Chicken hotel owner pitches to Dragons' Den

A female entrepreneur pitched her chicken hotel concept on the BBC television show, Dragons' Den. Katriona Shovlin has been running "Hen Weekend Hen Boarding" from her home in Upchurch, Kent, since late 2023.

The television program — where contestants pitch business ideas to a panel of investors — returns for its 22nd series on BBC One on Thursday. Ms. Shovlin said the experience was “thrilling and amazing,” and that she would “happily do it again.”

Filmed in Salford in July, the permanent panel of investors includes Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, and Steven Bartlett. But Ms. Shovlin said it was the guest judge, fitness guru Joe Wicks, who helped her relax. “Facing those millionaires was really daunting, but Joe was just like me,” she said.

The chicken hotel started as a coop in her backyard, used to care for abandoned poultry. But soon, Ms. Shovlin began looking after pets while their owners were away. “We’ve had up to 20 chickens here at one time, from families who are on holiday or moving house,” she said. “One family saw us on social media and drove all the way from Berkshire for me to look after their chickens.”

Following previous national newspaper coverage and appearances on BBC Radio 1 and 2 when the business first launched, this television appearance is the hen hotel owner's highest-profile media appearance to date. Ms. Shovlin said she was surprised when television producers first contacted her. “I initially said no, because I just thought it was a small little business.” “However, I had a rethink and thought there was no better platform to put the business in the spotlight and raise awareness.”

Viewers can watch Ms. Shovlin’s pitch and find out if she secured investment on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Thursday at 8 pm GMT. Dragons' Den will reveal the outcome of her pitch.