PETER Bull Resorts has given a boost to Bude’s tourism economy with over £3-million invested in their two local holiday parks.

Bude Holiday Resort on Maer Lane and Widemouth Fields, situated on the A39, have both had extensive upgrades to provide better facilities in order to attract holidaymakers and new holiday home owners to the area. Both parks sell holiday homes and luxury lodges and open 12 months of the year, attracting year-round visitors to Bude without occupying local housing stock.

Peter Bull Resorts was established in 2014 by four experienced holiday park entrepreneurs. The group has successfully completed the refurbishment and relaunch of Newquay View Resort and also made improvements to both of the Bude based parks prior to the recent major upgrades.

Barry McGregor, managing director at Peter Bull Resorts, said: “We are spending approximately £2.5-million at Bude Holiday Resort and have already spent £750,000 at Widemouth Fields. We are delighted to be bringing this level of investment to the Bude area and believe that the improvements that we are making will be of great benefit to the town in terms of increased visitor spend.”

Research shows that domestic tourists spend on average £200 per three-night stay, whilst inbound visitors stay an average seven nights and spend £600 per visit. With Bude being recognised two years running as the Best Coastal Resort, a favourable exchange rate and new flights into Newquay, a record numbers of visitors were expected this year.

Bude Holiday Resort, the larger of the two parks and the closest holiday park to Bude town centre, opened a brand new touring park accommodating touring caravans and campervans on fully serviced, hardstanding and landscaped Super Pitches.

Each individual pitch has a fresh water and power supply, mains drainage plus car and awning space. The new touring park also offers new, modern toilet and shower facilities.

Mr McGregor explained: “The new touring park offers facilities which bring families, surfers and water-sports enthusiasts into Cornwall. The site is particularly suitable for touring because it is within walking distance of the beaches and the town of Bude itself.”

In addition Bude Holiday Resort has a brand new holiday home area, the first phase of which will offer over 30 holiday homes and for the first time will include luxury lodges. Many Bude residents have been directly benefitting from holiday home ownership through joining the sublet scheme offered by the resort.

Mr McGregor continued: “Better facilities attract new visitors to the area with higher disposable income, who want to visit more often and consequently contribute to the year round economy of the area. When holiday homes are not in use we often sub-let them for holiday hire so that the owner can benefit from additional income and the town can benefit from increased visitors.”

Bude Holiday Park has created a new outside pool with splash zone, a new beer garden as well as adding more brand new caravans to its existing hire fleet. Once work on site is completed the access road along Maer Lane will also be improved, which will greatly benefit local residents.

Widemouth Fields now has a dedicated touring area with new hardstanding, fully serviced pitches and has completed the second phase development of an owners’ area, with improved landscaping and over 20 new plots available for holiday homes and luxury lodges with stunning countryside views.

Existing facilities at Widemouth Fields have been refurbished, a new range of ‘Elite Plus’ holiday caravans have been added, plus two brand new luxury glamping pods from Swift which offer a completely self-contained camping pod experience including kitchenette and shower room.

Mr McGregor concluded: “Every £54,000 of new tourist income creates a new job, with the tourist sector being the third largest employer at 9.5% of the working population. Our recent investment in Bude is a sign of our commitment to the local area, and community, which will see a direct benefit.”