Cornish couple’s holiday park marks forty fun-filled years

Four decades of providing idyllic Cornish seaside memories are being celebrated this autumn by a family who turned a bus depot into a dream destination.

Porth Beach Holiday Park near Newquay has become a favourite of families across the UK – thanks to the May family who first bought the site in 1975.

It was then little more than a petrol station and bus depot, but Dennis and Rosemary May saw the potential for its lovely location as a holiday park.

The couple set about introducing a raft of improvements, including landscaping, and the following summer began welcoming their first camping and touring caravan guests.

That, however, was just the start – and in the following years, Dennis and Rosemary invested much energy and resources into creating a truly first-class holiday environment.

Their reward has been to see an ever-growing number of visitors from Britain and overseas, and an explosion of glowing on-line reviews from guests.

Today, Porth Beach provides not just touring pitches, but also luxury caravan holiday homes for hire, and fully equipped timber-built “glamping” pods.

Dennis and Rosemary, who were involved with the founding of nearby Hendra Holiday Park, have also added other guests facilities including a laundrette, play area and wifi coverage.

Two generations of the May family have now owned the park, and two generations of the Case family have managed it, with current managers Chris and Katy Case both living on site.

Chris said:  “The secret to the park’s success is simple: it’s all about the personal touch we can provide, and the fact that guests return year after year across generations.

“Those who first came as children with their parents are now coming back and bringing their own children with them; it’s like one big family,” he said.

Chris, 40, who has managed the site for the last eight years, said the park also had one other unique selling point:

“It’s all about the location – you’d struggle to find a holiday park with such a tranquil setting so close to the beach, and with all the amenities of Newquay close by too,” he added.

To mark their 40th year, the park is offering discounts for stays throughout September and October, including breaks in their new luxury holiday homes.

There is more information about the park at www.porthbeach.co.uk