Thanks to the surge of interest in the great British staycation, caravan-oriented news is not only grabbing a few headlines but is positively booming.
To help keep you abreast of this fast-moving picture, we offer a few of those stories that caught our eye.
Plans for 100 pitch caravan park at a Carlisle Golf Club
A parcel of unused land of the Eden Golf Course in Carlisle has been granted local authority approval for use as a site for up to 100 caravans, according to the News & Star and Cumberland News on the 4th of March.
Attractions of the site not only include a neighbouring golf course but also its proximity to two world heritage sites – the Lake District National Park and Hadrian’s Wall. Given its location close to the Solway coast and to the Eden Valley, the new caravan park is intended to help boost the overall appeal of the area to visitors and tourists.
When do caravan sites re-open?
The one question that has been on practically every caravan owner’s lips for the best part of a year now is: when do caravan sites re-open?
That answer came with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s unveiling of his lockdown “roadmap” on the 22nd of February and the scheduled date of the 12th of April. Then caravan and campsites across England will be allowed to re-open as long as there are no shared indoor facilities for different households, heralded the Mirror newspaper on the 24th of February.
The devolved governments of both Scotland and Wales have yet to decide when caravan and campsites may re-open.
Because of the extra precautions that need to be taken when sharing washrooms etc., the re-opening of some English caravan and holiday park sites is likely to be delayed until the 17th of May, explained a story in the Express newspaper recently – critically, after the Spring bank holiday.
Great year ahead predicted for UK tourism
One of the country’s most prominent caravan and motorhome dealerships – which also operates several touring caravan parks, resorts, and adventure centres – anticipates a bumper year for caravan and motorhome holidays in 2021, reported Business News Wales on the 5th of January.
Speaking to the newspaper, Chairman of Salop Leisure, Tony Bywater, said: “It has been an extremely difficult time for everybody, but I think 2021 is going to be very special for our industry and tourism in the UK.
“People are going to want to stay in the UK, rather than travelling abroad, like they have done in the past. The pandemic will change people’s habits forever.
“Demand for caravan holiday homes, touring caravans and motorhomes is going to be massive, putting pressure on manufacturers and parks.
“We lost a lot of trade whilst our businesses were forced to close during the lockdowns, but, when we reopened in late summer, customer demand was huge”.
21.5% of Coachman bought by Swedish company
A Swedish company, Kabe, which manufactures caravans and motorhomes has acquired a significant 21.5% shareholding in the British mass market caravan manufacturer Coachman, reported Practical Caravan magazine earlier this month.
Kabe is believed to have paid £15.71 million for the 21.5% stake in a company which it considers to be increasing its share in the English market for caravans, is already well run, and will mesh with its Swedish partner’s group and strategic direction.
Much of Coachman’s existing structure, including its workforce of some 200, will be retained at the plant in Hull from where it has operated for the past 30 years.
Following Coachman’s purchase, only Bailey and Swift remain the mass market caravan producers that are wholly British-owned.