Green light for camping pods at Eggleston pub

CUTTING edge camping pods have been given the green light at a Teesdale pub.
Eggleston’s Moorcock Inn, on Hill Top, will be home to 12 wooden “glamping pods” after Durham County Council planners rubber stamped the move.
Owners Michael and Joanne Souter, of Bail Hill Farm, in Marwood, submitted the plans last year.
Mrs Souter was delighted with the decision.
She said: “We’re chuffed to bits – we are just doing the bedrooms up at the moment so when we get them finished we’ll be able to start on the pods.”
The village pub is undergoing a renovation and redevelopment with the interior rooms being refitted   alongside the camping pods.
Mrs Souter said it would probably be a couple of years until all the wooden pods were completed but hoped some would be ready by summer.
She added: “Hopefully, the shop and a few pods will be ready by mid-summer if everything goes alright.
“It’s going to make it a sustainable business now – the pods will complement the pub and the pub will complement the pods.”
A facilities block, including a reception area, as well as a shop and play area are also in the pipeline which would operate all year round.
One full time and two part time members of staff will be required to run the site, including the shop and reception which are set to open from 9am until 5pm.
Mrs Souter added: “Hopefully we’ll create a few local jobs – it’s going to take a few people to run it as we cannot do it all ourselves.”
“Helping local tourism is the bigger picture.
“We’ve had a lot of local support which we are very grateful for – it’s trying to put Teesdale on the map so fingers crossed it works.”
Teesdale has seen a flurry of “glamping pod” ventures in recent years with the wooden huts appearing near Caldwell, Gainford and others lined up for Hamsterley Forest.
“A lot more people are holidaying at home,” added Mrs Souter.
“Camping is great but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. This is halfway between camping and a hotel room or a holiday cottage. It’s a bit more in touch with the outdoors which is very much the in thing at the moment.”