All about Charlie
Charlie’s story.
Charlie is an original Beaufort Double horsebox by Rice of Leicestershire, a brand with an international reputation for high-quality design and engineering. The Beaufort Double is its quintessential horsebox. Charlie was pretty beat up when we bought him and in serious need of some TLC.
We stripped him right back and gave him all-new aluminium cladding. While wooden cladding is often the chosen, more cost-effective material for horsebox renovation, we were committed to creating a high-quality product and making the restoration as faithful as possible. We think he’s worth it.
We covered the rear, touched up decades’ worth of scuffs and scrapes and gave Charlie a brand-new paint job. We wanted Charlie to match the ‘Cotswolds look’ while remaining neutral to complement the aesthetic of most events. We chose Monterey White HC-27 by Benjamin Moore on the top and Quincy Tan HC-25 by Benjamin Moore on the bottom.
Moving inside, we gave Charlie some insultation and panelled the bottom two thirds. We added a new wooden floor and painted the top third to match Charlie’s exterior.
The electrics came next. We fitted rustic-looking ceiling lights and mood-enhancing up-lighting for a cosy, warm feel. Finally, we neatly integrated the camera, screen and instant printer before adding some finishing flourishes.
The end result? A fun, unique photobooth experience capable of capturing and printing special moments instantly.
The team behind Charlie.
Transforming Charlie into the Cotswolds’ first horsebox photobooth experience was the brainchild of Tom, Taylor and Sean – three family-oriented friends who fancied doing something fun outside their usual day-to-day work.
Taylor and Tom are more at home behind a desk, doing the boring (but very important) administrative work. Sean, a skilled builder by trade, made the vision a reality, faithfully restoring Charlie in his spare time while also raising two children under the age of three.
Tom has recently welcomed his first child into the world with his wife, Freya, and Taylor is expecting his second child with his partner, Sophie, in the coming months.
All in their 30s, Tom, Taylor and Sean have been to their fair share of weddings – as well as organising their own – and have seen first-hand how weddings in particular have become something more experiential, with couples looking to add an extra special something to their day. They also fully appreciate how important it is that your big day is perfect and how tricky it can be to bring a vision to life.
Tom, Taylor and Sean all live within 15 minutes of Cheltenham Racecourse – the home of jump racing – and are regular visitors to the track. Living on the doorstep of the Cotswolds, and so close to the racecourse, they see day-to-day the passion for all things equine across Cheltenham and the Cotswolds. This passion – coupled with a trend toward people seeking a unique showstopper for their special day – was the motivation behind Cotswolds Horsebox Photography.
Tom, Taylor or Sean – sometimes two of them, sometimes all three – will be present for the duration of your event, meaning your booking will be carried out with extra special care and attention by those directly responsible for transforming Charlie into the one-of-a-kind photobooth experience you see today.
Other pages you might find useful…
