by Damien Sharkov
Sometimes even the biggest stars of the silver screen lose their shine. Paul O’Connor and Jo Furlong have taken the matter in their own hands, by having their own cinema, made from an upcycled caravan, reliant on a much more trustworthy star – the Sun.
Billed as the world’s smallest solar movie theatre, Sol Cinema seats eight adults and travels nationally, giving everybody the chance to experience the excitement of the big screen in a new quirky, fun and not to mention environmentally friendly way.
“We wanted to give important exposure to short films, but also have fun parodying mainstream cinema,” Paul, a filmmaker himself, says.
The caravan itself is a three berth Euro-Camper, originally designed in 1965, to be towed by a British Leyland Mini.
Of course its design has come a long way since Paul and Jo conceived of Sol Cinema.
Two wooden tiers of seat frames were installed, cushioned and upholstered, the interior was made to match the red carpet nature of the theatre in production and an LED projector was installed in the back.
The most technically complex part of this caravan project was, however, the installation of the 120W solar panels, designed by David Lloyd-Jones.
All appliances had to conform to an energy-saving standard to ensure they could run under the circumstances of this unorthodox caravan revamp.
Still Sol Cinema retains an air of fun about it, despite the amount of work that has gone into Paul and Jo’s vision. The little caravan has been all around Britain in the last few months, spreading cinema magic from Glastonbury festival to private hire events on every corner of the land.
For more information on hiring Sol Cinema visit thesolcinema.org
Why caravanning in London is getting more popular
by Myron Jobson
London is a magnificent city that attracts visitors from remote parts of the country and worldwide, including caravan and motorhome enthusiasts.
You may be forgiven in assuming that caravanning in London is a paradox, because of its long narrow roads and chock-a-block traffic jams, which make it extremely difficult to safely transport a caravan around the capital.
However, this should not put caravanners off, because there are many caravan parks in and around London that offer people the opportunity to explore the wonders of the city without any of the hassle.
Good alternative to hotels
With demand for hotel rooms in the capital ever growing, and worst still, the inflation of hotel room prices, people are looking for viable alternatives, with caravan park stays becoming increasingly popular.
Nick Boothroyd, Communications Officer of Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park in Edmonton, North London agrees.
“They are a great alternative allowing visitors to enjoy peaceful surroundings in the countryside whilst still being close to numerous attractions,” he said.
He added: “Caravan parks also offer excellent value for money.”
The Caravan Club’s PR Officer, Beverley Larion, also spoke of the benefits of caravanning as an alternative to hotels.
“Today’s caravans offer great comfort, space and facilities so they’re a great alternative to hotels,” she said.
What does a caravan holiday in London offer?
London is home to spectacular, world-renowned landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament, so it’s no wonder tourists from all over the world come to visit.
It hosts many activities to suit even the pickiest of individuals ranging from sightseeing and shopping to theatres trips and exhibitions.
London is a hub for a buzzing nightlife, with hundred of bars, clubs, pubs and cinemas for visitors to enjoy.
The great thing about caravan parks in and around the capital is that you are never too far from the action.
Visitors of Lee Valley Caravan Park can catch a bus from the site every 15 minutes to Edmonton Green Railway station which runs a direct connection to the city in less than an hour.
Similarly, Crystal Palace Caravan Club Site provides an accessible route to the heart of capital. Visitors can take a bus straight into London and Travelcards can be bought on site.
Best of both worlds
For those who are looking for a simpler retreat in a tranquil scenic environment, they can find it with the many caravan parks in and around London.
“Some people come because of the proximity to London and convenience of travelling into the centre, others for peaceful and tranquil surroundings and proximity to the Herts and Essex countryside,” Nick said, commenting on why people visit the Lee valley site.
With over 1,000 acres of the River Lee Country Park and Epping Forest on the doorstep, the site offers a fantastic opportunity for those looking to spend some time living life in the slow lane.
What do people say?
Lee Valley has achieved an impressive four star rating on Trip Advisor. One happy customer wrote: “There are lovely walks along canals with pubs and café just across the road and an Asda and Sainsbury’s five minute drive away.
“We went to London by train which is only ten minutes away making this camp site ideally located.”
The Caravan Club Crystal Palace site has received equally impressive reviews.
“Lovely clean site, easy walk to local shops and many trendy restaurants and bars with a great choice of food.
“Walk to Crystal Palace station down the hill and buy a one-day travelcard for £7 and use this all day to discover all of the sights in the capital, this includes overground train/underground and buses, only 20 minutes by train to London Victoria,” said a caravan enthusiast.
Costs
A caravan retreat in London does not require taking out a second mortgage.
The average price for a hotel room per night for a family of four in London is substantially more than the cost of a pitch, with most ranging from £100 upwards.
Whereas, it only costs £23 per night – excluding special offers – to stay at Crystal Palace Caravan Club site; and just over £25 per night at Lee Valley, around four times less than an average hotel.
“With prices ranging from £20-£30 per couple, per pitch and including electric hook up per night, they offer excellent value for money,” Beverley added.
It has been a good summer for caravanning with some caravanning and campsite directory websites reporting an up to 20% increase in the summer months.
With great facilities, local amusements and an impressive price point, it’s easy to see why London caravan parks are among the big winners in this trend.
VIDEO: More compact motorhoming with the new Elddis Accordo
Elddis has revealed the new Accordo, which has been described as a compact coach-built motorhome.
Compact motorhomes have increased in popularity recently because of their easy manoeuvrability and storage, and Elddis’s new Accordo fits into that category.
In this video CaravanTimes takes a closer look at the Accordo and what it has to offer compared with other Elddis models.
Alan Bateman, a chief designer for the Elddis Accordo speaks about the layout, and the benefits of its compact design such as being easy to drive and store, as well as its flexibility in appealing to various people interested in buying a motorhome.
He also talks about the importance of Elddis’s new Solid Construction which was introduced around 12 months ago, and how it has helped the new Accordo’s design.
The motorhome fits somewhere between Elddis Autoquest and Aspire in its overall design, he explains.
The Accordo is a light motorhome, but it still has a generous 600kg payload, and it has features such as air conditioning, an opening sunroof and cruise control.
VIDEO: Specification in the Bailey Approach Autograph motorhome range
by Chris Jefferies
When the new Bailey Approach Autograph motorhome range arrived this summer, a lot of fuss was made about the level of luxury on board.
In this video, we find out why Bailey of Bristol chose to fit specific items, from the Al-Ko AMC chassis to the Banner leisure battery.
We meet Rachel May from Bailey, who talks us through the advantages of having 6’10” headroom, plus we discuss the benefits of Alde central heating.
She touches on the addition of the large opening panoramic skylight and how that can help motorhome owners.
Finally, we hear about the kitchen upgrades, such as the Thetford dual-fuel hob and anti-rattle oven and grill, which should make for a quieter touring experience.
Der Bus: World’s largest motorhome up for sale after rebuild project
by Chris Jefferies
Just when you thought motorhomes couldn’t get any bigger, along comes Der Bus.
This German goliath is officially registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest motorhome, and at 28-tonnes and 18m long, that’s not hard to believe.
What’s more this titanic tourer has been put up for sale, according to its official website derbus.de, although no official price has been listed.
Perhaps the owners think they can start a bidding war, which is understandable given the level of luxury on-board this articulated motorhome.
The double-decker layout includes casino facilities, a VIP lounge and everything you need for hosting special events, with the website bizarrely suggesting falcon hunting as a potential activity for the new owners.
Interior design features include white leather walls, timber-lined windows, corian worktops and chromium plated light fittings.
Up to 144 guests can be accommodated, with all the usual amenities in terms of cooking and washing, but instead of a leisure battery, you get a 5.4Kwh Zeise Camino 8 generator.
Speaking of power, the engine is a 12-cylinder Daimler engine, which generates an astonishing 436bhp.
Comfort is unparalleled with Webasto central heating and De Longhi air conditioning, as well as a combined water tank capacity of 470 litres.
Der Bus was built in 1997, but in preparation for the sale it has been completely disassembled right down to the smallest screw and rebuilt from the ground up, to ensure nothing is amiss.
It’s hard to imagine how much this motorhome would cost to run and insure, let alone buy, but if you were to stump up the cash then you could surely claim the undisputed title of King of the Road.
To take a look inside Der Bus, click on our picture slideshow below:
Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes
Lunar Caravans releases new lightweight Core range for 2014
by Tom Walsh
Lunar Caravans has released a new lightweight luxury range, without compromising either quality or comfort.
Its 2014 range offers significant weight reductions, with some models now up to 55kg lighter, thanks to its extensive research and development programme.
This has resulted in Lunar introducing innovative new thermoplastic material into the inner-wall construction, enhancing the bodyshell and ensuring that the caravans deliver the same quality build, durability and luxury finish as previous models, while being markedly lighter and boasting reduced risk of internal cold spots and condensation.
Lunar has achieved this through its new ‘Core’ philosophy and method of construction, which its chief executive officer and chairman Brian Mellor explains marks the start of a long line of future product innovations.
Mr Mellor explained: “Core is how we apply our beliefs and technology to the design of caravans, that enables our customers to experience the enjoyment of caravanning – wherever and whenever they choose and with no compromises.
“For example, we’ve reduced the weight of our tourers to enable our customers to have a wider choice of towcar and to ensure their holidays are not limited in frequency or distance by their fuel consumption.”
The thermoplastic material used in the new Lunar range has been tested rigorously on the road, where it proved to be extremely resilient, strong and durable.
A climate test was also conducted, which showed that the new season caravans have a more even spread of warm air inside, eliminating cold spots and significantly reducing the occurrence of condensation.
Lunar’s 2014 model range offers many visual and specification enhancements.
The Ariva/Quasar models boast restyled kitchens, chrome bathroom fittings, a 4KW Truma Combi Boiler with Digital Control Panel, and a Kenwood Radio/CD/MP3 Player.
Alde Touchscreen control panels, new alarm systems with PIR and Tilt sensors and restyled ovens and fridges are all present in the Stellar/Lexon models, while the Clubman/Delta 2014 range offers Lagonda soft furnishing, contemporary Alde bathroom radiators and a new exterior design, among other updates.
The new Lunar 2014 season collection will be on display at the Birmingham NEC from 15-20 October as part of the 2013 NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show.
VIDEO: Introducing the 2014 Swift Challenger Sport
by Chris Jefferies
Two years on from its launch and it’s fair to say that the Swift Challenger Sport is now a firmly established fixture in the UK caravan market.
With its stylish front sunroof and lightweight layouts, this range has won over many caravanners across the UK and beyond.
For the 2014 season, the Swift Group has refreshed this range with a few key changes and a new family layout.
In this video we find out everything you need to know about this updated collection, discuss its sister range, the Sterling Eccles Sport, and get an insight into the construction system used in the Swift factory.
To see a walkthrough of the latest Swift ranges click here.
This season’s Challenger Sport models will be the first to feature ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/swift/smart-construction.htm">Smart Construction, which uses PURe (a type of polyurethane) to replace the timber traditionally used in the framework.
To get the inside story, click on the video player on the right.
Swift Group reveals largest ever single holiday home order
by Tom Walsh
The UK’s leading caravan manufacturer, ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/swift/">Swift Group has announced its largest ever sales order at over £5.5 million in total.
This single order is for four ranges of holiday homes to be sited across UK parks in time for the 2014 holiday season and were purchased by a national park operator.
The Cottingham-based manufacturer won the order after an intense selection process, with the park operator choosing Swift because of its stylish design, sustainability reputation and construction quality.
The ranges which have been purchased include the up to the mid-range Bordeaux and the popular entry level home, the Soleil, which was only launched last season.
Commenting on the record-breaking deal, commercial director Nick Page explained that this was great news for the Swift Group, which is “delighted with this order and the recognition from our customer of the quality build and design of our holiday homes”.
Mr Page went on to say: “This is a big boost for us as we continue to work hard to drive growth and deliver another record breaking year.”
Eura Mobil introduces Alpine chalet-mobile concept campervan
by Damien Sharkov
As always the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon delivered on its promise of showcasing some of the most ambitious designs we are likely to see in the touring industry.
CaravanTimes had the pleasure to report on the release of the futuristic Knaus Tabbert Caravisio among others.
Following on in the same vein of lofty designs, German manufacturer Eura Mobil presented its concept motorhome, styled in the fashion of an Alpine mountain lodge.
The straightforwardly named Rolling Mountain Hut boasts several luxury features, never before seen in a mobile leisure home, such as dangling lampshades, fixed to the ceiling.
Technologically the motorhome is based on the company’s latest SB 670 line of vehicles as Eura Mobil attempts to ensure the Rolling Mountain Hut is suitable for everyday use, yet also durable in a wide range of holiday environments.
But make no mistake, this design is definitely geared at those looking to enjoy the more natural, rustic elements of the vehicle, with wild-oak decor from top to bottom, as Eura Mobil channels the cosy comforts of the interior of your standard mountain lodge.
Everything from the to the kitchen countertops is made from a mix of renewable materials, natural wood and slate, while the seating acts as an equally extravagant, albeit softer, counterpoint, being fashioned out of felt.
Of course the bathroom, though retaining the general natural feel of the rest of the motorhome, boasts a ceramic basin and polished chrome faucet.
There are no details on how much the Rolling Mountain Hut would weigh, or cost. It will however make its way across the channel, as it has been confirmed it will make an appearance at the Birmingham NEC from 15 – 20 October as part of the NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show.
We’d advise you to get there early, as this is one motorhome that is likely to draw big crowds of curious punters.
Summer months drive demand for used caravans and motorhomes
by Myron Jobson
The UK has enjoyed a warm summer. It is has been best summer, climate wise, since 2006. Who can forget the extended period of blissful sunshine in the months of July and August?
It has also been a great summer for the caravanning industry. The warm weather was a driving factor behind the sharp increase in the demand for used motorhomes and caravans.
Caravanning and campsite directory websites have reported more visits than ever before, with some reporting a traffic 10% and 20% increase in traffic in May and June respectively.
Lee Valley Caravan Park, Hertfordshire, is one such park that has enjoyed an influx of visitors. Communications Officer, Nick Boothroyd, believes caravanning and campsites are a good alternative to hotels.
He said: “They are a great alternative allowing visitors to enjoy peaceful surroundings in the countryside whilst still be close to numerous attractions. Caravan parks also offer excellent value for money.”
As more and more people look to buy used motorhomes and caravans, family-run business Caravan and Motorhome Sales hopes to provide guidance and advice, to those who are looking to purchase a caravan or motorhome, consolidating their 40 years of knowledge of the industry into priceless words of wisdom.
“As the market for used caravan sales and used motorhomes picks up momentum, dealing with Caravan and Motorhome Sales Ltd means that you will be drawing on years worth of industry experience from an honest, hard working company,” the business spokesman said.
2014 Nissan X-Trail unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show
by Damien Sharkov
With the Frankfurt Motorshow underway there has been plenty cause for excitement for everybody in the automotive industry.
The city boys and business types will have relished at the sight of the new Mercedes S class coupe, while lovers of higher speeds also had their moment as the Jaguar C-X17 also broke cover.
Perhaps even the Mini-esque Citroen Cactus will have found a few admirers out there. For caravan fans, however, one car new release has been particularly anticipated – the Nissan X-Trail.
In terms of design Nissan has revamped the SUV in an attempt to diversify its function, beyond its use as a towcar. Its slicker lines seem to bring it closer to a VW Passat or Ford Mondeo than its bulky competition in the form of, say, a Skoda Yeti.
The 2014 X-Trail will introduce “premium technology to a new area of the market” Nissan claims, and it was confirmed the new seven-seater X-Trail will be available in front wheel drive as well as four wheel drive.
The company also stresses that the SUV is just as capable in off-road environments as previous models.
The 2014 X-Trail will be the first Nissan to carry the Nissan Safety Shield, along with host of other safety features, including control assist, intelligent cruise control with low-speed following capability, and four wheel active steer to name just a few.
There has been no word, however, on the car’s specific weight or towing capabilities, as the 2014 X-Trail is not due before July 2014. Most of the details released so far stress the comfort of the drive, safety features and on road capabilities. The current X-Trail has a minimum kerb weight of 1,615kg and it is believed the 2014 version will have a similar weight.
No official announcement has been made on the engine the car will use, however, as Nissan boasts the new X Trail is a comprehensive step forward from its predecessor it is speculated the car is likely to be available with a diesel engine and the option of a 1.6 turbo petrol one.
Hopefully the alleged improvements on the X-Trail’s previous incarnation also extend to fuel economy and emissions, as the last edition to Nissan’s SUV line delivered a relatively disappointing 44.1 miles per gallon.
With almost a year until the Nissan X-Trail arrives in dealerships it still has to prove whether its slick exterior is matched by an equally impressive robustness outside the urban environment.
Police investigate 2010 Swift Conqueror 360 caravan theft
by Tom Walsh
Police officers in Northern Ireland are appealing for information following the theft of a caravan.
Officers are attempting to trace a 2010 ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/swift/swift-conqueror/">Swift Conqueror 360 caravan which was stolen sometime between 8.30am and 6.30pm on Thursday 29 August from Camlough Road, Newry.
Newry Times reports that the vehicle has a registration plate attached to the rear which reads TEZ 2151 and is grey on both sides and white on the front and rear.
Police are looking to speak to anyone who has any information in relation to the theft or the whereabouts of the caravan and could help with their investigation.
Should anyone wish to speak with the police they can call Newtonhamilton station on 0845 600 8000 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Each year thousands of caravans are stolen, and it is therefore important to be keep windows and doors locked at night and when not in use.
Many owners also choose to log their details online or to fit a device which will track the whereabouts of the vehicle should it go missing.
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