UK Holiday

Gold Rush For Staffordshire Park

Posted on March 7, 2017

Gold Rush For Staffordshire Park

Adam Breakspeare proudly shows the gold award his family’s park has earned for its quality standards.

Adam Breakspeare proudly shows the gold award his family’s park has earned for its quality standards.

The owners of Oakland Holiday Park in Staffordshire are celebrating after the park won the overall gold award in the holiday parks category at the recent Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards. It is the second year in succession that Oakland Holiday Park has scooped the top title. The presentation to the Breakspeare family, which has owned the park for more than 30 years, was made at a glittering ceremony at the Alton Towers Conference Centre.

The park provides luxury caravan holiday homes for private owners, and is also just completing a major refurbishment of its self-catering chalets which are available to rent. The park’s clubhouse has also been given a full makeover this winter, and will be ready to welcome holidaymakers when the park re-opens for the season in March. Partner Adam Breakspeare commented: “Our aim is to provide firstclass surroundings for visitors, and to match these with a high standard of hospitality – both are often mentioned by in our online reviews.

“They are also two of the main criteria in the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards, so naturally we are delighted that the judges were impressed with what we’ve achieved.” He added: “A big share of the credit must go to our team of staff who help us maintain our high standards, and do a great job of making our guests feel at home.”

Park Expansion

Posted on March 7, 2017

Park Expansion

Tingdene is expanding Bedwell Park in Cambridgeshire

Tingdene is expanding Bedwell Park in Cambridgeshire

Tingdene Parks is expanding one of its Cambridgeshire park home sites with the addition of new plots. Bedwell Park in Witchford is about to see the launch of seven plots on what is already one of the county’s most sort after park home estates exclusively designed for the over 45’s. Works have already commenced to accommodate a mixture of ready to move into homes and vacant plots for customers to design and furnish to their own specification.

The homes which are built to the latest energy saving standards provide low maintenance and can be designed and built to individual specifications, with over 100 floorplans and ideas to choose from. Each home also comes as a turnkey package, to include carpets, curtains beds, kitchen appliances, sofas and chairs providing the opportunity for that truly fresh start in life. By choosing to downsize and move on to these private residential estates has meant that owners have been able to release equity from their previous property, leaving some money in the bank allowing them the opportunity to truly enjoy life.

Diary Dates

Posted on March 7, 2017

Diary Dates

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show returns to Stoneleigh Park from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th June.

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show returns to Stoneleigh Park from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th June.

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show returns to Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire this summer and will once again showcase the latest designs from some of the UK’s leading lodge and park home manufacturers. Taking place from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th June and with a special trade preview day on Thursday 8th, The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show will have over 50 lodges on display, plus a vast array of other products and services for the park home sector.

Manufacturers confirmed for the 2017 edition include Pathfinder, Manor, Oakgrove, Prestige & Homeseeker, Lodgikol, Pemberton, Tingdene, Sovereign, Stately-Albion, and Phoenix Lodges. A number of both residential and holiday parks will also be represented at the show such as Darwin Holiday & Leisure Resorts, Lakeland Leisure Estates, Berkeley Parks, Haulfryn Group, Kerdene, John Roman Homes, Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Laird Estates Group and Birch’s Park Homes. As always, entry to the show is free and there is free parking on site. The show opens daily at 10am and dogs are allowed but must be kept on leads at all times.

For more information visit www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk.

Matlock Park Gets £1Million Makeover

Posted on March 7, 2017

Matlock Park Gets £1Million Makeover

Haytop Country Park will feature a number of luxury lodge homes.

Haytop Country Park will feature a number of luxury lodge homes.

Residential and luxury lodge park operator, Countrywide Park Homes is investing £1 million into a new development on Haytop Country Park in Matlock, Derbyshire. This is the 15th park to be added to the Countrywide Park Homes portfolio and will see the addition of a number of new luxury lodge homes while retaining its current camping and touring caravan area. The on-site mill house that has survived two World Wars will be renovated into a farmhouse-style tearoom, shop and residents lounge.

The new development is set to attract prospective homeowners from across the country and boost the local economy with the influx of new visitors to the park. Jonathan Harvey a Partner at Countrywide Park Homes said: “We are investing a lot of money in to the park and hope to create luxury affordable homes, whilst also maintaining the history and beauty of the park.” This is one of the first in a line of luxury lodge parks to be developed by Countrywide Park Homes, following the success of Malton Grange Country Park in Yorkshire. Jonathan added: “I’m thrilled to be expanding our portfolio of parks, and am especially excited about this new addition. Surrounded by the beautiful countryside and picturesque towns, the new homes will be the perfect place to make some lifelong memories with your loved ones.”

Recruitment Drive

Posted on March 7, 2017
A major regional recruitment drive has been launched by Shorefield Holidays, a leading tourism business with holiday parks in Hampshire and Dorset.

A major regional recruitment drive has been launched by Shorefield Holidays, a leading tourism business with holiday parks in Hampshire and Dorset.

Recruitment Drive

Shorefield Holidays has launched a major regional recruitment drive to enable further growth of the holiday business. Shorefield, which runs six holiday parks across Hampshire and Dorset, employs more than 250 full-time staff and contributes more than £27m every year to the local economy.

In recent years Shorefield has seen significant growth across its parks, both for holidays and holiday home ownership. Managing Director Simon Pollock explained that with the impact of the staycation trend, and the increased cost of holidaying abroad following Brexit, they are anticipating this growth will continue.

“We are proud of our staff training and development programmes, and especially of our team, many of whom come from the local area. We are an Investor in People and especially want to foster local talent,” said Simon.

Changes to Smart Card Hook-Ups

Posted on March 7, 2017

Changes to Smart Card Hook-Ups

October 2016 saw changes to the regulations relating to kWh metering of caravan hook-ups, making it mandatory for all meters installed after this date to have full MID approval. As a result of this regulation change, Rolec Services, one of the UK’s leading specialists in caravan electrical distribution and hook-up

All caravan hook-up meters installed after October 2016 must have full MID approval.

All caravan hook-up meters installed after October 2016 must have full MID approval.

systems, has invested heavily in a new range of MID approved Smart Card metered hook-up systems.

Martin Georgeson, Rolec’s Sales Director, commented: “Our range of Smart Card metered hook-ups for both static and touring caravans have proved exceptionally popular and, as a result of this demand, we chose to invest in the design, certification and manufacture of a new range of MID approved Smart Card meters.”

Georgeson continued: “As a result of our investment in developing the MID approved Smart Card meter, and our bulk buying policy, we are able to provide the lowest priced MID approved Smart Card hook-ups in the UK.” In addition to providing Smart Card metered hook-ups, Rolec also supply individual MID approved Smart Card meters and MID approved credit meters for retro-fitting into existing static and touring hook-up units.

Destination GB

Posted on March 7, 2017
Record numbers of international visitors flocked to the UK last year. Pic: VisitEngland / Iain Lewis.

Record numbers of international visitors flocked to the UK last year. Pic: VisitEngland / Iain Lewis.

Destination GB

Record numbers of international tourists are visiting Great Britain and they are spending more too, according to official statistics. The report by the Office of National Statistics shows that in the first nine months of 2016 there were a record-breaking 12.2 million visits to English regions outside London, up 4% compared to the same period in 2015.

Spend by international visitors across England’s regions also set a record during this period, up 2% to £5.9 billion. Wales saw inbound visits increase 12% from January to September last year and in Scotland visitor numbers grew by 4% to 2.2 million - the strongest year to date since 2007.

VisitBritain Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: “Inbound tourism is one of our largest export industries and it is very encouraging to see that growth is being spread right across our nations and regions, demonstrating the industry’s increasing importance as a driver of economic growth and jobs.”

Popular Attraction Invests

Posted on March 7, 2017

Popular Attraction Invests

Tourist attraction Wookey Hole has purchased Bucklegrove Holiday Park. Pictured is Wookey Hole Managing Director Daniel Medley (centre) with representatives from legal firm Stephen Scown.

Tourist attraction Wookey Hole has purchased Bucklegrove Holiday Park. Pictured is Wookey Hole Managing Director Daniel Medley (centre) with representatives from legal firm Stephen Scown.

The famous Somerset tourist attraction Wookey Hole Caves has expanded its business with the purchase of its first holiday park. Wookey Hole Ltd has bought Bucklegrove Holiday Park in the Cheddar Valley in a six figure deal.

The seven acre holiday park comprises 41 static caravans, 125 touring caravan pitches and space for 20 tents. The site also boasts a leisure complex, pool, bar, shop and children’s play area. Daniel Medley, Managing Director of Wookey Hole Ltd said: “When Bucklegrove Holiday Park came onto the market we saw immediately its strategic potential for our business.

The holiday park sector is really buoyant and Bucklegrove’s stunning views across Somerset and great facilities attract thousands of visitors each year.” He added: “We plan to build on this success and develop the site even further over the coming months.”

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.”

Worthy Cause

Posted on March 7, 2017

Worthy Cause

Porth Beach Holiday Park raised over £1,000 months to help fund six-year-old Izzy Pearce’s operation

Porth Beach Holiday Park raised over £1,000 months to help fund six-year-old Izzy Pearce’s operation

Staff and guests at Porth Beach Holiday Park in Newquay have raised £1,000 to help a young girl from Cornwall undergo a pioneering surgical procedure in America. Six-year-old Izzy Pearce suffers from cerebral palsy and is unable to walk properly or stand unaided.

Her parents, Michael and Ursula, learned of the potentially life-changing operation known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) – but discovered it was not available on the NHS and so began a huge fundraising campaign.

Porth Beach Holiday Park made the very first donation on Izzy’s JustGiving page and kick-started the campaign. The family reached their £86,000 target in October - and donations continue to flood in.

All money raised over the target will go towards Izzy’s post-op physiotherapy that she will require over the next few years. Chris Case, Manager at Porth Beach said he was pleased to have helped such a worthy cause.