Johnny Vegas: Carry On Glamping – Is He a Fool or a Genius?

We all know that the glamping industry has exploded over the last year or so, but one person we didn’t expect to get in on the action was St Helens’ biggest export, Johnny Vegas. The comedian recently starred in a four-part Channel 4 documentary series called Johnny Vegas: Carry On Glamping, where he sets out to achieve his dream of owning a glamping site.

SPOILER ALERT: This review will contain spoilers for the series. If you’d prefer to watch the programme before reading our analysis, see below.

Where Can I watch Johnny Vegas: Carry On Glamping?

It’s available to watch on All 4. With it being available online, you can watch it whenever and wherever you want, so feel free to take your time or binge it all in one go!

What’s Johnny Vegas’ Glamping Site Like?

Johnny’s glamping site, based at Breaks Fold Farm in Yorkshire, is pretty unorthodox. While most glamping site owners opt for glamping pods, shepherd huts or tented structures; he was clear from the start that he wanted to use converted vehicles as glamping accommodation. Even though this resulted in additional costs and complications compared to traditional glamping structures, we admire Johnny’s creativity and determination to create a unique experience for his guests. We frequently talk about the importance of having a unique selling point for your site, and Johnny’s unusual vehicles sell themselves. 

The accommodation options at Johnny’s site, called the Field of Dreams, are the following:

• Skoolie the American Bus
• Billy the Snail
• The Fire Truck
• The Citroen Camper
• Patricia the Maltese Bus

Was the Programme Any Good?

If we were to give a review of the series, we’d award it a 5-star rating.

We love how true to life it is. There are plenty of twists and turns across the 4 hours, with Johnny’s project seemingly on the verge of disaster on multiple occasions. Our clients’ glamping journeys are rarely without unforeseen complications, and though few complications are as dramatic as the moment when Patricia the Maltese bus crashed into a cow shed, the programme gives an insight into how frustrating the process can be at times.

We never hide the fact that starting a glamping business is a challenge that requires passion and perseverance, and thankfully Johnny has those in spades. It’s those traits that see him through the difficult times and allow him to achieve his dream.

Another element that we really enjoyed was the emotional side of Johnny’s journey. For many, starting a glamping business is more than just an investment decision. It’s a lifestyle change. Johnny’s dissatisfaction with his career in recent years is evident throughout, and it only makes him more determined to be successful in this endeavour.

Whenever we see tears in his eyes, be they born from triumph or sorrow, it’s impossible not to want him to succeed. The moment when the site comes together and he’s able to share his achievement with his friends and family is a touching one. 

Is He a Fool or a Genius?

In the first episode, when Johnny tells his friends and family about his glamping dream, the idea is laughed at and it’s clear that few expect him to follow through with it. There are also times when he appears naive, none more so than when he claims he can ‘get around’ planning laws by using converted vehicles instead of permanent structures (keep an eye out for future blog posts on this subject). Sometimes we’re led to wonder how he’d be able to function in his day-to-day life without his trusty and ever-patient assistant, Bev, on hand to get him out of trouble. 

And yet you can’t help but be endeared by Johnny’s charm, particularly as the series progresses and you see how important this project is to him. This is a man who’s gone through immense personal difficulties in recent years and the passion that he puts into the glamping site is infectious. It’s not about money for him; it’s about proving that he can achieve something that he sets his mind to.

But we shouldn’t only focus on the emotional side. Although this is a passion project for Johnny, the idea makes business sense as well. By choosing unusual yet stylish accommodation options that tell a story in a beautiful setting, the foundations are strong for a highly profitable glamping business. A famous owner and a Channel 4 documentary series aren’t bad marketing tools either.

If we were to place Johnny’s glamping acumen on a scale from genius to fool, he’d be a lot closer to the former than the latter. 

How Can I Book a Stay at Johnny Vegas’ Glamping Site?

The site is fully booked for 2021, and currently isn’t taking bookings for 2022. Keep an eye on the website for information about next year’s availabilities.