightful scent), taking unspoiled perspectives over the South Downs, the site has become a buzzing hive of activity over the summer months.

Summer season
Summer season

The convivial and warm-hearted families, rovers, ramblers and gadabouts kept returning and over the years a number of eye-catching accessions found their place on the site. The first of these was a remarkable double-decker bus, affectionately called Boycie. This old bus, once in service ferrying children to school and the great and the good about the Hampshire countryside had been procured to now service our happy campers and glampers with a hub, a café and a focal point. Next came Ricicle, a vintage Rice horsebox (very aptly named) which was converted to contain a wood-fired oven, perfect for turning pizzas in. Both of these tremendous vehicles, sat neatly in a field next to the Paddock campsite, restored and sporting a new coat of Bereleigh green.

Over time, Boycie saw his fair share of campers take their trip and Ricicle served numerous a pizza but it was clear that more could be made of these two characters. And so, in 2021 Jack Tyrwhitt-Drake, the owner of Cedar Valley and his wife Emily sought a couple to come onboard and give these Cedar Valley celebrities their time to shine. They found a young couple who immediately saw the scope and through conversations, both parties found that their ideas were acutely aligned. The notion had become a reality. The jigsaw was complete and it was time to plan a new life for Boycie and Ricicle.

What was just a plan for a bus and a horsebox soon developed into something a lot more exciting for all involved. From a shady spot in the Paddock, a new location on site was found, nestled in a group of outstanding beech trees, an enchanting spot amongst the queen of British trees, now directly facing the suns arc, The Dell was born. More than the sum of its parts, after a month-long build, Cedar Valley’s very first, retired safari tent was now upstanding on a newly built deck within the canopy of beech. Boycie was entertainingly reversed in and Ricicle found the perfect space next to our kitchen container with its oven ready to fire in plain view of our patrons. The Dell, often portrayed in literature as a pleasant safe haven is now fully wood-chipped, housing Boycie, with a brand-new coffee machine and a working café, Ricicle and the Beech bar in a safari tent with an original bar and wood burner.

The site has evolved since inception and will continue to grow. Given flourishes of colour in newly bedded planters and pots, filled with fabulous local produce, delicious local ales and ciders and with a fan of picnic tables, basking in the sunlight, The Dell now has grander aspirations, to become a destination for not just our thrilled camping and glamping guests but also our wider community, the locals and the general public. A sunspot, that sets out to offer its patrons the very best in everything it does, providing a new and unique haven for all the family and producing quality food and service across all offerings – café, bar, restaurant and also with the plan to put on a calendar of events, workshops and wellness classes.

Boycie and Ricicle have a new home amongst the beech. A home that is open to all.