Center Parcs closure: Customers hit out at ‘baffling’ and ‘outrageous’ decision to close for Queen’s funeral

Holidaymakers have been left furious after Center Parcs informed them it would be closing all its villages during the bank holiday for the Queen’s funeral.

The company sent out a message on Tuesday stating that the decision had been made “as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment”.

Guests are being advised they can cut short their stay and receive a refund for the nights they are losing out on.

Others have been told they can check out by 10am on Monday, 19 September, stay somewhere else overnight, and then check back in the following day, a suggestion one mum described as “baffling”.

All those affected have received an email from Center Parcs outlining their options, depending on the length of their stay.

The company welcomes about two million guests a year to its five villages in the UK and has around 7,000 employees.

In a statement, Center Parcs told i the “vast majority” of guests are due to arrive or leave on Monday, 19 September.

But some families are staying for seven nights across the bank holiday and are being told they can either shorten their stay to the three nights either side, or go and come back and receive a discount.

Customers are being asked to leave their lodges at Center Parcs by 10am on Monday, 19 September (Photo: Center Parcs/PA)

One mother, who asked not to be named, told i she is due to travel with two children under the age of three from Friday, 16 September to Friday, 23 September feels the decision is “appalling”.

“I totally understand closing activities and restaurants but why could people in our position not remain in our self-catering lodge? Surely they need to reconsider this option,” she said.

“Check out with two under-threes and find somewhere else to stay locally at six days notice on the day of the Queen’s funeral? They must know that is impossible.”

The mother says she rang Center Parcs to enquire about moving the break entirely and was offered accommodation for another week that was more expensive by around £1,000.

“Families are being treated appalling,” she added.

“Center Parcs have made clear that they are not willing to bear the full cost of their decision and instead are pushing the additional expense on to young families in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.”

The holiday company’s announcement on Twitter was inundated with angry responses from customers.

“Awful decision. You’ve ruined a lot of peoples’ holidays,” wrote Chris Thompson.

Adam Doyle added: “Seriously this is a bad, bad decision – you’re disrupting families with this and ruining holidays. A full refund should follow – outrageous decision.”

Another mother, Nicola Marshall lives in Midlothian, Scotland, where Monday, 19 September was already a public holiday. Many families use the opportunity to visit Whinfell Center Parcs in Penrith.

But Ms Marshall says they are now being told they must leave by 10am on Monday, with no offer of compensation for the remaining time they are unable to use facilities.

Usually, this would be until midnight, she claims.

“I just think the response has been really short-sighted,” said Ms Marshall.

More from News

“To make everybody move out of the lodge, it’s shambolic.”

The row is one of several to emerge over closures related to the Queen’s funeral.

It has been confirmed that schools and many shops and businesses will be shut, though government guidance is that there is “no statutory entitlement to time off” adding: “Employers may include bank holidays as part of a worker’s leave entitlement.”

Center Parcs said: “Like many businesses we have taken the decision to close all our UK villages on Monday 19 September.

“This decision was taken as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment. We have contacted all the guests due to arrive on Monday, 19 September and offered them a number of different options. Our villages will be open to welcome guests on Tuesday, 20 September.

“The vast majority of our guests were either due to arrive or depart on Monday, 19 September. We have communicated with the small number of guests who are staying with us across this period and have offered a number of different options, including a full refund or partial refund.”