Chichester Lakeside Holiday Park

I haven’t stayed here, but I visited for a recruitment day today and was so impressed by how friendly the staff were that I wanted to leave a review. I had a long chat with Mace and then Tim, and they made me feel very welcome. From what we discussed, it sounds like a great place to work, where everyone shares the idea that customers should feel valued and have their best time. It made me want to holiday there.

We left the kids’ show early today after a really upsetting experience. It was at 7pm, and the presenter repeatedly ignored my children while engaging with other kids. It didn’t feel random: it seemed that only white children were being acknowledged and included. As a parent, it was painful seeing my kids overlooked and excluded at an event that should have been fun and welcoming. Children’s events need to be inclusive, respectful and enjoyable for everyone. I hope the organisers take this seriously so other families don’t have the same experience.

The mobile home was clean, modern and really nice. The beds weren’t very comfortable, though I still slept decently, which is about what you’d expect in a cheap holiday home. We had a good spot, with West Wittering 20 minutes away and some nice restaurants and pubs nearby. I’m sure we’ll return. Our Dubai trip was cancelled last weekend, and we’d promised our two year old a holiday, so we managed to book one of the last Gold Plus homes. Check in on Friday afternoon was very quick, maybe too quick, as we didn’t get much of an introduction to the site. We skipped the £25 early check in for the home and went to the pool instead. It was quiet then, and the welcoming Leisure Manager booked our swimming slots for the whole stay. Saturday was much busier, but the pool capacity of about 40 seemed enough. The pool was lovely and warm and looked fairly new. The changing rooms got crowded because there weren’t enough proper changing spaces, which I imagine could be a problem in summer. We got around it by putting our swim gear on before leaving the caravan. The locker areas and floors were clean, and people are asked to take off dirty footwear. The Leisure Manager was a really nice, proactive guy with a good eye for detail. He’d sort out anything out of place, from debris in the pool to rubbish on the floor or tables and chairs that needed moving. The younger Lifeguards could learn from that. When they weren’t in the observation chair, they generally gathered near the entrance. I think the Manager could tutor them, and they’d gain useful skills to take with them if they ever leave. The evening entertainment was good. The Burrowers, the animated cartoon characters in costume, are a great idea, and I thought the costumes were really good quality. Our two year old was delighted to meet Loopy the Rabbit.

I’m disappointed with how things have changed. For months it felt like a welcoming, family friendly place, but now the atmosphere has become toxic. We’ve had many instances of verbal and aggressive behaviour around the swimming pool and from the leisure manager, along with repeated signs that users and customers aren’t welcome. That’s not what you’d expect at a renowned family holiday park, and it’s not something I’ve experienced or heard about at other parks around the country. The park is clean and well maintained, the facilities are modern and clean, and I love the wildlife. But the pool and leisure manager are the problem. Overall, very disappointing.