Jennifer Oldland, Camp Kerala
We joined Camp Kerala trackside at the British Grand Prix to celebrate the return of full scale events and experience the electrifying glamour they are bringing to luxury hospitality.
James Higgins: Wow! What an amazing position on the track, how did you manage to secure this with Silverstone?
Jennifer Oldland: Silverstone approached us as they were eager to enhance their fans’ experience.
Camp Kerala creates a ‘home away from home’ for people who want to enjoy bucket list events globally. Our guests can join us and experience these extraordinary events and then return to the comfort of ‘home’, continue to party with their friends in the evenings and be refreshed and onsite ready for the next day's experience. Camp Kerala is well known for its superb ‘after parties’ and Silverstone were seeking to bring more of a festival / party atmosphere to the Grand Prix weekend. So the two seemed to have perfect synergy and this last Grand Prix certainly proved that that was the case.
Camp Kerala have been the first to bring trackside sleeping to Silverstone!
Jennifer Oldland, Camp Kerala owner & founder pictured on the left, with EnVogue Media owner & founder, James Higgins on the right.
With all day dining and certainly all day drinking, the main elevated platform on Hangar Straight really is your home away from home. (Go easy on the drinks though, it’s a long day!)
JH: Yes, you are famously known for bringing glamour and camping to festivals such as Glastonbury with your iconic Shikar tented lodges - how did you start there?
JO: I inadvertently bought the farm which adjoins the Glastonbury Festival site. I was a criminal barrister at the time and knew that there was a festival in Glastonbury but Glastonbury is 7 miles away from the house. I was genuinely horrified when the neighbours started telling me tales of what life was like living through the festival. But luckily we arrived almost simultaneously with ‘The Wall’ which meant that the festival became much more containable. I would have friends to stay during those first years and they would all say, with one voice, that ‘coming home’ was the way to be at Glastonbury. So the idea of a ‘home away from home’ was hatched. Prior to Camp Kerala’s inception in 2005, camping and luxury had never been synonymous. So buying the house, (which by the way was derelict, no water, electricity or a roof) was extremely serendipitous.
"The true magic lies in the fact that I run Camp Kerala with my three children, Georgia, Freya and Bert. Each one I managed to head hunt from their various jobs in London. They are the true heartbeat and future of Camp Kerala. We do love seeing so many wonderful people having the times of their lives whilst staying with us wherever we are in the world."
JH: A position in time is an asset as they say - you must have enjoyed a lot of unique Glastonbury moments, what sticks in your mind as the best ones?
That must be watching The Boss, Springsteen in 2009. But so many many icons have played in the fields next door. Dolly Parton exclaiming ‘Jolene you can have him’ in 2014 will be a memory which will remain forever. Having the best party in the world in your backyard ( so to speak) leads to a plethora of glorious magical moments ongoing.
Hotel Slippers at the F1!
On site DJ and Saxophonist keeps everyone entertained throughout the weekend - the party really gets started at sundown!
JH: What’s your Favourite aspect of the camp at Glastonbury?
Ahh so many many favourite aspects. Watching the Camp Kerala guests' faces as they arrive. The guests who arrive for the first time are literally speechless when they see the entire festival from our decks. Then the guests who have been with us for many years being so delighted to see their old Camp Kerala friends again. So many say they feel at home as soon as they drive up to the Camp Kerala sign.
"Then the best is definitely hearing the guests’ amazing stories of their time in what is possibly the best ‘grown ups playground’ in the world.
The excitement is almost indescribable. It is the unmitigated joy that the festival brings to each and every person who walks through those gates and into the phenomena that is Glastonbury Festival. Then the promises to return and do it all over again the following year. It's magical. "JH: Next year's F1, any upgrades to the experience? - we definitely could do with a swimming pool to cool us down in this 30 degree weather!
Yes it has definitely been extremely hot this weekend. An infinity pool looking over the track could be novel! We have a number of incredibly exciting ideas which we are planning to implement next year to make the 2022 experience even more exhilarating and luxurious for our guests.
JH: What’s the vision for the future of the company - do you have any other events which your eyes are set on?
We are in the lucky position of being approached by individuals with new and exciting ideas for taking Camp Kerala to bucket list events. My son Bert, is in charge of sifting through these innovative and creative concepts. His focus is on sporting events and festivals globally but he is also attracted to the idea of taking Camp Kerala on mobile adventures. We love it when individuals come to us with a dream adventure and then we make it a reality for them.
" I, personally, have a dream of doing a mobile Camp Kerala be it something from the Atlas Mountains to the Atlantic or down the Argentinian seaboard, it could be with extraordinary electrical vehicles or other modes of transport. We are deeply committed to functioning as close to a zero footprint as conceivably possible". "
F&B at Camp Kerala is one of the things that makes it shine - with a wide menu of super fresh and interesting dishes, expect to indulge over the weekend amongst high-octane entertainment
JH: You have some lovely brand partners which tie into the Camp Kerala Experience - where are you taking these next?
Yes we have worked with wonderful brands and very much look forward to forging new partnerships. We seek partnerships which will provide longevity and all partners we work with share similar values to us. We are first and foremost a family brand, that transcends both into our relationships with partners, and of course our relationships with our guests. We never stop striving to be the best and this shows in our guest experience. The Brand partners we work with share in our passion to exceed customer expectations through continuous innovation and focus.
Into the future, there are so many incredible Brands out there that we would love to work with, of course for the F1, one of the Teams would make sense, to be able to offer those involved and their Partners the opportunity to wake up trackside at the home of British motorsport and (hopefully to come) beyond!
Nothing like a Lewis Hamilton win at home in Silverstone!
JH: What are the biggest struggles you’ve overcome in the past two decades of Camp Kerala?
JO: The weather !!
Remind us to book the helicopter arrival next time!
JH: Do you have any advice/ life mantras to provide other entrepreneurs operating in the luxury space?
Ahh what an interesting question. I would say to always remember that the biggest luxury in life is time. Your time. Spending time with your clients /guests will be the source of great joy and inspiration, hopefully for both you and them. There are so many extraordinary people who will come through your doors. Take time to listen to them. I mean really listen, then you will learn about the industry.
I have various mantras. In my work life it is ‘If you can take it, you can make it’. I am a great believer in Karma in my professional life.
JH: Perfectly and beautifully summed up there Jen, it’s easy to get engrossed in the overal mission for success, but the special moments are always during and amongst the strive for success. Never lose sight of this!
Thank you for a truley amazing day, the fight between Max and Lewis was exhilarating, the hospitality was wonderful - I can’t wait to watch George Russel push Lewis trackside with you next year!
Join us next year with Camp Kerala and discover more about the full Camp Kerala Experience at Camp Kerala
Be Featured in Who’s EnVogue
Have an exciting story to share?
We’d love to hear from you!