July 2021
Issue no 3
Sandy Balls Holiday Village presents
Park Life Adrian Evans
General Manager
Welcome to our peak Owners newsletter where you’ll find all the latest park and team news, Owner updates, events, competitions and more.
I am thrilled to share that in June we had a Visit England Inspection and we were awarded with a 5 Star Holiday Park status. I wanted to thank everyone on park and the team for for making this happen. Recently we have made some improvements to the park investing in the roads, and into our Grounds Team’s machinery. We have also added some lovely landscaping to Acorn Place. Also, we have expanded the Bicycle Shop and our Village Store is now a one stop shop for all your grocery and gift needs, including some excellent wines and a ‘wine of the week’. Aubrey’s and Woodside have new menu items which are going down a storm, and bookings are also now being taken for our PODs in the Woodside Square for ‘Tapas and Tipples’ unlimited lunches, please see page 7 for more information, and don’t forget your exclusive owner 20% discount on food and drinks in both venues when you show your owners pass! We have some great team news, Abi has joined us as Owner Experience Manager who will also manage the Vista Ownership arrangements & relationship. Abi is based in the Owners Enquiry Centre in Acorn Square, and as you will read over on page 3, Abi has quite an accomplished background of
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What’s happening at
customer experience and service, so we are delighted to have Abi on board at Sandy Balls. If you would like to discuss anything related to your ownership journey, you can make an appointment for a coffee and a chat with Abi, please email Abi.ball@awayresorts.co.uk. We are also pleased to announce Catherine Andrews has been promoted to Deputy General Manager. Catherine joined Sandy Balls in January 2020 as the Guest Experience Manager and is now working closely with Abi and Jessica. Jessica looks after all our subletting owners to ensure our owners offering is better than ever. Holidays bookings are still very strong, so if you would like to take advantage of our hassle-free sublet scheme, please send us in your letting dates as soon as possible. This is a great way to earn back some income towards your holiday home outgoings. Now COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, we still all have a responsibility to look after ourselves and stay safe from the virus. Thank you for supporting us in adapting to government guidelines throughout the pandemic. Please remember, if you get a positive test for COVID-19 you should not travel here, you are still required to isolate. Peak is going well and is busy, I hope you and your families will be able to join us.
@SandyBallsAwayResorts
@AwayResortsUK
@AwayResortsHolidays
Exciting news for our Away Resorts family, we have a new park. Beachcomber Holiday Park We are thrilled to announce our new park acquisition of Beachcomber Holiday Park in Cleethorpes Lincolnshire, officially becoming part of the Away Resorts family joining our 8 other UK parks. Here at Away Resorts we’re famous for creating unforgettable holiday memories and time away with those ‘discover different’ moments. Beachcomber Holiday Park is a great choice for us, fit for all the family and set beside the sea in the popular coastal resort of Cleethorpes. Beachcomber has superb entertainment facilities, as well as a popular outdoor heated swimming pool, restaurant and bar with outdoor seating, children’s play areas, sportscourt and tennis court, plus there is a shop & launderette. We loved this park because it’s situated with so much to see and do with loads of attractions nearby such as; Cleethorpes beach, Pleasure Island theme park, Cleethorpes boating lake, The Jungle Zoo, Rushmoor Farm Park & Falconry centre, and Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, where you can take a ride along the East of England’s last surviving steam light railway. We’re very dog friendly, so you can expect the same from Beachcomber and enjoy strolls along the beach with your four-legged friends. Any families who feel they may be interested in a holiday home at Beachcomber Holiday Park, or part exchanging to Beachcomber Holiday Park, please register your interest online at https://www.awayresorts.co.uk/parks/lincolnshire/beachcomber/ holiday-homes/
Beachcomber Manchester
Fancy a holiday?
Lincoln
Barmouth Bay
Boston West Birmingham
Mersea Island
Don’t forget as an owner you receive 10% off any holiday booking at Away Resorts holiday parks’
Just call 0330 053 7000, quote your name, park and owner account number for your discount. Discounts are subject to availability, and you, our lovely owner, must be present on the holiday. Visit awayresorts.co.uk and see what takes your fancy!
Tattershall Lakes
Cardiff Bristol London
Sandy Balls Mill Rythe Plymouth
St Ives Bay
Whitecliff Bay
Who’s who?
OWNER EXPERIENCE MANAGER
SALES MANAGER
Abi Ball
Steve Chetwynd
abi.ball@awayresorts.co.uk
steve.chetwynd@awayresorts.co.uk
01425 651206
01425 651206
Contact Reason: • Owner feedback/ questions • Pitch improvements • Owner Event bookings & suggestions • Report a fault • Request a safety test • Purchase Veranda, Shed etc
Contact Reason: • New sales enquiries • Part exchange enquiries • End of license enquiries
SUBLET COORDINATOR Jessica McLauchlan
NIGHT WARDEN
jessica.mclauchlan@awayresorts.co.uk
Various Team Members
01425 651 225
Telephone Only: 01425 651251
Contact Reason: • Subletting sign up/ enquiries • Change your subletting dates • Check availability
Contact Reason: • Out of hours enquiries • Urgent issues
Spotlight on Abi Hello everyone! I’m Abi your new Owner Experience Manager. Originally, I am from Worcestershire, I moved to West Sussex when I was in my early 20’s to work in the travel industry for a Tour Operator. After 17 years I moved to the position of Guest Relations Manager at No1 Lounges. There I looked after the Guest Relations Team as well as being responsible for driving improvement in the Lounge Experience for our guests based on their feedback...I sincerely hope I am able to do this for you our Owners. There were 15 lounges worldwide, 6 of which were at Gatwick Airport, so I worked closely with the wider team there. When Covid changed the world as we know it unfortunately my position was made redundant. Then, for 3 months I worked in customer service at another company but I desperately missed the travel & hospitality industry so now I’m so pleased to be back. I truly believe that customer service is in my blood. I applied for the position of Owner Experience Manager at Sandy Balls a few months ago now and consider myself very lucky to have been successful, I have loved meeting some of you and I can’t wait to meet the rest of you soon! Aside from work, I enjoy relaxing with a good book and socialising with friends.
What are you most looking forward to at Sandy Balls? I think it’s a really exciting time for the UK travel business now. Many people are holidaying in the UK this year and I foresee this year being a fantastic opportunity for the UK holiday market & holiday home owners. I’m really looking forward to being a part of the team here who share a passion for Sandy Balls.... it is a wonderful place to be working.
What will be most important to you as you embark on being the Owners Experience Manager at Sandy Balls? I have a passion for exceeding customer expectation, and I hope I will be able to do that within my new role as Owner Experience Manager. I am looking forward to working on new projects to enhance the owner experience and ensuring owners feel well looked after. Making sure owners have confidence in contacting me and knowing I can answer any questions or queries they may have will be my main objective. I am looking forward to working with the Sales Team and the wider team at Sandy Balls. I am sure there will be a lot to learn but I love a challenge. If you have any ownership queries or feedback and would like to arrange an appointment to meet with me to discuss anything big or small about your ownership here, please email me on Abi.ball@awayresorts.co.uk and we will arrange a coffee and chat. I’m very much looking forward to meeting you all very soon!
Fancy £500, £750 £1000 off your pitch fees?
Your 2021 Events Calendar...
or
Just a reminder of our fantastic park events and owner events this year that we’d love to see you all at. All events are of course subject to change & government guidance, but we will keep everything crossed these will all go ahead.
If you know anyone who would love a holiday home here too, then why not recommend us?
Colour Festival
Saturday 14th August
If they do go ahead and buy a lovely home from home, we will give you an account credit of £500! If you then recommend a second person you will get £750, and a third you would earn £1000 off your pitch fees.
No booking required, some activities to be booked two weeks prior via Sportsbooker
Cream Pie Fight
How? Just bring your recommended friend or family member along to the Holiday Home Sales Office, or ask them to call us on 01425 651 206 and quote ‘I’ve been referred by’ and your name to make an appointment and we’ll do the rest.
Saturday 29th August No booking required, some activities to be booked two weeks prior via Sportsbooker
Summer Festival
Friday 3rd – Saturday 4th September No booking required
31 days of Halloween
Friday 1st October – Sunday 31st October
We’re dog friendly at Sandy Balls
No booking required, some activities to be booked two weeks prior via Sportsbooker
Forest of Light
Friday 5th November – Friday 31st December No booking required, some activities to be
1
booked two weeks prior via Sportsbooker 2
Owners End of Season Christmas Party
3
Saturday 20th November from 7pm in the Woodside Suite
4
To book please book via Sportsbooker two weeks in advance 5
6
New Year’s Eve Party
7
Friday 31st December
To book please book via Sportsbooker two weeks in advance
For more event information & times, please keep an eye on Third Place Social, your dedicated owners Facebook Page. Alternatively, pop into Owner Services to see Abi our Owners Experience Manager. You can also email Abi on: abi.ball@awayresorts.co.uk. For bookable events, tickets will be released two weeks before each event and are limited so please book in advance via Sportsbooker. See you at some events soon!
Your Owner Services Team
8
9
ACROSS
DOWN
2 I ____ my dog
1 Dog lingo
3 Drippy, sticky and wet
4 This is what my feet are called
6 This is how I speak 7 When I follow a command I get one of these
5 I wear this around my neck 7 Squeak, roll and bounce
8 This connects to my collar 9 When my tail is _____ I’m happy
(Answers on page 11)
Let your holiday home
work for you! Take full advantage of the 2021 ‘staycation boom’
I’M BEING SUBLET With more than 60% bookings this year than in 2019*, it’s a phenomenal time to take advantage of our easy sublet scheme to offset some of your running costs those weeks you’re not using your holiday home!
Chat to us today to find out more! Chat to us today to find out more! For more information please pop in to Guest Services and see Jess, or you can call or email Jess on; 01425 651 225, jessica.mclauchlan@awayresorts.co.uk for any of your sublet enquiries.
*60% rise is across all parks, as of April 20th 2021
You Said,
We Did Coffee and Chat
Abi our Owner Experience Manager is on board to listen to your feedback on your owner experience, whilst answering any questions you may have however big or small. You can call, email, or pop in to see Abi at any time for a coffee and a chat in the Sales Enquiry Centre. Abi’s contact details are; abi.ball@awayresorts.co.uk 01425 651206
Owner Survey As a result from our owners survey we sent out in May via email and on Third Place Social, Catherine our Deputy General Manager and Abi our Owner Experience Manger met with the other Away Resorts parks teams at Boston West Country Park in Lincolnshire, to run through the feedback and have a meeting to discuss ways to enhance the ownership experience across all parks, including collating ideas on future owner events. The two-day meeting was a really productive get together and we have many ideas we have come away with that Catherine, Abi and the team here at Sandy Balls will be implementing & demonstrating over the coming season. We are keen for more owners to get in touch with any further feedback or ideas, you can email us on ownerfeedback@awayresorts.co.uk.
Swimming Slot Deposits Removed Last year we had £1 deposits to book swimming slots for owners and guests and we received some feedback from owners that they preferred to book their swims without this in place. We have listened to this feedback and the £1 deposits have now been removed.
Sublet Co-ordinator Jess is dedicated to your subletting sign-up, queries and bookings, making our hassle-free sublet scheme even easier for our owners to earn some extra income towards their holiday home fees, services and maintenance. To contact Jess about our great sublet offering you can pop in and see Jess in Guest Services, or email or call Jess on; jessica.mclauchlan@awayresorts.co.uk 01425 651 225
Grounds Maintenance Improved We have added some lovely landscaping to Acorn place, and across the park we are now doing more regular grass cutting and grounds maintenance from more team members employed and from buying new machinery including road sweepers and a Billy Goat, this has enabled us to be able to be doing more frequent fortnightly road sweeping on park too. We hope you’ll agree from the feedback we have had so far, the park has never looked better.
Progressing with Sustainability & Environmental Compliance & Evolution We have now undertaken our post lockdown biodiversity tree survey and woodland management assessment of the park. This has enabled us to learn more about our majestic land and trees here in the New Forest and identify further features of the park of conservation importance to maintain, this has been a survey of flora (plant life), fauna (animal life) and wildlife habitats. Keep your eyes peeled for future updates as we begin the further implementation of this into the park and surroundings areas, doing our upmost to maintain our magical environment here that we all love. We are also awaiting delivery of new glass bins; it’s been great to see owners doing their bit towards dry mixed recycling advancing our attitude to waste management reduction.
Fishing Peg Restorations We are in the process of replacing some of the pegs and benches near the river for those of you who enjoy fishing.
Our new menu items are a must try! We wanted our owners to be in the know about our new menu items that are already proving to be strong favourites in Aubrey’s and Woodside. And, with your 20% off exclusive owners’ discount, why not book yourself a table and treat yourself when you’re next on park!
Tomahawk Steak at Aubrey’s A succulent on the bone rib steak served with chips, vine roasted cherry tomatoes, flat mushrooms and salad garnish.
Vegan friendly Banana Blossom Paella at Aubrey’s Plant based paella packed with savoury vegetables, rice and banana blossom.
Lemon Posset at Woodside and Aubrey’s Our homemade sweet and zingy lemon posset served with shortbread biscuit.
Fajitas at Woodside Your choice of marinated chargrilled filling (chicken, steak, vegetables, prawn) on a bed of sizzling onions and peppers served with a selection of sour cream, fresh salsa and guacamole. Served with soft tortillas to wrap everything up!
Don’t
forget!
As an Owner you get an exclusive 20% Owners Discount on… 20% off activities 20% off in Aubrey’s and The Woodside on food and drink Free access to the gym and 20% off any classes! It is still a requirement to book for swimming, activities and restaurants at this time, you can book three weeks in advance via Sportsbooker to ensure you make the most of your time here at Sandy Balls. All you need to do is show your owners pass on arrival for your owners discounts.
Treat yourselves
to an unlimited Tapas and Tipples lunch! We think you’ll love our Tapas and Tipples in our PODS in Woodside Square, come and indulge between 12noon and 3.30pm daily. These are for over 18’s only, and a minimum of four to enjoy unlimited mini burgers, garlic prawns, halloumi fries, bruschetta, cod goujon’s, mini sausages and chicken wings served with prosecco!* Bookings are now being taken, you can choose your booking times from the following slots on Sportsbooker: 12.00, 12.30, 13.00, 14.30, 15.00, and 15.30. Please book in advance to avoid any disappointment. *Food and prosecco is not exchangeable and no takeaway included.
Topic
of the week
Earlier this year over on our Owners Facebook Page ‘Sandy Balls Owners, The Third Place Social’ we have been running ‘Topic of the Week’. Topic of the Week is a chance for you to share your top tips on and off park, favourite places to visit, eat, drink, and experience whilst making the most of ownership at Sandy Balls! We will be sharing your brilliant recommendations in each quarterly Park Life newsletter, so please keep contributing and hopefully you’ll discover a new place to experience whilst enjoying time at your holiday home!
Best Local Takeaways Surma Valley Indian An Indian style Restaurant with Takeaway. Surma Valley is situated in a two storey listed property of brick built elevation being rendered with thatched roof, giving a true “Chocolate Box” appeal. It is set in grounds of almost 3/4 of an acre with landscaped gardens. To the side of the restaurant is a large car park providing parking for approximately 50 cars. Salisbury Road, Burgate, Fordingbridge, SP6 1LX 01425 652348
Best Beaches within 1 hour... Avon Beach Great for families with small children and people with disabilities with own beach level car park. A designated bathing beach and watersports. With a Café, Restaurant and Beach Shop with Beach Huts for hire too. Mudeford, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 4AN
New Wong Gardens Chinese & Fish & Chips
Hengitsbury Head
Chinese and Fish & Chips Takeaway with large portions and a friendly service.
Parking, toilets & a cafe are all available at this pebble beach with a nature reserve at one end.
38 Salisbury Road, Fordingbridge, SP6 1AF, 01425 653402
Southbourne, Bournemouth, BH6 4EW
Best Local Places for a Pint
Best Local Attractions for Kids...
Sir Walter Tyrrell
Furzey Gardens
Pub with log fires serving local beers and English home-cooked food, with large patio and play area.
Informal woodland garden and a seasonal cafe operating in support of those with learning disabilities.
Brook, Lyndhurst SO43 7HD, 023 8081 3170
School Lane, Minstead, Lyndhurst SO43 7GL 023 8081 2464
The Alice Lisle Family-friendly rural inn with lake views, a heated terrace and a menu of modern English classics. Rockford Green, Rockford, Ringwood BH24 3NA, 01425 474700
The Rising Sun
Longdown Farm Family attraction with farm animals, a trampoline barn, soft play area, produce shop and tearoom. Deerleap Lane, Ashurst, Southampton SO40 7EH 023 8029 2837
Cosy pub in a countryside setting, with kids’ play area in the garden and a menu of simple pub food.
The Blue Pool Nature Reserve & Tearooms
Bashley Common Rd, New Milton BH25 5SF, 01425 610360
Natural swimming hole where minerals change the colour from green to blue, with a hiking trail. Furzebrook Rd, Wareham BH20 5AR, 01929 558150
Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary
Best Local Attractions for Kids...
Platform overlooking a meadow where fallow deer gather for daily feedings by the forest keeper. Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Dr, Lyndhurst SO43 7GQ, 0300 067 4601
Moors Valley Park
Avon Heath Country Park
Country park in Ashley Heath
Avon Heath Country Park is a Green Flag–awarded park located in St Leonards, Dorset. The park is dominated by acres of lowland and wetland heath, grassland and heather, while pine and birch woodlands make up much of the rest of the scenery.
Horton Road, Ashley Heath, Ringwood BH24 2ET 01425 470721
Paultons Park & Peppa Pig World Paultons Family Theme Park is an amusement park located in the New Forest National Park, near the village of Ower, in Hampshire, with over 70 rides and attractions. The Peppa Pig World themed area is based on the children’s animated television series Peppa Pig Ower, Romsey SO51 6AL, 023 8081 4442
Exbury Gardens Exbury Gardens is a garden in Hampshire belonging to a branch of the Rothschild family. It is situated in the village of Exbury, just to the east of Beaulieu across the river from Bucklers Hard. Exbury, Southampton SO45 1AZ, 023 8089 1203
Brocks Pine, St. Leonard’s, St Ives, Ringwood BH24 2DH, 01425 478082
Dorsey Heavy Horse Farm Park Conservation centre with rare-breed heavy horses, blacksmith displays, petting zoo & vintage trucks. Edmondsham Road, Verwood BH21 5RJ, 01202 824040
Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre Visitor center with raptor shows, tarantulas & boa constrictors, named after a resident bald eagle. Crow Ln, Ringwood BH24 3EA, 01425 476487
Make the most of your stays! Download the app now! View your bills | Make payments | Book your activities Request owner services* | Order food and drink (Services – gas bottle, safety testing, drain down)
How to activate and access your online owners account On your online owners account you’ll be able to; • • • • • •
View your bills Make payments Request owner services Keep track of your account See your owner events calendar Read the latest owners newsletter
You will be sent an account number and activation code via email soon after becoming an owner with us. Once you have this please login to the activation page using the details below; Account activation: awayresorts.co.uk/owner-accounts/
The Away Resorts App is available to download from Google Play and the App Store. All you will need is your username and your password to login, this will be the same username and password you use for your online owners account. Please note the app is dedicated just for owners and therefore requires you to activate your account online before being granted with full access. You will need to login and activate your account online initially on www. awayresorts.co.uk/ owner-accounts/ before using the app. If you have any issues whilst using the app please contact owner-accounts@awayresorts.co.uk
Download our app today! *Currently you are unable to manage your sublet dates on the app.
Please select the first option by clicking on ‘I would like to activate my owners account.’ This will then take you through to the ‘Your details’ page where you’ll need to fill in your name, the park name, your account number and your email address. Please note, it is very important that the email address you use is the one we have already on record, which will then later become your future username. If you are a joint owner you will share the same username and password for your account. Once you have activated your account visit your owners website on; owners.awayresorts.co.uk/login/ Trouble logging into your account: If you have any trouble logging in to your owners account, click on “I can no longer access my owners account” this will take you through a few steps to see if we can get you logged back in quickly, alternatively if this doesn’t fix it then please email us your account ID and email address to owner-accounts@awayresorts co.uk and we’ll get right back to you to help you gain access. If you haven’t received your activation code or instructions yet? Please visit our self-activation page online and click “I would like to activate my owners account.” Once you have provided your account number and details, you will be emailed your activation
Colouring in
Competition Competition open to anyone 12 or under, our favourite colouring in will win a Bear! All you need to do is write the child’s name and your holiday home location and number in the space below and then pop this into the Sales Enquiry Centre for the attention of Abi (or post it into Abi), before Friday 20th August. The winner will be chosen on Monday 23rd August with the winning colouring in displayed the next newsletter!
We’re loving seeing all your Capture Club entries! Keep them coming & congratulations to our latest winners below! Pippa Burrell won some Away Resorts goodies with her lovely photo of family time enjoying the river walk in the sunshine again during their stay.
Donna Christie won a fab doggy goodie bag with a gorgeous photo of her dog enjoying the restaurant terrace
Name: Age: Contact phone number: Holiday Home location and number:
Head over to Third Place Social to enter the next Capture Club Competition. Good luck!
CROSSWORD ANSWERS ACROSS
2 Love, 3 Drool, 6 Bark, 7 Treat, 8 Leash, 9 Wagging
DOWN
1 Woof, 4 Paws, 5 Collar, 7 Toy
Part exchange your holiday home.
See holiday homes available here.
And enjoy up to £2,000 running costs contribution on us! ** There has never been a better time to upgrade your holiday home
Open up your phone camera and
scan me!
Exclusive offers just for you! £
3 years Warranty+^
£
£
£
Up to £2,000 running costs contribution.†
More part exchange back than ever before
Fantastic finance packages available - we could even contra-settle your existing finance*
†Upgrade your existing holiday home and receive up to £2,000 on your 2022 pitch fees, on us. Here’s how it works... £1,000 running costs contribution with any holiday home up to £49,999 £1,500 running costs contribution with any holiday home between £50,000 and £64,999 £2,000 running costs contribution with any holiday home over £65,000
What are you waiting for?
View some holiday homes today, in person or virtually and ask for your part exchange quote! Call 01425 651 206 or Text ‘SAN’ to 84840 *Finance subject to status written details available on request. Away Resorts Ltd is a licensed credit broker authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. **Deposit contribution offer is valid on all new and pre-owned holiday homes. Valid on sales made on or between 1st July - 31st August 2021 and complete by 3rd September 2021. Running costs contribution is added to your owners account and can be used towards 2022 pitch fees or other running costs. There is no cash alternative. The offer cannot be combined with any other discounts offers or promotions. Away Resorts holiday parks are not residential parks and holiday homes cannot be occupied as a permanent residence. ^Terms and conditions apply to 3 Year Warranty+. Please see website for more details. Away Resorts reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.