Ocean Parcs has plans to revitalise holiday firm

Mar 28 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

THE Pontin’s chain of UK holiday parks has been bought out by new management with plans to revitalise the estate into a 21st Century force in the holiday market.

Pontin’s, formerly owned by Scottish & Newcastle, has been acquired by a company headed up by one if its former executives – Graham Parr.

The new owners, under the name Ocean Parcs, say they plan to revitalise the historic British leisure brand, with a vision of capturing the burgeoning market for value and environmentally conscious holidays in the UK.

The business, involving seven holiday village sites around the UK, has been acquired with the assistance of finance from Abbey UK Corporate Banking.

Mr Parr, now executive chairman, has spent more than 25 years in the leisure industry including a number of years as part of the senior management team of Pontin’s.

He was the first chief executive of Arena Leisure, where he led the development of the business into the UK’s leading racecourse operator and was responsible for the formation and development of TV racing business “Attheraces”.

Mr Parr said: “This is almost like coming home for me. I know this business and many of its management well. I am very excited by the prospects and I am delighted to be a part of its future.”

Pontin’s has changed hands a few times over the decades. The business was acquired by Scottish & Newcastle in 1989 and the plc embarked on a major revamp and modernisation of facilities.

Today the business consists of seven holiday villages attracting around 750,000 guests a year to Blackpool, Southport in Lancashire, Prestatyn in North Wales, Brean Sands in Somerset, Camber Sands in Sussex, Hemsby in Norfolk, and Pakefield in Suffolk.