Welsh sites go into Aministration
Is it just a Welsh problem or are there wider issues?
Opportunity for the Club????
peedee
Comments
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Don't see why it's a "Welsh problem". These sort of things happen from time to time.
Not being a user of this type of site I don't really know whether they were popular or not. They seem to be in the right area for tourists. Do you think the club would consider any of these sites?
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It’s a family problem really (and no different from similar ”problems” in other parts of the UK). The three sites are run by a family business which has been operating since 2003, and previously has won awards (if that means anything in the tourist industry). The founder passed away recently. One has to feel a certain sympathy when a family business fails like this. Locally, it is widely reported that the business took out a Covid loan to weather the difficulties and to expand its sites.
I have noticed, with some interest, that over recent years, in our area, there has been a growth in smaller, minimum facility sites and small scale glamping sites. Just a few miles from our village in one direction there is one new very small site, and two in close proximity in the opposite direction, one attached to a farm shop. All three seem to be busy – we drive past frequently. In our village there are 2 fairly new glamping sites with about 5 – 10 units on each. Again, these seem to be popular. Campers seem to enjoy the fire pits, fairy lights, hot tubs, and a generally less formal atmosphere which is a far cry from the large Haven type “parcs” and their entertainment complexes, of which thee are many such in Pembrokeshire.1 -
Thanks for your insight @Not_going_gentle. I am regularly receiving campsite offers in my email box and there has been much talk on the forums about the costs of sites and it being cheaper to take other forms of breaks or go across the Channel where sites are cheaper. So, are UK sites having a hard time and are they struggling to attract visitors? I've not been out for a while but when I was earlier in the year, some sites seem to be doing well, others not so.
peedee
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@peedee It’s difficult to say from observed snapshots. We are “grounded” atm, unable to travel abroad, or very much in this country actually.
Spent 2 weeks (separately, but same site) on a CAMC site in April / May. There were hardly any units there.
We have managed another 10 night break, arriving home a couple of days ago. Two sites we used were full the entire time of our stays - we managed 4 nights on a C&CC site only because of a cancellation. What really surprised me was the availability at Baltic Wharf. We were there for 2 nights and I have never known so many empty pitches.
Costs? Staggering. Just shy of £100 for 2 nights at Steamer Quay and the same again at Baltic Wharf. But as we are so limited, and we wanted a break, I didn’t look at the receipts!
I am not sure that I can draw any meaningful conclusions except maybe to say that rumours of the demise of the C&CC have been greatly exaggerated?2 -
Costs? Staggering. Just shy of £100 for 2 nights at Steamer Quay and the same again at Baltic Wharf. But as we are so limited, and we wanted a break, I didn’t look at the receipts!
Indeed @Not_going_gentle £65.50 for two adults on the final Saturday of its existence is really taking the proverbial.
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Further to this discussion, I read in a local newspaper that all three sites have been sold (The Western Telegraph, article headline "Trio of caravan and lodge sites in Pembrokeshire sold"):
" …. formerly operated by Celtic Holiday Parks, the three sites were sold to separate buyers for prices between £3.2 million and £10 million."
Just thought it might interest the OP.
(I tried to post a link to the article but had a message saying "you have to be a member to post a link". I am a member, and my membership number is in my profile. Not sure what else I need to do. But not unduly bothered as I rarely post.)
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I have to say that we haven’t yet renewed our Club membership. I was looking into it, for a couple of stays at Bolton Abbey, but I was frankly astonished at the prices per night, so we are having a rethink at the moment. There are other options for us, particularly as we only want a couple of nights each time, including pub stops that look nice.
We’ve also booked a break in Edinburgh for three nights at £65 per night in a hotel, and given that the train tickets up there are only £55 return, it’s simply not a sensible option to consider a full days travel there and back versus a three hour train ride, and then head to site at Leith rather than the hotel on Rose Street right where all the stuff we want to see is located. No idea on Club Site prices, but I suspect there’s only something around £15 per night difference, which isn’t worth it to drag out the MH, fill it up, fight it out all day on the A1, have to get into City Centre each day, fill up MH again and spend another day driving home. Food for thought indeed.
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