What did you miss?
Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies was so moved by one man’s pitch that she started to cry.
The latest instalment of the BBC show saw dad Derry Green seeking a £100,000 investment in return for a 5% stake in his Secret Garden Glamping. He had come up with the idea over lockdown, with the camping spot he created for his children growing to become a business. And the Dragons were so impressed that he clinched a handful of offers and had entrepreneur Davies – and many viewers – in tears.
What, how, and why?
Entering the Den, Green told the moguls about his glamping site, which has already won awards. He explained: “It all started in the first lockdown of 2020. Stuck at home with my two young children I had to come up with new and exciting ways each day to keep them entertained.
“The first day we decided to have a camping trip in the garden. It was great fun but waking up on the wet grass in the morning wasn’t very exciting.”
The hopeful said he kept adding to the area with his children and that by the end of the first lockdown he had created a glamping site. He shared his progress on social media and it went viral, with people getting in touch to ask to book a stay at the site.
Dragon Peter Jones said it was “inspiring”, but some of his fellow Dragons pointed out that Green was under-charging, with average nightly rates at £245 per night for 2024. However, he said he didn’t want to charge more and kept the same rate across the year as it had always “grated” on him that people tried to capitalise by charging more money during school holidays.
Deborah Meaden was quick to make an offer, giving Green everything he’d asked for, and Davies and Peter Jones followed suit. Green was tearful at the response to his pitch and gratefully accepted Meaden’s offer.
As he left the Den, Davies started to cry and reached for a tissue. “I’m just so happy for him,” cried the mum-of-two.
What did Dragons’ Den viewers say?
Viewers were also in floods, with many posting about Green’s pitch on X. One fan said: “Just did a little happy cry at Dragons Den. This is a first.”
Another person asked: “Anyone else in tears? Well done Derry Tell me why I’m crying???”
“I LOVE Derry,” another viewer added.
Read more: Dragons’ Den
Watch: Former Dragons’ Den star Hilary Devey dies aged 65