Flintshire Caravan Sales Purchased With Big Things To Come

Posted by

By William Coleman

Spinney has announced that it has completed the purchase of Flintshire Caravan Sales Ltd in Deeside. Flintshire Caravans was established in 1972 by Ray Jones and has remained in family ownership ever since. The purchase will see it become the third Spinney dealership alongside those in Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Charlie Holland, director of Spinney said he was delighted with the acquisition, “We’ve long admired Flintshire Caravan Sales for their customer service and family focus; values that align very closely with our own. They have a well-earned reputation for touring caravan expertise and we look forward very much to developing that even further as part of Spinney.”

It is business as usual at the site and it has been confirmed that all current staff at Flintshire Caravan Sales will remain, with the customer service team being increased to improve the overall customer experience and deal with enquiries as quickly as possible. Behind the scenes, Spinney’s business systems and processes will be introduced to the Flintshire branch to streamline and simplify operations.

The most significant difference that customers will see is the increase in the number and range of motorhomes available from the dealership. Ben Holland, director of Spinney explains, “Flintshire Caravans has always specialised in touring caravans, and quite rightly has an excellent reputation for its knowledge of caravans. Spinney will be bringing our expertise with motorhomes to Flintshire and one of the first things that people will see is a bigger range of used motorhomes in the coming weeks, with a number of new models from several different manufacturers being added in the 2019 season.”

The deal will also offer benefits for Spinney’s existing customers, increasing servicing and aftersales capacity overall and providing a more convenient location for customers in the Wirral and North Wales.

Charlie added that he can see great potential for the Flintshire site, “They have great facilities and a great team in place, to be able to offer customers the very best of everything. We’ll be looking at improving the existing facilities, systems and marketing to really make the most of what is already there.”

The Flintshire Caravan Sales name will remain for the rest of the 2018 season, but the branch will be rebranded as Spinney ready for the 2019 season launch later this year.

Lowdhams Opens New Service And After Sale Center

Posted by

By William Coleman

We all want a good customer journey when buying but the after sales process can sometimes be significantly more important, especially when buying something high value like a motorhome or caravan. This is something that Lowdhams fully appreciate as they open their brand new service centre and after sales department.

The brand new facility, based in Nottingham, boasts an 18 bay service centre, 24 vehicle dispatch station and an eco friendly wash bay. All these brand new additions are part of a pioneering plan to increase the capacity of Lowdhams after sales care and to set a new standard for customer experience.

The dedicated caravan facility is in addition to the company’s motorhome service centre near Bingham and the further facilities at Lowdhams’ Huddersfield branch, and gives the company a total of 50 service bays across all sites.

The development was officially opened by John Lally, director general of the NCC who said that for any business to continue to prosper, it needs to invest for the future. “In opening this new workshop facility, Lowdham Leisureworld is clearly making a significant financial investment to support their growing customer base,” he said.

He praised the company’s customer focus adding that: “Lowdhams constantly looks through the eyes of its customers, always reviewing services, facilities and procedures in their quest to provide the best in customer service.

Steve Sharpe, managing director at Lowdhams, said that one of the main improvements that customers will see is a shorter lead time before being able to collect their new caravan or motorhome. “Previously, our workshops couldn’t keep up with the retail side of the business, so customers had a long lead time which wasn’t ideal. This changes that and helps to rebalance the business.”

The design of the new caravan service centre has been carefully thought out to make the space as practical and flexible as possible for the team of more than 30 highly qualified technicians that will be working there. The building is designed around a single entrance and access way, allowing more space around each vehicle, and at the same time creating a warmer and more comfortable environment to work in.


Outside is a new dispatch area with room for 24 vehicles in total, and four covered collection bays, allowing customers to complete their handover in comfort, whatever the weather; all part of the team’s commitment to supporting their customers through the journey from purchase and collection and on to an excellent after sales experience.

Lowdhams was one of the first dealerships to be independently inspected and gain NCC Approved status, and John Lally says that the company has long been influential in helping the NCC to champion best practice for dealerships. “This consumer-facing code of practice covers leisure vehicle sales and puts in place a framework for dealerships which ensures that consumers are treated fairly and in an open and transparent manner. Both Roger Crafts and Steve Sharpe give up their valuable time to support their trade body for which I am extremely grateful,” he said.

Steve is now focusing on the second phase of works which will see the former service bays redeveloped to double the size of the existing showroom and create better facilities.

“The third generation of the family is coming through the business now and we just want to make sure that the business is future-proof, and that we keep looking after people in the right way so that they keep coming back to us; that’s what family businesses are about.”

Bailey Of Bristol Bristanbul Documentary Part 1

Posted by

By William Coleman

What is the most fun that can be head with 2 caravans, 2 top towing cars and a motorhome? Well how about traveling across Europe and Asia crossing 21 countries in 21 days with Bailey of Bristol. This is the definition of touring and what better way to travel than in Bailey’s pick of the litter vans.

In part 1 of the documentary you will see a lot of different locations and the issues that come with each country, especially the non EU countries. You will also get to meat team who come from all corners of the of the industry from journalism to manufacturers to Director Generals.

Travelling across the countries included in this video shows just how varied and different each country is in Europe and asia. As well as showing the many different locations thats are very easy to drive to and stay for your holidays.

The caravans and motorhome held up perfectly. 21 different team members across the 21 days meant that homes got their fair share of heavy usage. I spent the majority of my time in the Bailey Pursuit which was ideal for 3 adults on tour.

There were 3 meals a day prepared and cooked in each home as well as many tea breaks and they made the whole trip very comfortable, especially the tea breaks. You really cannot have enough cups of tea during a 350 mile drive.

I really enjoyed both the Skoda Kodiaq and the Octavia but I must say I was a tad partial to driving the Bailey Advance motorhome quite a bit. Not saying it was my favourite but at times it was hard to pull me away from the steering wheel.

Food cooked on Greek roadsides, BBQs in Croatia and getting caught in the madness that is the trading streets of Istanbul, this documentary has it all.

I hope you enjoyed as much as we enjoyed making it. And stay tuned for part 2 coming later on this week.

Salop Leisure Charity Aid

Posted by

By William Coleman

At this year’s West Midlands Caravan, Motorhome and Destination Show, in Shrewsbury, there was a successful money raising effort by visiting customers. With all their help £766.30 was raised for the RNLI (The Royal National Institution).

This year’s event was held at Salop Leisure headquarters from April 28th to May 7th and is the UK’s largest free caravan exhibition showcase. At the event you could view the latest 2018 models from leading manufacturers.

As well as showing off some fantastic touring home models there was an opportunity for visitors to see three unique holiday destinations in Mid Wales Coast, Inland Mid Wales and the Heart of England.

There were representatives and volunteers from the RNLI over the two weekends of the show. They were there providing teas and coffees to customer for Salop Leisure and in return they received donations to the life saving charity.

Hundreds of new customers attended and placed orders for caravan holiday homes, luxury lodges, motorhomes and touring caravans.

Peter Long, chairman of the RNLI’s Shrewsbury fundraising branch, welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the popular event and was delighted with the sum raised for the charity.

“It’s a valuable contribution towards funds and we are very pleased to receive the donation,” he said. “Although we are landlocked in Shrewsbury, people seem to have a soft spot for lifeboats.”
He revealed that it costs £485,000 a day to run the lifesaving service and the money raised at Salop Leisure’s show would go towards providing kit for the lifeboat crews.

Ed Glover, Salop Leisure’s marketing manager, said the company was pleased to support the work of the RNLI and thanked customers for their generous donations to the charity.
The show had generated significant interest in all three destinations promoted, particularly the coastal areas of Mid Wales which are covered by RNLI lifeboats.

Caravan Fire Safety Tips And Advice

Posted by

By William Coleman

As part of my job I scour the internet to read touring news from around the world and keep my finger on the pulse that is the touring community. When doing my research there always seems to be massive recurring issue, fires in caravans. Why are there so many incidents with fires and touring homes? Are they targets for petty arsonists? Are they too flammable for their own good? Or is it simply poor housekeeping/lack of knowledge on how to safely operate and maintain?

Now let me start by saying that I am extremely confident that most, if not all, of CaravanTimes’ readers know exactly what they are doing and have never had any fire issues with their property. But for those who may be cautious of fire safety here are some tips from us at CaravanTimes.

Avoid The Idiots

I have heard of a lot of instances where fires involving caravans have been started by people. I am not sure why but caravans have always been a target for vandals and arsonists, this really does baffle me. So to avoid this simply cover or hide your caravan, out of sight out of mind.

There are storage facilities for touring homes or if you have a garage use that. It sounds so silly and simple but it is the best way of concealing your pride and joy from unwanted elements.

The Right Extinguisher

Something we all got taught when a fireman visited school was the different types of extinguisher. A caravan is full of flammable materials from the fabric used on the upholstery to the wood used throughout. Although modern caravans have non flammable upholstery there are models out there that may not so check your vehicle to see what materials you seating is made of.

You cannot just chuck water on the fire as it may do little, or in some cased make things a lot worse. So here are the 5 different types of extinguisher and what kind of materials they are to be used for.

Class A- Involve most organic materials. Carbon, wood, textiles, paper.
Class B- Petrol, diesel, solvents, paints and flammable liquids
Class C- Butane, propane and flammable gases
Class D- Flammable metals
Class F- Cooking oils/fats

Extinguishers are also colour coded to help you distinguish which is which.

Signal Red- Water
Pale Cream- Foam
French Blue- Powder
Carbon Dioxide- Black

Check Your Alarm Cooker/Gas Hob

I have been guilty of not checking my onboard fire alarm. It’s such an obvious thing to do yet many people forget to do it. There are some older models that do not have fire alarms, so if you have an older model please ensure that you get one fitted. Lives may depend on it.

Another silly thing that can sometimes be missed, check your cooker. Make sure its in good working order and turned off when you are finished. It may sound simple but it is the most simple of things that cause these fires. Cooker maintenance is key.

Vents

When you are arranging things or making beds it is very easy to fling a cushion that may be in your way. This can lead to air vents being blocked which can then lead directly to fires. Also do not leave towels or clothes on the electric heaters. The clothes may dry quicker but you could end up losing those clothes in the end.

What Will You Do In The Event Of A Fire?

If a fire starts you need to have a plan otherwise things can go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye.

For me personally I asses, very quickly, if this fire is actually fightable. I am not a trained firefighter but I think I could put out a normal fire you may find inside a touring home. Give it an attempt but if it is not working the first thing you need to do is get all the bodies out of the van.

Drop everything and get out and immediately call the fire brigade and alert the site and neighbouring sites. Although most decent sites will have a good distance between pitches fire is unpredictable and can spread in a million different ways.

Once you are outside it is advisable, if safe to do so, remove the electric and gas. A gas cylinder can make one hell of a bang.

There are a thousand different ways to avoid fires but I feel these are the basic essentials. For further info seek advice for the fire services.

The Caravan And Motorhome Club National Rally

Posted by

By William Coleman

This year the Caravan And Motorhome Club held their annual National Rally at Sledmere House in Driffield, York. The 4 day event had tons of entertainment for children and adults alike, there really was something for everyone.

Over 5,000 Club members attended the Rally and took part in all the activities available. What stood out the most to me was the huge amount of activities for children. In past events there attractions and activities to keep the kids occupied but at this year’s National the little people really were put at the forefront, they are the future after all.

What made it even better was that all the activities were 100% free for the children to enjoy, which certainly helps with the pockets of mum and dad. So if your child wants to hold animals, climb walls, get their face painted or tire themselves out on the bouncy castle all day it won’t cost a penny.

Of an evening the Club made sure that the children and parents alike were kept entertained well into the evening. On the Friday evening The American Divas (Madonna, Cher and Tina Turner) wowed the crowd with The UK’s best Queen tribute act, Killer Queen, rocking the stage on Saturday. On Sunday evening Elvis dusted off his Blue Suede Shoes to sing all the classics and on the final evening of the event the Prom Night Silver Concert took place.

Everyone who attended were all just so happy and very friendly, I am sure the amazing weather helped. Everyone I spoke to was so upbeat and willing to talk and help out their fellow Club members. One couple had literally just bought their first ever touring home and were still learning what they needed to get fully set up. Having forgotten a water pipe their neighbouring pitch was more than happy to lend them their spare pipe. And it is that kind of spirit that makes being a Club member so worthwhile.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club held their Experience Freedom CycleFest on Sunday morning. The 8 mile bike ride had people all shapes, sizes and age take part, there were even some 4 legged participants getting involved.

CAMC Director General, Nick Lomas took part with his son and Harvey Alexander, CAMC’s Director or Marketing, along with his entire family all saddled up for the race. Both Nick Lomas and Harvey Alexander stayed on site in their personal caravans for the whole show. Which just goes to show that they are both truly tourers just like all Club members.

I cannot express enough just how much fun there was being had during the National Rally. Everyone just seemed like they were on holiday and loving life the whole time. It was really refreshing to see how many younger Club members there are, which just proves how popular touring holidays are becoming.

As some of you may know I fancy myself a bit of a chef, well I like to cook a little bit, and this year’s Rally had the BBQ Chef of the Year finals. There was amazing food cooked up by the contestants and the top 3 won Cadac BBQs.

Overall the 4 day event was a great success. It brought people together, got people active, gave people a well deserved break and ultimately helped people share their love for touring holidays and vehicles.

Benimar Tessoro Part 2: The City Touring Lifestyle

Posted by

By William Coleman

I was born in raised in London and have seen the pros and cons of taking a touring vehicle through the busy streets. I would not really fancy towing a caravan through Oxford Circus but driving the great Benimar Tessoro from the surrey countryside into the heart of London was an absolute pleasure.

The Beninar is built on a Ford, which is ideal for me as my last 3 cars have all been Fords so I felt right at home behind the wheel. Especially being able to connect my phone to the up to date radio and play all my songs.

I stayed at the Alderstead Caravan and Motorhome Club site in Surrey. The site is picture perfect and totally surrounded by fields and large amounts of trees. You would never think you were 15 miles from the Central London. That is one of the great things about using your motorhome for a city break, you are always so close to picture perfect British countryside.

I was able to get into London with total ease, as London roads are designed for much larger vehicles than the Tessoro. Within no time at all I was sat at one of London’s many hidden gems drinking an iced coffee, 24 in the shade meant a warm coffee was out of the question.

Due to the large amount of storage the Tessoro provides you do not have to be picky what kind of clothing you bring with you. Shorts and T-shirt for the day and a nice shirt and jeans for the evening as you stroll the cobbled street of Covent Garden.

Once I was finished seeing all the hidden locations and national landmarks it was a very short drive back to the peaceful surroundings of the site.

This is a fantastic example of just how easy a city break is when you opt to use your motorhome.

Approved Workshop Scheme For Pre Owned Leisure Vehicles

Posted by

By William Coleman

Buying a leisure vehicle is both exciting and daunting, especially if you are looking at the pre-owned market. In some cases you could be buying a potential time bomb of a vehicle. More often than not I imagine you’ve wanted a fully qualified mechanic with you when you’re buying a new vehicle to ensure everything is tip top. With this new service all your fears will be washed away.

The Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) have just launched their brand new service AWS Pre-Owned Pre-Purchase Inspections, or AWS POPPI for short.

The new service offers inspections for potential news buyers and provide a detailed report of the condition of a touring caravans or motorhomes. Something that will put a lot of new buyers, and existing, minds at ease prior the the commitment of purchasing.

The vehicle inspections will focus mainly on examining the safety-critical elements as well as assessing the visual and operational side of things.

AWS Manager Sarah Wigmore explains: “We believe this will be a great service for buyers, especially those new to caravanning. We already have nearly 100 of our workshops offering the inspection service and this is growing each week. The Approved Workshop Scheme is the benchmark for motorhome and touring caravan servicing and has the support of all the UK’s major manufacturers – so it is well placed to offer this type of service.

There are roughly 90,000 pre-owned touring homes in circulation with 45,000 motorhomes changing hands each year. A huge amount of these are private sales that may not have had the presale care a dealer may provide. “Having a third party assessment will enable people to purchase with greater confidence,” Sarah explains.

The Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) is a joint enterprise between the NCC (National Caravan Council), The Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club. There are now over 470 workshops nationwide and those offering the POPPI service can be found at https://www.approvedworkshops.co.uk/find-approved-workshop

Personally I love the idea of this scheme, being a bit of a nervous vehicle buyer. So to have a service that checks all the things you would need looking at prior to purchasing would put my mind at ease and make me a lot more confident in handing over my hard earned cash.

East Devon Park Turns 75 This June

Posted by

By William Coleman

Guests at East Devon’s award-winning Ladram Bay Holiday Park will soon be joining in two days of very special celebrations to mark the business’s 75th anniversary.

The Carter family, owners of the Budleigh Salterton park, say they will be pulling out all the stops on the weekend of 16/17 June to ensure that its milestone year will long be remembered.

A raft of different events, activities and entertainment are on the cards, including a family fun day on the Saturday which will appeal both to youngsters and grown-ups.

Live music is promised, along with fete stalls, a bouncy castle, face painting, and games including sponge throwing, apple bobbing and other traditional attractions.

To help keep energy levels high there will also be a barbecue and ice cream stand on hand!

The celebrations will continue into evening when an anniversary party night, for all guests staying on the park, will welcome guest performers The Wurzels, Somerset’s world-famous “scrumpy and western” band.

Ladram Bay says its celebration weekend is now almost fully booked, but that quick-off-the-mark families may still be able to join in the fun.

Available to rent for a short break or a longer stay are stylish holiday homes, leisure lodges and glamping pods – plus pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

The park is still owned today by members of the Carter family who, in 1943, first began welcoming camping guests to their farm with its own private beach.

Over subsequent decades the family has continually invested in new facilities and different styles of accommodation for visiting families and holiday home owners.

Today, guests have use of the park’s many attractions, including a swimming complex and splash play zone, indoor climbing wall, adventure golf course and much more.

Ladram Bay director Zoe House, who is a member of the Carter family, said this is a special year for the park, and that the anniversary weekend had a very appropriate theme:

“It’s all going to be about families coming together and enjoying themselves, which has been the main focus of Ladram Bay from the outset,” she said.

“We aim to provide not just the facilities and attractions for a great stay, but also the warm and friendly atmosphere into which everyone can immediately relax.

“We’re looking forward to meeting up again with some of our guests who have been coming to Ladram Bay for literally decades, so it’s going to be a great weekend!” added Zoe.

There is more information about the park at www.ladrambay.co.uk

Caravan and Motorhome Door Handles and Locks

Posted by

By CaravanTimes Team

Sometimes the absence of news is news itself and this is one of those times. As all the press information leaks out about the manufacturer’s 2019 ranges to be realised this summer the one thing not circulating on the rumor mill is a manufacturer that has a new door handle or lock that actually works, works well and works consistently.

Bemoaning our beloved industry is never popular and can be make the industry turn its back on supporting a publication but enough is enough and this is an industry wide problem. It effects caravans and motorhomes alike and the fact is that the door handles and locking mechanisms are rubbish.

Getting a caravan or motorhome on test you take the time to learn it’s quirks and it’s personality and then get frustrated when you can never, open, close, lock or unlock the habitation door. It is so common place that you don’t mention it in the reviews because there is no better option.

The level of technical advance in the manufacture, the materials and the technology included in modern caravans and motorhomes is astounding. We have seen whole units at each level projected in 3D by the latest design time – brilliant. Units are better insulated and have more energy efficient heating than most homes – great. But why can I never get in or out them without findling with the handle and lock for 5 mins?

We appreciate the design restrictions or weight, price and trying to have the door rubber lined but my memories of being a child with a split barn style caravan door with a big chunky lock that actually worked – like the one in our house.

Do you have a particularly good or bad door – let us know at Editor@caravantimes.co.uk

Calling all Burstner owners

Posted by

Calling all Burstner owners.

Do you have a Burstner motorhome? Is it more than 10 years old? Would you like it to have it’s own feature and review on CaravanTimes? Well if you do then just get in touch with editor@caravantimes.co.uk

On the 26th of June we will be attending the launch of the 2019 Burstner line up at the factory near Strasbourg. We know Burstner has increased in popularity in the UK significantly recently and with the Erwin Hymer Group UK now controlling this they are set to get even more popular… but we want to see what the older Burstners were like!

We feel it is important to understand where a motorhome brand has come from. So if you have a much loved Burstner that has been part of your family please contact us, tell us more about it and we will cover it on CaravanTimes. There might even be a free mug in it for you.

No Comments

filed under: News

Park Holidays’ £40,000 Giveaway Winner

Posted by

By William Coleman

There is nothing better than winning, no matter how many times you hear that “it’s the taking part that counts” and one winner that’ll certainly be “buzzing” this week is Romford Beekeeper, Stephen Stubbs.

Park Holidays UK run an annual competition for keys to a fully equipped Leisure Home. This year the prize was two-bedroom Willerby Etchingham at Harts Holiday park in Sheerness, with a value of over £40,000 and with site fees and decking included that’s not to be sniffed at.

The elated new owner, had his choice of 29 parks but chose Harts as he has friends with pitches their already and it’s only a short way from his house. Stephen says he rarely enters competitions, but i;d say a man with this much luck should consider entering a few more.

“To be honest, I thought at first the letter might have been some sort of scam, so I didn’t get my hopes up until Park Holidays UK confirmed it really was true!” he said.

“It will be a proper life-changer for me, and having my own holiday bolt-hole means being able to instantly switch off and relax whenever I want to.

“Harts Holiday Park is a great place to be, and what makes it really special is the friendly and warm atmosphere among staff and other holiday home owners,”

Stephen said his stays will also help to bring back happy childhood memories of seaside caravan holidays taken with his parents in Sussex and Essex.

As much as the team here at CaravanTimes are a little jealous, it’s always good to see enthusiastic campers, caravanners and motorhomers have a bit of good fortune.

We wish Stephen and his Jack Russell cross, Tiny all the best in their new leisure home!

No Comments

filed under: News