Sales at Yorks holiday park hit £1m as Britons seek “safe haven”
An upmarket holiday park in the North York Moors National Park has enjoyed a record-breaking year, despite the economic disruption caused by the pandemic.
The 10-acre Wayside Lakes development, owned by Yorkshire businessman Mark Goodson, has proved popular with families seeking a safe and healthy place to go on holiday.
Mr Goodson revealed that the holiday park’s turnover had broken the £1m barrier for the first time in its 45-year history.
Record Lodge Sales
A record 10 lodges were sold this year, leaving only eight pitches available to customers.
Mr Goodson commented: “2020 was an extraordinary year for us, breaking all records. The Covid crisis closed us down from March until July, but the demand after that for our lodges was unreal.
“We have never sold ten in a year before. It was astounding, even though it seems wrong to have had such a successful year amid such a ghastly global pandemic.
“But on the other hand, we are proud to have provided a safe and healthy bolthole for people wanting to escape from the virus and all the pressures it brings.
“The majority of our new lodge owners came from across the north of England. They all wanted peace, beauty and the chance to enjoy a holiday without fear.
Safe place to holiday
“I would also like to pay tribute to the patience and understanding of all our existing holiday home owners at Wayside, who have had the strangest and most disruptive of years.
“It was particularly hard for them when the park was closed for almost four months, but they have been tremendous,” added Mr Goodson.
One highlight of the year for Wayside was the visit of Rufus Bellamy, the son of television botanist David Bellamy who passed last year.
Rufus presented the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award to the park for Wayside’s promotion of ecology and many initiatives to protect the natural world.
Mr Goodson said it was very difficult to say what 2021 would bring, given the unpredictable nature of the global pandemic.
He added: “But it is likely that holidays abroad will not be on many people’s agendas, and the idea of a staycation will continue to be very attractive.”
There is more information about Wayside Holiday park on its website at www.waysidelakes.co.uk
