Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Center Parcs really isn’t middle class

381 replies

GodAgainstAll · 30/12/2023 16:04

Just spent a few days there for the first time. It’s expensive and the people there seem to be v affluent in terms of clothes/cars, but middle class? I was surprised.

OP posts:
NearlyMonday · 30/12/2023 20:59

willstarttomorrow · 30/12/2023 20:56

@Mikimoto you forgot to add overweight and being followed by children called Mason (crew cut) and Esmay (in a bikini).

Whatever happened to Bianca and Tiffany? They’re probably the 35 year old grannies referred to earlier

QueenOfMOHO · 30/12/2023 21:03

Willyoujustbequiet · 30/12/2023 16:38

Wealth doesn't equal class.

Quite! Private schools are full of the kids of drug dealers these days .

peachesarenom · 30/12/2023 21:05

I went to Butlins as I could no longer afford Centre Parcs having given up work post birth.

The food options are better in centre parcs.

The service was a lot better in Butlins.

The holiday makers in Butlins were so happy, excited and friendly. No where nicer to go when you have small children. They were spoken to so kindly and warmly. My two trips there will forever include some of my happiest memories. DH won't go back though as he's a snob.

stayathomer · 30/12/2023 21:06

People I know that go there are middle class/well off that live in large cities. We’re in a decent position money wise but could never justify that kind of money but being rural and with some woods near us and plenty of places to go on scooters and bikes would never think of going there just because everyone who raves about it just raves about biking, scooting and woods!!!

Calliopespa · 30/12/2023 21:15

Gallowayan · 30/12/2023 20:54

@NearlyMonday . Close. I understand it was an asshole transplant...

Not a transplant, no. It was a narrowing procedure- a bit like the opposite of angioplasty. I think they called it anioplasty.

dingledells · 30/12/2023 21:16

I think society has changed, and some people really do think money is all that matters.

Well the people in power certainly think it does, I mean we do have a capitalist system!

Original poster
GodAgainstAll · 30/12/2023 21:18

sorry; just been rinsing the final pieces of pool shit out of my hair.

fwiw I had a really good time, but I’m pretty low-brow and unimaginative so perhaps that was to be expected. It’s been in my head for many years that CP is v middle class (but PPs are right - what even is that?) so I was surprised it didn’t match a long-held assumption. It was an observation, not a value judgement. Everyone there was perfectly polite and amiable (in spite of the tattoos, bad teeth and northern accents - all belonging to me btw).

however, it’s weird to be staying in the woods but to not actually be able to properly walk in them, right? Where do the people on the bikes actually cycle? I thought there’d be a trail through the woods but came away assuming it’s just to/from lodges?

hoping we make it into the Daily Mail,

OP posts:
catotangent · 30/12/2023 21:20

Abbimae · 30/12/2023 20:50

Benefits chav and middle class who didn’t get the memo

Shock Do you speak from experience?
Tacotortoise · 30/12/2023 21:28

FeetupTvon · 30/12/2023 20:56

CP- been once, never again.
Boring, overpriced and couldn’t wait to leave.
Didn't like the fact that you’re not even allowed to leave the premises during your stay.

Of course you can leave the premises during your stay if you don't mind paying through the nose for facilities you're not using. It's not a prison camp.

AllAroundMyCat · 30/12/2023 21:41

I was very poor working class as a child/teen... I wouldn't be seen dead at a Centre Parcs .

Sounds like a guide/scout camp.

'Here we all are, in a crappy lodge, back to ( barely) nature, let's have ( arduous) fun, yippee!'then back to said crappy lodge that costs more than a hotel in Rome.

Bollox to that.

PurpleSilverPetal · 30/12/2023 21:49

I’ve always thought it’s kind of Butlins for people with a bit of money, who like waterparks.
Not my thing.

Simonjt · 30/12/2023 21:52

Tinsletoez · 30/12/2023 19:42

Have just come back from our first visit. What I noticed primarily was a real lack of diversity both in terms of ethnicity but also family groups. Very few (if any) mixed race families, single parent families or gay couples with kids for example. We cross over into at least two of these examples so really felt it. It’s also logistically set up for 2.4 type families which for various reasons made it more of a slog for us. Very busy as well! As ever I preferred the staff to the clientele in the main but I often feel like this in places which feel very uniform class wise.

I don’t know if its still the case but when a friend tried to book a holiday at CP with her wife and their couple friends (who are also both women) they had to book over the phone and explain why they were booking the holiday as CP said they don’t generally accept single sex adults on a single booking. Parkdean have the same rule, we weren’t aware until we received several very rude emails after booking a holiday with them, a holiday we swiftly cancelled.

Caterpillarsleftfoot · 30/12/2023 21:57

Centre parcs is for people who like idea of being outdoorsy without actually being so.

Actual outdoorsy people are hiking the fells somewhere, staying in a tent or cottage or camper van, not cycling 2km round ready made paths through a few trees.

Caterpillarsleftfoot · 30/12/2023 21:59

belgiumchocolates · 30/12/2023 20:43

Oh Gosh now I'm confused 😬Does RR trump NT sticker ?

Show quote history

Old muddy Range Rover. yes.

Shiny Evoque is very new money WC.

NearlyMonday · 30/12/2023 22:01

@Calliopespa i hope you make a swift recovery. And do keep posting, I like your style 😃😃

Just1MoreMinute · 30/12/2023 22:07

Can’t think of anything worse than a holiday in the Caribbean. It’s really not a middle class destination, it’s very naff.

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 30/12/2023 22:09

I really love the style-of-holiday snobbery. Knocks spots off the kids’ names and tattoos snobbery.

Sniffing at Center Parcs here but loving the European ones; cultural outings; no all-inclusives; hearty camping; ‘proper’ outdoor holidays.

This is where the discerning middle-classes now draw their lines for self-congratulation. Outstanding!

dingledells · 30/12/2023 22:10

Can’t think of anything worse than a holiday in the Caribbean. It’s really not a middle class destination, it’s very naff.

Yeah the chavvy Royals like the Caribbean.

PurpleWisteria1 · 30/12/2023 22:15

Usernamen · 30/12/2023 17:54

It’s not all about money but nor is money completely irrelevant. If someone who is born into a middle class family but becomes poor in adulthood such that they have to rely on benefits, struggle to afford to heat their home and feed their kids, then they are most certainly no longer middle class.

They may wish to still think of themselves as middle class as a ‘safety blanket’, as someone put it upthread, but they’re not by most people’s standards.

Show quote history

But in that case they would still be middle class!! The situation and family to which you were born largely dictates which class you are in. You can just change class in one lifetime!! Even if someone fell on extremely hard times, claimed benefits and couldn’t afford a bean they would still be middle class!! It’s nothing to do with loosing or gaining money in your life.
Just the same as a working class person can’t jump to middle class by winning the lottery. It’s exactly the same reversed
Bizarre how you can’t see that? Also bizarre how so many people thing class is irreverent in 2024 or who think ‘people who notice or talk about class have a stick up their bum or who think they are better than they are’
Class is everywhere in the UK. Only the totally unobservant would fail to notice that. It affects everyone almost every day rightly or wrongly.

Bendrix · 30/12/2023 22:18

Most people are middle class. 70% of the population. People like to pretend they are working class cause its way cooler. But usually their lying LOL

It's alright to be middle class. Accept and embrace it

Gallowayan · 30/12/2023 22:21

I think Kate Middleton is supposed to be middle class. I heard a report that she has been spotted there in disguise so maybe CP IS middle class after all?

dingledells · 30/12/2023 22:23

The situation and family to which you were born largely dictates which class you are in. You can just change class in one lifetime!! Even if someone fell on extremely hard times, claimed benefits and couldn’t afford a bean they would still be middle class!! It’s nothing to do with loosing or gaining money in your life.

Would Carole Middleton really still be working class though?

Gallowayan · 30/12/2023 22:25

This is untrue. Lots of working class people identify as middle class so if you polled the population 70% might identify as working class.

palygold · 30/12/2023 22:25

But in that case they would still be middle class!! The situation and family to which you were born largely dictates which class you are in. You can just change class in one lifetime!! Even if someone fell on extremely hard times, claimed benefits and couldn’t afford a bean they would still be middle class!! It’s nothing to do with losing or gaining money in your life.

Just the same as a working class person can’t jump to middle class by winning the lottery. It’s exactly the same reversed

Exactly @PurpleWisteria1 Class is not just about money, but background and even your accent!

The age old example of one of the royals losing their wealth and working in a menial job. They don't suddenly change into working, or lower, class, and wouldn't be accepted by those classes as such. The same then reversed as purple said.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 30/12/2023 22:27

We're going to Haven in the spring.Middle class money but working class tastes what can I say.
Never fancied CP seems quite pretentious.