Summary

  1. National Motor Museum, Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey Exhibition
  2. Buckler's Hard Historic Village: Maritime Museum, Display Cottages
  3. Yacht Harbour & River Facilities
  4. Countryside: National Nature Reserve, Woodlands, Farmlands, etc.


History of Site / Facilities
Beaulieu Manor Estate inherited by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in 1951, Palace House opened to the public 1952. Only Abbey previously open to public. River popular yachting destination. Buckler's Hard Village popular riverside recreation area.

Objectives
Conservation and enhancement of the Beaulieu Manor Estate/and creation of National Motor Museum.

Management
Land ownership : part Lord Montagu of Beaulieu ( The Beaulieu Manor Estate) and part Ralph Montagu ( The Beaulieu Settled Estate).

Management of recreational facilities is by Montagu Ventures Limited and subsidiary company Beaulieu River Management Limited, which control all visitor facilities at Beaulieu and Buckler's Hard.

Public Access
a) BEAULIEU : National Motor Museum, Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and special features : Monorail, The Driving Experience, Veteran Bus, Children Rides etc. Inclusive charged admission. Car Park free.

b) BUCKLER'S HARD VILLAGE: Car Park charge includes access to Maritime Museum, Display Cottages and Riverside Walk.

c) RIVER: used by mooring and berth holders with controlled access for visitors.

d) COUNTRYSIDE: educational use encouraged and controlled public access limited to footpaths and supervised Riverside Walk, National Nature Reserve (Nature Conservancy SSS1) and beach.

Volume of Use

a) National Motor Museum Complex: circa 350,000 paying visitors per annum plus free entry (children under 5 and others), excluding Royal Feasts and evening events etc.
b) BUCKLER'S HARD: 200,000 plus people per annum.
c) RIVER: approximately 120 Berth holders (Bucklers Hard Yacht Harbour) and 293 mooring holders; many visiting yachtsmen (maybe additional 18 in Yacht Harbour, 100+ on piles, up to 30+ anchored in mouth). Dinghy Park: approx 70.
d) COUNTRYSIDE: in organised groups; 10,000 approximately per annum.

Present Operations

Facilities Currently Provided

a) BEAULIEU: Car Park; National Motor Museum; 'Wheels' Display; Palace House; and
Grounds, Abbey Ruins and Exhibition of Monastic Life; Monorail, "Driving
Experience" (simulator); Fast Trax; Veteran Bus; Veteran Car Ride;
Living History interpretive presentations at certain times of the year, Various
Catering Facilities; Picnic Area; Various Shops.
b) BUCKLER'S HARD VILLAGE: Car Park; Maritime Museum; Display Cottages, cafeteria; Hotel Restaurant and Pub); River Trips; Riverside Walk.
c) RIVER: Yacht Harbour; Swinging Moorings; Protected anchorage; Refuelling facilities; Chandlery; Boatyard.
d) COUNTRYSIDE: Various educational and instructional facilities. Residential Farm Centre and separate Woodland Study Centre.

Proposed Developments

a) BEAULIEU: Further Restoration to historical aspects. Annual Exhibitions on motoring theme.
b) BUCKLER'S HARD: Major restoration / Conservation programme, coupled with new Visitor Reception and Interpretation Facilities.
c) BEAULIEU VILLAGE: Restoration of Tide Mill
d) RIVER: Static.
e) COUNTRYSIDE: Improved education facilities.

Management Structure & Staffing Levels
Visitor facilities operated by Montagu Ventures Limited. Four working Directors, including Managing Agent and Financial Director. Eight Senior Heads of Department. Full time staff 72 approximately, Total staff at Peak season 112.

Marketing Strategy

Image of the Site
a) BEAULIEU: Leisure time day out. Suitable for all ages/interests.
b) BUCKLER'S HARD: Historic Shipbuilding Riverside Village.
c) RIVER: An exclusive facility to contain demand and conserve surroundings.

Promotion & Publicity

a) BEAULIEU: Strong annual programme involving Television, Press, Radio and selected local promotion.
b) BUCKLER'S HARD: Currently only to visitors to Beaulieu.
C) RIVER: Unnecessary.

Pricing Policy Adopted
a) BEAULIEU: Maximum consistent with visitor perception of good value for money to enable high quality facilities to be maintained.
b) BUCKLER'S HARD: Objective being to generate sufficient income from tourists to contribute the maximum towards improvements required to Village.
c) RIVER: Maximum income earned from minimum number of boats.
d) COUNTRYSDE: Costs of provision of educational facilities recovered where possible.

Relationship with other Sites / Facilities

a) BEAULIEU : In joint marketing group with other "Historic Houses" Local contacts through Southern and South East England Tourist Board; Close working relationship with New Forest Authorities.
b) BUCKLER'S HARD: Links with the Southern and South East England Tourist Board.
c) RIVER: Management liaison with other Yacht Harbours.
d) COUNTRYSIDE: Links with Education Authorities and Countryside / Environment facilities elsewhere.
e) GENERAL: Numerous links with other United Kingdom Tourist facilities.

Market Opportunities & Options

a) BEAULIEU: Consolidation, Restoration and constant improvement preferred to expansion.
b) BUCKLER'S HARD: Careful management to achieve restoration through Tourist income.
c) RIVER: Strong development potential resisted for sake of maintaining existing character.
b) COUNTRYSIDE : Education use encouraged as long as agricultural / forestry activities do not suffer.