| Type | Private Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Leisure / Holiday |
| Predecessor | Cinque Ports Leisure Ltd (to January 2007) |
| Founded | 1984 (original co.) |
| Founder(s) | Peter Bull & Jim Watson |
| Headquarters | Hastings, East Sussex |
| Number of locations | 25 caravan holiday parks in southern England |
| Key people | Jeffrey Sills Alasdair Loch[1] |
| Services | Operation of holiday home parks |
| Revenue | £68.3m (2010)[1] |
| Operating income | £17.1m (2010) |
| Profit | £10.4m (2010) |
| Owner(s) | Graphite Capital Management LLP[1] |
| Employees | 654 (average, 2010)[1] |
| Parent | CP Equityco Ltd[1] |
| Website | www.parkholidaysuk.com |
Park Holidays UK operate 25 holiday parks in the south of England, with more sites than any other Holiday Park operator along the South Coast.[2] All of the parks have been graded by VisitBritain quality in Tourism, and have achieved ratings of up to 4 stars. Many of their Holiday Parks have also achieved the David Bellamy Conservation award for work carried out to protect and enhance Britain’s natural environment.[3] Park Holidays UK are members of industry trade associations the British Holiday and Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) and the National Caravan Council.
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The company was originally called Cinque Ports Leisure, founded by Peter Bull and Jim Watson in the mid 1980s. Frenchmans Beach at Rye Harbour was the first park to be owned, and as the company expanded to include other Kent and East Sussex parks the name Cinque Ports Leisure was introduced to emphasize the regional base, Cinque Ports being a collection of five Kent and East Sussex ports.
The company was transformed in 2001 with the purchase of ten parks from Haven Holidays, which extended the company's presence west into Dorset and Hampshire and north into Essex and Suffolk.
In total Park Holidays UK now operates six Parks in Devon (Riviera Bay, Landscove, Waterside, Dawlish Sands, Golden Sands, Peppermint Park) one in Dorset (Sandhills), one in Hampshire (Solent Breezes), five in Sussex (Beauport, Coghurst Hall, Chichester Lakeside, Winchelsea Sands, Frenchmans Beach) six in Kent (Marlie Farm, New Beach, Alberta, Seaview, Harts, Sheerness), four in Essex (Steeple Bay, Oaklands, Seawick, St Osyth Beach) and two in Suffolk (Felixstowe Beach, Suffolk Sands).
In 2006 the business was sold to Graphite Capital, with Peter Bull continuing his involvement and in 2007 he was awarded the Ernst & Young London entrepreneur of the year award. The company changed name to Park Holidays UK in 2007, reflecting its more national coverage having expanded into South Devon. In 2009 the company was nominated for 'Best UK Domestic Holiday Operator' in the British Travel Awards.[4]
Park Holidays UK has 2 kids club characters. These are Loopy Rabbit who is the main charachter and Cyril the Squirrel. These characters can usually be seen around the parks on most days and also make regular appearances at Kids Club events. Loopy also has his own website.