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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Centre Parcs 2022

33 replies

Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 10:39

We are at centre parcs this weekend (not a thread about the closing on funeral day fiasco). All adults. Been here maybe half a dozen times in the past with DC and loved it. Used to joke that the price meant the neds/chavs were priced out and we were the scummy family - this is for context - I am not a snob at all and am fairly low maintenance.

this weekend I feel it’s really gone downhill. Here’s the evidence;

  • swimming pool quite dirty with litter abandoned all over the tables etc
  • showers in pool quite cold as were the pools themselves
  • communal areas quite shabby and unclean - ditto outside areas
  • Tables in bars/restaurants not cleared for ages - in sports bar lounge and there were lots of empty tables but were totally cluttered with previous occupants dirty dishes
  • really restricted menus in restaurants- one “restaurant” was 99% burgers - not one pasta dish for example and only fish offering was traditional fish and chips - which I like but felt more like being in a seaside cafe
  • Really long waits to get served with staff chatting amongst themselves rather than serving
  • coffee shops not open until 9am despite families being up with kids from crack of dawn
  • lodge we are in is pretty shabby - dents on walls, toilet doors with broken locks, mismatched patio furniture, only 2 sets of cutlery in 3 bed villa
  • lots of children running around completely ignored by parents - a girl of about age 10 ran across the top of the sofa I was sitting on shrieking, made me spill my coffee and when I said “careful, you shouldn’t be running on furniture” just laughed and continued on her merry way
  • quite a lot of drunkenness - I may BU here as I am a recovering alcohol abuser (although I rarely drank outside the house) so maybe noticing it more now
I know this sounds very first world problems and I am grateful to be able to afford a weekend away, but AIBU in being disappointed that centre parcs no longer has the luxury feel about it?
OP posts:
Everylittlethingsgonnabealright · 18/09/2022 10:43

Which one did you go to? (Want to know which one to avoid!!)

I usually go to Woburn even though Elveden is closer - Woburn is always cleaner and much better kept than Elveden.

Testina · 18/09/2022 10:45

“Used to joke that the price meant the neds/chavs were priced out and we were the scummy family”

I love CP, and 2 visits this year to different ones this year I definitely found that menus were reduced, rubbish was everywhere, service was slow - but all very much a “can’t get staff post Covid” way, so acceptable to be. Everything was fundamentally clean, just lots of surface mess - the uncleared tables you mentioned.

However, on your “Ned/chav” comment, every time for 10 years that I’ve been going, I’ve quietly noted that “class” and money aren’t the same thing. Like all my caravan park trips too - full of people that I expect you would call “Ned/chav” - by which I think you mean the type to ignore their kids knocking things over whilst they have Wkd at 10:00am? 🤣 - but then they own £50K caravans whilst I’m renting one for the week.

Centerparcs has always had a very mixed non “middle class” vibe to me.

WeAreAllLionesses · 18/09/2022 10:47

I have to say, I don't think I have ever seen 'centre parcs' and 'luxury' in the same sentence before...

Testina · 18/09/2022 10:47

For example: the sports bar bit are Sherwood. You might as well be in ‘Spoons for the screaming kids and drunken adults!

roxisolerenshaw · 18/09/2022 10:51

I went recently and the jacuzzi was not as warm as it used to be nor the swimming pool.

SlipperyLizard · 18/09/2022 10:56

I expect a lot of that is lack of staff, esp cleaning tables etc - although I’ve always thought the villas were a bit shabby if you looked too closely.

The other guests are just luck of the draw, unfortunately.

Suedomin · 18/09/2022 10:59

I have loved visiting CP but see it as a place to go with children I wouldn't go for an adult holiday.

BeyondMyWits · 18/09/2022 11:03

Went before the school holidays, to Longleat it was lovely. Clean, no screaming kids, showers and pool warm, lodge just fine... plenty of staff about. But have always found that... even pre covid.

School summer holidays wreck the place for a bit. Give it a couple of weeks and it'll be fine.

GG1986 · 18/09/2022 11:06

I agree most of these issues will be from lack of staff, due to all the price rises, CP have probably had to cut back on staff where they can and this results in more mess, higher wait times, less housekeeping staff etc. The prices you pay for center parcs you are probably better off going to a log cabin/hot tub holiday(forest holidays, bluestone) slightly cheaper. I haven't been to CP since March 2020 so no idea what it is like since covid hit.

Whisperedew · 18/09/2022 11:20

OP I went to Butlins this year and was very impressed. I did stay in the 'premium' hotel apartment that had housekeeping everyday but it was still so cheap

Doris90 · 18/09/2022 11:22

Their management is crap. They need to recruit more staff. Perhaps pay them more and give them proper training so they feel confident and willing to work.

Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 13:48

Everylittlethingsgonnabealright · 18/09/2022 10:43

Which one did you go to? (Want to know which one to avoid!!)

I usually go to Woburn even though Elveden is closer - Woburn is always cleaner and much better kept than Elveden.

@Everylittlethingsgonnabealright - Oasis Whinfell - only one I’ve ever been to.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 13:54

Testina · 18/09/2022 10:45

“Used to joke that the price meant the neds/chavs were priced out and we were the scummy family”

I love CP, and 2 visits this year to different ones this year I definitely found that menus were reduced, rubbish was everywhere, service was slow - but all very much a “can’t get staff post Covid” way, so acceptable to be. Everything was fundamentally clean, just lots of surface mess - the uncleared tables you mentioned.

However, on your “Ned/chav” comment, every time for 10 years that I’ve been going, I’ve quietly noted that “class” and money aren’t the same thing. Like all my caravan park trips too - full of people that I expect you would call “Ned/chav” - by which I think you mean the type to ignore their kids knocking things over whilst they have Wkd at 10:00am? 🤣 - but then they own £50K caravans whilst I’m renting one for the week.

Centerparcs has always had a very mixed non “middle class” vibe to me.

@Testina - I definitely feel that CP was more “middle class” before - although just my perception. You rarely saw young DC running around unsupervised for example - there would always be a parent with them. This weekend I’ve seen lots of DC around ages 8 - 10 wandering around in little packs - it’s a pretty safe place but the kids can get quite lively when unsupervised! But I do take your point about money vs class.

OP posts:
CapMarvel · 18/09/2022 13:54

It'll mostly be down to lack of staff, but that said you can't really go to center parcs and complain about children running around. It's a slightly bonkers choice as a group of adults, IMO.

CoffeeWithCheese · 18/09/2022 13:54

Went to Sherwood Forest - once just after reopening and everything was impeccable... went back in May and things were looking more tired and short staffed - which is kind of understandable as they were really run off their feet and the lodges do have a hard life... we reported a couple of things needing maintenance and they had a guy out the same day to do it - but things like the fireguard on the log burner had clearly had someone letting a child swing on it previously - and I can't hold CP responsible for people being arseholes really.

We're due back before Xmas (it's just near enough for us to go and let the kids run about on their bikes and stuff) - thankfully the pool slots nonsense has gone now so I think DD1's plan is to spend so much time in there she turns into a raisin.

Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 13:56

WeAreAllLionesses · 18/09/2022 10:47

I have to say, I don't think I have ever seen 'centre parcs' and 'luxury' in the same sentence before...

When we first came before it was first open, it definitely felt “luxurious” to me as a holiday park - but not as in a luxurious villa /hotel, if that makes sense. This weekend feels more like Marton Mere where I’ve had the pleasure of frequenting once - deep fried salad anyone???

OP posts:
ShirleyJackson · 18/09/2022 13:57

Everything’s a bit shit at the moment. I’m noticing it everywhere.

The whole world seems to have post-viral fatigue. I’m staying home.

Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 13:57

Testina · 18/09/2022 10:47

For example: the sports bar bit are Sherwood. You might as well be in ‘Spoons for the screaming kids and drunken adults!

@Testina - yip!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 14:02

CapMarvel · 18/09/2022 13:54

It'll mostly be down to lack of staff, but that said you can't really go to center parcs and complain about children running around. It's a slightly bonkers choice as a group of adults, IMO.

@CapMarvel - funnily enough, I thought that too but when there are multiple adult couples, it works out quite reasonable cost wise. We mainly eat in the lodge (bring our own food and drink), play badminton, table tennis, archery etc and the location is quite “central” as we are travelling from Scotland, Liverpool and Norfolk.

it’s not so much the kids running around - it’s them running around unsupervised out with the main kiddy areas. It doesn’t bother me as such, my comment is more about noticing that it didn’t used to be like this.

OP posts:
Inertia · 18/09/2022 14:04

I like Centre Parcs in theory- forests, lots of walks, access to activities, minimal traffic. However, the reality doesn’t always match up (even pre-Covid)- chalets under-equipped and not always clean, often shabby unless in a new build or refurb, and hugely expensive compared to a regular self-catering house. I guess you pay for access to the land and facilities. We’ve never really encountered anti-social behaviour though.

Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 14:04

SlipperyLizard · 18/09/2022 10:56

I expect a lot of that is lack of staff, esp cleaning tables etc - although I’ve always thought the villas were a bit shabby if you looked too closely.

The other guests are just luck of the draw, unfortunately.

@SlipperyLizard - I agree that getting enough staff is possibly problematic but there were staff literally standing around chatting with each other - management need to pick up on this.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 14:06

GG1986 · 18/09/2022 11:06

I agree most of these issues will be from lack of staff, due to all the price rises, CP have probably had to cut back on staff where they can and this results in more mess, higher wait times, less housekeeping staff etc. The prices you pay for center parcs you are probably better off going to a log cabin/hot tub holiday(forest holidays, bluestone) slightly cheaper. I haven't been to CP since March 2020 so no idea what it is like since covid hit.

@GG1986 -true - but I like centre parcs for the on site activities. With me being in recovery , there’s lots to do which doesn’t involve alcohol. When the others want to drink, I stay for a bit then go swimming, horse riding or to the spa, so it’s great for that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 14:07

ShirleyJackson · 18/09/2022 13:57

Everything’s a bit shit at the moment. I’m noticing it everywhere.

The whole world seems to have post-viral fatigue. I’m staying home.

@ShirleyJackson 🤣🤣🤣think I’ll just hibernate for the winter!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mybestyear · 18/09/2022 14:09

Whisperedew · 18/09/2022 11:20

OP I went to Butlins this year and was very impressed. I did stay in the 'premium' hotel apartment that had housekeeping everyday but it was still so cheap

@Whisperedew - I spent two wonderful summers working at butlins as a student and thought the parks were great! I think they got a bit of a bad rep but I’d certainly give them a go!

OP posts:
MultiTulip · 18/09/2022 14:23

I’ve done both Center Parcs and Haven this year and there wasn’t much different in staff (nice staff and slightly understaffed in both), maintenance or behaviour of other guests. There’s a lot more Boden and Joules wearing at CP. But I think a lot of people go so their kids can have more freedom than they can at home because it’s a fairly safe location. Of course kids behave like kids when they’re given a bit of independence, you’re just not used to seeing it as much any more.