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Original poster

What could Center Parcs actually do if people refuse to leave?

202 replies

CaptainSamCarter · 13/09/2022 16:54

I've seen on the news that Center Parcs has announced that it will be closing on Monday for the funeral and anyone on a break will need to leave for that evening and find alternative accommodation for the night, affecting people who have got Friday to Friday breaks.

It doesn't affect me personally but I'm curious. What could Center Parcs actually do if people simply refuse to leave? I'm not sure the police would get involved as it could be considered a civil trespass matter potentially?

OP posts:
Housebytheseanc · 13/09/2022 20:38

Invisimamma · 13/09/2022 20:36

What about people who don't have cars, most visiting CP do, but some people travel from much further afield from overseas or on domestic flights from likes of Inverness/Aberdeen (we've done this and taxi to CP). They won't just be able to change their travel plans on a whim and will be set to lose a lot of money as a result. Awful for everyone. Not a royalist at all but pretty sure the queen and her family wont have wanted this.

I do feel for those with long journeys or as you say travelling from somewhere by plane/train etc will cost them a fair bit to cancel Monday’s travel and swap for Tuesday, CP just haven’t thought this through.

User56473 · 13/09/2022 20:41

PaddleBoardingMomma · 13/09/2022 20:33

The sheer fact that someone came up with this idea, a room full of people agreed with it AND some one at the top signed this off? Baffling. How does such a ludicrous plan get through, at no point did anyone stand up and say “well actually this is pure batshittery and will result in a huge backlash”

This is what I can’t fathom. I’ve written on the other thread but one of my theories is that the board are all staunch royalists who also happen to be very rich while men who are completely out of touch with the wider public. They possibly got whipped into a panic by the ludicrous media coverage and thought that CP would be criticised for being disrespectful for staying open. Or one of them is pals with King Charles maybe?

Frazzled2207 · 13/09/2022 20:52

whoever came up with this idea is plain bonkers.
by all means close down the main facilities but seriously they just need to pay skeleton staff extra to come in and let people stay in their lodges, and arrive and depart as normal.

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CallMeLinda · 13/09/2022 20:57

Piss take.
Fair enough closing restaurants, pools etc, if they want to do that- but asking people to leave is just beyond the pale.

DollyParton2 · 13/09/2022 21:00

Will people with zero imagination, taste or research skills booking these overpriced, trashy, identikit holidays stuck in a park with 1000s bland dull other families all staying in the same bland lodges doing the same unimaginative activities finally realise what a piece of crap Centre Parcs are??!

SellFridges · 13/09/2022 21:03

We’re going at the weekend. They’ve now given us a 15% refund and honestly it’s worked out well for our group of adults. We can now mostly stay until late Sun/early Mon as we have the day off work. And they’ve given us about £200 back which will pay for most of our dinner out on the Saturday night. We will raise a glass to the Queen.

I don’t know what they were thinking.

LuluBlakey1 · 13/09/2022 21:04

It is the most unprofessional of actions to close for 24 hours and expect guests to leave temporarily. I have never been to Centre Parcs and have no interest in going but I'm appalled by this action and that they seem to think it is reasonable.

I'm sure HM The Queen would be horrified if she knew that people were being treated like this in her name.

They don't have to pay their staff at all so they could offer a skeleton staff double/triple time and not lose money to make sure people don't have to leave.I bet enough staff would accept.

Mywatchis · 13/09/2022 21:08

Presumably most guests travel a fair distance otherwise why would you pay to stay overnight so where the hell are they expected to go to for that one night?

TugboatAnnie · 13/09/2022 21:10

Where were they expecting Friday to Friday people to go? If you are hours from home or even a flight away, sleeping in the car in a lay-by?

RoseAylingEllisFanClub · 13/09/2022 21:11

I think this will prove to be CP’s Ratners moment . . .

LibertyLily · 13/09/2022 21:12

Not sure if correct, but the FT is reporting that Centre Parcs have reversed their decision 😉

gettingolderandgrumpier · 13/09/2022 21:12

What I can’t get my head round this must of been discussed at a meeting I can just imagine it .
so yes we tell the guests to leave and come back Tuesday. Nobody at CP what are you joking? .
I’ve just seen in news now that they’ve changed their mind and said guests can stay . How nice of them , honestly I’d be fuming and don’t think I’d want to go being treated like this .

MeriPenomause · 13/09/2022 21:13

Anyone else feeling a bit like this was their plan all along? 'Yeah so we tried to close but the customers wouldn't let us'?

Cupofteaonesugar · 13/09/2022 21:15

I absolutely love center parcs, had so many lovely trips there so I don't like to say bad things about them 🙈. But this decision really is completely unreasonable.
Considering the vast majority of people their will be on a family trip with young children... how disruptive to ask them to leave and come back.
How did they even make this decision? It's absolutely shocking!

Housebytheseanc · 13/09/2022 21:16

I’ve seen it reported on various sites now they’ve reversed their decision - only for those going 7 nights (Friday to Friday) haven’t reversed the decision or offered an earlier check in for those on 5 day stays.

Weve been offered 30% off which is an insult when those staying weekends will only miss hours off their stay and being offered 15% off, who realistically would stay on the village until midnight on departure day…

medianewbie · 13/09/2022 21:17

MeriPenomause · 13/09/2022 21:13

Anyone else feeling a bit like this was their plan all along? 'Yeah so we tried to close but the customers wouldn't let us'?

Exactly !!!

EnidSpyton · 13/09/2022 21:20

This is getting ridiculous now.

The amount of emails in my inbox from organisations telling me they're closing as a mark of respect and to 'allow staff to mourn with their families'. Really? Are we all supposed to be weeping and wailing and gnashing our teeth at the loss of a woman none of us actually knew?

I feel like I've gone back in time to the nineteenth century. It's as if we're all expected to put on black veils and sit indoors with the blinds shut.

The Queen was a very practical no nonsense person. I think she'd be horrified at the fact that people's lives are being so inconvenienced in her name.

Centre Parcs are going to lose a lot of custom over this. It's pure stupidity.

StaunchMomma · 13/09/2022 21:29

I can see why staff might want the bank holiday and why CP might not feel hey can deny staff the BH BUT I don't understand why they don't just suspend activities, shut the shops, swimming pool etc & don't do any cleaning for that day and let people stay?

Surely people would just make sure they have enough food in and just go for a walk, watch the funeral on tv etc?

User354354 · 13/09/2022 21:31

I think their PR team will be going in to overdrive trying to fix it. I suspect a Reversal of their decision will be announced soon

Blomonge · 13/09/2022 21:32

It’s very bizarre. Where do they think people can go for 24 hours? Sleep in their cars?

Beachbabe1 · 13/09/2022 21:33

Daisy95 · 13/09/2022 17:26

It's ridiculous, we're booked to go Monday! We now can't check in until Tuesday 4pm and out by Friday 10am so effectively only have two day holiday 😂😂 I don't understand why they haven't let people in on Monday as normal but shut the restaurants and activities if they really felt necessary

Thats terrible! Are you able to cancel and get a full refund or are they not giving that option?

Housebytheseanc · 13/09/2022 21:35

Beachbabe1 · 13/09/2022 21:33

Thats terrible! Are you able to cancel and get a full refund or are they not giving that option?

Show quote history

They are offering a refund for cancellation but it’s not that easy when you have pets etc and have paid for people to look after them and then to cancel - I doubt my pet sitter will give me a refund tbis short notice.

also hard to get time off work at my place so won’t be so easy trying to cancel and rebook.

theu should also rethink their decision about Monday’s arrivals.

Starlightstarbright1 · 13/09/2022 21:37

U turn already

Starlightstarbright1 · 13/09/2022 21:40

This is the statement

What could Center Parcs actually do if people refuse to leave?
Xenia · 13/09/2022 21:41

It is probably a breach of contract particularly as it is a contract with consumers so in view even a hidden force majeure clause would not help CP. They shold just let people stay in their accommodation but close the swimming pool etc if they really have to and people can have a quiet day walking around or watching TV.