Center Parcs will close all its UK holiday villages on Monday (September 19) to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II – sparking angry responses from guests on social media.
The operator has five sites in the UK, at Sherwood Forest, Elveden Forest, Longleat Forest, Whinfell Forest and Woburn Forest.
An extra bank holiday has been granted for Monday and a host of sporting and cultural events have been cancelled.
A statement on the Center Parcs website said: “Following the announcement of the date of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, we have made the decision to close all our UK villages on Monday 19 September as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment.
“Guests who were due to arrive on Monday 19 September should not travel on this day, though we will reopen on Tuesday 20 September and be ready to welcome our guests then.
“We hope our guests will understand our decision to support our Queen on her final journey.”
Guests who were due to arrive on Monday 19 September should not travel, we will reopen on Tuesday 20 September to welcome guests. All impacted guests will receive an email from us today. Please visit our website for additional information https://t.co/ChXUSDsny8 2/2
— Center Parcs UK (@CenterParcsUK) September 13, 2022
Those due to arrive on Monday are asked not to travel and will receive a discount as their break will be shorter.
Hundreds commented on the Center Parcs statement on Twitter, variously branding the decision as “awful”, “bad”, “outrageous”, “absolutely ridiculous” and a “massive own goal”.
One user said: “You’ve ruined a lot of people’s holidays,” while another said: “What an absolutely shocking decision at this stage.. we were travelling from the other end of the country and had other accommodation for the weekend to go to CP on Monday.. now we will have to scramble to find alternative accommodation at this late stage.”
Another commented: “Closing the facilities would be one thing but turfing people out and telling them to come back the next day is outrageous. What on earth were you thinking?”
The Facebook announcement had mostly 1,800 replies, mostly disagreeing with Center Parcs’ decision, saying it is a “PR disaster” and shows “very little respect” to customers.
A statement from the company said: “Like many businesses we have taken the decision to close all our UK villages on Monday 19th September. This decision was taken as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment.
“We have contacted all the guests due to arrive on Monday 19th September and offered them a number of different options. Our villages will be open to welcome guests on Tuesday 20th September.
“The vast majority of our guests were either due to arrive or depart on Monday 19th September. We have communicated with the small number of guests who are staying with us across this period and have offered a number of different options, including a full refund or partial refund.”
Butlins said its three resorts – in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness – will remain open on Monday.
At the weekend, the park operator announced on Twitter: “We’d like to let all guests know who are due to join us on that day, your break is going ahead as planned.
“We’re reviewing our schedule including the airing of the funeral and we’ll email you with more information next week.”
The Telegraph reported that attractions, museums and historic sites across the UK, from Stonehenge to HMS Belfast, will be closed on the day of the Queen’s state funeral as a mark of respect.
English Heritage sites will be shut on Monday, as will National Trust houses, gardens, cafes and shops.