UK holiday park operator Haven Parks has disclosed plans to invest more than £170 million across multiple parks in 2023, catering to the increasing demand for staycations.
The significant investment will be used to expand parks, upgrade activity and entertainment facilities, and add new holiday homes to their offerings.
As the cost of international holidays continues to rise, many are turning to domestic alternatives for more affordable vacations, according to a report by The Sun UK.
Haven’s investment will address this growing market by improving entertainment facilities at several parks, including Allhallows, Quay West, Thorpe Park, and Skegness—the first new Haven holiday park to open in over six years, following a £24 million renovation.
These parks will benefit from the addition of either state-of-the-art Adventure Villages or Marina Bar & Stages, as well as collaborations with renowned food and beverage brands. Adventure Villages, providing outdoor facilities for the whole family, have been introduced to six parks since 2019, with three more parks slated for the upgrade in 2023.
Adventure Villages offer guests a range of activities, such as aerial adventure courses and The Jump—a thrilling six-meter-high freefall experience onto an airbag.
Each course is custom-designed for Haven Parks, ensuring a unique experience at every location. Adventure Villages can currently be found in numerous parks, with Weymouth Bay scheduled to join the list soon.
A selection of food and drink establishments will also form part of the village experience. Meanwhile, Allhallows, Thorpe Park, and Skegness will see the introduction of Marina Bar & Stages, which Haven claims deliver the very best in live entertainment and modern dining spaces.
The Showbar entertainment area at Quay West is set to undergo a substantial makeover and facilities upgrade.
Several other Haven parks, including Hopton, Craig Tara, and Devon Cliffs, will receive smaller upgrades to enhance their existing entertainment facilities and activities.
These improvements come in light of a recent VisitBritain Domestic Sentiment Tracker survey, which indicated that 70% of respondents were planning a UK staycation within the next year.
“This investment of over £170 million builds on the £230 million we have spent between 2021 and 2022 to improve our parks, and we’re thrilled to be rolling out new entertainment facilities across Haven parks in 2023 as a result,” said Haven Managing Director Simon Palethorpe, regarding the investment.
“With the continued demand for family staycations, the Adventure Villages and Marina Bar & Stages are a great addition to our offer, providing even more fun for guests and owners at incredible value.”
As the UK staycation trend persists, holiday park operators like Haven are taking advantage of the opportunity to enhance their facilities, ensuring memorable experiences for campers, caravan park enthusiasts, and staycationers of all levels.