Andrewshayes Holiday Park in East Devon is marking 90 years since receiving its first camping license, commemorating a milestone that reflects both the evolution of the business and broader changes within the UK’s outdoor hospitality sector.
The anniversary celebration brought together current and former guests, past employees, and friends of the park for a community event featuring a barbecue, traditional Devon cream teas, live music, and entertainment. The occasion also welcomed multiple generations of returning visitors who have vacationed at the park over the decades.
The park traces its origins to 1929, when Stan and Marjorie Lawrence began welcoming campers to their dairy farm as a way to generate additional income.
Their business became one of the country’s early licensed camping operations in 1936 after the introduction of new Public Health legislation governing camping accommodations. The license, issued 90 years ago, marked the beginning of Andrewshayes’ continuous operation as a family-run holiday park.
The business underwent a significant transition in 1960 when updated regulations prompted Harry and Stephanie Lawrence to modernize the property. The redevelopment included improved visitor amenities and facilities, as well as the introduction of static caravans, reflecting changing consumer expectations and regulatory requirements that were reshaping holiday parks across the United Kingdom.
Another major shift occurred in 1997 when the Lawrence family sold its dairy herd to focus exclusively on tourism and holiday park operations. Since then, the business has continued investing in its accommodations and guest facilities while operating through periods of economic uncertainty and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, Andrewshayes is led by fourth-generation family members Josh Lawrence and his wife, Grace, continuing a succession that has kept ownership within the same family for nearly a century.
The park currently offers self-catering holiday caravans, touring caravan and motorhome pitches, camping accommodations, and amenities including an outdoor swimming pool, clubhouse, children’s play areas, and a woodland walk. Its location also provides access to East Devon and the Jurassic Coast, a popular tourism destination, according to Out&AboutLive.
Over the years, the business has received several tourism recognitions, including Holiday Park of the Year at the 2020 Devon Tourism Awards, Silver recognition at the 2025 Devon Tourism Awards, and Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award.
For holiday park operators and other outdoor hospitality businesses, Andrewshayes’ 90-year history illustrates the importance of adapting to regulatory changes, responding to evolving guest preferences, and maintaining long-term investment in facilities.
The park’s progression from a working dairy farm offering basic camping to a diversified accommodation business demonstrates how operators can evolve their offerings over time while preserving the identity and heritage that can differentiate family-owned parks in a competitive tourism market.
The anniversary also highlights the continued role of multi-generational ownership in the outdoor hospitality industry, where long-term stewardship and incremental reinvestment have enabled many independent parks to remain competitive despite changing market conditions, new regulations, and shifts in traveler expectations.