UK HOLIDAY PARKS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY VALCATO ENTERTAINMENT
This month we present a round-up of news from the UK Holiday centre scene, all compiled by Mark Ritchie and sponsored by our friends at Valcato Entertainment.

PONTINS LATEST
Last month we reported on the recent closures of Pontins holiday centres and the effects on local communities around the parks. Just as we were going to press last month, we heard news of their Pakefield site in Norfolk, which has also now closed its doors to holiday-makers. The owner operator of the Pontins brand Britannia Hotels is reporting that the site will only be taken over temporarily by contractors and their families. A similar move was made last year regarding the Pontins operation in Brean Sands, where families of contractors working on a new power station project are currently enjoying the seaside location.

WETHERSPOONS ON THE COASTS
The Wetherspoons pub giant has arranged what is being described as a franchise partnership with Haven Holidays this year. Caravan and holiday park giant’s Haven Holidays first tried out the new partnership at Haven’s giant Primrose Valley Park, on the Yorkshire coast.  The scheme to open new Wetherspoons pubs on Haven sites has now been extended to other areas, such as the Devon Cliffs site Haggerston Castle in Northumberland and at another east coast venue in Cleethorpes. At the time of this report, it is not known what effect, if any, this development will have on the entertainment venues on these sites.
PAIGNTON DEVELOPMENT
The Devonshire resort of Paignton is welcoming massive recent investment, which includes new hotels and cultural visitor attractions, as well as improvements to the famous red sandy beaches. One of the main areas seeing improvement is Goodrington Sands and there are a number of holiday parks close by, most notable Beverley Park. This particular oark seems to go from strength to strength with the recent addition of a pub style venue augmenting the long-standing success of The Starlight Room. This purpose built cabaret auditorium boasts a resident team, but its facilities for and presentation of visiting cabaret acts has won the park thousands of new visitors over the year. Given the new investment which is flooding into this area of Devon, the parks future seems well assured.