Downton Holiday Park bought by Shorefield Holidays for £3m
A HOLIDAY park in Milford has been sold to its neighbour for nearly £3m.
Downton Holiday Park will have its first new owner in 72 years after being bought by Shorefield Holidays, expanding its nearby flagship site.
iT brings Shorefield's portfolio to nine holiday parks around Hampshire and Dorset, with 74 additional caravan holiday pitches and a hire fleet of 24 caravans.
Shorefield Holidays managing director Simon Pollock said: "There are so many similarities to the core DNA of our business – a family run business with the Affleck family first, and its gravel pit origins are exactly like our own beginnings.
"It simply feels like a fortuitous set of circumstances that has allowed us to complete a missing piece in the Shorefield jigsaw that we’ve dreamed of and hoped that one day we would own.
"As we look forward, there’s so much potential too with this new addition to our portfolio. We’re truly delighted and proud to be the new owners and over time we will develop what is already a great space and location.”
All existing 2021/22 bookings at Downton will be honoured, the firm said, and guests can book via the Shorefield website. All current Downton employees and roles "will be protected", it added, and will now become part of Shorefield Holidays Ltd.
Sara Bertin, financial director of Shorefield, said the firm was delighted to acquire Downton Holiday Park.
"It has long been a dream of ours to acquire Downton as it adjoins our flagship park at Milford. We look forward to getting to know the holiday home-owners and holidaymakers.”
Estate advisor Savills confirmed it had completed the sale for more than the guide price of £2.9m.
Kay Griffiths, of Savills, said holiday parks were continuing to attract significant buyer interest.
"The sector has been resilient over the pandemic, and with the current boost as a result in the international travel disruption and the longer term trend of sustainable holidaying closer to home, the staycation market and the holiday park sector look set to benefit.”
Meanwhile, Shorefield Holidays has also been named the winner of the Tourism Hero category in The itravel Staycation Awards.
The accolade acknowledges businesses which helped support local communities and frontline workers during the pandemic.
Shorefield provided free accommodation to NHS keyworkers while holiday parks were forced to close, donated IT equipment and laptops to local children for learning from home, and offered discounts to the emergency services and armed forces.
