Katriona Shovlin, the ambitious owner of an all-inclusive luxury hotel for chickens, expressed she was “terrified” at the prospect of showcasing her business on Dragons’ Den.
Ms Shovlin, 32, made headway in the poultry pampering industry with her ‘hennels’, founded in 2023 in Upchurch, accommodating female chickens exclusively at a price of £3 per bird each day.
The service includes comfortable bedding, a diverse menu, and unending enjoyment with amenities such as a Wendy house and swings.
Dubbed Hen Weekend its success has hatched a second establishment due to soaring demand. As a mother-of-one, Ms Shovlin is now eager to leverage her Dragons’ Den appearance to expand her enterprise into a franchise network.
Talking about her motivation, she shared, “For me it was mainly about being a voice for hens. They are an animal which is quite often overlooked and not treated with respect.”
She regarded the tv show as an excellent opportunity, saying, “It was also a good opportunity for me to potentially look at franchising.”
Ms Shovlin, a self-confessed serial watcher and admirer of the series commented, “I watch every series when it comes on and I am a big fan of Deborah Meaden. I think it is a great platform for any business if you can manage to get on there.”
Katriona Shovlin is set for an appearance on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den
(Image: SWNS)
Her aspiration to thrust the business into the limelight became a driving force. The much-anticipated episode featuring the ‘hen hotel’ is scheduled for broadcast on Thursday(January 9) at 8pm on BBC One, with Joe Wicks appearing as a special celebrity guest.
Despite her enthusiasm for the programme, facing the dragons in person proved daunting for Ms Shovlin; she anticipates watching the episode with a mix of excitement and nerves. Speaking of her experience in the den, she said, “It was terrifying. It is funny because when you watch them on telly you feel like you know these people, but when you stand in front of them there are no words. You just kind of freeze.”
“It is a really brave thing to do, and I admire anyone who decides to go on a TV programme like that. I am just glad I did it. If anything, it is going to raise awareness which is what I want. It is going to be seen by millions of people.
“I am terrified to see it, it is cringey watching yourself on TV. I will probably watch it with my little boy as he is excited to see his mum on Dragon’s Den. I will just watch it from behind a pillow.”