Will a UK Holiday Park Break be different this summer

Sharon Court on 10 July 2020
The sun shone at the weekend for a lovely socially distanced long weekend at Shorefield Country Park at Milford on Sea, approx 20 minutes from the New Forest and only 3 minute’s drive or 20 minute walk from the beach.

My family own a caravan on the park and I have been here numerous times over the years so was intrigued to see what changes were in place in the current climate and how these changes would affect clients staying this summer,

The park has been closed to everyone since the end of March, it is looking lovely very tidy and you can see they have spent time sprucing up the grounds and implementing new rules in line with guidelines set out by the Government. The park re opened on 4th July, here are the main changes

• Lots of things implemented to allow for social distancing, including a one way system along corridors inside the club house/reception/bar area and different entry and exit points, limited number of guests allowed inside the main building at any one time, track & trace in use

• remote check for your caravan/lodge – to avoid queues at check in time at reception

• Reception Desk available at reduce hours with a one way system in & out with screens at the reception desks

• Food & Drink - you can dine at Tides Bar/restaurant either inside or outside all tables have 2m space between them and each table is set out for set number of people eg, 2, 4 or 6 with added space for food & drinks to be delivered without contact with the waiting staff, even the cutlery comes in sealed bag with napkins & sauces. There are around 50 tables inside which is approx half the normal number, or outside there is around 20 Outdoor tables nicely set out in front of the entrance, this area is roped off and to enter you need to check in with member staff giving contact details for track & trace, there is hand sanitizer too as you enter and you are shown to your table by a member of staff.

• All food and drinks are ordered and paid for by an online ordering system which once you get used to it is quite easy to use, you select where you are sitting and table number and once the ticket has printed inside the bar you receive a confirmation code with approx time for delivery to your table. On each table there is a QR code for you to scan with the camera on your phone taking you directly to the ordering system. You can also set up an account with payment card details etc are saved saving you time on future visits.

• Food delivery available to your caravan or lodge, exactly the same full menu of drinks and food available as is available if you were dining in at Tides can be delivered to you, including breakfast, lunch & dinner. All on the same ordering service, just need to choose home delivery as your location.

We had home delivery on Saturday night, drinks outside Tides on Friday in the sunshine and dinner inside Tides on Sunday lunchtime, a lovely roast dinner and the bar to ourselves!

• Track & Trace – everyone staying over night has to register each day, again there are QR codes dotted around the park for you to scan as a reminder, once scanned it takes you straight through to the correct page for you to enter your name, number of people in your party and contact number.

• There are 2 x swimming pools one indoor and one outdoor both currently closed but outdoor due to open on 15 July and indoor on 25 July

• Gym is due to open on 25th July

• Reflections Spa due to open on 25th with treatments they are allowed to do within government guidelines

• The onsite shop is open with good selection of food, toys, DVD hire papers etc. Just reduced hours to allow for cleaning in the middle of the day and max of 10 people allowed in at one time. The staff are all really friendly and you are never waiting too long

• Entertainment - There is none of the usual holiday park entertainment, this of course could change before the end of the summer if the Government guidelines change.

• Arcade – There is a games Arcade which opened whilst I was there on 11 July, there was 2 members of staff cleaning the machines regularly, clear screens between each machine and 2m signs on the ground reminding people to socially distance

Shorefield is located in Milford on Sea, with a lovely beach overlooking the Isle of Wight, it has a number of cafés and eating places my favourite is a great café called The needles located at the beach, which serves, food including breakfast, ice cream and coffee currently all as take away but there are benches on the sea front or garden tables in the café garden area, with a perfect view of the Isle of Wight Needles while you eat your New Forest Ice Cream!

A short drive away there is also lots to do if you want to venture out for the afternoon or the day.

• The New forest – picnic stops, walks and wild New Forest horses which quite often wonder over to say hello or stop in the middle of the road

• Lymington – a lovely town with to wonder with a Saturday market, head down to the bottom of the high street for more cafes, ice cream places and boats in the Harbour

• Take a day trip on the ferry to the Isle of Wight

• Beaulieu Motor Museum

• Exbury Gardens – 200 Acres of stunning woodland landscape and summer gardens in bloom to wonder

• Paultons Park Family Theme Park – if you have little ones with you this is the home of Peppa Pig

• Bournemouth & Poole are around 40 – 50 minutes drive away

• Sandy Beaches close by are Highcliffe Beach and Avon Beach

Exbury Gardens, Beaulieu and Paulton Park have all re opened with reduced visitor numbers so you much book online before visiting

I really enjoyed my weekend away and actually liked the table ordering and being shown to a table, rather the busy bar, having to find somewhere to sit, queue to get food & drink, it was also a lot quieter too, a perfect relaxing weekend, the beach area was busy and I had to queue for my ice cream, but everyone was socially distancing

Holidaying in the UK is going to be different this year, if you like a busy noisy bar, lots of entertainment unfortunately this year you will not find these, but what you will find is friendly staff, lots of space, the great outdoors, lovely local beaches, attractions open , a good well thought out system on the park to make the best of a bad situation and fingers crossed some lovely English sunshine!