BARKING BRITAIN

Posted on August 2, 2022

BARKING BRITAIN

A ruff guide to welcoming those furry friends...

COFTON WAS SHORTLISTED in the iTravel Staycation Awards 2020/21 for Dog- friendly Accommodation of the year.

This autumn, Lola, my much-loved three-year-old spaniel, and I, will be undertaking an extended East then West coast tour of England and Scotland, plotting a map of dog- friendly stays to break the journey there and back. We will have plenty of canine company. Thousands of holiday makers will enjoy UK holidays with their furry friends this year. If we have booked carefully, we know we can expect a warm welcome of a comfy bed, fresh towels, and delicious homemade biscuits – and that is just for the dog!

Mapping out our journey, preparation has included basic checks such as rules and regulations per stop, access to dog-friendly areas including restaurants as well as a quick survey of outstanding nearby walks including beaches and coastal walks. Our on-line research offers up plenty of choice. There were more than 3,000 locations willing to accommodate one or two dogs with their human guests. Perhaps not surprisingly, only 172 would take a booking for three dogs and a mere eight locations willing to welcome four of more dogs.

WHY NOT ESTABLISH a link with your local vets to provide guests with holiday advice and information.

BIG BUSINESS
A nation of dog lovers, dog accommodation is big business not overlooked by the industry’s biggest players. For instance, Haven offers mile upon mile of countryside and coastline for visitors to explore just a stone’s throw from their 33 dog-friendly parks. They can offer a list of dog-friendly beaches that will welcome dogs all year round while making its Saver, Bronze and Silver caravans are all accessible for humans and their four-legged friends. When it comes to the best locations for a dog-friendly caravan holiday, the Haven park that stands out is Lincolnshire’s Golden Sands. At Golden Sands, the pooch facilities are second to none.

Equipped with a Bark Yard obstacle course, your Fido doesn’t even need to leave the park to be entertained. Golden Sands is also surrounded by pooch-perfect places to visit, from the Lincolnshire Wolds with its Rolling hills, hidden valleys and gentle streams to Mablethorpe Beach, a nearby paradise with a Blue Flag Award to its name. Multi award-winning holiday park Cofton Holidays has invested £300,000 in four new dog-friendly lodges to cope with record demand for staycations from dog owners. Shortlisted in the iTravel Staycation Awards 2020/21 for Dog-friendly Accommodation of the year, the family-run holiday park, situated close to Dawlish Warren’s Blue Flag Beach, has added to its existing luxury hot-tub lodge collection with four dog-friendly Kingfisher lodges close to the coarse fishing lakes.

COFTON HOLIDAYS has invested £300,000 in four new dog-friendly lodges.

ONLINE SEARCHES
The launch follows research conducted by Cofton which showed that online searches for UK dog-friendly holiday destinations increased by 665% year on year between May 2020 compared with May 2021. Helen Scott, Director of Cofton Holidays, is looking forward to welcoming owners and their dogs to the new lodges, Cofton’s latest investment: “Lockdown has seen a huge rise in dog ownership, and that’s driving unprecedented demand for dog- friendly holidays. “As dog owners ourselves, we know just how important it is to be able to take your dog on holiday with you. That’s why we have gone the extra mile to ensure that Cofton is leading the way in dog-friendly breaks.

The introduction of our new lodges is our latest response and builds on our collection of pet- friendly cottages and holiday homes.” Offering all the creature comforts, the Kingfisher dog-friendly hot tub lodge collection offers two-bedroom lodges from £428 for a four-night mid-week break, £474 for a three-night weekend break, and £651 for a week break. The decking areas are safely enclosed with one gate at the entrance to the lodge and another separating the hot tub area from the outdoor al fresco dining area.

DOG-FRIENDLY VACATIONS are big business and not overlooked by the industry’s biggest players. Pic.Whitehill

Dogs are welcomed with a pet mat, blanket, stainless steel water bowl and food bowl, whilst their owners can look forward to the complimentary hamper filled with local handmade treats. Guests also have access to a dedicated dog exercise field, miles of cycle paths and nature trails that take you through woodland to Dawlish Warren’s dog-friendly beach. Cofton benefits from the added advantage of the Dawlish Countryside Park right on its doorstep where dogs can run free around its circular walks.

With a minimum of research, you can reassure human guests of a warm welcome for them and their pets, by supplying some pre-arrival tips on making their stay as smooth as possible. Don’t bog visitors down with red tape rules but keep essential messages positive. Offer a check list of essentials such as basic equipment and why not establish a link with your local vets to provide guests with emergency contact advice Encourage guests to walk dogs on a lead, on site, and if walking in dim light, to wear an LED collar. Remind them to pick up poo with bags and use the special bins provided. Perhaps you have provided a few in their welcome packs to help out?

DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS are big business which is why thousands of holiday destinations are offering pooch-friendly stays.

POOCH PATROLS
The UK is home to plenty of tail- wagging destinations. So you need to make sure you stand out from the crowd. A pre-season safety check can ensure you are confident of a safe visit and plenty of return visits. Hidden hazards could include certain mushrooms, compost and over- zealous use of weed killers and other environmental control such as rat poison. Pet owners love spending on their pampered pooches. So, don’t forget to add a few dog toys, including balls, to the site shop.

Add a couple of lines of dog food and treats, even a few collars and leads -- not to mention poo bags. For many, having a holiday with their dog is non-negotiable. Not only is Tewkesbury Park a beautiful family owned resort, boasting an exquisite 28 hole golf course and destination spa, offering stylish, comfortable luxury in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, it’s also a pet-friendly retreat offering the paw-fect place for a summer staycation for you and your canine companion to enjoy.

HUMANS AND THEIR CANINE companions can be sure of a warm welcome on Tewkesbury Park’s Bow Wow Breakaway package.

And on top of its already very popular ‘Scrumbles Dog Retreat’ package, Tewkesbury Park is launching a ‘Bow Wow Breakaway’ package, which is suitable for all guests and their pooches. All of Tewkesbury Park’s dog-friendly rooms come complete with a private patio. Double doors open directly onto a grassy patch, which is self-contained so they can snuffle around. Dogs are also welcome in the piano lounge, which means they are able to accompany you while you enjoy a drink or bite to eat.

One small matter of paperwork though; dogs are asked to remain on leads when outside of bedrooms, if only to avoid them chasing after those pesky rogue golf balls. With the Bow Wow Breakaway package, guests can enjoy a luxuriating two-night stay with dinner and a bottle of wine on one night, along with a Cotswolds dog walking booklet from £339 per night, based on two sharing. The tour begins…woof!

: COFTON is reacting to reports that online searches for UK dog-friendly holidays increased by 665% year-on-year.

: DOG-FRIENDLY VACATIONS are big business and not overlooked by the industry’s biggest players. Pic.Whitehill

SWIFT DONATION FOR MACMILLAN

Posted on April 27, 2022

SWIFT DONATION FOR MACMILLAN

SWIFT GROUP Managing Director, James Turner, and some of the Swift team celebrate the company’s latest Macmillan donation.

Macmillan Cancer Support was grateful to receive £30,000 from the Hull-based Swift Group recently. Since 1995, Swift Group has donated to Macmillan through a recycling of goods scheme, whereby damaged or unsellable items are purchased by staff members, with monies coming to charity.

The company has also previously donated to Macmillan by hosting Macmillan Coffee Mornings and ‘dress down’ days. An outstanding £100,000 has been donated in total over the past 27 years. The UK’s largest manufacturer of caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes, as part of the fundraising, eco-friendly scheme, Swift employees have the chance to purchase any kind of redundant or surplus materials from offcuts of wood to slightly imperfect items, like a scratched microwave.

Swift’s Content Marketing Manager, Cheryl Whiten explained: “Pretty much everyone is affected directly or indirectly by someone living with cancer, so everyone here at Team Swift understands the importance and meaning behind this scheme.” Swift’s Managing Director, James Turner added: “It’s an absolute pleasure to support Macmillan’s incredible work.”

ON LOCATION featuring Long Hazel Park

Posted on August 6, 2021

ON LOCATION featuring Long Hazel Park

TOURERS AND CAMPERS can be assured of well spaced pitches on the spacious Park.

GOLD STANDARD
Located in glorious South Somerset, Long Hazel Park has been awarded 4 Pennant Gold from The AA in their most recent Park inspection. This is a first for the park operators Alan and Pamela Walton who have been part of The AA’s prestigious inspection scheme for many years, beginning their journey as a 3 pennant Park in 2005. “Our new groundwork, installation of new fully serviced pitches and shower block upgrade has been influential in our new ranking this year,” explains Alan. “The 4 Pennant Gold accolade puts us in the category of the best of the best of small caravan and camping parks, based on our facilities, grounds and customer experience,” he adds. Open all year, Long Hazel is an adult- only caravan and camping park with ample space for RVs, motorhomes, caravans and tents of all sizes. A new serviced touring caravan and motorhome hardstanding pitches available for 2021 while a shower and toilet block was completed in May this year.

PAMELA AND ALAN WALTON show off their latest award

FULLY ACCESSIBLE
Long Hazel also offers two self- catering holiday lodges providing accommodation for up to four people and are available all year for both long or short breaks. Long Hazel provides one of the only fully wheelchair accessible holiday lodge rentals in Somerset and the South West with their fully adapted Blackforest Lodge. Both holiday lodges have parking directly outside together with decking areas for al fresco dining The lodges have double glazing, are substantially insulated and fully heated for your comfort in all seasons. Fully furnished and equipped, the Park provides duvets, pillows and blankets but ask guests to provide their own bed linen and towels. Free WiFi with HD ready Freeview colour TVs are available in each lodge.

A NEW SERVICED touring caravan and motorhome hardstanding pitches are available this year.

QUALITY SCORE
AA Hotel Services Inspector Chris Pike awarded the Park a 90% Quality Score during the impromptu inspection. Mr Pike noted: “The purpose of this visit was to verify the standards of maintenance and cleanliness were consistent with the Quality Standards requirements. “Extensive work has been carried out in the last two years. The facilities were spotless with detail paid to the cleaning and top-grade fixtures and fittings. “In reading the list of the enhancements to the park, I have no hesitation in recommending Long Hazel Park 4 Pennant Gold status with a quality score of 90%” Alongside their fantastic 4 Pennant Gold achievement, the Park is also celebrating success in this year’s Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards where they have won a Gold Award in the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year category, as well as becoming an award-winner in the Theo Paphitis Small Business awards last month.

“For us, being “green” isn’t a new thing; even our logo reflects how running an eco-friendly business is at the centre of our values,” says Pamela. Over 24 years at Long Hazel Park, the couple have planted over 2000 trees. Since 2019, they have worked on filling planters with plants more suited to tropical weather. Their plants are primarily watered with rainwater collected in large water butts and they use a special built-in, water saving formula in our hanging baskets to ensure that the highest amount of water is absorbed. Pamela again: “In the recent shower block overhaul, we switched to LED lighting throughout and changed over to eco-friendly hand driers to avoid extra paper waste.We have push taps and showers throughout to ensure that taps aren’t left running and our showers and washing areas are clad with recycled plastic.

We used local tradesmen and suppliers to help with our makeover.” “In 2019, they installed environmentally friendly solar panelling and the shower block is now successfully run on solar energy. Any energy not used by us on site is fed back to the National Grid.” Opting for eco-friendly cleaning products throughout the shower block and lodges with custom-scented air fresheners even use natural oils rather than aerosols, theWaltons sell their own eggs on site from their own chickens whose byproducts are used as an eco-friendly fertiliser for our plants. They also use grass cuttings as mulch around the trees and hedges and homemade bird boxes for the trees. Many of our hedges also house insect hotels to ensure sustainable pollination from wild bees with several hedgehog houses hidden away in hedgerows. “A particularly long-lived feature of our park is the recycling system and we are always over the moon when our guests help reduce, reuse and recycle too,” says Pamela who adds: “We are experiencing a wonderfully busy summer season already, bouncing back from closures last year and are enjoying welcoming guests old and new back to Somerset.”

Long Hazel Park
Tel. 01963 440002
www.longhazelpark.co.uk

Magnificent Seven

Posted on April 29, 2019

Magnificent Seven

Less than two miles away from seven of Newquay’s world famous beautiful golden sand beaches, Hendra Holiday Park aims to offer something for everybody. Located in glorious countryside, just outside Newquay in Cornwall, with 80-acres of landscaped parkland, Hendra welcomes approximately 1,000 to over 3,500 people a night during the peak season, in a range of accommodation options, including camping, touring, glamping, holiday homes and lodges. It may come as a surprise to many that for such a large park, Hendra has been owned and operated by the same two families for over 47 years. Hendra was started in 1972 with just camping and touring but grew and grew as time went on and now has over 300 luxury holiday homes of different types, sizes and styles and over 600 pitches ranging from standard grass ones to super ones with water, electricity and cable tv connections. Family holidays are Hendra’s passion. The second and third generations of the Hyatt and May families are both involved with the day-to-day running of the Park and the fourth generation are small children themselves. The families live nearby, and with everything, including administration, located on the Park this makes the day-to- day running of the business very efficient. Hendra’s guests span several generations too, many have been coming to Hendra since they were young children and now bring their children and grandchildren to the park – so they have grown with the business. Hendra is passionate about sustainable tourism and is committed to protecting the Cornish heritage and landscape by making sure providing family holidays has no impact on the environment!

SOLAR FARM
Hendra has its own solar farm, which provides over 70% of electricity to the Park, and two Biomass boilers which heat the Oasis Fun Pool using locally sourced wood chips. Hendra’s commitment to being a sustainable business has been recognised with the Gold Award for Sustainable Tourism at the 2016/17 Cornwall Tourism Awards, building on the ‘Winner of Winners’ award at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards in 2011. Hendra not only has great accommodation and a wonderful location, one of the things that keeps guests coming back are the facilities. The Oasis Fun Pools are one of the main attractions of staying on the park. The indoor pool has a river rapid ride to take your breath away, water cannon and geyser for a real soaking, then get drenched under the giant tap, fountains and waterfalls too.
There are three water flumes, the fast and furious high-speed aqua whiz flume, the exciting wet & wild 265ft super flume, and the fun for all gentle fun slide! There’s a brilliant toddlers’ pool for safe water splashy fun with a slide, squirty creatures, and lots of warm water to splash about in! In the summer months the outdoor pool is open, a perfect place for cooling off, with sun loungers around the pool for relaxing in the sun – bliss! There’s so much to do for kids, so t hey won’t be bored. The indoor play centre Henry’s Play Loft will keep little ones occupied for hours, a skate and scooter park for older kids to enjoy their skateboard or scooter in a safe environment, an outdoor gym, a play park and indoor amusements too. Families love the Hendra Safari Train, which goes around the park each morning. Hendra has a range of dining options, the terrace bar and restaurant is open early until late, and a coffee bar offering hot and cold drinks and snacks. There’s a fish and chip takeaway for a traditional seaside supper, or Mario’s Pizzeria for freshly baked pizzas served in its Italian themed restaurant or as takeaway. Both have outside seating, which overlooks the children’s play area. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Lots of evening entertainment make a night in our Venue cabaret club a must. The evening starts with mascots Henry and Henrietta Hippo entertaining the kids and then the holiday favourite bingo, followed by live acts on stage including comedians, theme nights, variety acts, game shows, bands, karaoke, talents shows, illusionists and more. Hendra has won many accolades, in 2018 alone it scooped AA Platinum Award ‘elite park’ 5 Pennant rating, Gold 5 Star Visit England ‘exceptional’ quality grading, two South West in Bloom Awards, a Gold award for Tourism and Leisure category, The Bruford Cup for Best Horticultural Display, Platinum Loo of the Year Award and the Hoseasons Diamond Award. The awards show the Park's commitment to excellence as a top destination for family holidays.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Hendra chooses a charity each year to raise money for, and guests kindly donating an optional 50p on each booking. This is small change but makes such huge difference and last year, together with collecting tine on the park, raffles and other fund raising events Hendra raised a record-breaking £13,398 for Macmillan Cancer Support. This year the chosen charity is the Alzheimer’s society, which is the UK's leading dementia support and research charity. Another way Hendra’s guests help to make their stay green and sustainable is by ‘freecycling’ a facility provided on the park so they can leave behind unwanted holiday items like beach toys, windbreaks and BBQs at the end of their break for other guests to enjoy. The park actively encourages guest feedback, via surveys, reviews and social media, which is always valued and responded to. It’s vital to continue to make Hendra the holiday destination for future generations too, so it’s important to keep improving, developing and maintaining the Park, whilst being sustainable. It is a challenge, but one that’s relished by owners and staff.

If you would like to be featured please get in touch.

UK’s Top Parks For Happy Campers

Posted on February 9, 2017

UK’s Top Parks For Happy Campers

Castlerigg Hall in Keswick, Cumbria, took the top spot as the Regional Campsite of the Year for the North West.

Vale of Pickering Caravan Park in North Yorkshire has been crowned the Campsite of the Year 2017 at the AA Caravan and Camping Awards. The park beat off stiff competition from 860 sites across the country, which were all visited by the AA’s campsite inspectors to assess the touring pitches, facilities and hospitality.

Each park is graded from one to five pennants, with Gold Pennants awarded to the very best. Since winning an AA regional award in 2013, owners of the Vale of Pickering Caravan Park - Chris and Dianne Stockdale - have continued to invest in the park each year, including a new state-ofthe- art facilities block which has six fully-equipped wet rooms and a dishwashing room. New electric points and a dog wash, with a hot shower were also added to the park this year.

Another notable winner this year was Forest Fields Caravan and Camping Park in Powys, which was named AA Campsite of the Year for Wales. The family-run park, which is located near to Royal Welsh Showground, is popular with families and outdoor adventure groups. The park’s owners - the Barstow family - also has plans to expand the glamping offering in 2017.

Elsewhere in the country Castlerigg Hall in Keswick, Cumbria took the top spot as the Regional Campsite of the Year for the North West. Owned by the Jackson family since 1938, the park provides luxury caravan holiday homes for hire, plus eco-friendly camping pods and pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes. A former farm which began by welcoming campers, Castlerigg Hall is today one of the Lake District’s most highly regarded parks. 2017 also saw the introduction of a new award – The AA Glamping Site of the Year, to celebrate the increasing popularity of glamping. The winner of this brand new award was Durrell Wildlife Camp in Jersey, which is situated in 32 acres of landscaped parkland and water-gardens offers guest the opportunity to stay overnight in stylish Ecopods with unlimited access to some of the rarest wildlife species on earth.

All the winners of this year’s AA Caravan and Camping Awards will appear in the new AA Caravan and Camping Guide 2017.

Crowds Flock To Popular Caravan Events

Posted on November 14, 2016

Crowds Flock To Popular Caravan Events

Thousands of visitors descended on The Lawns and Beaulieu shows this September.

The Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Caravan Manufacturers’ Association (HERCMA) held their annual events at The Lawns and Beaulieu in September attracting thousands of enthusiasts and buyers from across the UK, eager to see the season’s newest models.

There was plenty to see at both shows with over 150 holiday homes, lodges and park homes as well as over 130 touring caravans. In addition to the caravans there were plenty of other suppliers and service stands selling decking, awnings, caravan movers, and insurance, and there was a large accessories shop within The Lawns Centre.

Entertainment at The Lawns saw clowns, face-painters, balloon modellers a local orchestra and a roaming jazz band as well as a small fun-fair. Beaulieu saw face-painters and a magician. Details of next year’s shows at The Lawns and Beaulieu will be released soon.

Visit the website www.lawnsandbeaulieushows.com for more information.

Pick Of Crop On Dorset Organic Farm

Posted on September 19, 2014

East Fleet Farm Touring Park, where guests awake each morning to spectacular views of Chesil Beach, has joined a small elite of the UK’s most exclusive holiday parks.

Pick Of Crop On Dorset Organic Farm

East Fleet Farm Touring Park, near Weymouth in Dorset, is the newest member of the Best of British group which pitches itself at couples and families seeking a truly privileged holiday park experience.

Parks belonging to the consortium are mainly family-owned businesses which have met the group’s membership criteria of providing first-class quality standards and hospitality.

Based at the heart of a 200-acre organic farm and bordered by the picturesque East Fleet Lagoon, a host of awards and delighted customer comments pay tribute to its credentials.

Managed by Richard Stamper and his wife Ali, whose parents have owned the farm since 1986, the park has a special appeal to lovers of natural beauty and wildlife. It provides around 400 pitches for the owners of touring caravans, motorhomes and tents – and, as its guests appreciate, a welcome absence of noisy distractions.

Holiday Snaps: Rod Tucker

Posted on September 19, 2014

Holiday Snaps: Rod Tucker

Rod Tucker is the managing director of Hoburne Ltd and Burry and Knight Ltd, which run seven holiday parks and three golf courses. Rod was previously CEO at Haulfryn Group and was chairman of the National Caravan Council from 2010 to 2012.

How do you see the UK Holiday industry at the moment?

Both the caravan sales and rental markets are buoyant for quality holiday parks. People are booking more breaks last minute and there is a growing trend of families taking more short breaks rather than one long holiday. It’s the same picture with holiday home sales; people are looking to get away at weekends and for shorter mid-week breaks.

What are the main challenges facing the industry?

It comes down to legislation; the VAT on tourism being so much higher in the UK than the rest of Europe penalises British holidaymakers and more red tape doesn’t help any business. Despite assurances from the Government about cutting red tape, it’s not happening.

How have customer expectations changed during your time in the holiday business?

I have been in this industry for 40 years and naturally in that time I have seen huge changes. People want better facilities in the way of swimming pools and gyms and they demand more quality accommodation. Top of the range accommodation at Hoburne gets fully booked very quickly, but even standard caravans have double glazing and central heating now. It’s a far cry from when I started.

If you had to identify one element, what is the most crucial aspect of your business?

Customer service, without a doubt. Hoburne is a family-owned and run business, not venture capitalist-backed, and Holiday Snaps Rod Tucker is the managing director of Hoburne Ltd and Burry and Knight Ltd, which run seven holiday parks and three golf courses. Rod was previously CEO at Haulfryn Group and was chairman of the National Caravan Council from 2010 to 2012. Rod Tucker, Hoburne Holiday Parks has a very loyal customer base. Customer service is at the heart of all we do and our reputation for quality, fairness and value is something we work hard to protect.

What has been your most interesting experience in the industry?

I had a very interesting couple of years as chairman of the National Caravan Council. I got to meet some really interesting people and work with great companies, like Hoburne. I also enjoy upgrading holiday parks, making improvements and introducing better facilities.

What does a typical day in the office for you entail?

There is no such thing. I may be in the office having meetings or I may be out visiting the parks, or our golf courses or housing developments; meeting managers and looking at ways to move the business forward. I am not one for sitting in the office; I like to be out and about.

What is the best piece of business advice you've been given?

Two things; firstly to be honest and frank with everyone. Secondly, to ensure the presentation of the parks is right because you don’t get a second chance to make a great first impression.

Where do you go on holiday?

Outside of this country, I like Greece and Italy, but I love travelling generally, abroad and in the UK. Children are so happy with swimming pools, playgrounds, entertainment and beaches or wide open spaces to play in.

If you would like to be featured within the magazine please get in touch.

Park Resorts Launch Caravan Sales App

Posted on July 3, 2014

Park Resorts new caravan sales App is designed to make buying a caravan as simple as possible for prospective home owners.

Park Resorts Launch Caravan Sales App

Park Resorts has become the first UK holiday park operator to launch an App showcasing all of the current caravans, lodges and chalets for sale on its parks.

The free App is a one-stop shop for people looking to invest in a holiday home, as well as existing home owners.

Users can search for properties by location using a UK map, find parks closest to their current location, or search by model or price range. The App also allows prospective buyers to view details of the facilities at all of Park Resorts 38 parks as well as photo galleries of all of the caravans, lodges and chalets for sale. A useful finance calculator also helps them to work out costs and repayments.

Martin Abrams, head of digital at Park Resorts said: “We know that around a third of visits to the Park Resorts website are now made from tablets or mobile phones and we expect this number to further increase over the coming 12 months.

“Nowadays people want to easily access information when and where it suits them and often on the move. This new user-friendly App is designed to meet the growing demand for people browsing on these devices. This is just the first part of some big changes to our web and mobile offer this year and we’re excited at what lies ahead.”

The App was produced, built and tested by Park Resorts inhouse web team based at its Hemel Hempstead HQ. It is available to download for free from the App Store or Google Play.