Gravesham hoping for Olympics win with Kent campsite plan

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

A council in Kent is looking to make the most of the Olympics this summer, by turning a rugby field into a whopping 500-pitch camp site.

With visitors set to flock to the UK in their millions for the Games and many hotels expected to ramp up their rates to exploit tourists, Gravesham Council has decided to make the most of the opportunity by creating the temporary site.

Campers and caravanners will be able to book plots for a minimum of three nights at the park in Culverstone at a cost of £30 per night, Kent News reported.

The site is likely to be all the more popular because of its proximity to the port at Dover and the international train station at Ebbsfleet.

Councillor David Turner said that he hopes the site will help make Gravesham a destination for tourists during the landmark event.

“People coming to stay with us will hopefully go away and say to themselves that Gravesham is a great place to stay,” he told the news provider.

“This really is a good base from which anyone can see the whole of the south of England.”

Camp Cooks add a touch of sparkle to caravan cooking this summer

Posted by

by Maeve O’Donnell

Here at CaravanTimes we have come across some weird and wonderful caravan related businesses in our time but now we bring you something entirely new; the fabulous world of Camp Cooks.

Dig out your feather boa and sequinned shoes because this summer a small group of 1950s-style drag queens are touring the country in their Airstream travel trailer and cooking up a culinary storm.

A different dining experience

Caravans have long been a setting for food on the move and are often found at festivals, outdoor events and even road-sides but Camp Cooks is a long way from a burger van. They are looking to cater for both health-conscious foodies and anyone with a sweet tooth across the UK with their innovative menu.

Camp Cooks aim to provide a unique catering experience and add a touch of glamour to any event. As well as making appearances at festivals and other outdoor events, the Camp Cooks can be hired for any occasion you want to add a touch of tackiness (in a good way of course).

An iconic, all-American Airstream trailer has been transformed into the campest kitchen around to bring festival goers an exciting and memorable al fresco dining experience.

Sweet treats

The menu is based on Anglo-American cuisine and features a range of light bites, belly busters, vegan options, and deserts. Using fresh and seasonal ingredients these drag queens turned chefs have created something which works perfectly for any event by catering for all taste buds.

BBQ ribs, pumpkin soup, smoked salmon, and sausages and mash are just some of the dishes served up by the queens, alongside American-inspired tempting treats including blueberry muffins, flapjacks, pancakes with maple syrup and Mississippi mud pie

Queens of cooking

Lila, Martyne, and Wynnie La Freak are the brains behind this unusual catering business. Wynnie has been ruling the North West cabaret circuit for years but is now focusing her talents on cooking.

Having been a finalist on Channel 5’s Breaking into Tesco competition with a double baked cheesecake, Wynnie is no stranger to the culinary world and as well as serving up the food, her group also offers demonstrations and taste tests for customers.

With tons of food sampling and a side helping of tongue-in-cheek humour, Camp Cooks is the ultimate in guilty pleasures and could add an unusual touch to any event.

To find out more visit Wynnie and the girls, visit their website.

Administrators sell Discover Leisure dealerships for £5m

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

The administrators dealing with the sale of failed caravan dealership Discover Leisure have announced that more than £5 million has so far been raised by selling its former assets.

Paul Flint and Mark Firmin of KPMG LLP are jointly handling the process alongside Sanderson Weatherall, and so far they have found new owners for four of the firm’s dealerships.

Negotiations regarding a fifth site are well underway.

Mark Lord, a partner at Sanderson Weatherall’s Manchester officer, said: “Whilst we obviously regret the demise of a business and consequent loss of jobs, we’re delighted to have secured the sale of four of the five dealerships and remain confident of being able to conclude a successful sale of the Coppull location.

Around 250 jobs were lost when the company and its trading subsidiary Signlease Limited entered administration in October last year, though some of these former staff have since been re-employed by the new owners.

Catterick Caravans has taken over Flaxton Moor site in York, as well as the Birtley dealership in Tyne and Wear. Kimberley Caravans, meanwhile, bought the Burtree Gate premises in Darlington.

The final outlet in Oakmere, Cheshire, was acquired by motorcycle firm J&S Accessories.

No Comments

filed under: News

Devon Motorhome Show to offer Marquis Majestic discounts

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

The Devon Motorhome Show is not far away and Elddis has reminded anyone thinking about buying a Motorhome that “unrepeatable” discounts will be offered at the event.

Organised by the UK’s largest Motorhome dealership, Marquis, the show in Ivybridge near Plymouth will have a vast display of both brand new and pre-owned touring vehicles.

Elddis exclusively manufactures the Majestic range of motorhomes for Marquis and the caravan maker from Durham has revealed that some exclusive, never-to-be-repeated deals will be on offer during the show.

Running from Friday 25th to Sunday May 27th, entry to the show is completely free and all visitors will be offered refreshments on the house to go with their free goodie bag.

As well as the discounts on offer, the usual experts will be on hand to provide advice and demonstrations and, if you’ve always fancied getting behind the wheel of a motorhome, test drives will be available too.

VIDEO: Discovering a new type of outdoors holiday with Camping in the Forest

Posted by

by Marcus Dubois

For many, camping and caravanning is the perfect way to get closer to nature, and when it comes to putting wildlife on your doorstep, nobody does it better than Camping in the Forest.

These woodland caravan sites are situated on Forestry Commission land in some of the more remote and rural parts of the UK, and they are run by the Camping and Caravanning Club.

In this video special, the CaravanTimes team heads to the New Forest to meet Spencer Pettit from Camping in the Forest to hear more about these unique spots, which were previously known as Forest Holidays Touring Sites.

Also, we meet Nick Tucker from the Forestry Commission to find out some of the exciting activities you can do at these sites.

Thanks to the New Forest Activities Centre in Brockenhurst for their help with this video special

VIDEO: Green caravanning with the Bailey Orion Evo

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies

Bailey has gone green with their latest addition to the Orion range, the Evo-4 and CaravanTimes has come to Bristol to find out what makes it so environmentally friendly.

In this video Molly Buckingham, Bailey’s environmental designer, explains how looking at the environmental impact of carvanning has led to the key changes to this special edition Bailey Orion model.

The main aim with the Evo-4 was to lower weight and fuel consumption but keep the functionality so Bailey has switched many of the appliances to electric, minimising the amount of gas required.

Using their most popular layout as the base, the 430-4, Bailey has kept the fixed double bed and it is still possible to bake, grill and cook.

Prices for the Evo-4 are expected to be around £12,500, and it weighs roughly 100kg less than the Orion 430-4 model, giving it an estimated MTPLM of 1,149kg.

Lochside Caravan Club Site: Is this the UK’s most immaculate caravan park?

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
When it was acquired from the local council two years ago, Lochside Caravan Park in Forfar became something of a pet project for The Caravan Club.
Setting itself a challenge of making this a truly top-class site, The Club set about renovating and upgrading this mid-size park with a budget of more than £1m, and on April 6th of this year, that ambitious project came to its conclusion.
So this week, CaravanTimes has been north of the border to investigate and see the fruits of their labour.
Upon visiting the park, it is immediately obvious that this is one of the most immaculate sites in The Club’s collection, with neatly trimmed grass verges providing delightful scenery and freshly laid tarmac driveways making for easy access.

All 15 of the existing hard-standing pitches have been re-laid, while 28 new hard-standings have been put in, including eight serviced pitches.
The reception and amenities block also been completely refurbished, while the toilet and shower facilities are just as pristine as you would expect from a Club site.
Nature on your doorstep
However, The Caravan Club hasn’t tampered with the many things that made Lochside such an appealing destination in the first place.
For starters, its location is highly convenient – Forfar town centre is just a short stroll away, with several shops, supermarkets and restaurants close by.
What’s more, anyone visiting Lochside will find Forfar Country Park literally on the doorstep, something that is particularly appealing for dog-owners, as the site’s wardens Gordon and Christine Milne told CaravanTimes.

“The loch is right there and it’s part of the reason that we attract so many dog owners. I’d say that 50% of the people staying with us have a dog, and we don’t charge them any extra for the privilege.
“The walk around the loch takes about an hour, which is usually enough to tire out most dogs, let alone their owners!” Gordon tells us.
And for those who are serious about their walking Lochside is definitely the place to go this summer, as the Angus Glens Walking Festival is taking place next month.
It’s not just walking that makes the loch a big draw, with fly fishing also very popular among caravanners visiting the site, Gordon adds.
Lochside is just as accommodating for families, with a small children’s play area on site and a much larger one, just the other side of the park’s fence.
Once the kids get tired of that, there’s a leisure centre, swimming pool and a small skate park nearby, while budding golfers can visit Carnoustie, with its 18-hole championship golf courses under half an hour’s drive away.
Or if you’re more Rory McGrath than Rory McIlroy, then there’s both crazy golf and pitch & putt in the local town centre.
Those looking to soak up a bit of culture can take the short drive to Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the Queen Mother and the current home of the Highland Games. There’s even a local bus service to this popular country house, making for an effortless day out.

Everything you need
Facilities on-site include an immaculate shower and toilet block, while Wi-Fi internet is due to be rolled out later this year.
“The Caravan Club tries to ensure that all of their sites are up to the same standard, and to us it’s definitely a five-star site,” says Gordon, who has worked at plenty of sites across the UK in his time with The Club.
Nine tent pitches are also available, but as Gordon tells us, they are generally used by friends and family of caravanners.
In many ways, Lochside offers the best of both worlds – the convenience of having a town centre close-by, as well as the remote Angus countryside (and all that comes with it) well within striking distance for a day trip.
If you’re looking to explore the heartlands of Scotland this summer, then you’ll be hard pressed to find a better base camp from which to do so.
Site Fact File:

  • 70 pitches in total (including 43 hardstanding and 8 serviced)
  • Pitches available from just £5.25 per night (excluding per capita charges)
  • Open to non-members, with a £10/night surcharge
  • Town centre within walking distance, including pubs, restaurants and a choice of supermarkets
  • Open this year from 6th April to 5th November

*For more details see the Caravan Club website.


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Elddis showcase special deals this weekend at Scottish caravan show

Posted by

by Maeve O’Donnell

One of the leading Elddis retailers Eglinton Caravans will be hosting a special event this weekend, the 19th and 20th May in Irvine, Scotland.

Scottish Caravanners’ ‘Tourer of the Year’, the Elddis Xplore range will be on display and several other Elddis models, including the luxury Crusader collection.

These will appear alongside Eglinton’s usual selection of new and used caravans and the retailer will be offering special deals, as well as part exchange on some models.

For this weekend only Eglinton will be giving customers a free porch awning with every new Elddis purchased and there will be large reductions across Eglinton’s range of caravan accessories so it could be a great opportunity to stock up before your touring holidays this summer.

This event is free and there is no need to book. More information about Eglinton can be found on their website.

Caravan tax protestors threaten Westminster road block

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

With the caravan tax protests now gathering pace, protesters from Scotland have threatened to take their holiday homes to London and form a road block at Westminster if the government refuses to reconsider its controversial budget decision.

Campaigners recently met Russell Brown, the Labour MP for Dumfries and Galloway, to get advice on how best to get the government to reverse its decision.

Following Mr Brown’s advice, they have decided to petition other MPs to gain support for the Early Day Motion set to be presented in the House of Commons, but have not ruled out taking direct action if necessary, ITV reported.

It is thought that if 20 per cent VAT is added to touring caravans it could decimate the industry, cutting sales and potentially costing thousands of jobs in the tourism industry.

Speaking after the “very fruitful” talks with the Labour MP, Duncan McCready from D&M Leisure Parks told the national broadcaster that they would not back down.

“This campaign’s not stopping here. We will take these caravans to London,” he said.

“We will have the city of London blocked up and this Prime Minister and his coalition government must take notice.”

Meanwhile, the Hull MPs who launched the Downing Street petition against the caravan tax recently extended the deadline to gather signatures before the Early Day Motion goes before the Commons on May 25th.

At the time of writing, the petition against the proposed rise in caravan tax had attracted 10,393 signatories. To add your name to the petition, click here.

Portsmouth ‘Arson attack’ destroys two caravans

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

Police in Portsmouth are investigating the cause of a fire that completely destroyed two caravans and threatened to spread to nearby cars.

Neighbours watched in horror early on Monday morning after the caravans, which were parked together on a residential driveway, were engulfed by a fireball and their tyres exploded.

It is believed that they were deliberately set on fire at around 6am, Portsmouth News reported.

Lorraine McLeod, who lives next door to the caravan owners, told the newspaper that they were shocked to wake up and find the caravans ablaze.

“We rushed to move the cars out of the way,” she said. “The fire was right next to them and I was worried they could catch.

“It was really roasting and there’s hardly anything left of the caravans.”

Eight firefighters from Southsea rushed to the scene to put out the flames, spending around half an hour tackling the fire.

The case is now with Hampshire Constabulary, who say they are investigating it as suspected arson.

VIDEO: Why luxury spec comes as standard on the Elddis Aspire motorhomes

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies

When it was launched back in 2010, the Elddis Aspire motorhome range certainly turned heads, with its bold modern styling.

Looking beyond the looks, there is plenty to pine after in this range – with luxury features such as air conditioning, Alde central heating and even reversing cameras with night-vision.

With some luxury motorhomes you have to pay extra for these premium touches, but Elddis has made a point of ensuring that everything you could ask for comes as standard.

In this video special, CaravanTimes heads to Elddis HQ in County Durham to find out how this premium range came about and how it manages to keep discerning motorhomers happy.

Rob Quine, Managing Director at Elddis, explains the thinking behind the range, while R&D Manager Alan Bateman talks us through some of the luxury specifications that all come as standard.

Prices in this luxury motorhome range start from £43,899 for the two-berth Elddis Aspire 215, rising to £49,999 for the four-berth Elddis Aspire 265

What kind of job does the typical caravan owner have?

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

Teachers are the most likely of all professions to own a caravan, a new study has revealed.

Insurance database manager The Trading Floor analysed information about 8.8 million motorists in the UK, comparing their occupation and vehicle ownership to come up with the top ten jobs of caravan owners.

Perhaps surprisingly teachers came out on top; with engineers, company directors, police officers and civil servants making up the rest of the top five.

The Trading Floor’s managing director Chris McDonald said that the results showed just how popular caravan holidays are with a diverse range of people.

“There are many stereotypes associated with caravan owners but our figures reveal that there is a real cross section of people who have fallen for the charms of caravan ownership,” he said.

Around two million caravans go touring around the UK every summer and, while many caravanners are retired, the professions of those still working shows that the unlimited range of different holidays on offer makes the pastime popular with all kinds of people.

The rest of the top ten was made up of nurses, builders, factory workers, sales assistants and mechanics.