Equistone invests in leading static caravan manufacturer Willerby

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by Tom Leaning

Equistone Partners Europe Limited (Equistone), a leading mid-market private equity investor, has announced its investment in Willerby, the a UK manufacturer of static holiday homes, including caravans and lodges.

Equistone has acquired a majority stake in the Company from Caird Capital. The financial terms of the investment are undisclosed.

Founded in 1946, Willerby has established itself within the UK holiday home market as a brand associated with premium quality, technical innovation, and breadth of offering. From its two recently expanded production sites in Hull employing about 900 people, Willerby today manufactures approximately 70 different models of static caravans and lodges across 23 product ranges at a variety of price points. The Company is the largest provider of static caravans and lodges in the UK, serving the retail and fleet markets through its strong and extensive national dealer network and long-standing relationships with holiday park operators.

Willerby generates an annual turnover of £155 million. Equistone’s investment will support the Company’s expansion within the growing UK holiday home market by leveraging its strong brand, new product development, and quality production to meet growing consumer demand.

Andi Tomkinson, Investment Director at Equistone Partners Europe, said: “Willerby is the clear UK market leader in terms of both scale and breadth of product offering. It also enjoys an established reputation for quality and innovation rooted in over seven decades of its history, and has exhibited strong growth in recent years. When you combine this with the attractive fundamentals of the wider UK holiday home sector – namely a strengthening ‘grey pound’ driven by demographic change and the long-term upswing in Britons’ propensity for ‘staycations’ – the opportunity to invest was an exciting one. We look forward to working with CEO Peter Munk and the entire Willerby team to help the business realise its potential for further growth.”

Peter Munk, CEO of Willerby, commented: “The market opportunity within the UK holiday home sector is exciting and, with our scale, skilled passionate people, technical innovations, and leading production, we are well-placed to capitalise upon it. We’re delighted to have found in Equistone an investor with not only a proven track record in supporting mid-market companies’ growth, but also an understanding of the importance of our proud history of premium quality and technical innovation to the Willerby brand’s success.”

Andi Tomkinson and Richard Briault-Hutter from Equistone led the investment.

Equistone was advised on the acquisition by Lincoln International, Marlborough Partners, Travers Smith, EY, OC&C Strategy Consultants, Newton, and PwC. Caird Capital was advised on the sale by DC Advisory, DLA Piper, L.E.K. Consulting, and PwC. Willerby’s management was advised by Jamieson Corporate Finance and CMS.

Bailey moves to strengthen position in Australian market with new locally built product ranges

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by Tom Leaning

Seven years after introducing the Bailey caravan brand into Australia, the Bristol-based company is reaffirming its commitment to this key export market with further investment in new distribution outlets and new locally manufactured products.

According to Bailey, the Australian caravan market is currently about the same size as that of the UK, but a great deal more fragmented with approximately 130 indigenous manufacturers.

Initially, Bailey carved a niche for itself thereby supplying models from its existing UK Pursuit, Pegasus and Unicorn ranges that were tailored to suit the local market* – both in terms of product specification (for example, the fitment of such items as on-board water tanks and air conditioning units) and ensuring that they were fully compliant with stringent Australian type approval standards.

In order to capitalise fully on the opportunity that this important market affords, Bailey took the decision in 2015 to form a wholly owned subsidiary in the country. Two years on and Melbourne-based Bailey Leisure Pty Ltd is now an established manufacturing company producing up to 300+ caravans per year. The first locally produced Bailey range was the Rangefinder which was developed using a combination of Anglo-Australian design expertise to create models specifically tailored to the Australian audience. Other than the caravan body shell panels, which are supplied from Bailey UK’s Large Panel Manufacturing Plant in the UK, all other components of the vehicle are sourced locally.

Such has been the popularity of the Rangefinder that Bailey Australia will shortly be introducing its second new range, the Coastal, later this year. For full information on the Bailey Australia product ranges please visit www.baileyaustralia.com.au.

As in the UK, one of the key selling points for Bailey caravans in Australia is the Alu-Tech body shell construction system. This fully patented technology produces vehicles that are more robust, more durable and yet lighter than those manufactured using conventional methods and offer greater protection against the elements to keep owners comfortable, safe and secure all year round. All of which makes caravans built this way ideally suited for the rugged terrain and harsh climatic conditions found ‘Down Under’. To date, approaching 50,000 Alu-Tech leisure vehicles have been built and are currently being enjoyed all over the world.

To prove this point, Bailey Australia took two Rangefinder caravans on the ultimate 6,000 km endurance challenge from the west to the east coast straight through the centre of the country. This unique test took the caravans through some of the most remote parts of Australian Outback travelling over approximately 2,200km of gravel, dirt and corrugated roads in the process. During this two-week structural examination, the two Bailey caravans stood up to everything thrown at them and safely negotiated all of the obstacles put in their path – showing they could hold their own in even the toughest conditions.

Here’s the highlights from the 2015 expedition:

Bailey caravans are sold in Australia through a national Retailer network and at the 40+ state and regional shows held throughout the year. In order to improve the distribution of its products in this competitive market, in a new move, Bailey has established the first of its own solus dealerships in Morisset, Northern New South Wales. Stocking a full range of new and pre-owned Bailey caravans, Bailey New South Wales also boasts a first-class service centre, leisure store, and storage facilities. For more details please visit http://www.baileynsw.com.au/. Following the success of this new venture Bailey is planning to open its second retail outlet in Queensland later this year.

Bailey (UK) Managing Director, Nick Howard, said: “We have invested over £2 million to date in establishing our presence in Australia. The decision to start manufacturing bespoke Australian products in Melbourne is really beginning to pay dividends in terms of sales growth and we anticipate that this will become an increasingly important market for Bailey going forward”.

*Please note: Australian specification caravans can only be purchased locally through Approved Australian Retailers and cannot be supplied to customers in the UK.

CAMC sites set to open for summer business ahead of schedule

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by Tom Leaning

The Caravan and Motorhome Club has announced the imminent reopening dates for two popular Club sites following the completion of redevelopment work.

The picturesque site of Wharfdale, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, will now open on 30th June following its closure for development works.

The North Yorkshire site has been closed over the 2017 season to undergo a number of upgrades, including:

  • a complete refurbishment of the facilities block
  • replacement of all service points
  • repairs to the road
  • Book today

Book here now for stays from 30th June.

Beautiful in the summer, this leafy, rural site is ideal for exploring the surrounding National Park. With an abundance of wildlife, countryside walking routes, village pubs and local produce to try, it’s hard not to be charmed by such a chocolate-box location.

Castleton to open 21st July

The much loved Castleton Club Site in the heart of the Peak District will be back open for business earlier than expected.

Redevelopment work for this site has progressed well and will now open on 21st July 2017, more than three weeks ahead of schedule.

The Derbyshire site has been closed to allow for significant upgrades. Improvements carried out on the site have included:

  • a refurbished toilet block
  • extra serviced pitches
  • increased spacing between pitches
  • new waste disposal point
  • Book today

Book here now for stays from 21 July.

If you fancy an impromptu break to the beautiful Peak District this summer, Castleton is perfectly located for exploring the countryside and taking part in exciting outdoor activities as hiking, rock climbing, potholing, biking and horse riding. Castleton Village is dominated by the ruins of William the Conqueror’s Peveril Castle and is a wonderful location to escape and unwind.

VIDEO SPECIAL: A closer look inside the 90th National

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by Tom Leaning

We have another special video for you from the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s 90th National at The Sandringham Estate last month. In between ice-creams, CaravanTimes met an array of people, from event organisers to first-time attendees. Here’s what they had to say about their experience…

For the official 90th National highlights: Click Here

From CycleFest to upside down cycling, from 90th National official wristbands to 90 year-old caravans – this caravan rally had everything! So enjoy our video and read our daily blogs below:

Day 1’s Blog
Day 2’s Blog
Day 3’s Blog

Elddis to sponsor CaravanTimes Facebook LIVE Giveaway

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by Tom Leaning

To celebrate the extra special Avante 462 caravan competition from Elddis, the leisure vehicle manufacturer is sponsoring the CaravanTimes 2nd Facebook LIVE Giveaway.

Enter the Elddis competition HERE NOW!

There will be some tricky Elddis-based questions involved, but the most switched on participants will be rewarded with a fantastic collection of goodies, so look out for the Giveaway on the CaravanTimes official Facebook page on Wednesday, 21st June from 6pm.

https://www.facebook.com/caravantimescouk/

Here’s a reminder of the Elddis Competition:

Elddis and The Caravan and Motorhome Club are looking for an adventurous person – or couple – to live 2018 Season to the MAX with an all new Elddis touring caravan.

From Summer 2017 to Summer 2018, you could have a brand new and exclusive Elddis Avante 462 2-berth to go on the trip of a lifetime.

Complete the application form (below) and tell Elddis (in no more than 200 words) how the Elddis Avante 462 could enable your adventure – plus Elddis would like you to make a 1 minute video telling them about you!

The deadline for applications is 12:00am Sunday 2nd July 2017 and the Winner will be announced Monday, 17 July 2017.

ENTER HERE NOW!

CaravanTimes to attend three top European summer festivals

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by Tom Leaning

CaravanTimes is delighted to announce we’ll be attending three of Europe’s biggest summer festivals to explore what it’s like to camp, glamp and tour at major international cultural events for couples, friends and families.

First up is Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle in Dorset from 27th – 30th July; the event is celebrating its 10th birthday and offers a family-friendly weekend of activity-packed fun and music. A star-studded line-up is combined with fairground rides, soft play tents Kid Gardens. The festival offers areas to accommodate campers with tents, campervans, trailer tents and caravans. There’s also a pre-pitched tent and boutique camping area!

Next is the Dimensions Festival at Fort Punta Christo in Pula, Croatia from 30th August – 3rd September; fresh from a milestone five years last summer, Dimensions Festival can now reveal plans for its 2017 outing, with it’s heaviest bill of live acts and selectors to date. In and around this incredible setting in northern Croatia, the festival offers an intriguing variety of camping options, including standard and boutique camping, mobile homes, podpads, bellepads, octopads and luxpads! Check out what they all mean here: http://bit.ly/2s9ajHe

Lastly, it’s Bestival, also at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, this time from 7th – 10th September; “an enchanting, wooded country estate on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast”, Bestival is well-known for its humungous size and its fancy-dress themed days. The camping options include: Boutique campsite, Camping Plus reserved pitches, Backstage Camping, Hospitality Camping, Pitch Village, Camplight, The Pop-Up Hotel, and Campervan and Caravan and Trailer Tent areas.

We can’t wait and will report back with our findings!

Ready Camp glamping escapes are closer to UK cities than people think

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by Tom Leaning

Nearly one in two families would like to take more short weekend family breaks, to set aside the time and space to create unforgettable experiences together. And now they can with glamping escapes from Ready Camp within one hour’s drive time of the UK’s top 10 most populated cities.

The findings of a UK study* of 2000 adults, with young children aged up to 14, revealed that 97 per cent of respondents said escaping for regular weekend family breaks, to different locations where the countryside or a beach are nearby, where they can be closer to nature, and the children can go and explore, was appealing.

In the survey, commissioned by glamping operator Ready Camp, respondents felt regular holidays were an important way of freeing up time to spend as a family.

Research has previously shown that families who spend quality family time together are able to communicate with each other better. And that time benefits the family as a whole, as well as each member as an individual.

From Scone in Scotland, to St David’s in Wales, Sandringham in the East of England, to Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds, Veryan in Cornwall and Milarrochy Bay on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond, there’s now a Ready Camp site within one hour, or 50 miles, of the UK’s biggest conurbations.

We’ve listed these cities and the nearest Ready Camp site from the city centres and outlying areas:

  • London to Theobald’s Park, 59 mins
  • Manchester to Hayfield, 50 mins
  • Birmingham/Wolverhampton to Cannock Chase, 35 mins
  • Leeds/Bradford to Sherriff Hutton, 50 mins
  • Glasgow to Milarrochy Bay, 53 mins
  • Southampton/Portsmouth to Veryan: 40 mins
  • Liverpool to Bala: 50 miles
  • Newcastle to Barnard Castle, 54 mins
  • Nottingham to Conkers: 45 mins
  • Sheffield to Hayfield: 58 mins

Ready Camp ambassador, Katy Hill, the former Blue Peter TV presenter, current Heart FM radio presenter and celebrity parent blogger, said:

“Raising children is, for me, one of life’s most fulfilling experiences. But families are busier than ever, juggling home and work life, and being able to spend quality time with loved ones is at a premium. For me, regularly switching off from work and committing fully to family life, is a must and an absolute joy.”

Ms. Hill, a mum to two children aged 10 and 7, said: “Glamping in the great outdoors is a brilliant, no-hassle way to take a break from the pressures of modern life with the ones you love most. They help to re-establish bonds and lay down unforgettable family memories. I value these breaks dearly.”

Glamping with Ready Camp makes the prospect of an escape in a tent, away from home comforts such as your own bed, a little less daunting. There’s no need to pack your life into the boot for a few days away – the tent is pitched and ready for you, so you can concentrate on having fun!

Ready Camp director, Bob Hill, said: “With so many superb, affordable Ready Camp glamping sites just a short Friday evening’s dash from the UK’s largest cities; there are more reasons than ever to make regular escapes and recharge your batteries with loved ones, away from the distractions of everyday life.”

The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Ready Camp network of glamping tents, launched in 2015, has expanded year on year. The network grew from 17 to 29 sites in the first year, with a further 10 new sites in 2017 to total 39 sites across the country, close to many of Britain’s best-loved tourist spots.

Each offers comfortable and hassle-free breaks to people keen to camp without having to hitch up a caravan or pitch their own tent – all visitors need to bring is their own bedding, towels and a sense of adventure.

Washroom facilities are available on all Camping and Caravanning Club Sites, where holidaymakers are guaranteed immaculate facilities.

Explore all last minute glamping holidays with Ready Camp at www.readycamp.co.uk/late-availability.

Swift Group recognised for third year running in fast track international 200

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by Tom Leaning

Yorkshire-based leisure vehicle manufacturer, Swift Group, has once again been listed in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 as compiled by Fast Track and is the only East Yorkshire company to appear.

The International Track is a barometer of Britain’s mid-market private companies with the ranking based on fastest-growing international sales over their latest two years of available.

“Swift has enjoyed a fantastic year, delivering record retail sales and winning multiple awards including Manufacturer of the Year in Yorkshire,” said James Turner, Managing Director, “I am delighted that for the third year running our international sales development, primarily in Europe and Asia Pacific, has also been recognised and especially proud that Swift is a torch bearer in the East Yorkshire region. The significant investments the company continues to make in people and infrastructure will help us fuel UK and international growth further.”

The company recently announced the addition of the iconic Airstream brand to its portfolio in the UK. Swift has production facilities in Cottingham, Hull and Mexborough and continues to make significant progress especially in innovation, manufacturing, customer service, people development and online technology.

Tregurrian Club Site celebrates 50 years of camping

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by Tom Leaning

Tregurrian Camping and Caravanning Club Site is celebrating 50 years of welcoming campers in 2017, and will mark the golden milestone next week with a special on-site birthday party.

Holiday Site Managers, Stephen and Vanessa Wassell, are planning an afternoon cream tea, with a series of free on-site activities for campers to enjoy.

Tregurrian is a 90 pitch campsite, four miles from the popular holiday resort of Newquay. It’s situated close to several tourist hotspots along Cornwall’s north coast, including Padstow, Watergate Bay, Bude and Bodmin Moor.

The campsite is also close to filming locations from hit TV shows: Port Isaac is the picturesque base for ITV1’s Doc Martin and Portcothan Beach and St Agnes Head were both used for recent scenes in BBC1’s Poldark.

Bob Hill, Club Sites Director, said: “Our dedicated on-site team at Tregurrian are really looking forward to putting on this event for campers.

“Several of our UK Club Sites have celebrated anniversaries in the past few years, including Clent Hills near Birmingham and Walton on Thames in Surrey, which at 104 is possibly the oldest campsite in the UK.”

The Camping and Caravanning Club was founded in 1901 and is today the world’s oldest and largest Club for all forms of camping.

Vanessa Wassell, Holiday Site Manager at Tregurrian, said: “We welcome thousands of campers every year and our event will have a ‘best of British summer’ theme, with a fete, garden games, croquet and skittles. There’s also a dog show for campers to enter their four legged friends.

“We chose this weekend as we have a group that visits us during the same week, year after year, who’ve been doing so for more than thirty years! They’ve shared photos dating back to the 1980s, so it’s nice to have something to look back on and show our campers how things have changed.”

To book a pitch at Tregurrian Club Site, visit: www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/tregurrian

The Caravan and Motorhome Club launches its 2017 Big Little Tent Festival

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by Tom Leaning

Experience the great outdoors and host your own festival in your own back garden at this year’s Big Little Tent Festival from the Caravan and Motorhome Club on the weekend of 22-23 July.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is urging the great British public to have some fun this summer, pitch their tents in their own back garden and create their own festival. Keen festival hosts are encouraged to sign up online at www.camc.com/bltf to register for a free festival pack which includes bunting, flags and wristbands to enhance the experience!

The Club is also working with the Scouts for this year’s event and hoping to encourage hundreds of Scouts and their families to take part.

As an added incentive there is also the option to enter a prize draw to win a week-long European camping holiday when registering for packs. Don’t worry if the weekend of 22-23 July isn’t convenient, save the festival pack and host an event on a date that suits you during the summer holidays.

With the Club experiencing a 20 per cent increase in camping bookings in the last year, The Big Little Tent Festival is an ideal way to introduce families and children to the joys of camping by encouraging them to have their own mini festival. Invite friends and neighbours to attend and join in the fun – have a BBQ, play some music, string up the fairy lights, tell stories and inspire the whole family to enjoy the great outdoors (but with the facilities of your own home within walking distance!).

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing at the Caravan and Motorhome Club said: “The Big Little Tent Festival is now in its third year and the event has grown from strength to strength. It is a fantastic way to introduce people to the joys of the great outdoors – we saw a great response last year with hundreds of people taking to their back gardens and spending the night outside, relaxing, having fun and enjoying a different experience with friends and family.

“We have seen a big growth in our camping bookings and we welcome tent campers on 47 of our sites. As a Club we have also witnessed many keen campers move to campervans, motorhomes and caravans at a different stage in life. I really would urge even the most reticent of campers to give it a go and there’s nothing to lose with the comforts of home being so close by!”

For more information log onto www.camc.com/bltf and don’t forget to share your photos on social media using #BLTF17.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club celebrates its 110th birthday

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by Tom Leaning

The Caravan and Motorhome Club are today celebrating 110 years’ of building a community of caravan or motorhome lovers who love having adventures around the UK and abroad.

Founded in 1907 with a handful of members, the Club have evolved into one of Europe’s biggest touring organisation over time, but the vital founding values, of bringing adventurous people together, are still very much at its heart.

Representing more than one million caravan, motorhome and trailer tent users, the Club operates the largest privately owned network of quality sites in the UK with a choice of some 3,000 destinations worldwide.

In the beginning.

The Club was set up by J Harris Stone in London on Friday, 14 June 1907. Stone wanted to revitalise caravanning holidays as a popular pastime, taking his inspiration from the first purpose-built touring caravan, The Wanderer (pictured). The Club was built on the core values of bringing together people interested in “vans as a pastime”, improving and supplying suitable vans, arranging camping groups and preserving the pastime by publishing lists of campsites and books for its members.

The Club has witnessed many changes throughout its history. From the 1920s when the car replaced the horse, to caravans being enlisted to play their part in World War Two in the 1940s, it wasn’t until the 1950s that British Caravanning really took off as a popular holiday choice. HRH Prince Philip has been the Club’s patron since 1952.

Today.

The Club rebranded
as the Caravan and Motorhome Club in February 2017, acknowledging the fact that 40 per cent of its more than one million members are now motorhomers.

Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said that: “We are very proud of everything the Caravan and Motorhome Club has achieved throughout its history and we’re excited about its future. We will continue to provide people with opportunities to experience great adventures and build lasting memories. For the past 110 years our community has been passionately sharing its collective knowledge and experience of touring holidays and we look forward to this continuing for the next 110 years.”

VIDEO SPECIAL: The 90th National sizzles with family fun

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by Tom Leaning

We’ve just about cooled down from that steaming bank holiday weekend in Norfolk, at the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s 90th National at The Sandringham Estate. We all had a sunburnt blast, and we’ve put together our favourite bits from the weekend, that was full of family fun, vintage caravans, ice cream and gallons sun tan lotion!

From CycleFest to upside down cycling, from 90th National official wristbands to 90 year-old caravans – this caravan rally had everything! So enjoy our video and read our daily blogs below:

Day 1’s Blog
Day 2’s Blog
Day 3’s Blog