Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

BIGGER NOT ALWAYS BETTER

Posted on August 2, 2023

BIGGER NOT ALWAYS BETTER

THE TWO CENTRE RESORT Potters tops the Which? holiday park survey

Butlins, Pontins and Center Parcs were all beaten by smaller independents in the Which? annual survey of holiday park destinations published this summer. The consumer group asked 1,355 Which? members and members of the general public to complete an online survey about their experience of recent stays at UK holiday parks and resorts.

Which? rated 18 holiday parks for cleanliness, accommodation, facilities, customer service, entertainment, food and drink, value for money and costs per night. It was the lesser known names that triumphed over their megabrand rivals in the results which were undertaken from April 2022. Only the top performing parks and resorts have been awarded Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) status.

Respectable marks were attributed to Center Parcs at 72% and Butlins with 71% but Pontin’s could only manage 59% based on reviews of ‘grotty chalets’ and ‘lacklustre’ entertainment. First and second-placed Potters Resorts and Waterside Holiday Group, are both family-run brands that have been in the business for decades. They scored five stars in every category, including customer service and value for money.

Operating for over 100 years, Potters was opened by founder Herbert Potter after he won £500 in a competition. With all-inclusive resorts in Norfolk and Essex, Potters scored top marks with an impressive overall score of 88%. More a resort than a park, accommodation at Potters is in bungalows, hotel rooms and suites. Nudged into second spot with 87%, the small regional brand, Waterside Holiday Group has four luxurious parks, three in Dorset, one in Cornwall.

INDEPENDENTS like Fowlers scored highly in the Which? survey

Their caravans are as classy as they come – at least 3.6 metres wide, with central heating and double glazing, plus fully equipped kitchens and widescreen TVs. Or you can glamp in a safari lodge with a private hot tub. Unlike Potters, Waterside does not offer an all-inclusive rate, meaning visitors pay extra on top to dine at its beachfront bars or restaurants.

A close third, Bluestone Wales attracted a customer score of 81%. Founder William McNamara originally opened up his dairy farm to guests in the 1980s when milk quotas threatened his livelihood. Today this single five-star resort has expanded to a sprawling 500 acres, where rolling countryside meets rugged coastline within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Scoring 78% in fourth spot, John Fowler began in 1953 as one caravan in a field but has expanded to 11 coastal locations across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, with a wide range of accommodations and prices. Like many independents, John Fowler Holidays stood out for its customer service – rated five stars with the Which? verdict: “It’s cheaper than Pontins and about the same price as Butlin’s, but better than both.”

A Hidden Gem

Posted on November 28, 2014
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Situated in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, guests use Bluestone as a base to explore the surrounding countryside and coast.

A Hidden Gem

One of Wales’ best-kept secrets, Bluestone National Park Resort lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, next to the Preseli mountains.

Accredited with a five star rating by Visit Wales, Bluestone is an all year, all weather short break holiday destination offering freerange fun and relaxation for its guests.

Bluestone opened in July 2008 and has nearly 300 luxury lodges, cottages and studio apartments, designed in the traditional Welsh style and set in 500 acres of countryside. The park has plans to expand with a further 60 luxury lodges in the near future, as part of a third phase expansion.

“Our ultimate goal is to be the UK’s most loved short break destination,” says Bluestone’s CEO William McNamara. “At the moment we’re one of Wales’ best-kept secrets so one of the biggest challenges we face is ensuring that we are consistently spreading the word about Bluestone and all it has to offer.”

With over 100 activities for guests to choose from, Bluestone has got every angle covered - from 4x4 adventures and beast hunts for the adventurous holidaymaker, to relaxing spa treatments and live music sessions for those that prefer a more chilled-out break. One of the park’s most popular attractions is the Blue Lagoon waterpark, which features an indoor wave machine, a rapids river ride and two enclosed flume rides. The lazy river exits the building to an outdoor bubble pool, with two interactive wet play areas.

Earlier this year the park also introduced a range of new activities and facilities to further enhance the guest experience, including a sky wire zip course, rock climbing and a new village treehouse and play area.

William explains: “There’s no typical break at Bluestone. It’s all about giving the guests choices, while urging them to find their ‘wild thing’. Whether its families wanting to get together, couples wanting a romantic escape, or guests just simply wanting to get away and do something different - we cater for all.”

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