ABOVE: Customers are introduced to caravan ownership by Salop Leisure sales executive Tanya Bebb.
Shrewsbury-based caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure held a first time buyers’ event for caravan holiday homes and luxury lodges recently.
A whopping 75 holiday homes and lodges, priced from £34,995, were on display and Salop Leisure supported with full details of more than 250 parks across Mid Wales and the Heart of England best-suited to the requirements of buyers.
Holiday homes and lodges purchased will be ready on site for the new season. “Within nine weeks of the new year beginning, holiday home parks will be opening for the new season,” said Tony Bywater, Salop Leisure’s chairman. “We have some fantastic deals on holiday homes and luxury lodges for first time buyers.
“The general uncertainty surrounding Brexit in 2019 has been very destabilising for everybody in the UK. However, following the December General Election result, it’s great that a decision has now been made that we are going to leave Europe in 2020. “I think it’s going to be a great boost to our business and to people from all walks of life.
I predict that 2020 is going to be a tremendous year for this country as demand for holiday homes and staycationing in the UK increases.”
ABOVE: Only genuine guests are allowed to offer opinions – and their glowing reviews won platinum for the group
Verdicts from customers staying with Park Holidays UK have resulted in the group receiving the highest possible rating from a leading independent reviews website.
The company is now the proud bearer of the 2020 Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, based on the number of glowing reviews posted by park guests. The honour comes after three successive years of Park Holidays UK gaining gold status from Feefo as a result of attracting consistently favourable verdicts from families.
The top-level platinum award is held by only a small elite of holiday firms which allow customers to post unedited reviews via Feefo, and receive an exceptionally high scoring.
In 2019, said Feefo, almost all of the guests summing up their satisfaction with Park Holidays UK gave it a rating of 4.5 or 5 – the maximum score – based on their experiences. Tony Clish, director of the group which now has 31 coastal parks in Southern England, said that all members of the staff team should take a bow: “It’s always our aim to provide guests with the best possible holiday memories, and we are delighted to be exceeding their expectations in so many different ways.”
Bookings for 2020 have got off to an extremely strong start, he reports, and sales of holiday caravans and lodges look likely to set a new record high this year.
ABOVE: A band of women from nine Welsh holiday parks have bared all to combat breast cancer.
A brave band of women from holiday parks across Wales have generated a £22,000 charity windfall by baring all for Breast Cancer Care. The group’s cheeky photographs appear on a month-by-month calendar which has been snapped-up by collectors from across the UK.
With their modestly protected by props, the photos capture the women relaxing on the parks in Wales where they own holiday caravans and lodges. When their first calendar came out last year, it raised around £7,500 for charity – but strong demand for a 2020 version has now seen that amount almost tripled.
Leading lights behind the project were two women with holiday homes on the parks: Kay Large from Haydock in Merseyside, and Chris Lawton from Bramhall in Stockport. Kay’s holiday home is at Meanan Abbey Caravan Park in Conwy, and Chris has a holiday home at Tree Tops Caravan Park near Hollywell.
The sum raised came from a combination of 1,000 sales of the £8.50 calendars, sponsorship by holiday parks of each month, donations, and a glittering gala night. The gala was held at Gorse Hill Caravan Park in Conwy, organised by manager Tracy Thomas Evelyn, and raised £8,000 over the course of the evening.
Behind the lens for the photo-shoot was accomplished photographer Andy Walker of Tree Tops Caravan Park which he co-owns with his parents Maureen and Harry. Last year, said Andy, the women were all from Tree Tops – but this time, seven other parks were also keen to become involved in the posing project.
ABOVE: If your swimming pool only has one single main drain you need to seek urgent professional advice
MSI has campaigned for years to get the holiday tourism sector to accept the risks posed by swimming pool drain entrapment. A company spokesperson said: “It’s a tragedy that three members of the Diya family died in the same pool incident, and it’s also a travesty that the family has not been given access to the pool for an independent inspection – why? “While entrapment cannot, at this time, be officially confirmed, all the signs point to drain entrapment and the only way to discover the cause of the deaths is an independent inspection by a recognised UK expert.”
Pool entrapment incidents have been happening for many years in outdated and overseas holiday pools. In 2017, there was an entrapment incident at the Valenciano Swimming Club in Carprese, Valencia – a 14-year-old boy was trapped underwater by suction from a drain. The boy became unconscious and sustained a perineal tear as a result of the strong suction of the pump.
It took a four-hour operation to save his life. In another incident, a six-year old girl on holiday with her family in France drowned after her leg became trapped in the filter drain at the bottom of the hotel’s pool.
ABOVE: The tragic incident involving the Diya family has triggered increased sales of the Vac-Alert safety system.
The incident happened when the girl jumped into the pool, landed on the drain of the pool’s filter pump system, whose safety grille had broken. A witness said the girl was “sucked into the drain.”
Pool entrapment danger has been known for decades and it is believed that there are more than one million pools across Europe which are outdated, having a single drain which puts swimmers around the world at risk. However, the risk to swimmers can be significantly reduced by simply installing a Vac-Alert safety system which responds in milliseconds.
MSI again: “Some parts of the hotel and commercial leisure industry are still not recognising the need for a Vac-Alert, especially in older pools. “For example, MSI tried to advertise the Vac-Alert in a Maltese newspaper but the advert was rejected because it was seen as bad for tourism.
The three deaths in the hotel pool in Fuengirola on Christmas Eve has obviously intensified the focus on pool entrapment danger and sales of the Vac-Alert have significantly increased – at last the message is getting through. “The holiday industry throughout Europe should not wait for another death to make their pools safer,” say MSI. “If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to act.”
ABOVE: Lodges at Ord House Country Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Low Carrs is one of seven parks in the Maguire family portfolio…
A family business in wholesale carpets and flooring changed tack in 1981 when Billy Maguire Senior invested in Low Carrs, a residential park with 50 homes just five minutes walk from the city of Durham. In 2001, when Billy’s son, also Billy Maguire Senior, took over the running of Low Carrs, Maguires Country Parks was born. Today, Low Carrs is one of seven parks in the family-run portfolio that includes two residential developments - Low Carrs and the new Hurworth Springs Country Park; the award-winning Ord House Country Park, which offers a mix of residential homes, holiday homes, touring pitches and glamping pods; as well as four other ‘Country Parks’ - The Kaims, Forget Me Not, Newbus Grange and Swainby - that all feature privately owned holiday homes. Each of the Maguire’s parks is located in the northeast of England, close to the family’s roots in Darlington. Billy’s grandsons - Gilbert, Nathan and Billy Junior – are all Company Directors and heavily involved in the daily running of the parks, but with an expanding portfolio, this year saw the appointment of Maguires Country Parks first non-family Directors. Gilbert explains: “Scott Mounsey, Gretchen Wardman and Wayne Jones have all joined us this year, bringing their expertise to the company. Scott is our first-ever Financial Director. With their extensive corporate background, mixed with our family values, we hope this appointment will help us grow the business from strength to strength.” It’s clear from talking to Gilbert that these family values are held in the highest regard. The park’s business is in the Maguire’s blood. “I’ve grown up with these parks,” says Gilbert fondly. “I’ve known a couple of the residents of Low Carrs all my life. I spent most of my summers there, mowing the grass and helping out on the park whilst my Grandad sold the homes. I left school at 16 and we bought Newbus Grange the very next day. We eat and breathe the business as a family.” This commitment has paid dividends at the flagship Ord House Country Park, located close to picturesque Berwick-upon-Tweed, the northernmost town in England. Ord House, bought by the family in 2003, has a growing list of accolades that Gilbert says is “testament to our exceptional team.” From winning ‘Best Park in the North East’, to gaining a ‘Certificate Of Excellence’ from TripAdvisor for consistent 5 Star reviews, to being rated 5 Star in the ‘Loo Of The Year’ awards for their washroom facilities, Ord House is a true success story.
ABOVE: The Maguires own seven parks including four parks that only offer privately-owned holiday homes. Pictured, The Kaims in Bamburgh.
ABOVE: Hurworth Springs will eventually boast 122 luxury, lodge-style homes.
ABOVE: Residents can enjoy a woodland walk at Ord House.
ABOVE: Scott, Billy, Area Sales Manager Emma, Gilbert and Nathan.
TOP NOTCH
TOP NOTCH With just 20 residential homes, Ord House is predominately a holiday park with privately owned homes benefitting from an abundance of top-notch facilities. Development is afoot with residential change of use secured for 60 plots, which will see Ord House welcome many more permanent residents in the near future. Ord House may have attracted the attention so far but hot on its heels is a new passion project. Gilbert says that “Hurworth Springs is the development we are most excited about as a family.” “Hurworth Springs is the first time that we haven’t inherited someone else’s vision and planning. Essentially, this park is a blank canvas, which affords us the chance to completely develop our own residential park from scratch. I’m so excited about this opportunity. And the fact that it’s situated just a mile outside Darlington, where we all grew up, is so important to us all… it truly feels like it’s meant to be.” The Maguire family have invested in Hurworth Springs financially as well as emotionally. Over five million pounds has been ploughed into the development and the park is now starting to take shape with 20 of the eventual 122 homes already occupied and residents starting to personalise their properties with their own touches. Hurworth Springs offers plenty of choice for prospective homeowners. “We offer everything from single units to huge twins with bi fold doors and every model in between. That’s another advantage of designing this park from scratch,” explains Gilbert. The Maguires work closely with several different manufacturers including Willerby and Pemberton Park Homes, but many of the homes on Hurworth Springs are supplied by ABI Holiday Homes, hand built in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
ABOVE: Glamping pods at Ord House.
ABOVE: Ord House has won a collection of awards for its facilities.
ABOVE: The Maguires are currently developing more residential properties at Ord House.
ABOVE: Maguires Country Parks are all located in the picturesque northeast of England. Pictured, a holiday home at Newbus Grange.
DIFFERENT AND MODERN
“We had a vision to create something different and modern at Hurworth Springs,” says Gilbert. “We wanted to move away from the traditional park home look and feel, and Abides Can Exel cladded homes fit the bill. The homes at Hurworth Springs look more like wooden lodges and combine good looks with quality and great performance, alongside minimal maintenance.” Hurworth Springs represents a first, not only for the Maguire family but also for the northeast of England. “The concept of residential park living is increasingly popular down south but it’s a new concept in the northeast,” explains Gilbert. “Educating prospective purchasers about the benefits of park home living is a pleasure. We love to challenge perceptions that bricks and mortar aren’t the be all and end all!” “First time visitors are completely blown away by the quality of the homes when they see them. People almost expect to still see oil lamps inside!” laughs Gilbert. But the message is a serious one. The family believe that these luxurious, fully furnished, one-level homes could provide a solution to the shortage of easy access bungalows in the area, and also alleviate loneliness in the over 50s, creating an old-fashioned sense of community. “Living on one of our parks is about peace of mind and security,” says Gilbert. “Residents can relax safe in the knowledge that we, as a family, will look after them.”
ABOVE: Indoor play is a vital ingredient to weather proof holiday park appeal. Pic Brean.
Finding the recipe for success on indoor play will reap significant rewards…
The UK’s notoriously unpredictable weather means that indoor play facilities can be a real get out of a jail card for holiday parks and leisure venues. Whether it’s a soft play zone or an adventure course, parks that offer exciting indoor entertainment are sure to stand out from the crowd. The unpredictability of our country’s weather, coupled with the limited activities that are available to children indoors, means that soft play centres play a massive role in attracting customers to a venue. Of course, retaining those customers is a different challenge. This can be achieved by providing good customer service and a warm and inviting environment. Offering good range of quality food and refreshments is also a must. Based in South Yorkshire, House of Play provides a consultancy, design, manufacture, installation and after service package for all aspects of soft play. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry, the company is the only soft play equipment manufacturer in the UK to both own and operate a soft play facility – giving them a unique insight into the operational aspects from a management point of view. “The biggest issue we see in the holiday park sector is the lack of maintenance on the play equipment or the lack of servicing by competent, trusted suppliers. Our advice is that you have made the big investment, now protect it,” advises Shaun. House of Play suggest that regular routine maintenance of play equipment should be performed to ensure that minor issues can be dealt with whilst they are minor, and to keep the yearly costs down to a minimum. As a rule of thumb, a minimum of six maintenance visits per month are recommended by House of Play, plus a daily cleaning routine and they also suggest refreshing the equipment every five years to keep it current. Shaun explains: “Ongoing maintenance for play equipment does not cost very much but it will protect your investment and prolong its lifespan. Plus it doesn’t matter who installed the equipment originally - we can still service it for customers. “Similarly, the refreshers do not need to cost the earth and we can work with customers to deliver very cost effective solutions and maximise impact.” Generally price points are dependent upon the scale of the play area, the location of the site and the offering as a whole. Shaun adds: “The majority of holiday parks that install small token play areas don’t tend to charge directly for the use of the play equipment. The larger sites can charge anything between £1 and £5 for admission and then of course there is the secondary spend in the café. “Ultimately, the scale and offering as a whole needs to be right if you are to maximise your profit potential.”
CLEAR VISION
Brean Play has managed to get the balance just right, with a typical site in Brean Leisure Park in Somerset. Owned and managed by Holiday Resort Unity, the £2 million soft play attraction provides another reason for guests to visit the leisure park for the day, or to come for a holiday and stay at the resort. “Since we opened we have seen a lot of customers using the play centre on a regular basis,” says park director Kieran Spottiswoode. “We offer an annual membership scheme and this has proved popular, and we also offer a number of birthday party packages as we have 5 party rooms on the mezzanine floor. The soft play equipment for Brean Play was supplied by Cheer Europe and features three distinct areas for babies, toddlers and children up to the age of 11 with a large play frame, slides, trampolines, and a cannon ball zone. The Mezzanine floor also features five party rooms available for hire all year round. Kieran comments: “Before undertaking any new soft play project, it’s important to do your research. Be clear on what you want to offer and what age groups you are offering it to. It’s also worth looking at other operators, visit their facilities, talk to them about what works for them and what doesn’t. “It’s easy to get carried away with what other people or the suppliers say, but if you have done your research correctly you’ll be fine – stick to your vision.” Kieran also advises other holiday parks to look at the bigger picture and think about other aspects that will add to the play offering. Allowing a large enough area for spectator seating and tables is crucial, as is getting the food and beverage options right. Brean Play offer a varied menu in the cafeteria, and brew Starbucks coffee and frappuccinos. “Take your time, don’t rush the design phase. Getting this bit right is key to the whole project. We got two companies to pitch for the project initially but from the first time we sat down with the team from Cheer Europe there was a good understanding between us, which helped push the creativity forward.”
ABOVE: A vast choice of accommodation available through Shorefield Holidays includes hot tubs lodges.
Visitors to Shorefield Holidays are spoilt for choice…
With an estimated £31 million impact in the local community and over £4.4 million spent annually with local business and suppliers, Shorefield Holidays is influential family-run business within the Dorset and New Forest areas where its eight parks are situated. “As a company we have a huge focus on sourcing locally, whether it be for fresh local produce to use in our restaurants or even our luxury holiday homes,” says Simon Pollock, Chairman and Managing Director. “One of our key suppliers for the ownership side of our business is Regal Holiday Homes, based in Wareham, Dorset,” Simon explains. “We do also make sure we are always up to date with a range of different suppliers and manufacturers, to ensure we’re choosing the very best for our guests and owners.” Shorefield Holidays was founded in 1958 when Dr Robert Pollock, the company’s founder, was unable to find an available pitch for his touring caravan.
EVERYTHING COVERED
He loved the area and regularly holidayed on the south coast with his family, however after finding that there was nowhere to stay, he bought a small caravan park next to a worked-out gravel pit…and so the company roots were formed! To this day, Shorefield Holidays is proud to still be family-run, with family remaining at the core of everything they do. Shorefield Holidays now boasts eight beautifully landscaped parks in Dorset and the New Forest, each with their own unique selling points and charm. Whether you’re looking for somewhere filled with entertainment and family fun, or a luxury retreat in peaceful surroundings, our parks cover everything. The sites offer a wide range of amenities but their proximity to both the picturesque New Forest and stunning local beaches offer a unique location from which to explore the very best of the south coast. Within minutes of leaving the park, you have some of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes and idyllic walks just waiting to be discovered. This, coupled with our family values and warm welcome, is what keeps our guests returning year after year. You’re spoilt for choice on accommodation types and facilities across our parks, meaning there’s sure to be something to suit everyone. Families enjoy a range of caravan options, which we are constantly updating. This means that much of our caravan accommodation is no more than a few years old – something that really stands out to our guests and helps us to ensure we’re offering the best experience. Simon comments: “For something a little more special, our hot tub retreats are the ideal choice. Whether it’s an idyllic hot tub lodge our guests are looking for or a luxury house for the whole family, we have it all. “What could be better than returning to your accommodation after a day of exploring to enjoy a relaxing soak in the warm, bubbling hot tub? And when our largest house sleeps up to 14 guests, there really is room for everyone! Shorefield Country Park is at the heart of the holiday operator’s story and where the company began. It is also the largest, spanning over 100 acres, and has a range of fantastic facilities on site for all members the family to enjoy. “Our aim is to provide unforgettable family moments and memories that our guests will cherish for a lifetime, whilst minimising our environmental impact when doing so,” says Lesley. “We have implemented a range of CSR initiatives across all our parks - from joining the World Community Grid, enabling our idle computers to help power supercomputers research the likes of cancer cures, to regular beach clean initiatives. “We’ve even won multiple David Bellamy Conservation Awards in the process, something we’re extremely proud to be doing.”
ABOVE: The regular timetable of offerings inclue Go Active Activities at the company’s Oakdene Forest Park resort.
STAFF TEAM
Currently, the three family directors working alongside Simon include Sara Bertin as Finance Director and Lesley Lawrence as Marketing Director while Andy Bowden and Paula Curtis fill the roles of ICT Director and Company Accountant and Director respectively. The company recognises that its outstanding staff team are a huge factor behind its success, which is why they invest significantly in training, development and even awards nights to show our appreciation to our outstanding teams across all our parks. “Our stand out feature would have to be our highly skilled staff who regularly go the extra mile for our guests,” says Lesley. “We’re proud to say that many of our fantastic employees have been with us for more than 10 years and without them we would not be anywhere near as successful as we are today
KEY CHALLENGE
ABOVE: Shorefield Holidays are set on the stunning south coast with great beaches nearby.
A key challenge is ensuring a new guest experience and keeping guest retention high. As a business we are always looking for ways to refresh our offering for repeat holidaymakers, who are often our most loyal guests. Each year we invest significantly in new accommodation, ensuring we have the very best to offer our guests, in addition to introducing a range of new facilities and entertainment. We have some exciting plans in the pipeline for the coming year, which form just part of this strategy. Shorefield Holidays are extremely excited to be introducing luxury treehouse accommodation to our Milford-on-Sea park in 2020. Says Simon: “This investment encompasses our aim to continually grow and develop our guest experience.” He continues: “The stunning three-bedroom properties, situated in a secluded woodland area of the park, will offer a truly unique experience and even have their own private hot tub. “We are also looking to expand our portfolio in the coming years through the acquisition of new holiday parks along the South Coast.”
ABOVE: In 2002, John passed the baton of Hoburne to chairman to his daughter, Rosie Kennar both pictured here.
Former chairman and non-executive director of the Hoburne Group, John Burry, has died at the age of 88. A strong man with a gentle heart, John had a huge influence on many people’s lives and was an inspiration to everyone at Hoburne and the wider tourism industry.
John was chairman of the Hoburne Group for 38 years, during which time, he not only grew the holiday park business, but he presided over the continuing success of the property and development arm as well. Golf courses were acquired, and hundreds of houses built under the Hoburne Development brand. Industrial and retail units, along with offices, were also constructed. John took on several distinguished roles. He was chairman of the National Caravan Council during the 70s, where he played a key part in the fight to improve standards in services within the industry. He served as Official Verderer of the New Forest from 1993 to 1999 for which he was awarded an MBE and in December 1994, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire. John grew the holiday business by acquiring a further six stunning holiday park locations, but he presided over the continuing success of Hoburne Development until he passed the baton of chairman to his daughter, Rosie Kennar, in 2002.
Today, Hoburne owns eight holiday parks across the south and south west of England, plus three golf clubs under the Hoburne Golf brand and a residential and commercial development operation under Hoburne Development. Established in 1912 in Dorset, the family business is now in its fifth generation of the Burry family, creating one of the south’s largest and most successful family-owned tourism companies. John’s support for numerous organisations, charities, and individuals, extended beyond practical input where his expertise and wisdom were always highly valued. Through the Burry Charitable Trust, donations totalling around £1.75 million to date have been made to numerous organisations, and these were often given anonymously because John found it embarrassing to be thanked.
Awash with hot tubs, the UK’s only dedicated water leisure exhibition, SPATEX 2020, takes place from Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th January at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. For those looking to invest in hot tubs or swimming pools, the event is a must-attend event, with many exhibitors under one roof, including a vast choice of spa companies. SPATEX hosts a double programme of free seminars and workshops on all three days to help you hone water leisure skills.
Check out the website at www.spatex.co.uk to find out more and to register for free attendance.
ABOVE: Butlin’s Bognor Regis water complex has been named Holiday Park Pool Of The Year 2019.
The Art Deco influenced pool building represents a £40m water leisure investment staffed by a 48-strong daily team. The only pool in the world that has a Helter-Skelter, the pool centre also features a wave pool with themed music that has a Pool Party with DJ on every Peak Break!
Butlin’s seaside-themed, Bognor Regis swimming complex, has scooped the title of Holiday Park Pool Of The Year for 2019, in the recent UK Pool & Spa Awards.
A Lido Pool with beach huts allows bathers to relax and unwind with, another feature, a Stick of Rock designed slide that is 26m from top to bottom. All the slides joined together measure a combined total of 478 metres. A 12 metre high Adrenaline Flume with weather effect light strips throughout its journey while a family raft ride accommodates up to three people at a time. Jon Hendry-Pickup, Butlin’s Managing Director said: “The pool has already thousands of our guests have been able to combine fun, thrills, waves and flumes.
“Feedback so far has been glowing and justifies the time spent listening to our guests so that we delivered what they want and need,” he said, adding: “Our aim was to create an experience that takes our Bognor resort to a whole new level and ensures we continue to be at the forefront of British family breaks. We believe we’ve done exactly that.” Part of Bourne Leisure Ltd which also owns Warner Leisure Hotels and Haven Holidays, Butlin’s has three beach side resorts, Bognor Regis (West Sussex), Minehead (Somerset) and Skegness (Lincolnshire) and welcomes around 1.5m guests annually.
