Park Holidays UK to roll out major 2026 investment programme
Park Holidays UK has said it will invest millions in hospitality and entertainment at its parks next year. The East Sussex based firm – which is owned by Sun Communities, America’s largest operator of park homes – has unveiled plans for a major investment across its parks in 2026, raising the quality bar to “its highest level yet” according to a group spokesperson. The company, which has a portfolio of more than 50 parks, says the multi-million pound splash will see new or updated swimming pools, leisure centres, spas, entertainment venues, bars, restaurants and children’s activities at a host of its parks. The announcement comes after a year of booming customer demand and holiday home buyers. Park Holidays UK says it is predicting the rise in demand will continue in 2026, with the investment helping to further boost the contribution of its parks to regional economies, creating new job opportunities in the process. Brad May, Chief Marketing Officer at Park Holidays UK, said that the vast majority of guests last year were repeat visitors or coming as a result of a personal recommendation. He said: “Our aim is to deliver unique and exciting holiday experiences, and one way to achieve this is to continually broaden the range of attractions and facilities on offer at our parks. “We are also conscious that families associate us with affordable and fun-packed stays, so our traditional great value pricing policy will remain firmly in place,” said Brad. Among the projects on the drawing board for 2026 is a new indoor pool and leisure complex with a bar, restaurant and children’s playground at Pakefield Holiday Park in the Norfolk Broads. There’s also a new swimming pool coming at Malvern View Holiday Park in Herefordshire, along with a new gymnasium featuring state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Meanwhile, visitors to Bowland Fell Holiday Park near Skipton will also benefit from a new swimming pool at the 130-acre site on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. These and other parks in the group will additionally have new children’s activities introduced, plus new and upgraded facilities for the staging of professional family-friendly entertainment. Parks will also see new restaurants and bars taking shape, many with the spotlight on al-fresco dining and drinking where guests can enjoy all-day outside drinks and food service. Substantial investments last year in in its parks helped win Park Holidays UK Gold accolades in the 2025 British Travel Awards, and a Gold Trusted Service Award from leading review platform Feefo. Investors in People also awarded the company its prestigious Gold accreditation for workplace standards in 2025, highlighting the group’s commitment to developing a culture of customer care. Park Holidays UK currently employs around 2,900 people during the peak season, largely in rural and coastal areas, and provides training for those seeking a career in hospitality. “We are already receiving many advance holiday bookings for 2026 throughout the group, and are looking forward to celebrating our new developments with guests,” said Brad May. There is more information about parks in membership of Park Holidays UK and the group’s planned investments at www.ParkHolidays.com
Trade association boss hits out at tourism levies plan
The British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) has issued a stark warning following the Budget. It has accused the Government of failing to support a sector that underpins regional economies and delivers thousands of jobs across the country. Holiday parks say yesterday’s announcement to allow tourism levies in England is a serious misstep. BH&HPA warns that a new tax on visitors will push up the cost of domestic holidays, deter families already under financial pressure and hit coastal and rural communities that depend heavily on tourism spending. The trade association, representing a sector that generates £12.2 billion in visitor spending, is also dismayed that Ministers have only made minor amends to the proposed changes to Inheritance Tax rules by allowing spousal sharing. BH&HPA – which is set to relaunch as HARPA in January – has cautioned that these proposals place long-standing family-owned parks at real risk, threatening business continuity and the livelihoods they support. Rising employment costs across the industry continue to squeeze operators’ ability to recruit, retain staff and invest in the future. Fully funding the training schemes for young apprentices hired by small and medium enterprises is one small step towards supporting parks operators. Debbie Walker, Director General of BH&HPA, said: “Today’s Budget offers little reassurance for holiday and residential parks businesses that are vital to regional economies. “Yesterday’s decision to allow tourism levies in England is deeply disappointing and risks making domestic holidays less affordable for families at a time when our coastal and rural communities need greater support. “We are equally concerned by the lack of any serious changes on Inheritance Tax proposals, which continue to place family-run parks and the jobs they sustain under real threat. “Rising employment costs are adding further pressure across the industry, constraining parks’ ability to recruit and invest. “We want to work constructively with Government to find solutions that secure growth, protect jobs and ensure the long-term future of this vital industry. Regrettably, the measures announced today fall far short of what is needed.” The BH&HPA is urging the Treasury to begin immediate dialogue with the sector to prevent long-term damage to one of the UK’s most important rural and coastal industries.
Products review – Bosch Universal 18v Leaf Blower and AXT Rapid 2200 Shredder
Is there a more arduous groundskeeping task than clearing up leaves and garden debris? If you’re a park operator it’s got to be done as leaf fall can clog up gulleys, block gutters and damage grass – not to mention the unsightly look of rotting leaves around your grounds. Sure, some satisfaction can be had from creating big piles of leaves, but if the wind picks up or a scurrilous child or pet is passing, all your hard work is undone. So any means of easing the pain of leaf gathering must be welcomed – right? The modern world is constantly inventing labour saving devices and the leaf blower isn’t a new thing. But what is relatively new is the light weight battery powered leaf blower. However, whether you’re a ‘Luddite’ or a fully fledged disciple of the battery revolution, the reality is there are certain things that cordless electric does well and others that old fashioned corded power or petrol power excel at. Below we have tested two products from Bosch to find out if they’re up to the job. The Bosch Universal 18v leaf blower – RRP £134 with battery & charger / £67 tool only. My first impression of the Bosch Universal 18v leaf blower is how small the package is. “How did they fit it in that tiny box?” I said to the bemused delivery man as he unloaded on my doorstep. The item comes in a box no bigger than that of a household kettle. That’s because it is essentially no more than a small motor on a handle with two bits of plastic piping that join together (and a battery of course). Putting it together takes literally five seconds and off you go – providing the battery is charged. A charger is included but a faster one and a bigger battery can be purchased separately Small but mighty? The main advantage of this leaf blower is it is so light – just 1.6kg. In comparison, a higher end rival petrol blower is about 10kg. A quick check of five or six battery powered rivals finds that none are lighter than the Bosch. If you have ever spent some time doing repetitive outdoor tasks you’ll know the weight of the equipment usually starts to bother you sooner than you expected. But with this Bosch Universal leaf blower, it is so light weight that you could use it for hours with absolutely zero arm or shoulder strain. Does small mean gutless? In a word – no! It has just about enough puff to start clearing the mix of wet and dry leaves stuck to my lawn and buried in the flower beds. I’m not sure if I’ve fully got the knack of leaf blowing yet as it seems more like herding cats than the herding of sheep you’d expect it to feel like. My point being, for every few leaves you manage to blow in the right direction it feels like a few blow the wrong way. And one wrong swipe of the arm and you’ve blown them all over the place. Anyway, I digress. In terms of doing what it’s supposed to, this leaf blower hits the mark. Compared with my Ryobi garden vacuum, it is so much easier to use for extended periods without getting pains in your arms, shoulders and back. The Ryobi vac has a carry-strap to mitigate this but I find it pretty useless as it slips off your shoulder very easily. The only way to avoid this is to buy a backpack style leaf blower – which are typically at a higher price point and petrol powered. The Bosch Universal leaf blower has two speeds. Neither is going to blow the local squirrels off their feet – but they are enough for the delicate herding operation referenced earlier. Any more power and you’ll likely be blowing your leaves into your neighbours property, which might not go down well. Fully charged The only caveat to my good impression of the Bosch Universal leaf blower is battery life. The supplied 2.5 amp hours battery lasts just 20 minutes leaving me to turn to a spare 4 amp battery I happened to have to finish the job, clearing a patch of approx 5m2. However, as Bosch is part of the Power For All Alliance, sharing batteries with ten other brands, it is entirely possible that you’ll have that option too. So overall the Bosch 18v Universal Leaf Blower is a decent option for small bouts of leaf collecting or for a medium sized task if you have a spare battery or two. Verdict 4/5 Bosch AXT Rapid 2200 shredder – RRP £297 Meanwhile – Bosch UK also loaned us its mid range garden shredder. While Bosch does make a Universal 2x18v battery powered shredder its lesser power means it can only handle branches up to 25mm. The AXT Rapid is a corded electric shredder with a laser-cut blade capable of shredding challenging loads, including branches up to 40 mm thick. It has a large fast-feed hopper with a practical prodder that allows you to tip a handful of debris in the top and push it down without losing your fingers. Unlike the vastly more expensive AXT 25 TC, it does not come with any kind of collection bin to catch the chippings. It is designed to be towed onto a flower bed or compost area although you could place a small builders bag or bucket under it to catch the debris. The unboxing Much like the leaf blower, the AXT Rapid is very easy to assemble, arriving almost fully built. All that is required is to screw the wheels on the trolley it rests on and then screw the trolley onto it. It is easy to wheel about and turning it on is incredibly obvious thanks to the very large knob on the top. One always feels slightly nervous about operating any device with spinning blades and I must admit to being
Foot golf – the new way to drive revenue to your park
Highlands End Holiday Park in Dorset has hailed the success of its new foot golf course and recommended other parks to consider creating one. The park, near Bridport, launched Dorset Foot Golf in May 2024 and it was an instant hit with thousands of customers flooding in. Marketing chief, James Loveridge, had the idea after visiting other foot golf facilities and enjoying his experience. He said: “Our pitch and putt was just not very well used so I’ve been pushing for it for a few years. “We converted it into an 18 hole foot golf course and have had more than 15,000 visitors since opening. “It brings in 20 times the revenue of the pitch n putt course and has been attracting people staying at other holiday parks and other accommodations in the area, to the park, as well as lots of local residents such as football clubs and other sports teams or groups.” Family appeal James said he was always confident that the conversion would pay off. The park management has created it with a range of features similar to ‘crazy golf’ to boost the appeal to families and children. Data shows 45% of the users so far have been kids. He said: “I knew it was a growing sport and thought our site would be perfect for it. “I think pitch and putt is much harder to play for most people. “Footgolf has much wider appeal and it’s definitely easier for children to do. “The idea was to get visitors up here to see our facilities and the views, and also keep our customers on site. Hopefully this has an impact on future bookings too. “We have been getting a lot of players from other holiday parks and a decent amount from the local community as we leafletted the area, which did help get the word out. “We’ve also got listings out on Visit Dorset website and some paid for Facebook posts advertising it.” The stats The design and build process Dorset Foot Golf, as the course is named, did not require a huge investment. It has been designed in a more playful way than most foot golf courses, which are more akin to traditional golf. James explained: “There’s not been a huge amount to do to convert the pitch n putt. “I designed the course myself and came up with the idea for obstacles and we’ve used our own maintenance team and a range of local tradespeople to design and manufacture the various features on the course, such as ramps, tunnels, hoops, loops, nets and local landmark themed signs. “The only thing that’s come from a national footgolf supplier is the holes and the flagpoles. “The capital cost was fairly low, just a few thousand pounds, and the labour. “The running costs are also minimal as we manage it from our on-site shop. Customers book online and collect their score card and football from the store. “We might staff it next summer to improve customer service but there’s not been any issues at all running it this way.” Advice to other parks “It’s definitely something parks can do quite easily if they’ve got the land,” said James. “My main advice, or if I was to do ours again, is that I would make it a bit smaller. “Ours is on seven acres and I think I could have done it on half that. A lot of our holes are 100 yards long, so if I was doing it again I’d make a lot of them shorter so it’s a bit easier for children. “The other issue to consider is how flat the site is – if it’s too slopey the ball can run away if the grass is short or there’s not enough grass.” http://www.wdlh.co.uk/ All images courtesy Dorset Foot Golf
Grantham’s caravans supports Cancer Research UK with hilarious video
Grantham’s, an award-winning caravan and motorhome dealership and long-standing member of the National Caravan Council (NCC), has launched a bold and light-hearted awareness campaign in support of Cancer Research UK — showing how the leisure industry can use creativity and community engagement to make a meaningful impact. The campaign centres around a witty video that has quickly caught attention across social channels. In the clip, a Grantham’ technician finishes explaining a customer’s completed caravan service, before saying, “Other than that, I think that’s it — unless there’s anything else?”. The customer replies “Actually, you couldn’t take a look at these could you?”, then humorously drops their trousers, implying a “check down below,” prompting the reply: “We just service caravans.” The video concludes with the impactful reminder: “You check your caravan… so why not check yourself?” 🎥 Watch the campaign video Through the Work for Good platform, Grantham’s has said it will donate 10% of all proceeds from caravan and motorhome habitation services directly to Cancer Research UK, funding life- saving research while driving vital health awareness among its customer base. “If it encourages one person to get checked, it’s worth it.” Mitch Brown, Director of Marketing at Grantham’s, said: “We wanted to do something that not only raises funds but starts conversations. The idea behind the video was to take something our customers are familiar with — a caravan service — and use it as a way to highlight the importance of looking after yourself, too.Cancer affects so many people, and if our message encourages even one person to get checked, it’s worth it.” The initiative runs throughout the season, with all donations made transparently through Work for Good, ensuring every contribution goes directly to Cancer Research UK. Championing positive engagement within the leisure industry As a proud NCC member for many years, Grantham’s continues to demonstrate how dealerships can use their platform to promote positive causes while strengthening customer trust and engagement. By combining brand personality with purpose, the dealership shows that creative marketing and social responsibility can go hand-in-hand — helping both the community and the industry’s reputation thrive.
Caravan Guard named Best Caravan Cover Provider at 2025 Insurance Choice Awards
Specialist leisure vehicle insurance provider Caravan Guard has won Best Caravan Cover Provider at the 2025 Insurance Choice Awards, based entirely on customer feedback collected by Smart Money People. This is the second consecutive year that Caravan Guard has taken the title, reinforcing its reputation for specialist expertise, excellent value, and outstanding customer service. The business was also a finalist in three other categories: Best Motorhome Insurance Provider, Customer Service Champion, and Treating Customers Fairly, and remains the highest ranked motorhome insurance provider on the Smart Money People Best motorhome insurance webpage. Its average product review rating is 4.96/5, and it has more than 9,500 reviews, with over 3,500 of those generated in the 2025 voting period. Caravan Guard Partnerships Director, Neil Menzies, said: “We’re extremely proud to be recognised once again by both our customers and the wider industry for delivering outstanding service and specialist insurance products. “Awards like the Insurance Choice Awards really matter because they’re based entirely on genuine customer feedback and from people who’ve experienced our products first-hand. “To receive thousands of votes and maintain an average rating of 4.95 out of 5 shows an exceptional level of customer satisfaction, which in turn gives our partners complete confidence in referring their customers to us. “Winning Best Caravan Cover Provider for the second year running, and during our 30th anniversary year, makes this recognition even more special. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate three decades of ‘insuring freedom’ for our customers.” Jacqueline Dewey, CEO of Smart Money People, “Winning Best Caravan Cover Provider for the second year running reinforces Caravan Guard’s reputation for excellence. Customer reviews regularly commend their clear communication, straightforward insurance process, and excellent value.” Caravan Guard and its sister brand Leisuredays have provided specialist caravan, motorhome and campervan insurance for 30 years serving more than 125,000 customers across the UK. To find out more about how your dealership can earn valuable insurance commission by introducing customers to our team of champions, please email development@caravanguard.co.uk. Park operators can email development@leisuredays.co.uk or visit www.leisuredays.co.uk/operators to find out more about how our team can protect your customers.
Gavin Malone, Founder of Energy Park, selected for the 2025 Meaningful Business 100
Gavin Malone of Energy Park has been named as one of this year’s Meaningful Business 100 (MB100), the annual award programme championing leaders combining profit and purpose to tackle complex social and environmental issues. Evaluated by a panel of expert judges representing organisations like Google, Mastercard, Unilever SAP, Temasek and the World Economic Forum, winners were selected from over 900 nominations, across 86 countries. These outstanding social entrepreneurs, sustainability leaders, Corporate CEOs and impact investors were scored across five key areas: equity, impact, innovation, leadership and scalability. As part of the ongoing MB100 programme, now in its 7th year, winners will gain access to investment opportunities, capacity-building resources, and pro-bono services from a range of leading organisations, including EY, Hogan Lovells, Forster Communications, Green Frontier Capital, Kenya Climate Ventures, and The Portman Estate. They also join the Meaningful Business community – a global network of social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and corporate sustainability leaders. Gavin Malone, Founder and COO of Energy Park said: “It’s an honour to be recognised among so many inspiring leaders who are using business as a force for good. “At Energy Park, we’re passionate about driving fairer, more accessible EV charging solutions for everyone, especially those living in existing apartment buildings, and this award reflects our team’s commitment to creating lasting environmental and social impact.” Commenting on the 2025 MB100, Tom Lytton-Dickie, Founder & CEO, Meaningful Business, said: “Firstly, a big congratulations to Gavin Malone, whose inspiring work at Energy Park demonstrates how combining profit and purpose can tackle complex social and environmental issues. The calibre of this year’s applications was exceptionally high, and we’re honoured to have Gavin join our global community. We are looking forward to supporting their work in the coming years, as they scale their influence and impact.” As one of the MB100 judges, Stasia Mitchell, EY Global Entrepreneurship Leader, added, “Congratulations to the MB100 Class of 2025! These inspiring leaders in social entrepreneurship, sustainability, corporate innovation and impact investing show how entrepreneurial thinking can be truly transformational. “Chosen from over 900 nominations across 86 countries, they are delivering scalable solutions to global challenges by aligning purpose with profit. It was an honour to serve as a judge and see firsthand how they are shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.”
Trex RainEscape drainage system creates valuable under-deck storage space
Trex RainEscape transforms the space beneath an elevated deck into the perfect place for keeping holiday home essentials safe and dry while not in use. Whatever the design or size of a holiday home, functional storage space is always in high demand. For homes, caravans or lodges with an elevated deck, the innovative Trex RainEscape drainage system is the perfect way to turn what is usually dead, unusable space into a flexible area for storing everything from sports equipment to gardening supplies. Trex RainEscape is a network of troughs and downspouts installed above the joists of a deck’s substructure and below the decking boards. The system captures and diverts water away from the deck, creating a space beneath it that stays completely dry and protected from rain and snow, while also preventing moisture damage to the deck substructure. It is compatible with any type of decking material, including composite, timber or PVC, and can be installed on new decks or added to an existing deck during resurfacing before the new deck boards are fastened. Dave Kile, decking expert and owner of the company behind Trex RainEscape, said: “No matter how roomy your holiday lodge is, storage space for the things we tend to keep in a shed or garage when at home is always at a premium. “From keeping outdoor furniture dry and clean when not in use to tucking away bikes, seasonal toys, barbecue equipment or even wood for the firepit, RainEscape creates the ideal space for things you use on or around your deck, or that you want to store during the off-season. “Once it’s been installed, you can customise the space with cabinets, shelves, hooks or storage boxes, or just leave it as it is, safe in the knowledge anything kept there will stay dry and protected from the weather.” Trex RainEscape troughs and downspouts are made from durable polyethylene. Backed by a 25-year warranty, the system is straightforward to fit, with full written instructions provided and videos showing each stage of the installation process available online. Find out more about Trex RainEscape here.
HARPA conference bookings at all time high
The British Holiday and Home Parks Association – soon to be rebranded HARPA – is anticipating the busiest-ever annual conference in its 75-year history in January 2026. The association says that advance bookings are at an all-time high for the two-day event which takes place on the 21st and 22nd of the month. It will be held at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London and will be attended by hundreds of holiday and residential park business from across the UK. Many delegates will also be hosting visits to the conference from their constituency MPs who will be taking time out from the Houses of Parliament opposite the QEII Centre. The event will additionally see the rebranding of BH&HPA to its new identity as the Holiday and Residential Parks Association, or HARPA, as it will be known in the future. The association says that a packed agenda for the conference is now in the final stages of preparation. Guest speakers will include senior political figures plus experts from industry-related organisations and businesses, and high-profile personalities well known from across the media. Running alongside the conference will be a traditionally well-attended exhibition featuring many major suppliers of goods and services to park businesses. The association will also be marking the culmination of its year-long Parks Make Places campaign which has successfully highlighted the benefits brought by parks to their local communities. As ever, the conference will provide plenty of opportunities for members enjoy social get-togethers with colleagues both during and after each days’ business sessions. They will include a banquet on the final night when Devon’s Beverley Holidays director Claire Flower will be formally installed in the role of HARPA’s national chair. Claire will be taking over the position from West Country parks group director Ian James of Coast and Country Parks following his two-year term in office.
