National business award for Stonesby-based Hop Inn rabbit and guinea pig holiday retreat

Hop Inn, set up by Lisa Newton and her family in Melton five years ago, has received the accolade from BusinessesForSale.com

It describes a ‘fampreneur’ as “a family member who sets up a new business or multiple new businesses with one or more family members who together take on the financial risks in the hope of profit.”

The Hop Inn, which has its current facilities in Stonesby, earned its award for its originality, ingenuity and innovation.

It’s a family affair with Lisa and husband Stuart, their daughters Thea (15) and Tay (12) who also play important roles as marketer and animal whisperer respectively, Lisa’s brother, David, taking on the role of website developer and IT manager and her sister, Isobel, working remotely from Jersey on the accounts and financials.

The business was established five years ago in a barn attached to an 18th century grade two listed building.

The Newtons are now hoping to create the first bespoke rabbit and guinea pig hotel in the UK after submitting plans for a facility on a seven-acre site near Goadby Marwood.

BusinessesForSale.com managing director Rufus Bazley said: “Many fampreneurs have managed to successfully monetise a personal passion but the Newtons have gone so much further.

“They have invested in a new and exciting project – The UK’s first purpose-built holiday hotel for rabbits and guinea pigs.

“Given the success of the business so far and the family’s enthusiasm I have every confidence this will be an incredibly successful venture.”

Lisa said: “I’m just incredibly lucky to share my passion with my family and to have found a way in which we can indulge it, earn money from it and spend some real quality time together.”