Evergreen Escapes Group to acquire two Cornwall holiday parks

Evergreen Escapes Group is to acquire and upgrade two holiday parks in Cornwall in a multi-million pound deal.

The new holiday parks operator is poised to acquire Hoburne Doublebois and Hoburne St Mabyn from Hoburne Holidays, with a completion date of February 12.

Under the new ownership, the parks will be renamed Doublebois Lodge Escape and St Mabyn Lodge Escape. Both parks will continue to be sold via travel agents through Hoseasons.

The deal follows the group’s acquisition of the Manor and Ashbury Resorts in Devon in September last year.

Evergreen plans significant investment at both parks with accommodation and facilities set to be upgraded in a bid to attract “aspirational holiday guests and lodge owners”.

Chief executive Geoff Cowley said: “With our planned investment and development plans in place, Doublebois and St Mabyn will truly bring to life the ‘escape the urban’ ethos at the heart of our brand and growing portfolio, embodying our core values of space, tranquillity and exceptional quality.

“Both parks have benefitted from years of outstanding stewardship by Hoburne, and we are proud to be able to continue that legacy with plans already in place for enhancements designed to further elevate the guest experience and drive performance.”

Hoburne Holidays chief executive Jim Forward said: “We’ll be sad to see them [the parks] leave the Hoburne family, but having worked closely with the Evergreen leadership team on this deal, we have no doubt they are in very safe hands."

He added: “The sale of these two parks helps clarify Hoburne’s position as a provider of great parks, in amazing locations, and with a full range of quality activities for families to enjoy, including restaurants, pools and leisure facilities.

“Seeing our Cornish parks leave the business will create new opportunities for investment in our remaining locations as we continue to grow the brand and provide our visitors with quality, family time.”

Cowley said it would be “business as usual” for guests, staff and owners at both parks with all existing employees offered the chance to carry on working for Evergreen.

The acquisition is the latest phase of the group’s mission to develop a scalable portfolio of 15 to 20 holiday parks and leisure resorts over the next five years.

The group has said it will sell through multiple sales channels in future, with trade sales a “key consideration” for the Manor & Ashbury Resorts, which is currently only bookable direct or through specialist golf operators.