Showing posts with label campervan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label campervan. Show all posts

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Camper Jam - This Weekend!


Camper Jam is nearly upon us!

After months of anticipation getting our brand new furniture ready for this weekend, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief as we’re ready to show the world once again what Leisure Hubs is all about.

For this years show we’ll be taking a different approach to normal, displaying our new range of furniture which is available ready –built or flat pack, so you can easily fit and install the furniture into your van.

Of course we still take a personal approach to the furniture, meeting with our customers and discussing viable furniture solutions that will turn their van into an exclusive Leisure Hub, with all the functionality and style of a modern home kitchen.

Constructed using the best wood and Corian, Leisure Hubs furniture sets itself apart from the rest of the market with our wealth of experience in luxury furniture design and the ability to create innovative designs tailored to your vehicle; increasing space and functionality in your van.

With all this in mind, we hope to see you all at Camper Jam this weekend as the show is set to be an absolute corker, with bands, a funfair and our personal favourite…the food village.

So, if you’d like to view some of the best luxury camper furniture on the market this weekend, then pay us a visit at Camper Jam and we can discuss a design best suited to your van.

Moreover, we’d like to congratulate the winner of our Facebook competition Raegen Hart who has got herself 2 free tickets to Camper Jam this weekend.

If you’d like to enter any of our future giveaways then make sure you like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter!


See you this weekend!

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Classic VW Camper Conversion

A new van has arrived in our workshop and it’s a fan favourite! This old VW camper is the vehicle which originated the concept of modern campervanning to this day, with its innovative design pioneered by hippies during the sixties.

Of course the old type 2 was available in several other practical options, as a panel van, flatbed pick-up truck and mini bus, all of which are a rare find in today’s vintage car scene.

This old so and so sitting in our workshop is set for a full interior conversion, with our trademark luxury furniture and state of the art features, as well as full carpeting and flooring; breathing new life into this classic design.

Once we begin work, we’ll keep you updated with our progress, as it sure is an interesting project worth talking about. Why not drop a comment below and tell us what you think should go in this van? Or maybe you've converted your own camper and would like to share your favourite pictures?

As passionate camper converters, we're very excited about finally getting our hands on a classic camper to convert with the Leisure Hubs palette of ideas. 


If you would like more information about our premium van conversion service, please visit our website, give us a call or even visit our workshop in Tyseley, Birmingham to check out our show vans. 

The van patiently waiting for its overhaul 

Monday, 15 April 2013

What is a Rock and Roll Bed?


At Leisure Hubs, we’re all about comfort, whether we’re developing cleverly designed interiors to maximise your space, inserting additional padding into (often hard) roof beds, or adding an integral rain forest shower to a conversion to keep you and your family and friends fresh.

One of the key features of any van conversion, is the rock and roll bed installation.

A good rock and roll bed is the only way to stay comfortable and relaxed when out camping, especially when away for several days at a time; nobody wants to struggle sleeping or experience back pain over a good week.

In the interest of keeping Mum and Dad from moaning all the way through a holiday, we supply only the best bed systems on the market, offering top manufacturers such as Touch of Class, Bebb and Ribb and Cannon Forge.

A Rock and Roll bed allows the back seat of your camper to be converted into a bed with a ‘rock and roll’ action, providing a functional mechanism which transforms in seconds.

Another term you will come across when searching for a rock and roll bed is ‘crash tested’. A crash tested bed does exactly what it says on the tin, it has been tested to remain safe during an accident, leaving your passengers as safe as possible.

Purchasing a bed which is not crash tested is still legal to use but you are running the risk of the seat/bed being unsafe during an accident. Non crash tested beds still have their place in the market though, as they are a much cheaper option and ideal for those who are only using their camper as a 2 berth; allowing both people to sit in the front when traveling and only using the bed at the back when stationary.

Each bed system we supply promises premium comfort and a functional design, with the choice of both crash tested and none crash tested concepts to choose from, depending on your budget and preference.

When considering a Leisure Hubs conversion we offer a range of different options, including rock and roll beds combined with slide rail systems for the ultimate in convenience.

For more information about the features in our conversions please visit our website. 

Monday, 8 April 2013

Wild Camping


We’ve covered quite a few of the UK’s camping hotspots so far in our ‘Where to Camp?’ series of blogs. But sometimes, to really experience the great outdoors in its most natural and primitive state, wild camping is the solution.

Wild Camping is simply camping without boundaries, not being confined to the walls, rules and regulations of a campsite.

If you’ve got all or most of the facilities in your campervan then why pay for a campsite?

Granted there are many advantages to using a campsite which exclude the range of facilities, such as the atmosphere and new people you meet on site, but to really get to grips with nature, wild camping is the ultimate freedom. 

Of course, there are some legalities to get around when wild camping. In England, you must ask the permission of the land owner to wild camp, but there are many exceptions, especially if you are situated far away from a local campsite.

Most land owners simply require you to leave the site as you found it, clearing all litter, burying toilet waste, taking into consideration local wildlife, not making too much noise and keeping your stay to one or two nights.

On the other hand, in Scotland, the rich countryside is your oyster, with wild camping being completely legal, although some landowners may enforce certain rules upon their land or remain except from the law.

It’s up to you to respect landowner’s wishes in both England and Scotland as it’s more than likely you’re the one going to the toilet on their property, so maintaining a high level of etiquette and understanding is essential and you should always be prepared to leave on short notice.

Legalities aside, the benefits of wild camping are in abundance, allowing you the unrivalled freedom of pulling up your handbrake near enough anywhere and enjoy the scenery. It also allows you to make the most of your campervan, utilising each of its features rather then opting for the easy option of going to an on site restaurant or communal showers.

Not only do you get to grips with nature but you also keep costs at an all time low, not having to pay for a campsite or its facilities, leaving you extra money in your pocket to spend on important things like premium sausages and real ale.

Leisure Hubs van conversions are a great way to provide all the essentials for wild camping; our built in rain forest shower especially.

For more information about Leisure Hubs van conversions please visit our website.     

Monday, 25 March 2013

Leisure Hubs YouTube Channel

From just images alone it can be difficult to get a real understanding of the premium features and craftsmanship that goes into each of our campers.

We’ve recently made a couple of videos and uploaded them to our YouTube channel for you to get a better idea of the conversion service we offer.

Our first video looks at our latest conversion, a customer’s van tailored to his personal needs with no expense spared.


The video looks at the functional build of the T5 4 Motion, with its pop top roof, practical L-shaped work space with Corian work surface and integral appliances, bed with under bed storage, rain forest shower and sumptuous modern finish throughout. 

The second video looks at our Black T5 Transporter, which has been cleverly design to showcase some of our most prestigious features, including the rainforest shower and motorised pop up TV.

At Leisure Hubs we love a challenge, that’s why we don’t stick to the traditional template of standard van conversions. We offer a limitless range of features which you can chop and change to suit your lifestyle, and our videos give a taster of some of what we are capable of, the only limit being your imagination.

So, take a look at our first two promotional videos and tell us what you think. They may even inspire your own design!

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Roof Bed

Sometimes the capacity of a campervan can be overlooked; when installing furniture and a bed, sometimes you can be under the misconception that your beloved camper will hold an entire family.

With two seats in the front and two in the back (with an expendable bed) the initial impression is that the van can play home to four people.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the majority of van conversions as the accurate berth of a campervan should be based on how many the van can sleep rather then transport. 

That’s where a sleeping roof comes in, to gain a true 4 berth campervan, a roof bed is the ideal solution for sleeping a family of 4.

An extension to the traditional pop top roof, a sleeping roof houses a further two people, using an easy to use mechanism which allows for additional space for both people and camping equipment, leaving your camper clutter free.

We’re frequently asked by customers to develop a pop top roof for their conversions. A pop top creates the perfect living space, allowing for additional head room, ideal for cooking and general use.

By adding a roof bed, you are increasing the capacity of the camper two fold, a worthwhile purchase to make when space is already at a premium.

When planning your conversion consider how much your camper can truly hold and think about the benefits an additional roof bed can have on your camper. It is the equivalent of buying a two bedroom house when a four bedroom is just a little bit more!

www.leisurehubs.com

Friday, 22 February 2013

Camping Recipes


As the sun rises over the rich British countryside, the once shaded grass is gradually illuminated a vibrant green as each of the sun’s rays hits every blade, local wildlife harmonise and compliment the fresh breeze and as sleep eyed children rise from their beds, the smell of bacon and eggs cooked by mum and dad is never far behind throughout UK campsites.   

Nothing beats popping a runny yolk over white crusty bread as you tuck into the British classic each morning, stuffing yourself ready for another day of adventure in the countryside or beach but it’s no secret that touring the UK and Europe in a Campervan can often lead to a pretty poor diet. 

Being able to travel for weeks on end in a camper is an amazing experience but a diet of bacon baps, BBQs and eating out everyday is not only expensive but it can do serious damage to your body and energy levels.

Returning home from the trip of a lifetime is a rejuvenating experience, freshly enlightened by the wonders each location offered, your brain has taken a journey as well as your body and will feel healthy and content.

With the brain healthy and at peace, nothing can rapidly counteract that then looking down and noticing a severe increase in your waist line.

Don’t get us wrong, we love bacon and eggs, we would eat it for every meal if it was socially acceptable but when travelling for long periods it is important to maintain a well balanced diet, not just for the sake of your waist line but also so you can feel good while you enjoy all your planned activities.

The reason why most ‘resort’ to fatty fried foods when campervanning is that most campers only have one or two hob rings and rarely feature and oven; with a minimal kitchen to work in it’s no doubt campers run out of recipe ideas, so here’s a series of blogs to unleash your inner chef!

We understand that the standard campervan kitchen consists of just one hob so we’ll start with something highly nutritious, delicious and super easy to cook.

A stir fry is an ideal way of making use of the single ring but they’re not for everyone so why not try this versatile recipe which can be easily chopped and changed to suit your taste.


Caribbean Calalloo and Mackerel (Serves 3-4)

This recipe requires just one hob ring and minimal skill but is rich in goodness and you can optimize the ingredients to suit your taste. We love chilli and garlic so here’s our take on the recipe. 

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves (crushed)
1 red onion
2 large tomatoes
6 mackerel fillets (about 1 pack)
Chopped red chilies (to taste)
1 large tin of calalloo


Crush the garlic cloves, finally chop the onions, chilies and tomatoes and add to the frying pan with a splash of oil.

Fry until the tomatoes are soft and the flavours have infused, peel the skins from the mackerel and finally break up the fillets to bite size portions and add to the pan.

Gently stir so that the flavours combine and the mackerel takes plenty of the chilli and garlic, even add some dried chilli flakes if you like a little extra spice (we do).

Finally, drain the water from the calalloo and add to the pan. This will instantly settle the pan and you can begin slowly stirring until the calalloo has bound all the ingredients.

Simply heat and stir until the calaloo is hot (it doesn’t need to be cooked through from the tin) and season to taste.

The great thing about this recipe is that it requires next to no time, minimal preparation and can be altered to suit your taste. Don’t like mackerel? Try chicken. We like to add green vegetables such as tender-stem broccoli, trimmed beans and peas, for extra guilt free bulk.

…enjoy!