East Coast Adventure Ltd Creates New product and New jobs with the Help of NISBLF funding

Rostrevor- based East Coast Adventure received a boost to its business in the shape of a loan from the Northern Ireland Small Business Loan Fund which enabled it to expand its infrastructure and in the process create new jobs.

Founded in 1991 East Coast Adventure started out as a one man operation hiring canoes on the beach in Warrenpoint.  Today the firm headed up by Mark, Ian and Jennifer Cumming provides an outdoor education programme, leisure pursuits and corporate team building activities from five locations around Carlingford Lough.  The firm has expanded to include a water-based activity centre, a mountain bike centre with the only uplift service in Northern Ireland, a golf driving range and Bunkhouse accommodation in the Knockbarragh Valley just outside Rostrevor village.

The investment allowed the firm to build six self-catering camping pods and create three additional jobs.

Mark Cumming, managing director said:

We approached the Northern Ireland Small Business Loan Fund for support to help us expand our outdoor facilities.  The concept of camping has evolved over the last number of years with the emergence of glamping and these pod facilities, which bring a little bit of luxury to camping, have become very popular across the world.

The pods contain a table and seating area that can sleep up to four people, with one of the pods being converted into a toilet and shower facility.  There is also an external camp kitchen and BBQ area for people to prepare meals. Our camping pods have proven very successful and we’re already looking to expand their offering.”