Young businesswoman makes national awards shortlist after launching adults-only luxury glamping retreat in Carnforth

Shauna O’Brien, founder of Wonderland Retreats Luxury Glamping, has been named as a finalist in the 2026 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Shauna has been shortlisted in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category.

In just three short years, Wonderland Retreats has grown rapidly from an initial idea into a successful luxury adults-only glamping destination, attracting guests from across the country and building an online community of more than 100,000 followers.

“What started as a vision to create something a little different has developed into a unique hospitality business, and being recognised on a national platform is a huge milestone,” Shauna said.

“Being named a finalist means so much to me. I’ve poured my heart into building Wonderland Retreats over the last three years, and to see how far it’s come in such a short space of time is something I’m incredibly proud of.

"I’m most proud of having the courage to take that initial idea and turn it into something real, creating something unique and building it from the ground up.

“As a young female entrepreneur, I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved in such a short space of time and excited to attend the awards ceremony in London."

Launched in 2012, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and business owners across the UK.

Often described as the Grammys of entrepreneurship, the awards have a remarkable alumni community including the founders of Simmer Eats, Grenade, ClearScore, Zilch and Unbiased.

Frankie James, founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said: “When we launched the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2012, we set out to back the businesses that get on and build, the ones that don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

“More than a decade on, over 5,000 applications tell me we were onto something. This year’s cohort represents billions in turnover and tens of thousands of jobs, but what I’m proudest of is the determination behind those numbers.

"These are founders who have stuck with it through every kind of year, and championing them is exactly why we do this.”

For more about Wonderland Retreats Luxury Glamping, visit https://www.wonderlandretreats.co.uk/