We were featured in the September 2026 issue of Motor Caravanner magazine. In their regular “Meet Your Hosts” series, Frances and Michael Howorth tour the countryside talking to owners and operators of motorcaravan campsites, and this issue they came to meet us at Bainside. Here is the interview in full.
How long have you operated this campsite?
We have been here now almost three years. We came here to take over a run-down campsite and create a serene escape in Lincolnshire. We tailored it for adults seeking relaxation and outdoor activities. We pride ourselves on providing a peaceful environment for touring motorcaravans on a site complemented by a fully stocked (and exciting to use) coarse fishery that is suitable for both amateur and seasoned anglers.
What did you do before you opened this campsite?
Both of us had a completely different way of life, I worked in quite a stressful job working for children’s social care, then in schools. Paul worked in commercial kitchens, in a job that saw him on the road a lot, travelling from Leeds to London several times a week.
Do you have your own Motorhome or Campervan?
We had our own motorhome and loved our travels so much that this is the reason why we chose to buy and run a campsite. It was an 8.25m AutoTrails Gran Fontera and we lived in it full time while we renovated the house and campsite. We have sold it now and hope to replace it with a campervan.
What is special about this site?
Small, compact and perfectly formed, it is in a lovely quiet spot with dark skies at night and lots of wildlife. That’s what makes it special. But what makes it really special are those lovely customers who return time after time making the campsite a social spot where they can enjoy a chat with us and each other. Add in our stunning fishing lake with benches around its shore where people can go and sit and enjoy the views – and that makes it extra special.
Tell us about the local area?
There is so much to do here, with lots of local countryside and woodland walks just minutes from the campsite, or you can walk or cycle, in the nearby Lincolnshire Wolds. Yet the coast is just a 35-minute drive away. Our village of Woodhall Spa, regarded as one of Lincolnshire’s most attractive, came about by accident when someone made several failed attempts to find coal. The enterprise was abandoned after the 1000-foot-deep shaft filled with spring water. It was then discovered that the iodine-rich water had healing benefits. So Spa Baths were built so that visitors could ‘take the waters’, and the village grew on the strength of that. The Spa Baths may now be in disuse, but lots of people come here intrigued by its World War 2 history.
What is the funniest thing that has happened at the campsite?
There have been a few but one that springs to mind is when a mole took up residence underneath a groundsheet, causing tables and chairs to become uneven. Morning tea got spilt and it was like walking on the moon inside the tent.
What’s your top tip for any site visitor?
Remembering your last question, I should say – Lock the shower block doors! But sit around the lake on an evening with a bit of a picnic or bottle of prosecco, is perhaps my top tip. The lake really does come alive, and if you sit long enough, you will almost certainly see the kingfishers.
How often are you fully booked?
In the summer months every weekend is full.
What are your hobbies?
We both love Northern soul, Motown and a bit of a dance, and you will not have failed to notice how much we love tinkering with our Land Rover Defenders.
What else can you do here while camping here?
Besides the fishing and walking, there are several aviation museums nearby. The Petwood Hotel was once the headquarters of the Dambusters Squadron and is full of memorabilia, while the nearby East Kirkby Airfield, frequently hosts Typhoon displays and offers a chance to taxi the runways in a genuine 1940’s RAF Lancaster Bomber. Nearby the Kinema in the Woods is still going strong. Housed in a former cricket pavilion, it opened in 1922 as one of the first cinemas in Britain and is the last cinema in the country to use back projection. And yes, Kinema is pronounced with a hard K, but no-one is sure why!
What is your favourite local restaurant for dinner?
We highly rate Montebello’s in Horncastle. It is a family-run restaurant offering fresh and authentic Italian food. They produce great fresh food and its cooked to order.
What is your favourite local pub for a drink?
The Ebrington Arms is a 16th century pub and restaurant perfectly situated right next door to the campsite. They serve simple, good things, done well. It’s known for its classic home-cooked pub food, homemade puds, and a well-stocked bar.
We like the way their menus change with the seasons, featuring fresh produce from the coast and local suppliers.
If you could invite three guests to a dinner party, who would you choose?
We would ask Dolly Parton to join us for a sing along, and get Michael Ball to continue this because he is our Sunday morning go to radio host, and we know Bob Mortimer would bring his own impeccable humour to our table.
Quick fire questions
Are you a morning or nighttime person? Morning
How do you like your steak? Medium rare
Favourite TV Programmes? Clarkson’s Farm, Vinnie Jones’ farm
What is your favourite style of cuisine? Seafood
What foods do you dislike most? Liver
What would your last supper be? Steak and chips
Where in the world would you visit if you had the chance? Malaysia
Where was your last holiday? Jamaica
Do you have any pets? No
What is your best childhood memory? South of France holidays in caravan
Do you have any pet peeves about guests? Customers who can’t drive onto the allocated pitch and take over another pitch as well giving other guests less room.
What have you done spontaneously lately? Booked a wedding
What is your biggest regret to date? Not meeting sooner
What’s your guilty pleasure? A cheeky G’n’T in the pub next door
What is your worst habit? Pinching fat and crispy bits off roasts before carving
What makes you angry? Cruel people
This interview by Frances and Michael Howorth first appeared in Motor Caravanner, September 2026, pages 64–65. See the article as it appeared in the magazine (PDF).
Find out more about Bainside, or see our touring pitches and the fishing lake.