Caravan dealer Golden Castle celebrate 40th anniversary with premises move

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by Ed Davies

Established in 1977 by Richard Dee and his father-in-law Bert Miles, Golden Castle started out on a small trading site at Stratford Bridge, near Tewkesbury

The dealers then moved to Cheltenham Road East near Staverton Airport, where it has been based for over 30 years.

Now in new premises, the dealership boasts floor space of 50,000 sq ft, which allows them to display their touring caravans, both outside and inside, with two modern showrooms.

The new dealership also includes a well-stocked accessories shop with awning display area.

Current managing director Craig Dee, had recognised an opportunity to expand its workshop and servicing offering as well as increasing the number of caravan models and accessories on display.

Mr Dee said: “This is the perfect start to our 40th anniversary celebrations and to the launch of the new 2017 caravanning season.

“We have got more space than ever before to offer the most comprehensive range of products from the leading manufacturers and brands.

“We’re the largest caravan retailer in the region and should be the first port of call for anyone considering getting into caravanning, changing their tourer or stocking up on essential equipment. They will not be disappointed.”

As part of the redevelopment work, the Golden Castle NCC approved caravan service centre has also been expanded to offer more service bays in the workshops, all of which have been fully approved by the National Caravan Council, The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club.

Caravan manufacturer invests £8 million in new facility

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by Ed Davies

Caravan manufacturer Swift Group is developing a new £8 million purpose built modern facility at its headquarters in Cottingham, Yorkshire

The new facility will take an estimated nine months to build and from the summer of 2017 will house production of all the company’s holiday homes and lodges.

The opportunity to build a whole new production facility from scratch is virtually unheard of within the industry.

Swift plan to create a state of the art facility that will “set new standards in the manufacturing of holiday homes and lodges”.

“This is a most exciting time for Swift Group,” said managing director James Turner.

“We are starting to see significant benefits from our manufacturing investments over the last few years and have high expectations for the opportunities this new facility will provide.

“It is fantastic news for the local area, especially with two local companies securing the project management and construction work.”

Swift Group has engaged two local firms, Alan Wood Partnership and Houlton, to project manage and construct the facility.

The £8m outlay follows on from other major investments in capital equipment over the past four years as Swift Group introduced its SMART innovative construction systems in touring caravans and motorhomes.

The most recent development will be commissioned in the coming weeks and fully operational after the summer.

LEGO Caravan returning for Motorhome & Caravan Show 2016

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by Ed Davies

The world’s largest lego caravan is making a return to the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2016 after it was unveiled there last year

The LEGO brick caravan was certified the world’s largest by an official Guinness World Records adjudicator with celebrities Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty and Matt Baker laying the final bricks.

Built by a team of 12 certified, professional LEGO builders the two meter long caravan took 1,000 man hours to construct and features a full interior, with electric lights, fridge – just like the real thing.

The 2015 record breaker has enjoyed its place at top spot for the last two years as the biggest caravan ever made from the plastic bricks, with 215,158 used in total.

It can be seen up close at the The Motorhome & Caravan Show at The Birmingham NEC between 11-16 October.

CEO of the National Caravan Council, John Lally, said: “The caravan is an amazing tribute to the motorhome and caravanning industry. We’re delighted that it’s retained its Guinness World Record this year and will come to the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2016.

“The level of detail is incredible and we hope that it continues to help inspire young people to get involved and enjoy our industry.”

The LEGO caravan will join almost 400 exhibitors at the popular show, with nearly every leisure vehicle under one roof, along with holiday idea, accessories and much more.

The show is the biggest leisure vehicle launch event of the year and the only show where all the new-for-2017 motorhome, caravan models and accessories are revealed.

Along with all the latest product news, the show will also be attended by several well-known celebrity faces keen to share their love of the great outdoors.

Swift reinvents best-selling coachbuilt motorhome

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by Ed Davies

Swift Group’s Escape range, their best-selling coachbuilt motorhome, has been completely redesigned for 2017

The newly designed range will boast a streamlined low profile bodyshell built using Swift Group’s enhanced SMART Plus construction.

It will also have a fully revised interior and model line-up, which Swift claim will completely “redefine the entry-level coachbuilt sector”.

The new Escape has been cast in the mould of some of Swift’s more premium motorhome ranges and will cost between £40,000 and £45,000 depending on the model.

Nick Page, Swift Group’s commercial director, said: “The stylish exterior, great standard specification and amazing value already meant that the Escape range was our best selling motorhome range, widely chosen by those looking for their first new motorhome.

“The new make-over takes this winning formula to an unbeatable level and is even a serious rival to more expensive ranges.”

All models will have a new GRP overcab pod, white extruded skirts linking to a new full GRP rear panel with exclusive LED rear light clusters.

Swift upgraded the SMART construction system to SMART Plus in 2016 by adding a new sandwich floor construction with a GRP outer skin.
SMART Plus has been further enhanced for 2017 with new balanced panel side walls having both GRP outer and inner skins to create a full GRP bodyshell.

Check out the new Benimar Mileo 231

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by Ed Davies

The CaravanTimes team has been down to check out the new Benimar Mileo 231 analysing its key features and design

The layout of the 231 consists of a fixed rear bed with corner bathroom, centre kitchen and front lounge.

The standard spec on the 231 includes dual fuel blown air heating and water heater, blinds and flyscreens, heki rooflight, fridge, separate freezer and three burner hob.

The six meter long four berth camper also has a grill/oven, swivel cab seats and loose fitting carpets.

There is a fixed French bed and a good lounge making the 231 perfect for two people but also has seating for two others.

It has an unladen weight of 2,940 Kg and a max weight of 3,500 Kg and includes all the equipment you could want in a classic touring vehicle.

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New £1.5million caravan park development announced

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by Ed Davies

A new £1.5 million development has been announced for a caravan park in Ingoldmells, near Skegness in Lincolnshire

The land is to be developed by Blue Anchor Leisure and would be the seventeenth park across the coastal strip.

The new development will boast a large family bar and restaurant offering a variety of food and drink, live entertainment and showing live sports.

It will also contain a large indoor children’s soft play area, with a substantial south facing decked area complete with seating and a large outdoor children’s playground.

A spokesman said: “This new facility will be a fantastic centre piece on a wonderful park.

“As a family run business we understand the need to create jobs in our local area so the surrounding villages have prosperous communities to live in.

Developments such as this fuels local employment not just in the bars and hospitality sector but also the construction industry.”

Caravan nostalgia: Do you have any old pictures of your favourite caravans?

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by Ed Davies

We here at CaravanTimes are thinking of introducing a new feature called Caravan Nostalgia

We would like our readers, you guys, to send in as many pictures you might want to share with us and to possibly give us a call about your old caravans and tell us your memories.

As the new editor my email address is edward.davies@stantonpace.com but you can call us on 020 7167 2663 and ask for Eddie.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Campers turning to motorhomes for comfort

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by Ed Davies

Campervans and motorhomes are back in fashion according to experts, with young campers increasingly drawn to new trends in the industry

Britain’s caravan industry has recently seen a boom in its sales and its popularity is particularly prominent among people in their 20s and 30s.

Advisor to the Forestry Commission Scotland, Kevin Lafferty, believes modern campers are looking for a more comfortable way of enjoying the outdoors and are turning to motorhomes to provide them what they want.

The new trend has been highlighted in documentaries such as Carry On Caravanning, which shows the increase in the younger generation taking up camping.

“There has been a significant increase in the number of motorhomes and requests for provision for them, not just for us but other land managers, that is an emerging market,” Mr Lafferty told the Sunday Post.

“Customers now have a higher level of expectation of the type of services which would be provided so they may look elsewhere.

“How people use the outdoors and stay overnight is changing and some of the emerging site managers and providers are providing different opportunities now.

“We work closely with other land managers and we have seen in areas like Loch Ness that there are a lot more motorhomes than there were five or ten years ago.”

It was recently reported in CaravanTimes that there had been an increase of 16 per cent in motorhome sales in the UK for the year up to June 2016.

More families are now turning to camping in part due to the increase in trends such as glamping.

However, figures show there is a real growing market in campervans and motorhomes. This is largely due to the sharp rise in holiday prices after Brexit, with more people opting to stay in the UK.

“The sites are more geared up in terms of power being available and other facilities so that they can get rid of waste,” Lafferty added.

“That is meeting a demand and they see it as a business opportunity as well.”

Swift continue 2017 renovation with interior revamps

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by Ed Davies

Swift is continuing the revamp of several of its models for the 2017 season, with the renovation of the Swift Conqueror and Sterling Elite

Introducing a completely new interior across the ranges, both will be kitted out to have soft furnishing schemes and select enhancements.

Although, no pictures are available yet, the Swift Conqueror models will have new ‘Graceland’ furniture and include soft, tactile suede like seating and backrest cushions in a muted mink colourway.

Curtains have been given an aubergine geometric design and scatter cushions to add colour to the new motif.

All complementing the ashen brown hue of the wood grain and the upper locker doors, which have a gloss finish and an oakish lower inlay.

The Sterling Elite models have modern hessian effect furniture and matt white locker doors.

The new scheme will have two different textured beige fabrics used to make up the seating and backrest cushions.

Both ranges have the option of SwiftShield fabric, have a soft suede type feel, were treated during manufacturing to resist stains and clean simply using water and a damp cloth.

The ranges benefit from the cast foam bedding that gives greater durability and superior comfort.

Fixed beds retain the Duvalay Duvalite mattress, exclusive as standard equipment to the Swift Group.

Swift hi-tech flagship caravans get reboot

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by Ed Davies

Two of Swift’s most hi-tech ranges have been enhanced for the coming year

The Swift Elegance and Sterling Continental, two award-winning ranges, will be souped-up for 2017 with new features.

The ranges feature five single axle models with improvements to the 480 and 565 allowing a tall slimline fridge to be added to both layouts.

The 650, a completely new layout to Swift Group last season, has a fixed rear island bed and mid-transverse washroom.

Nick Page, Swift Group commercial director said: “The Swift Elegance and Sterling Continental are still unmistakably our flagship ranges.

“Subtle finishing touches, a very high level of specification and the overall luxury interior design set them apart.

“They remain the ranges to aspire to and continue to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback.”

Enhancements include new soft furnishing schemes, an updated Swift Command system and a rear view camera.

Chrome effect grab handles and more luxurious touches to the graphics scheme add to the premium feel.

Competition to win a £16,000 caravan

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by Ed Davies

Leading European motorhome and caravan manufacturers, Adria, is offering punters the chance to win a new Altea caravan from its 2017 range

The caravan, worth £16,000, can be won during the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2016, held at the Birmingham NEC from October 11 – 16.

The lucky winner will get to choose from one of five Altea layouts that perfectly fits their needs.

For the opportunity to win the caravan and enjoy the freedom that comes with the caravanning lifestyle, show-goers simply need to visit Adria’s stand 20.77.

A fully equipped Altea caravan will be displayed at the Adria stand – the perfect opportunity for visitors to experience the vehicle first-hand.

Slavica Sterk, Adria managing director, said: “We are very excited to give away one of our new Altea caravans at the Motorhome & Caravan Show this year.

“The competition is a great way for us to celebrate over 50 years in the industry and to give something back to caravan enthusiasts.

“We are sure the lucky winner is going to have a very exciting and comfortable 2017 season in the model of their choice.”

The Motorhome & Caravan Show runs from 11 – 16 October 2016 and is the biggest leisure vehicle event of the year and the only show where all the new-for-2017 motorhome and caravan models are revealed.

Visitors will have access to nearly 400 exhibitors, offering exclusive ‘show-only’ deals. In addition to all the latest product news, the show will also be attended by a number of well-known celebrity faces keen to share their love of the great outdoors.

For competition applicants, full terms and conditions apply.

This years’ show line-up includes Olympic cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins and well-known TV presenters George Clarke, Matt Allwright and Julia Bradbury.

To buy show tickets or for more information go to the Motorhome & Caravan Show website or call 0844 873 7333.

In depth look at the Benimar Mileo 301

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by Ed Davies

CaravanTimes takes an in depth look at the new Mileo 301 four berth, which Benimar is introducing for 2017

Benimar has five models in the three series range for 2017, including the 301, which has two double beds, one above the driving seats and another at the back.

At a cost of £44,995, the Mileo 301, has a well-equipped kitchen, full oven, grill, microwave, proper shower and swivel toilet.

Measuring 5.95m long and 2.3m wide, the coachbuilt, luxury, diesel camper has a spacious bathroom, which means you will never again need to rely on camp site shower blocks when washing.

Specifications also include gas or electric water and heating, fresh and waste water tanks, oven and grill, two gas burner hobs and one electric hob.

The low profile van is based on a 2.3 cc 150 BHP fiat chassis and has a decent lounge with an adjustable table.

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