June 2018
Issue no 6
Sandy Balls Holiday Park presents
Park life I hope that you are enjoying the start of the 2018 season as much as myself and the team are. With the weather being a huge challenge during March & April, I am hoping that the blue skies we have been experiencing of late are here to stay!
General Manager
We have received some fantastic feedback on Aubrey’s Forest Kitchen and its new look – if you have not had the chance to pay a visit
What’s happening at
then please make the time, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed. The swimming pool facelift and The Woodside Inn makeover have also proven to be a great success along with the ‘back to the forest feel’ that we now have in The Village Square, which we are soon to rename Acorn Place. You may also be wondering why we decided to put pigs on the new roof of our
Leisure Centre, and no its not because we think pigs can fly but a homage to Pannage. Pannage is the practice of releasing domestic pigs into a forest, and goes all the way back to the time of William the Conqueror, who founded the New Forest. Pannage is no longer carried out in many areas of the country but can still be observed every year here in the New Forest National Park where up to 600 pigs will work their way through the forest eating the acorns, beechmast, chestnuts and other nuts that have fallen, from the forest floor. Pannage lasts for a minimum of 60 days in the New Forest, it is vital because acorns are poisonous in large quantities to cattle and ponies. Whereas, pigs are believed to spit out the toxic skins and enjoy eating the acorns. Historically it was used as a method of fattening the pigs quickly for slaughter.
Owners Passes Don’t forget to bring in your membership cards to be renewed. If you haven’t got yours yet, please bring a photograph of yourself as soon as possible so we can update for you. Whilst we have a great team returning year on year, some new team members wont know you and to avoid any confusion it’s easier to have your cards handy at all times.
Follow us on social media
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@awayresortsholidays
@sandyballshols
Meet some of the team at “I have a ridiculous amount of love for this park and our guests!”
“I love ensuring that guests have an amazing stay with us.”
Clare Watkins General Manager
Rosie-Ellis Brothwood Guest Experience Manager
“I always aim to deliver delight and put our guests first.” Paige Tomlinson Guest Services Manager
“Everyone always tells me that I’m the happiest person they know!” Sammi Storey Entertainment Manager
“I aim to deliver delight one pint at a time!” Jon Isles Woodside Inn Manager
“I love to see our guests enjoying themselves” Derren Storey Activities & Events Manager
“A passion for food and guest service” Lesley Martin Commercial Manager
“Always making our guests feel welcome and ensuring they have a great meal” Marc Fear Aubrey’s Forest Kitchen Manager “I love seeing guests become owners and the positive impact is has on their quality of life.” Lee Mosey Holiday Home Sales Manager
“I like to make sure that everything is sparkling for our guest arrivals.” Nicolette Howson Accommodation Manager
“I originally joined for 6 weeks but enjoyed working here so much I’ve been here 6 years!”
“I always like to see guests trying new things and getting the most from their holiday.”
Gary Burnet Night Warden
Aidan Bachman Sports & Leisure Manager
“Always ready to welcome our lovely touring guests.” Ady Howson Touring Warden
“Ready to help wherever needed.” Mel Reynolds Maintenance Manager
events
On park Colour Festival
Friday 27 - Sunday 29 July
A lively colourful weekend featuring our brightest Saturday of 2018. Inspired by the famous Indian ’Holi Festival of Colours’, a programme of family events centered around colour throwing powder. Cameras at the ready, this weekend is as fun to watch as it is to take part.
Halloween Weekend
Friday 26 - Sunday 28 October Halloween at Sandy Balls will be more actioned packed than ever! With our spook-tacular schedule of Halloween themed activities and entertainment, it’s time to create some fang-tastic memories!
Festive Show
Friday 7 - Monday 31 December The New Forest is magical in winter. Get in the festive mood with activities, Santa’s grotto, family panto and more! Please see entertainment guide for more information.
Cream Pie Fight Sunday 26 August
The annual tradition that is the ‘Cream Pie Fight’ returns. Our largest gathering of guests, armed with cream pie plates, have the biggest, messiest fun fight of the year.
Private Sublets
Contact Details
If you sublet your holiday home privately, please remember that the key handling and responsibilities lie with you, the owner, to look after. Any complaints need to be dealt with by you and it is your responsibility to advise your guests accordingly. In the case of a private sublet, we unfortunately we have no knowledge or record of the booking or what has been communicated/agreed with each guest. In all instances, a private sublet guest who contacts us will be directed back to the owner.
Can we please remind our owners to pop into Guest Services when you are next on park to check your contact details with us. It might be that you have moved address, changed your telephone number or e-mail address and we need to know. Sometimes we need to get messages or updates out to you quickly either by a text message or e-mail, so it is important we have the right details on file so you don’t miss out on relevant park information.
New Years Party Monday 31 December
We’ll be welcoming you with nibbles and serving up seasonal drinks aplenty, accompanied by some of the world’s greatest music. Just the thing to put you in the mood for partying the night away. This is a separate ticketed event and numbers are limited, keep an eye out for further information.
pp a r u o d a o l n w Do All you need is your owners accoun t number hand y
Don’t forget you can download our Away Resorts app from the app store or google play store today. It’s jam packed with handy features, like ordering a new gas bottle, booking activities and holding all your holiday home ownership documents.
Search for Away Resorts
Aubrey’s Forest Kitchen With a fresh new look and feel, Aubrey’s Forest Kitchen is perfect for a relaxed meal throughout the day or evening dinner with the family. We now offer Italian classics like gourmet pizzas, delicious pastas and other mouth-watering dishes in a naturally vibrant setting.
NEW MENUS! Guest feedback has been gathered and taken on-board, more so than ever before in terms of the content of the menus. We now have a separate allergy/lifestyle menu.
Gin! We now have a Gin and Fizz menu to tempt guests to sample something different and premium at affordable prices. All bars now stock a regional ale.
Images & Social Media A gentle reminder that use of any Away Resorts images or text from the website, social media or any other marketing source is prohibited without permission. We kindly ask that no information belonging to Away Resorts is used without written agreement. We also ask that inappropriate language is not used on social media, any inappropriate posts will be removed.
Drivers To keep the park safe for everybody, please don’t forget that the speed on the park is 10mph, and of course all the usual rules still apply!
How would you like to earn
th ousands
of pounds simply by letting out your holiday home? Last year some of our owners earned up to £6,500 from their holiday homes – without having to do any hard work. We took care of it all for them, from marketing to handing over the keys and even the cleaning. We can do the same for you too. Just imagine what you could do with that money – help towards the annual running costs for your holiday home, treat yourself to something nice, maybe build up some savings for later on.
HOW OUR MANAGED LETTING SERVICE WORKS:
1. 2. 3.
You decide the dates you wish to let your holiday home out. You decide how you would like your sublet money paid to you three times a year. You sit back, relax and let us do all the hard work!
Sunday 8th July Wimbledon Week (4pm - 6pm) Join us for strawberries, cream and a lovely glass of Pimm’s. Let’s celebrate Wimbledon in style, we’ve already ordered the sunshine!
Saturday 21st July Starlight Sing-Along (7pm - 9:30pm) Join us round a roaring campfire at Greenwood for a light BBQ and refreshments, an acoustic singer songwriter will provide an entertaining backdrop while you warm your cockles around the fire.
Saturday 3rd November Once Upon A Forest Night (7pm - 9pm) Wrap up warm for a night around the fire, cooking marshmallows and sipping hot chocolate while some of the region’s most fantastic storytellers perform dark tales in the round at Folk Moot Circle by Giants Grave.
1, 2, 8, 9th December Salt & Soup (12pm - 2pm)
A complete service from the people who know your holiday park Some holiday owners manage the lettings themselves, and that’s certainly an option. The down side is that you have the stress of being responsible for everything, from start to finish. We’ve deliberately designed our service so it takes care of everything. It means no worries for our owners and a perfect stay for your holiday guests.
Visit Guest Services to find out more and to help you decide if letting your holiday home with us is right for you
Pop in for a chat over some warming soup and a nice crusty roll! We’ll also be offering FREE bowls of salt for you to place in your holiday home, as well as a smoke alarm battery. This is available to all owners who pop in and see us.
Sunday 16th December Christmas Celebration (7pm - 10pm) A chance for us all to get together before Christmas, share some mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and mince pies and Santa may have a gift for you if you’ve been good?
Hot Tubs If you have a hot tub, we want you, your family and friends to use and enjoy your hot tub safely. It is important to be aware of the potential risks that can arise from hot tubs. Hot tubs are a recognised source of diseases caused by infections agents including the bacteria that causes legionnaires’ disease. There have been a number of outbreaks of Legionnaires’ diseases, including fatalities which have been linked to poorly designed and/ or managed hot tubs. Legionnaires’ disease is caused by legionella bacteria infecting your lungs. It’s usually caught by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. This means that other park guests may be exposed to it even if they are not using your hot tub. The Health & Safety Executive Guidance (HSG282) ‘The control of legionella and other infectious agents in spa-pool systems’ explains how to manage and control the risks from legionella and other infectious agents. We expect you to maintain your hot tubs in a safe condition to ensure the safety of your family, your guests and others using the park. The complete guidance document may be downloaded free from the HSE website and we strongly advise you to do so. http://www.hse.gov.uk/ legionnaires/spa-pools.htm We also advise you to follow any other recommendations for the hot tub manufacturer and/or supplier. Please note if you are subletting your Holiday Home, you will be deemed to be undertaking a commercial operation and your legal responsibilities with regards
to the management of hot tubs will be more stringent. This will include the completion of suitable and sufficient risk assessment and implementing a strict water testing regime and management procedures. When your hot tub is not in use, it must always be covered with a suitable and secured lid to prevent accidental access by unsupervised children and potential drowning. If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Fancy £500, £750 or £1000 off your pitch fees? A great many of the Holiday Home Owners here at Sandy Balls have joined us because they were recommended to the park by their friends or family members. You can’t keep a good thing secret for long!
Love is… a holiday home! If you find yourself falling in love with Sandy Balls and always counting down the minutes until your next visit, then you may also find yourself telling your nearest and dearest about it too. Whether you want to enjoy holidays with family or friends or you just want them to have as much fun as you do, don’t hide your light under a bushel. For a start, the bushel might spontaneously combust from your excitement. Secondly, it’s nice to share.
How about £1,000 in Pitch Fee Credits? Do we have a deal for you? You bet! If you recommend a friend who becomes a holiday home owner here at Sandy Balls then you get some additional benefits. Not only can you enjoy holidays together, we will give you an account credit of £500 once they have taken over their holiday home. The second person you refer will
earn you £750 and the third is worth a whopping £1,000. Bring your friends and help save on your pitch fees. For referrals to escalate, all sales must be complete within a 12- month period.
How it works All you have to do is complete an owner referral form and send it in to us and let us do the rest. Alternatively, you can bring them along or even call to make an appointment for them. Simple!
No hard sell promise Yuck, don’t you hate a hard sell? We do too. It’s not our way. We think we have a great offering which doesn’t need a hard-ball pitch because you don’t need a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. We promise that we will treat your referrals with absolute respect and courtesy and that includes giving them the option to say ‘no thanks’. No pressure.
events
Local
There are some amazing off-park events happening around Sandy Balls over the next few months
New Forest Marathon Sunday 9 September One of the most stunning routes in the UK, a mixture of forest enclosures, forest roads and villages, stunning views and of course, the odd New Forest Pony. With 7 routes available it offers an option for all capabilities (Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, Junior 1k/200m, Nordic/Woodland Walk). newforestmarathon.co.uk
Hampshire Food Festival Sunday 1 - Tuesday 31 July Taking place at venues around the county, including many within The New Forest. This is a great opportunity to sample local produce, discover more about local food via cookery workshops and talks and tours. hampshirefare.co.uk /news-events/ hampshire-food-festival
the New Forest at Brockenhurst. See show jumping, meet prizewinning livestock and browse the retail sections. There’s also crafts, food and drink as well as kitchen workshops and a family-fun area. newforestshow.co.uk
New Forest Folk Festival Wed 4th July & Sun 8th July A small and friendly festival with a big line-up!
New Forest & Hampshire County Show Tuesday 24 Thursday 26 July A not-to-be-missed event has to be the annual New Forest and Hampshire County Show. Taking place each July, this three day festival offers agricultural fun and entertainment in the heart of
newforestfolkfestival.co.uk
New Forest Walking Festival Saturday 13 Sunday 28 October Organised by the New Forest National Park Association, you can take part in guided walks throughout the forest, a perfect way to meet like-minded people, to keep fit and to experience parts of the forest that you are perhaps unfamiliar with. newforestnpa.gov.uk/things-to-do /walking/walking-festival
Our Investments Every year we’ve invested in our parks to give you the ultimate in holiday bliss!
Winter 2016 £1.6 Million
Winter 2017 £2.2 Million
Holiday homes for sale
Total: £3.8 Million
on 0142
5 65120
6 and ask for you r part ex change quote t oday
You could even have a new location on the park when you upgrade.
only £65,595
only £67,995
2018 ABI Westlake - 2 Bedroom | 36ft x 12ft - Exclusive to Away Resorts - En-Suite toilet - Front patio doors - Sleeps up to 6
2018 ABI Oakley - 3 Bedroom | 36ft x 12ft - Enormous L-shaped sofa - Brand new 2018 model - Classic contemporary holiday home - Sleeps up to 8
only £84,995
only £167,995
2016 BK Linear - 2 Bedroom | 40ft x 13ft - High-end fittings throughout - En-suite to master bedrom - One not to be missed - Sleeps up to 6
The Godshill Holiday Lodge - 2 Bedroom | 42ft x 20ft - Refurbished to the highest standard - Modern wooden finishes - Spacious and bright bathroom
only £71,995
2018 ABI Bramshaw - 2 Bedroom | 38ft x 12ft - Exclusive to Away Resorts - Built-in Bluetooth surround sound system - Front patio doors - Sleeps up to 6
- Freestanding bath - Luxurious master - Huge decking area - Sleeps up to 6
£ Super Finance Packages Available* Pop into the Holiday Home Sales Office to find out more | Open 7 days a week *Finance subject to status written details available on request. Away Resorts Ltd is a licensed credit broker authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information please ask.