Sandy Balls Holiday Village

£10 Million Investment

Posted on November 5, 2018

10 Million Investment£10 Million Investment

UK holiday park operator Away Resorts is investing £10 million into creating and landscaping a new development of 108 new accommodation units in its woodland retreat of Sandy Balls Holiday Village in the New Forest, continuing the evolution of this famous UK holiday destination. The new accommodation will be a combination of cottage-style lodges and new treehouse-inspired accommodation, many of which will have car-charging points, and will be able to sleep up to eight guests. The development will have landscaping that is native to the New Forest and will also feature new additions such as mini kitchen gardens that could be used for educational purposes. It is estimated that half of the new development will be ready by Easter next year with the remaining holiday homes welcoming guests by Whitsun. The new investment comes hot on the heels of a £1 million investment into The Zen, which is exclusive accommodation to Sandy Balls. It is an innovative type of holiday home designed to be calm, relaxing and simply a perfect space to chill out with friends and family in the woodland retreat of Sandy Balls Away Resorts has also made significant investment in facilities at Sandy Balls, spending £400,000 earlier this year on rebranding and re-launching Aubrey’s Forest Kitchen, giving it a new look inspired by its forest sitting with restyled seating in the restaurant, a new bar area and a new outdoor dining space and a Starbucks coffee offer. The restaurant’s name pays homage to one of the original founders of Sandy Balls, Aubrey Westlake.

Carry On Glamping

Posted on March 19, 2018

Carry On Glamping

Visitors can escape to an idyllic glamping retreat in a secluded beachy area of Cornwall courtesy of Melody Farm.

Visitors can escape to an idyllic glamping retreat in a secluded beachy area of Cornwall courtesy of Melody Farm.

Award-winning sites in the annual camping and glamping awards ....

Good work deserves recognition and each of the award winning sites in the 2017 Campsites.co.uk camping and glamping awards has offered something above and beyond to their guests. We bring you the sites that offered guests something extra special in 2017. The judges cherry-picked the very best glamping sites, the campsites that welcome four legged friends with open arms, and much, much more besides.. It’s high time to say thanks and give credit where it’s due, so well done to all the winners - and here’s to more of the same in 2018!

POPULAR CHOICE AWARD

When it comes to camping, the overall experience matters for a boost that will stay with you long after you return to daily life. The chosen sites were not only immensely popular on the website, but also generated a buzz from their happy campers.

WINNER: Park Cliffe, Cumbria Set in gorgeous countryside just a short distance from Lake Windermere’s eastern shore, this park offers gorgeous fell-side pitches and range of quality glamping options. With locally sourced delicious dishes in its restaurant, a dog-friendly bar terrace and the undeniable luxury of private bathrooms for hire, Park Cliffe is the perfect base for a tour of the Lakes!

The National Winner in the Popular Choice award category, Park Cliffe is the perfect base for a tour of the Lakes!

The National Winner in the Popular Choice award category, Park Cliffe is the perfect base for a tour of the Lakes!

 

 

REGIONAL WINNERS
South West Winner: Golden Cap Holiday Park, Dorset Commended: Cofton Country Holidays, Devon
South East Winner: Long Meadow Campsite, Hampshire Commended: Aldridge Hill Campsite, Hampshire
West Midlands Winner: Alton, The Star C&CC Site, Staffordshire Commended: Greenway Touring and Glamping Park, Shropshire
East Midlands Winner: Wolds View Touring Park, Lincolnshire Commended: Crowden C & CC Site, Derbyshire
East of England Winner: Searles Leisure Resort, Norfolk Commended: King’s Lynn Caravan and Camping Park, Norfolk
North West Winner: Baystone Bank Farm Campsite, Cumbria Commended: Waterfoot Park, Cumbria
North East Winner: Buckden Camping and Pods, North Yorkshire Commended: York House Caravan Park, North Yorkshire
Scotland Winner: Highfield Holidays, Argyll Commended: Loch Ness Shores C&CC Site, Highlands
Wales Winner: Penrhyn Bay Caravan Park, Anglesey Commended: Fishguard Bay Resort, Pembrokeshire

BEST GLAMPING SITE AWARDS
It’s time to really put the glam in glamping! When holidaymakers book a glamping break, they’re looking for something extra special - the experience factor, a high standard of service, and those allimportant luxury touches that bring your stay to life. These sites deliver the best of the best, so give them a big hand for understanding exactly what makes you tick!

WINNER: Melody Farm Shepherd’s Huts, Cornwall Escape to an idyllic glamping retreat in a secluded beachy area of Cornwall, with these two heart-warming shepherd’s huts for company. Not only can visitors indulge in their own romantic haven, with a double bed, your own en-suite and a rustic kitchen area, you can also make full use of the site’s boutique facilities. Residents be well entertained with a swimming pool, tennis court, state-of-the-art gym and five luscious acres to wander in.

 

Residents can indulge in their own romantic haven complete with a double bed, en-suite and a rustic kitchen area

Residents can indulge in their own romantic haven complete with a double bed, en-suite and a rustic kitchen area

REGIONAL WINNERS

South West: Winner: Caalm Camp, Dorset Commended: Enchanted Valley Yurts, Cornwall
South East Winner: Plush Tents Glamping, West Sussex Commended: Woodside Spa and Glamping, East Sussex
West Midlands Winner: Woodhall Farm, Worcestershire Commended: Canvas and Clover, Worcestershire
East Midlands Winner: Glamp in Style, Lincolnshire Commended: Country Bumpkin Yurts, Northamptonshire
East of England Winner: Happy Days Retro Vacations, Suffolk Commended: Brambells Glamping, Norfolk
North West Winner: Samlesbury Hall Shepherd’s Hut Hamlet, Lancashire Commended: Lantern & Larks Bleasdale, Lancashire
North East Winner: Yurtshire Fountains, North Yorkshire Commended: Camp Katur, North Yorkshire
Scotland Winner: Craighead Howfs, Perthshire Commended: Harvest Moon Holidays, Edinburgh and the Lothians
Wales Winner: Cosy Under Canvas, Powys Commended: Ceridwen Centre, Carmarthenshire

TOP DOG AWARDS
Not much matters more to us Brits than our four-legged friends, and we need their company on holiday just as much as when we’re snuggled at home. These pooch-pampering sites know that dogs are a part of the family, and make sure that they feel like it! From dedicated dog walks, to on-site groomers and pet friendly pods, man’s best friend has never been made more welcome! When you get peckish and head to the site’s restaurant, your four-legged friend is welcome too. And even if you decide to explore on two wheels, you can rent a doggy trailer locally and bring your pooch along for the ride. Talk about a dog’s life!

WINNER: Sandy Balls Holiday Village Sandy Balls Holiday Village in Hampshire has been running for more than 95 years and in that time tens of thousands of guests have enjoyed its superb customer service, luxury facilities, quality accommodation and an abundance of activities in a breath-taking setting. Five-star Sandy Balls has something for everyone, so whether it’s a long weekend, mid-week break or longer, it offers the perfect holiday destination.

Sandy Balls offers a site where pets are recognised as members of the family.

Sandy Balls offers a site where pets are recognised as members of the family.

REGIONAL WINNERS

South West Winner: Portesham Dairy Farm Campsite, Dorset Commended: Deanwood Caravan and Camping, Gloucestershire
South East Winner: Rye Harbour Holiday Park, East Sussex Commended: Long Acres Caravan and Camping Park, Surrey
West Midlands Winner: Poston Mill Park, Herefordshire Commended: The Green Caravan Par k, Shropshire
East Midlands Winner: Cakes and Ale Holiday Park, Suffolk Commended: Old Brick Kilns, Norfolk
East of England Winner: Billing Aquadrome, Northamptonshire Commended: Grace Park, Lincolnshire
North West Winner: Elm Cottage Touring Park, Cheshire Commended: Dalston Hall Holiday Park, Cumbria
North East Winner: Crows Nest Caravan Park, North Yorkshire Commended: Brenda House Touring Caravan Park, East Yorkshire
Scotland Winner: Barnsoul Caravan Park, Dumfries and Galloway Commended: Castlewigg Holiday Park, Dumfries and Galloway
Wales Winner: Graig Wen, Gwynedd Commended: Bryn Gloch Caravan and Camping Park, Gwynedd

MOST UNIQUE SITE AWARD
These sites offer something truly quirky and unique, allowing the visitor to experience the most unusual accommodation ever dreamed of - for memories that last a lifetime.
WINNER: Blackberry Wood, East Sussex
Situated within the South Downs National Park, only 10 miles from Brighton, Blackberry Wood is a truly unique camping and glamping site with private camping glades in a woodland setting, each with their own fire pitch for the essential campfire. Glamping options include a double-decker London bus, a converted Wessex helicopter, a gypsy caravan, an ‘Eco Perch’ log cabin and two incredible treehouses.

Blackberry Wood, East Sussex, caught the judges eye.

Blackberry Wood, East Sussex, caught the judges eye.

Blackberry Wood, offers a unique camping experience.

Blackberry Wood, offers a unique camping experience.

Commended: Glamping Thorpe, Oxfordshire

Commended: Stonehenge Campsite and Glamping Pods, Wiltshire

GREENER SITE AWARD

These environmentally friendly sites are top of the leaderboard when it comes to working in harmony with nature and finding ways to save the planet and preserve our beautiful countryside without diminishing your holiday experience.

WINNER: Wild Boar Wood Campsite, West Sussex

Get away from it all and discover the freedom of wild glamping with a visit to Eco Camp UK’s Wild Boar Wood Campsite. Set in a private five-acre woodland near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, our small off-grid glamping site offers a fantastic option for those looking for glamping near London. The campsite has just nine bell tents tucked away among the trees and opens from April to October. Here, you can enjoy the simpler things in life as you relax around the campfire, enjoy the natural surroundings and make a hobby of waving at steam trains passing on the nearby Bluebell Railway.

 

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Away Resorts Expands Its Portfolio

Posted on March 7, 2017
Sandy Balls Holiday Village has been acquired by Away Resorts. Pictured is Carl Castledine, Chief Executive Officer at Away Resorts

Pictured is Carl Castledine, Chief Executive Officer at Away Resorts

Away Resorts Expands Its Portfolio

UK holiday park operator Away Resorts has acquired the Sandy Balls Holiday Village in the New Forest. It brings the company’s portfolio of parks to six with Sandy Balls joining Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire, Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight, Mersea Island in Essex, Barmouth Bay in Wales and Mill Rythe on Hayling Island. 2016 was a record year for Away Resorts as overall bookings across its parks rose significantly against 2015’s figures.

With the addition of Sandy Balls, the business now has an annual turnover of over £40million, and employs 650 staff across its portfolio of sites. Carl Castledine, Chief Executive Officer at Away Resorts, says: “Over the last eight years, we have built up a strong brand that has really hit the right note with UK holidaymakers.

The demand for affordable UK holidays, particularly short breaks, is strong, and growing, as our record bookings for 2016 have shown. “Sandy Balls complements our strategy of providing our existing customer base with a range of very different types of holidays, avoiding the chainlike feel of our major competitors. We now have parks that meet the needs of a wide variety of guests and with Sandy Balls, we have a park that is forest-based with extensive central facilities.”