Comparable to glamping on water, has this unique hotel room at Hartlepool Marina carved its own niche? Luke Robertson, founder of Robertson Marine Group, certainly thinks so. He told Open Air Business: “I came up with the idea after spending so much time on the water paddle boarding and jet skiing and realised there was no option available to stay on the water. I then started to do some research into what was available and found there was nothing. There are hundreds of marinas across the country, stunning lakes, canals and golf courses that could all benefit from turning their waterways into a commercial venture, creating a unique experience and making the water accessible to everyone.”
The pod – which measures just 4×6 metres, has been built with 10 millimetre thick plastic underneath and then injected with polystyrene to make it float – is for two people and no space is wasted, with a double bed, storage, kitchen area, wet room and outside seating area. Prices are deliberately comparable to local hotel rooms and as such the pod, which is available to book now, will cost between £65-£75 a night depending on the season.
He now plans to build a pod that can accommodate five people to appeal to families, and hopes to have 10 more to create a ‘floating village’ with the aim of then taking the concept to other marinas around the country. It is the first production model of a pod specifically designed to float, and is a complete plug and play option for lake or water owners, which makes it very attractive for potential buyers or investors.
Luke added: “Our floating pods are eco-friendly and can be installed with minimal disruption. They also break down into three easily manageable sections to make delivery to the most inaccessible areas possible. Ranging from basic fishing pods, complete with a large deck area for casting from, through to luxury boutique glamping water pods, they cater for a large range of people.”
