A mum of three says she has seen her company go from strength to strength during the pandemic as people look for something fun to do while staying safe.

Charlotte Maude, from Gravesend, launched Charlie's Angels Parties two years ago. She thought the pandemic would slow things down but has seen the business almost quadruple in size over the past eight months.

The Caliph Close resident was surprised to see her business boom in a year which she predicted could be a challenge for her and her team.

What started out as a small company designed to cater for kids' sleepovers in Gravesend, Charlotte has seen her start-up evolve into a multi-pronged business now serving families across Kent.

Following Covid restrictions, it offers a range of small parties in your own home for your household, including an igloo dining experience and teepee sleepovers to name just a few.

Once gatherings are allowed again, the firm will be able to cater for all occasions, such as birthdays, corporate events, office parties, bar and bat mitzvahs and hen dos.

The 36-year-old said: "Trying to juggle the business as well as spending nearly five months home-schooling two of my three children has been very hard, but I'm now an extremely proud owner of a very successful business.

"​It all started when my daughter wanted a pamper party for her seventh birthday.

"We booked one elsewhere, but afterwards I realised I could have just done it myself, as I had just started to build up a business in beauty therapy.

"The pamper parties soon led to the indoor teepee sleepovers, then the bell tents, then hot tubs and most recently the igloos.

"It's been insane throughout the pandemic. The demand is crazy - the bell tents and hot tubs were fully booked all summer, and now the igloos are booked out in the winter."

At the start of the summer, the ex-air hostess only had a single bell tent.

She now has four of them, three hot tubs, 14 indoor teepees and two outdoor dining igloos to help her create the different experiences.

Charlotte added: "I also have a great team of girls - and my dad - who work for me.

"I take cleanliness and customer safety very seriously, especially in the pandemic, so the increased amount of disinfecting and paperwork in place has been hard."

A teepee sleepover costs £80 for two beds with extra beds costing £25 each. An outdoor dining pod, which can cater for up to eight people, will set you back £299.

To find out more about Charlie's Angels Parties, visit its Facebook page.

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