Wicksteed Celebrates 150 Years of British Manufacturing
In 2026, Wicksteed proudly marks 150 years of British manufacturing in Digby Street, Kettering. Founded in 1876, Wicksteed has built a legacy of engineering excellence, innovation, and quality UK manufacturing that continues to shape our business today. Our origins lie in pioneering engineering — from manufacturing the world’s first hydraulic hacksaw and inventing a bread slicing and buttering machine, to developing early automatic car gearbox technology. This rich history of British engineering innovation laid the foundations for Wicksteed’s future success. In 1918, Wicksteed entered the world of play – a move that would go on to shape generations of childhoods across the UK and beyond. For more than a century, we have remained dedicated to designing and manufacturing high-quality, safe, inclusive, and imaginative playground equipment. Today, Wicksteed is proud to be recognised as the UK’s leading playground equipment manufacturer, supporting local authorities, councils, schools and communities nationwide. Beyond this milestone, our focus continues to grow. We design and supply steel, timber, inclusive, and bespoke play equipment, drawing on an in-house design team that works closely with local authorities, councils, schools, and holiday parks to create play spaces suited to their specific needs. From standard ranges to fully bespoke schemes, our approach is built on the same engineering foundations that have shaped our work for over a century. Here’s to 150 years of Wicksteed, 150 years of British engineering, and over a century of creating inspiring places to play for generations to come. To find out more, get in touch today for a FREE site visit and consultation. Web: www.wicksteed.co.uk Telephone: 01536 517028 Email: sales@wicksteed.co.uk
How Park Operators Can Extend Accommodation Life Without Diluting the Guest Experience
A holiday lodge doesn’t suddenly become old. Usually, it happens by degrees. The sofa softens, chair legs get knocked, flooring dulls around the entrance and a replacement bedside table appears that’s close to the original finish, but not quite. None of these things is serious on its own. Put them together, though, and guests start to read the accommodation as tired. That’s why I wouldn’t use age alone to decide whether a unit needs replacing. I’d look at what’s making it feel old. In many cases, the structure and much of the fixed furniture still have years left, while a relatively small number of visible, heavily used elements are doing most of the damage to the guest’s perception. Start with the parts guests live with Guests don’t walk into a lodge and assess its lifecycle. They only notice if the seating feels comfortable, whether the dining chairs wobble and whether the furniture looks cared for. A marked table that can be refinished may be worth keeping. A sofa that’s lost its support probably isn’t, even if the fabric still looks respectable. I find it useful to think in terms of impact rather than simply condition. Upholstered seating, flooring, dining furniture and outdoor pieces tend to earn attention because guests use them constantly. Smaller details can have an outsized effect too. Worn handles, damaged edges or a badly repaired drawer can make an otherwise sound kitchen or bedroom feel neglected. One thing I’d be wary of is replacing furniture piece by piece without a wider plan. It solves today’s maintenance problem but can create tomorrow’s design problem. After several seasons, slightly different woods, fabrics and styles begin to accumulate. The lodge still functions, yet it no longer feels intentional. Buy for the third season, not the first week New furniture is easy to like. The more revealing question is how it will look after years of changeovers, cleaning and family use. For that reason, I’d pay close attention to how finishes age, whether upholstery can be cleaned properly and whether individual components can be replaced. Availability matters too. If a chair is damaged three years from now, sourcing something compatible shouldn’t involve redesigning the entire dining area. There’s a balance to strike between durability and commercialness. Selecting something that will last long doesn’t always mean having furniture that looks like it belongs in an office. Guests require warmth, comfort, and a sense that they’re staying somewhere considered. They aren’t looking for somewhere designed purely to survive heavy use. Think of refurbishment as an ongoing cycle The most effective approach, in my view, is to refurbish before an entire range starts looking tired. Units can be reviewed in phases, with investment directed towards the areas beginning to affect comfort or visual consistency. Done properly, this isn’t about keeping old accommodation alive at any cost. It’s about extending the period in which a lodge still feels fresh enough to photograph well, command the intended rate and, most importantly, feel good to stay in. That’s the lifespan I’d focus on. Web: https://www.chadwick-design.com/
Is Ageing Accommodation Quietly Limiting Your Park’s Earning Potential?
For many holiday park operators, the question isn’t whether their existing accommodation is still usable. It’s whether it’s still working hard enough for the business. Older static caravans may continue to generate bookings, but guest expectations have changed. Today’s holidaymakers increasingly expect modern interiors, comfortable year-round accommodation and the kind of experience that feels noticeably different from staying at home. For park operators, that creates an interesting question: could upgrading selected pitches to premium lodge accommodation increase the earning potential of the space you already have? More Revenue Without More Pitches Increasing revenue doesn’t necessarily mean expanding a park or adding more pitches. One option is to look at the value being generated by each existing pitch. Premium lodge accommodation can give operators the opportunity to attract guests looking for a higher-quality stay, command stronger nightly rates and broaden the appeal of their park. Rather than replacing every unit at once, selected pitches can be upgraded as part of a gradual investment programme, allowing operators to introduce a more premium tier of accommodation alongside their existing offering. Guests Are Buying the Experience The accommodation itself has become an increasingly important part of a UK break. Space, privacy, attractive interiors and year-round comfort can all influence where guests choose to stay – and what they’re prepared to pay.That means the difference between an ageing caravan and a contemporary lodge isn’t simply cosmetic. A premium lodge can become part of the reason somebody chooses a particular park in the first place.For operators competing in a busy UK staycation market, better accommodation can also help differentiate a park from competitors offering very similar locations and facilities. Introducing the S70 Executive Eco Lodge The S70 Executive Eco Lodge offers park operators a contemporary alternative for upgrading existing holiday accommodation. Designed to create a spacious, high-quality guest environment, the S70 combines modern architectural styling with comfortable living spaces suitable for year-round use. For operators, the important question isn’t simply what a new lodge costs. It’s what that investment could allow an existing pitch to generate over its working life. That is why Lifestyle Eco Lodges encourages operators considering an upgrade to look at the wider commercial picture: potential nightly rate, achievable occupancy, revenue per pitch and the long-term value of investing in higher-quality accommodation. Start With the Numbers Every holiday park is different. Location, seasonality, existing accommodation, guest profile and local competition all influence achievable rates and occupancy. Before investing, operators should therefore look carefully at their own figures rather than relying on generic projections. What does an existing unit currently earn? What nightly rate could realistically be achieved with premium accommodation? Would a higher-quality unit extend the booking season or appeal to a different type of guest? And how would the investment perform over several years rather than simply looking at the initial purchase price? These are the conversations worth having before choosing any new accommodation. Planning Your Next Accommodation Upgrade Lifestyle Eco Lodges supplies premium modular eco lodges for holiday parks and accommodation businesses across the UK. Its S70 Executive Eco Lodge is aimed at operators considering how modern lodge accommodation could improve guest experience and increase the commercial potential of existing pitches. Lifestyle has created a free S70 Holiday Park Upgrade Pack for operators currently reviewing their accommodation strategy. The pack includes lodge specifications, revenue-per-pitch examples, an installation overview, production information and current pricing, giving operators a straightforward starting point for assessing whether the S70 could work for their park. For more information or to request the S70 Holiday Park Upgrade Pack, visit Lifestyle Eco Lodges online or contact the team directly. Contact Lifestyle Eco Lodges Europe LtdWebsite: https://www.lifestyleecolodges.homes/s70-executive-suite-eco-lodgeEmail: sales@lel.homesTelephone: +44 (0)7525 852169
The Holiday Park Awards – a new platform to celebrate the very best of the UK holiday park industry
Entries for the inaugural Holiday Park Awards open this September, creating a new independent platform to recognise excellence, share best practice and bring the sector together. By Melanie Brook MCIM, Founder of the Holiday Park Awards The UK holiday park industry has plenty to be proud of. Independent and family-owned parks sit alongside larger groups, supported by specialist suppliers, advisers and service providers. Together, they create memorable holidays, careers and significant value for local communities. Much of the work behind that success happens quietly. Teams solve problems, improve guest experiences, invest in their parks and raise standards every day, often without recognition beyond their own businesses. The Holiday Park Awards has been created to change that. Launching this autumn, the new awards programme will provide an independent platform dedicated specifically to the UK holiday park sector. Its purpose is straightforward: to celebrate excellence, encourage the sharing of good practice and strengthen connections across an industry built on long-term relationships and trust. Recognition with a wider purpose The awards are designed to recognise the people, parks, teams and businesses making a positive difference across the sector. That includes the achievements visitors see, such as exceptional customer experiences and high-quality facilities, as well as the less visible work taking place behind the scenes in leadership, marketing, operations, sustainability, accessibility and team development. The ambition extends beyond one evening. The Holiday Park Awards will become the flagship of a year-round platform focused on three ideas: celebrate, educate and collaborate. Recognition matters, but so do opportunities for operators and suppliers to learn from one another, build relationships and support the sector’s development. Independence will sit at the heart of the programme. In an increasingly competitive market, and at a time when the reputation of the wider sector can sometimes be affected by the actions of a minority, credible recognition has real value. The awards will highlight businesses that are investing in their customers, their teams and their communities, while encouraging the transparency and high standards that help build public confidence. The idea grew from conversations with people working across the industry. Again and again, the same themes emerged: operators wanted recognition that understood the particular realities of running a holiday park, suppliers wanted meaningful ways to support their customers, and teams deserved an opportunity to see their work celebrated on a national stage. That feedback has helped shape a programme rooted in the sector itself, rather than one borrowed from wider hospitality. Key dates for the inaugural awards Entries will officially open on 22 September 2026, giving holiday parks and industry businesses the opportunity to put forward their achievements from the past year. Entries will close on 20 November 2026. Judging will take place throughout December 2026 and January 2027, followed by final deliberations. Finalists will be announced in mid-February 2027. The programme will culminate in the inaugural Holiday Park Awards ceremony at Sandy Park in Exeter on 22 April 2027. The evening will bring together park owners, operators, managers, teams and suppliers from across the country for a celebration of the people and organisations moving the industry forward. Businesses considering an entry can start preparing now, well ahead of September: identify the strongest story, gather evidence and results, and speak to the team members who delivered them. The most compelling entries are rarely those with the biggest budgets; they clearly explain the challenge, the action taken and the difference it made. An opportunity for the whole industry The strength of any awards programme depends on the breadth of the industry it represents. For that reason, the Holiday Park Awards is being developed to feel relevant and accessible to businesses of different sizes, from long-established family parks to growing groups and specialist suppliers. Excellence can look very different from one organisation to another, and the programme aims to recognise progress, innovation and impact in context. It is also an opportunity to bring together a sector that is geographically dispersed but closely connected. The awards night will create space to celebrate with colleagues, meet new contacts and strengthen existing partnerships. For finalists, it will offer valuable third-party recognition that can be shared with teams, customers and local communities. For the wider industry, it will create a growing bank of positive stories that demonstrate the quality, resilience and ambition found throughout the holiday park sector. A robust judging process will be essential to earning that confidence. Entries will be assessed against clear criteria by judges with relevant experience, with the December and January timetable allowing proper consideration before the finalists are agreed. Sponsors will help make the programme possible, but commercial involvement will remain separate from judging decisions. Sponsorship opportunities remain available The programme is already supported by a growing group of industry partners, reflecting strong confidence in the need for dedicated, independent recognition. Headline sponsor Parks in Video is joined by Holidaymaker App, Pitched, Metpow, HPL Recruitment, ParklinkSupply Parks, Holistic Thinking Holidays, Ruth Badger Consultancy, ParcVu Booking Experts and Walter Geering. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available for businesses that want to align their brand with excellence in the sector and play an active role in establishing the awards from the beginning. For suppliers and professional service businesses, becoming involved in the inaugural year offers a chance to support the industry, celebrate customers and colleagues, and be part of a new platform as it grows. Organisations interested in the remaining opportunities are encouraged to make contact early, as availability across the sponsorship levels is limited. A celebration the sector can share The first Holiday Park Awards will mark an important milestone, but the longer-term goal is broader: to build a trusted platform that helps the industry grow, connect, learn and celebrate success. The UK holiday park sector is full of people doing remarkable work, and their stories deserve to be seen. From 22 September, those stories can begin to take centre stage. Find out more: holidayparkawards.co.uk
Arkem Leisure – bespoke prefabricated buildings for the holiday park sector
At Arkem Leisure, we design, manufacture and supply bespoke prefabricated buildings for the leisure, tourism, sport and high-usage sectors. We specialise in creating high-quality buildings designed around the individual requirements of each customer. While our premium toilet and shower blocks are our biggest areas of expertise, they are just one part of what we do. We also manufacture lodges and micro lodges, reception buildings, changing rooms, welfare facilities, laundry rooms, games and activity spaces, visitor facilities and other completely bespoke buildings. Every project is designed around the way you want to use it. We can tailor the layout, dimensions, specification, internal finishes and external appearance to suit the site and its surroundings. This means we can create practical, durable facilities that feel like a natural part of the environment rather than a standard modular building. One of the major benefit of working with us is our off-site manufacturing process. Our buildings are fully constructed in our workshop before being delivered to site ready for installation. This helps reduce on-site disruption and significantly shortens the amount of construction work required on location, making our approach particularly useful for campsites, holiday parks, sports clubs, visitor attractions and other operational sites. In addition to this, our buildings also typically come in at around half the cost of traditional construction, providing a cost-effective way to upgrade facilities, increase capacity or add new accommodation without taking on a major traditional building project. We also take a long-term approach to how we build our units. We believe that, with the right care and maintenance, our buildings are built solidly enough to provide many years of service and, in the right circumstances, can last a lifetime. We don’t see our buildings as short-term alternatives to traditional construction; we build them to be durable, practical and capable of standing the test of time. Depending on the application, our buildings can also be manufactured on chassis or skid frames, giving customers additional flexibility where relocation may be required in the future. We also believe prefabricated buildings don’t have to look like generic site cabins. We put a strong focus on quality, appearance and finish, ensuring each building is designed to suit the environment it is going into. Whether you’re looking to upgrade existing facilities, increase visitor capacity, add accommodation or create something completely bespoke, we’re happy to work with you from the initial idea through to design, manufacture and installation. Email us at: info@arkemleisure.com Call: 01543 524 553
Land Leisure & Tourism Show: Shaping the Future of UK Holiday Parks and Visitor Attractions
The UK’s holiday park, leisure and visitor attraction sector is evolving rapidly. Changing visitor expectations, rising operating costs and increasing competition are creating new challenges for operators – but they are also opening up opportunities to diversify, innovate and create experiences that keep customers coming back. For holiday park and attraction operators looking to stay ahead, the FREE-to-attend Land Leisure & Tourism Show, taking place on 4–5 November 2026 at NEC Birmingham, offers a dedicated opportunity to discover the ideas, suppliers and expertise shaping the future of the visitor economy. Proudly hosted by Agriconnect, the show is purpose-built for the UK’s rural tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors, bringing together holiday parks, family attractions, resorts, accommodation providers and experience businesses under one roof. The focus is firmly on helping operators grow their businesses, increase profitability and build resilient, future-ready destinations. Practical solutions for a changing market What sets the Land Leisure & Tourism Show apart is its focus on practical, real-world solutions. Rather than simply showcasing products and services, the event is designed to help operators understand how new ideas can be applied to their own businesses. Visitors can explore solutions across the entire visitor journey, from accommodation, attractions and entertainment through to food and beverage, technology, infrastructure, sustainability, marketing and visitor management. The result is an opportunity to compare different approaches, meet specialist suppliers and identify the changes that could make the biggest commercial difference. The show also reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of the visitor economy. Modern holiday parks are no longer simply places to stay; they are evolving into multi-offer destinations incorporating entertainment, wellness, food and drink, retail, activities and immersive experiences. Bringing these sectors together encourages operators to think differently about how they can increase spend per head, extend stays and encourage repeat visits. Insight from industry leaders Alongside the exhibition, the Land Leisure & Tourism Show delivers an extensive programme of seminars, workshops and industry discussions, covering the issues that matter most to operators. The programme is designed and produced by Cheryl Waterman and combines strategic thought leadership with practical advice and real-world case studies. Topics include changing visitor expectations, branding and marketing, experience design, operational efficiency, workforce challenges, technology, diversification and long-term investment. At the 2025 show, Geoffrey Smith, CEO of Meadow Bay Villages, shared the story of the transformation of Billing Aquadrome, highlighting the importance of getting the fundamentals right – from cleanliness and service to food, team culture and understanding what customers actually value. His message was simple but powerful: innovation does not always mean adding something new. Sometimes, the biggest opportunity lies in improving what you already do and delivering it consistently. Four new features for 2026 The 2026 show will introduce four new features designed to make the event more interactive, experiential and valuable for visitors. The Speakeasy Lounge will provide an intimate setting for fireside chats, live podcast recordings and “Ask Me Anything” sessions, bringing content, conversation and networking together in a more informal environment. The Holiday Park Village will create an immersive, walk-through holiday park experience on the show floor, allowing visitors to explore products and ideas in context while creating a relaxed space for networking and business conversations. The New Product Trail will highlight the latest products, services and innovations across the exhibition, making it easier for visitors to discover businesses and ideas that could help transform their operations. Meanwhile, the Start Up Hub will showcase emerging businesses that have been operating for two years or less, providing a window into the next generation of products, technology and services entering the sector. A destination for future-focused operators Co-located with the Farm Business Innovation Show, the Land Leisure & Tourism Show provides an even broader platform for discovering opportunities across rural enterprise, diversification, tourism and leisure. For holiday park owners, attraction operators and rural businesses navigating an increasingly competitive market, the show offers more than an exhibition. It is a place to gather ideas, challenge existing thinking, meet the people behind new solutions and gain the confidence to put those ideas into action. With the UK visitor economy continuing to grow and VisitBritain reporting 43.6 million overseas visitors in 2025, creating distinctive, memorable and commercially sustainable experiences has never been more important. The Land Leisure & Tourism Show returns to NEC Birmingham on 4–5 November 2026, bringing the industry together to discover the trends, innovations and practical solutions shaping the next generation of UK holiday parks and visitor attractions. Register for your FREE ticket today
Combined Heat and Power that works under all circumstances
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is a proven technology that has helped businesses cut energy costs for decades. By generating electricity and heat efficiently from a single fuel source, CHP can sharply reduce electricity bills while only modestly increasing fuel costs. However, due to the most common technology available for CHP application being a gas engine, which only run effectively on natural gas, it has been restricted to use to by businesses on the grid. Microturbine technologies, provided by Capstone Power Solutions have no such restrictions. Capable to running on multiple gaseous fuels, including commonly used LPG, it is available to all businesses, no matter where they are located. Capstone Microturbines also offer other great benefits, that help improve your sustainability and profitability. • Lowest in class emissions – Ensuring the clean air around your business remains that way • Minimal maintenance requirements – With only one moving part maintenance downtime and costs are kept low • No coolant or oil requirements – Reducing risks of environmental damage through spills and not adding to your COSHH requirements • Heating resilience – Provides extra heating capacity, so a boiler failure no longer means a loss of hot water • Electrical resilience – Turbines can run off-grid, allowing for critical electrical systems to keep running in the event of a power cut To find out more about Capstone Microturbines and how they can benefit your business, contact Capstone Power Solution on 01422 400021 or info@capstonepowersolutions.co.uk http://www.capstonepowersolutions.co.uk /
Insurer warns holiday park operators to brace for rising wildfire risk this summer
With the UK experiencing a prolonged period of hot and dry weather this summer, and drought now declared across large parts of England for the third time in five years, Compass, a specialist provider of caravan park insurance, is urging holiday park operators to put wildfire risk management at the centre of their site planning this summer. Holiday parks are particularly exposed to fire damage. Static caravans are typically sited close together, are often constructed with plastic and thin cladding, and rely on LPG gas cylinders for everyday use. In a wildfire, radiant heat alone can cause fire to jump from one unit to the next, and poorly stored gas cylinders can pose serious explosion risks, which may prevent fire crews from entering a site altogether. Those parks that sit directly alongside forest, heathland or long grass which, in a drought, becomes a continuous fuel bed leading straight to the park boundary. In August 2025, a wildfire on the North York Moors came within a few hundred metres of a holiday park near Dalby Forest before a shift in wind and swift action from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service prevented what could have been a catastrophic loss. Less than a year later, in late July 2026, a major wildfire broke out at Dunwich Heath on the Suffolk coast, forcing more than 200 caravans to be evacuated from the nearby Cliff House Holiday Park as flames spread across over 150 hectares of heathland. More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze over several days after a major incident was declared, a stark illustration of how quickly fire can threaten caravan parks during sustained hot, dry conditions. Nationally, the trend is stark: the UK recorded 117 wildfires in 2025, more than double the total seen in 2023 and a 32% increase on 2024, second only to the record 207 wildfires recorded during the 40°C heat of 2022. 2025 was officially recorded as the hottest UK summer to date, and 2026 has already brought comparably extreme conditions, meaning the risk of fire-related incidents on parks remains high. This is reflected in Compass’s fire claims data, which peaked between January 2024 and December 2025 at £881,982 – more than five times the total from the previous year. With this summer already matching the extremes of 2025, and incidents like Dunwich Heath and the North York Moors showing how fast a wildfire can take hold, proactive wildfire risk management is more critical than ever for park operators. Common causes of caravan fires on parks include: According to fire safety data, a fire in a mobile home or caravan is significantly more likely to result in death or serious injury compared to conventional housing. Kevin Minnear, Head of Underwriting at Compass, explains: “For decades, risk management on UK holiday parks has been defined by water: storm surges, coastal erosion and bursting riverbanks. But what we saw as a near-miss on the North York Moors last summer, and now a major incident at Dunwich Heath this year, tells us this isn’t a one-off. It’s a pattern, and wildfire risk now needs the same rigour operators already apply to flooding. “As insurers, we’re seeing a direct link between the frequency of these events and rising premiums, and in some high-risk areas, the potential withdrawal of cover altogether. We want to keep protecting the UK’s holiday park industry, but that starts with prevention.” Wildfire risk management checklist for park operators: Insurance advice for holiday park operators In the unfortunate event of a fire, adequate insurance cover can be the difference between a quick recovery and a long-term loss to the business. Park operators are advised to: Fire spreads extremely quickly across a park – even a small spark can have devastating consequences, especially during dry spells. Kevin Minnear added: “Prevention is always better than the cure. We want to keep protecting the UK’s holiday park industry, but that requires a partnership in prevention. By treating wildfire risk with the same rigour already applied to flooding, operators can protect their site, their guests, and their business.” For more information on specialist insurance for holiday parks and caravan operators, visit compassparks.co.uk
Eco-Lodge Holiday Business for sale on the Isle of Wight by Carter Jonas
A unique opportunity to buy a boutique holiday letting business has been launched to the market by national property consultancy Carter Jonas. Situated near Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Tiny Homes Holidays offers six architecturally designed eco lodges with a contemporary rustic influence, plus ancillary property including a larger studio and yoga barn in all set within 2.08 acres. This sustainable boutique retreat, which is being jointly sold with property consultancy BCM Wilson Hill, is available for sale by private treaty as a whole with a guide price of £750,000. “Situated near a beautiful ancient woodland on the Isle of Wight, this unique, sustainable and off-grid holiday letting business is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to enter the growing UK holiday industry,” says Megan Stacey, Rural Surveyor at Carter Jonas. “With uncertainty around international travel, the UK holiday has become an attractive prospect for people this year, making it an opportunistic time for potential buyers to purchase holiday properties such as Tiny Homes.” All six eco lodges come with a fully equipped kitchen, shower and WC facilities, a wood burning stove, and outside decking area, as well as solar-powered USB sockets. “Sustainability is the foundation of Tiny Homes,” says Ms Stacey. “With its commitment to providing an eco-friendly staycation, Tiny Homes offers a unique blend of comfort, style, and modern eco-luxury.” The property is connected to mains water and electric and has a private drainage system for the ancillary buildings. The cabins also have facility to be connected to mains power to help in winter months. Surrounded by woodland and rural countryside, the property is within proximity to public footpaths, local pubs and approximately 3 miles from Gurnard seafront, and it is within close proximity to mainland ferry links with the closest only an 18-minute drive. The Isle of Wight is celebrated as an international yachting and sailing venue, with the annual Cowes Week Regatta in August attracting competitors from all over the world. A full range of yacht and sailing clubs provide a social hub. There are nearby golf courses including Westridge, St Georges & Shanklin, and Sandown Golf Club. For more information contact the Carter Jonas Winchester Office.
