Hoburne Devon Bay

We usually stay at Beverly park when we come to Devon to see family, and have done for eight years. This time we tried somewhere different, and we’ll be back here every time from now on. We got a 6 birth caravan with a hot tub for less than I could get a standard caravan at Beverly for. It was modern, clean, had free WiFi and two smart TVs. The hot tub was checked daily. The main complex has everything in one place, with friendly reception staff. There’s an outdoor pool, cold but nice in the warm weather, and the kids loved the slide in the indoor pool. You can go in and out as you like and stay as long as you like, with no need to book. The entertainment was good, the food was beautiful, and everywhere was so clean. The shop has good opening times and there’s plenty of parking.

The hot tub caravan was clean and comfortable, and made the holiday feel special. Our accommodation was spacious and well laid out for a family. The soft play was a huge hit with my two year old, and keeping them entertained was easy. The restaurant food was a surprise too, with genuinely premium quality meals, one of the best parts of our stay. The main bedroom bed felt more like a three quarter bed than a standard double, so it wasn’t big enough for two adults. My husband ended up sleeping on the sofa bed. The one other letdown was Sunday lunch. It was advertised until 4pm, but when we arrived at 3:45pm we were refused service because they were closing at 4. If there’s a last orders policy, it should be clearer. When food is advertised until a certain time, I think guests reasonably expect to be served before then. That felt below the otherwise high customer service standard we found across Hoburne Devon Bay Holiday Park. We had a fantastic holiday overall, and it wouldn’t stop us coming back. Now we know to arrive earlier if the kitchen stops serving before the advertised time.

The Club House at Devon Bay is bright, open and spacious, with a genuinely lovely atmosphere. Still, after two days here, we’re preferring the overall experience at the Cotswolds Site. Its soft play is much more modern, clean and well maintained. Devon Bay’s feels tired and run down, which is a shame when families rely on it. The Cotswolds pool facilities are better too, especially the splash play area, which feels more engaging and up to date than Devon Bay’s. Service in the Palm House bar has been quite slow, even when it hasn’t been busy. We know it’s a quieter week with fewer children around for Stay & Play / Sammy Squad, but the children who are there still deserve the staff’s energy and attention. At times the team seemed to disappear instead of staying engaged, leaving the sessions a bit flat. Both sites have pros and cons, but right now the Cotswolds Site is the one we prefer.

The clubhouse is well planned, has lots of seating, and you can order table service through the app. There’s plenty of food choice and it’s presented really well. Downstairs, the cafe welcomes dogs and has a nice picture wall for photos of visiting pets. There’s plenty to keep both adults and kids occupied. The indoor pool doesn’t need advance booking, and there’s a nice outdoor pool open in the summer season. You can choose from different types of vans, including dog friendly, non dog friendly and disabled access options. All in all, one of the best sites I’ve used in the Torbay area so far.