Center Parcs has backtracked over a decision to ask guests to leave its sites on the day of the Queen’s funeral. The holiday firm said it had made the decision “as a mark of respect” and to allow employees to “be part of this historic moment”. But the move prompted complaints from angry holidaymakers online. It would have meant some guests would have had to leave part-way through their break and return afterwards. One holidaymaker the BBC spoke to described the previous plans as “ridiculous”. Others took to Center Parcs’ Facebook page to express their anger, with one saying the last-minute change showed no respect to guests.
Center Parcs had said that guests would have to leave its five UK sites for 24 hours from 10:00 BST on Monday 19 September. The company has now changed its decision, saying that it will no longer require guests who are not due to depart on Monday to leave.
Those due to arrive on Monday, however, will still not be able to check in until 10:00 BST Tuesday. In a statement on Tuesday evening, it said: “The vast majority of our guests are either due to arrive or depart on Monday 19 September. “We have, however, reviewed our position regarding the very small number of guests who are not due to depart on Monday, and we will be allowing them to stay in our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday.” The five locations of its holiday parks include Elveden Forest, Suffolk; Longleat Forest, Wiltshire; Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire; Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire; and Whinfell Forest, Cumbria. Facilities on-site, including restaurants, will still remain closed on Monday too. Center Parcs said it would be offering a discount for the lack of facilities available on that day.
David Tomlinson from Solihull is two days into a two-week break with his wife at the Sherwood Forest site. He said the company had the opportunity to inform guests of the decision before they checked in on Monday. Guests also took to Center Parcs’ Facebook page to vent their frustration before the update was made. “You’re closing your sites at very short notice as a mark of respect while showing very little respect for your customers,” one wrote.
‘Devastated’
Another said: “We were five related families getting together for our annual family holiday – with two small children and two dogs, three hours from home! “Sorry, but this is an awful decision that has left us devastated.” They pleaded: “By all means close the restaurants and activities, but let us stay on the park!” Rival holiday company Butlin’s has said that its resorts will be staying open on Monday, with some changes to arrival times.
According to government guidance, businesses are under no obligation to close during the period of national mourning, which includes the Queen’s funeral on Monday 19 September. However, a number of firms have said they will close all or some of their stores on Monday, including supermarket chains Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda and retailers such as Primark and John Lewis.
