Tell me about your perfect safe zone...

[ExpandedOldPaintballs]

I know, its one of my pet hates too, so worry not, the toilets will be gold plated.

I will be setting up a small canteen area (obviously i'll need some sort of catering license etc)

Actually I've spent most of the day looking at "off grid" ways to accomplish all this (fun), its a lot more complicated that you might expect when you really start going into the detail.
so i'll need a septic tank, rainwater collection & storage for flushing), and ways to stop that all freezing in winter.

 

[ExpandedOldPaintballs]

Also been looking at land. the first offering was a no-go due to proximity to main roads (you just KNOW some little **** will start firing that way on purpose)
Some more options have been offered in the same area so will see how it goes.

I intend to hopefully go live with this in spring '17

 

[Tom]

Ha ha! Didn't mean to derail a useful thread with poop talk! My real point is that many a good site, event etc has been let down by sub par, call of nature facilities .

Adding something else, dunno if anyone has mentioned a burger van could be an easy fix for food. Means no outlay for you, although you can't monetise the nosh that way. Certainly to get started it is helpful.

A burger van (or other off site caterer brought in) is a good idea for sites
(It's also not impossible to monetise*)

* not in paint ball, but good money can be charged to caterers, that's part of the reason you see food prices vary to dizzy heights at some places.
I go out to shows with friends and depending on the type of show they could be paying £100 for a pitch, compared to a caterer at the same show paying £1000 to £1500 for the pitch - which is just an allocated spot to park their van

You don't want paintball catering to leave a nasty taste in the mouth, so you can have all the catering regs to comply with and paying staff plus the cost of setting up the 'kitchen' or have someone come in and sub contract it, either for free or at a low price. You don't want to charge if they are coming in to a small group and do want something if it's a large group. That doesn't mean you have to charge them then, it can be a mutual arrangement and they make better money on the good days. Make sure it's a good agreement as you don't want to be caught out when you have low numbers or they have something more lucrative to go to

I have also worked where the burger van had a pretty nice deal - he had free secure parking 24/7 and was given the nod when events were on

 

[ExpandedOldPaintballs]

Yeah I have considered it, but initially I will only be catering for 10-30 people so a van would be a wasted day for them.

I used to marshal at a Delta Force and they ran a gas Urn for hot drinks and a gas hot plate for burgers/ bacon etc.

i also personally HATE ****e burgers and being ripped off for food when in a "captive" environment like that or shows, airports etc. So will not be serving the crap you often expect from burger vans.

Keep people happy, see them again - that's how it should work.

 

[Tom]

I go out to shows with friends....

Just in case the tax man is reading this - I go to shows for free or less than the price of a ticket depending on pitch cost & how many people it gets in, sit around drinking coffee, hooch and cider whilst sometimes talking to comic book geeks & hot steam punk ladies. Occasionally hot steam punk comic book geeks

 

[ExpandedOldPaintballs]

You really cant beat a good hot steam punk comic book geek ladie in cosplay.

(grunt)

 

[Tom]

You really cant beat a good hot steam punk comic book geek ladie in cosplay.

(grunt)

If you ask nicely sometimes you can

 

[Biscuit]

Car park needs to be huge. You may have only 30 customers but 30 cars will turn up. Basic covered bays for dry seating. Fenced off fire pit would be nice. Tuck shop sell only bottles no cans as they attract wasps. Catering if close enough dominos etc will do a deal etc etc saves hassle and they deliver. But will say don't just do paintball. Think about airsoft lazertag etc etc look at multiple usage of site. Site needs to be near a busy road for signs as long as playing joins about 100 yards from road your fine. Don't forget busy roads are quieter on weekends when most of your business will be. But 99.9% of customers are too engrossed in the game to notice the road

 

[Dusty]

Don't go too much into it with the off grid stuff.

You'd be amazed how far ten litres of hot water or a water boiler can stretch, and you can bring it with you from home.

Airpot DL164 Giant Pump Action Airpot, 5 L https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001MX9D6G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_42d4xb45SKDY7

Get a generator for lights in the winter evenings, wire up a 20ft container and you're set for a workshop/prep area. If you want to go eco, wire up a couple of solar panels and leisure batteries.

As for food, on a really cold day a coffee or hot chocolate and a snickers or crisps is proper tasty, generally people will bring stuff with them or they'll go for food afterwards.

Fire pit is a good idea but we used an old oil drum, after a while it gets pretty full of crap when your burning 10-15 boxes plus people's associated rubbish.

 

[Liam92]

my favourite safe zones have been Skirmish at Cribbs and NPF in birmingham.

Fitted toilets at any paintball site are one of best luxuries, but obviously are hard to install in remote areas. good cover from the elements that isn't muddy/pools water is probably as much as I need, hot food is always nice, the hotdog machine at cribbs is a particular favourite