UK’s largest caravan park operator, Haven, has served one million meals from Wetherspoons to holidaymakers. This milestone was reached just two years after the first Wetherspoons opened at the Primrose Valley site near Filey, North Yorkshire, operated by Haven. Since then, the number has increased to a total of nine locations.
Haven’s Chief, Simon Palethorpe, expressed the remarkable success of the partnership with Wetherspoons and voiced intentions to introduce Wetherspoons to most of their 39 parks. Speaking at Haven’s Kent Coast park, Palethorpe reminisced about the initial experimental phase two years ago, highlighting the unprecedented positive reception from guests and anticipating exponential growth in the coming years.
The founder of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, conveyed his delight with the achievement. Haven’s Wetherspoons operate on a franchise basis, offering the same menu as other Wetherspoons pubs. The model has been replicated for several other openings, including the first pub outside the UK and Ireland at Spain’s Alicante airport.
Since the inception of Wetherspoons at Haven in spring 2024, customers have indulged in 365,000 breakfasts, 57,000 lunches, and 578,000 dinners. The popular items include the Wetherspoons’ big breakfast and the classic fish and chips. Additionally, Pepsi and Stella Artois are the top-selling drink choices across most sites, with cider being favored in the parks in southwest England.
Matthew Deang, along with his family, received the one millionth meal at Haven. The surge in popularity is attributed to a staycation trend and budget-conscious consumers. Accommodation prices start from £49 for a three or four-night term-time stay in a caravan.
Celebrities like Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash have endorsed caravan holidays, with Stacey Solomon owning a pitch at Haven’s Kent park. Palethorpe prefers to refer to the holiday homes as such, emphasizing the significant enhancement in accommodations over the past couple of decades.
Haven, under the ownership of US private equity firm Blackstone, has invested £700 million in its parks over the last five years, including a substantial makeover of Kent Coast worth £50 million. The park witnessed a surge in customer visits, reaching 3.9 million last year, a 10% increase from 2024, with an anticipated record-breaking summer this year.
Despite escalating costs, Haven managed to maintain stable pricing in recent years, with summer rates remaining similar to or lower than the previous year. However, the rise in costs has impacted staff recruitment, with expectations to hire around 14,000 seasonal workers, a reduced number compared to previous years.