A SUMMER OF CELEBRATIONS at an East Devon holiday park has marked 90 years since the business was granted its first camping licence in 1936.
Andrewshayes Holiday Park is one of the UK’s longest established parks, and also holds the remarkable record of being owned by the same family for nine decades.
But the 12-acre park, just a short distance from the popular resort of Lyme Regis, has an even longer history than the date of its first licence suggests.
That’s because the dairy farm on which it is based started welcoming campers in 1929, seven years before park licensing was introduced.
The farm’s then new owners, Stan and Marjorie Lawrence, offered camping pitches to supplement their income – and news of the park’s picture-perfect location quickly spread.
Succeeding generations of the Lawrence family continued expanding the business, introducing more guest facilities and additional accommodation options.
In 1997, the family sold their dairy herd to concentrate entirely on tourism, expanding the business still further with the emphasis on quality and sustainability.
One of the park’s proudest achievements came in 2020 when Andrewshayes was named Holiday Park of the Year at the Devon Tourism Awards.
It has since gone on to gather additional regional and national accolades which celebrate its high standards and commitment to providing guests with the best experience possible.
The park is today under the stewardship of fourth generation members Josh and Grace Lawrence who say they are determined to carry forward the values which have underpinned the business for almost a century.
“We are proud of our heritage but also excited about the future, and would like to thank every member of staff, every local supplier and, above all, the thousands of guests who have supported us over the years,” said the couple.
“Many families who first visited as youngsters now return with their own children and grandchildren, and that’s something which makes us feel extremely happy,” they added.
A special anniversary party on the park this summer welcomed current and former visitors, and past employees and friends to enjoy a barbecue, traditional Devon cream teas, live music and entertainment.
With facilities including an outdoor pool, clubhouse, play areas and a private woodland walk, Andrewshayes offers luxury holiday caravans for hire and sale, together with pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.
There is more about the park, an active member of the Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA), on its website at www.andrewshayes.co.uk