If there was ever any doubt that residential and leisure home sales were picking up, then this year’s World of Park and Leisure Homes Show seems to have put paid to that with a strong and stable Stoneleigh show this year.
While other shows have struggled, possibly due to the high overheads levied on manufacturers at the core of the show structure, this is the one show that dedicated followers of industry trends always attend in droves every year, along with many who are at one stage or another of their buying journey.
This year was no different. Initially, the weather appeared somewhat inclement. Still, thankfully, the sun broke through the clouds, ensuring that attendees could enjoy the event in relative comfort and take in the positive vibe across the industry, as numerous sales were made. Deals done – always a good sign for both residential and leisure home sales!
Of course, the show is also an opportunity for buyers to talk with a wide range of service providers, park representatives, legal experts, and look closer at associated products you might need in your park home such as air conditioning and decking – often early additions to many homes, and indeed this summer both would have been essentials for many!
MANUFACTURERS IN ATTENDANCE
Omar, Pathfinder, Pemberton, Sunseeker, Regal, Aspire, Oakgrove, Manor, Your Retreat, Harbur, Hawthorne and Tiny House Pro and the British Pod Co all had homes on display and Prestige, Fairway and Happynest also had stands but with no home present. As many manufacturers often tie in show potential with existing build slots for parks, and the parks accompany the homes at the show, many of the park destinations for these models also had representatives on hand to discuss the overall proposition of ownership on their parks.
We were particularly impressed by the quality of the Happynest offering as one of the new exhibitors present. They could be ones to watch in the future terms of sustainable, eco-friendly models, bespoke to fit the purpose.
STAND-OUT MODELS
Although Your Retreats have exhibited before, they also shone at Stoneleigh this year with their flagship Kos model. It had a striking profile, a suspended fire pit in the lounge, and they also took their brandnew Luxo model to debut at the show. So, these architecturally inspired lodges definitely took a shift forward in dominance at the show.
We couldn’t mention architecturally inspired styling without talking about Harbur H1, which was memorable for the feature window strips angled up into the roofline, a technique we’ve only seen once before in lodge builds, and chatting to them we know that they worked industriously on the design and concept to deliver it with such polish. Internally, it had a sanctuary-like feel, and we understand that a second is underway with a very different internal feel.
Aspire were a late addition to the line-up, hot footing it to the show with their Eden and Sauna Pods, both very inviting and hard to leave. We know that they have rolled out several superb pods in the past, although I think of them as mini lodges, as they have the Aspire feel, so this is a category they are well ahead of the curve on, supplying useful additions to hotels or holiday parks looking for extensions to their short stay capacity.
Pemberton showcased their new Glendale, which was stunning but the real star of their show from a potential sales perspective was a brand-new Marlow centre-lounge model, which delivers the monopitch profile and layout at a price more accessible than many other models in that genre.
Sunseeker showcased a brand-new park home, the Cotswold, which was another talking point thanks to the enticing price point, as well as their Kendal holiday home, offering something for everyone. Oakgrove introduced the Meadow, and their latest Waverton, both aimed at park home buyers.
For crisp, modern contemporary flair, Manor Park Homes caught the eye, taking a Warkton Platinum and Arthingworth, both with generic appeal and a keen sense of quality and great finish throughout.
The Omar Group had by far the largest stand, with eight Omar park homes, the Wessex Classic lodge, and the Regal Hemsworth on show. Front and centre of their stand was their new Omar Legacy park home, which felt very different for Omar, although we absolutely loved it, and enjoyed the sense of pure indulgence and luxury it delivered throughout. Another of our favourites from this stand, and a home which received particularly good feedback, was the Omar Breckland park home, which was packed with characterful features. We could see this was also popular with the public, and often busy!
Last but by no means least, the Pathfinder stand was another of the key talking points and their stand mixed things up a bit this year, showcasing an office unit, three stunning lodges and their Ferndale park home. The Hawthorne lodge has been updated, and we think it’s by far the best version yet with a great balance of tone and depth throughout. Their High View, such a hit at the Great Holiday Home Show last year, was shown on one level, but we were pleased, and somewhat surprised to see that it retained all the impact of its predecessor. The star of this stand, though, was undoubtedly the Fairway; a one-bedroom lodge built for the most indulgent stays possible, with a romantic and rustic interior, a freestanding bath in the main bedroom, and flexible outdoor space incorporated into the footprint for outdoor seating, or perhaps a hot tub or reading zone. To the front, there was a further barn-style outdoor canopy within the footprint, and that’s bang-on-trend with the external architectural feel sought by many highend destinations, making it the ultimate showstopper this year.
The show was the perfect place for potential buyers to contemplate a new lifestyle
IN SUMMARY
So, the manufacturers acquitted themselves well again as the show closed, with plenty of inspirational models showing how they continue to push things forward in the design stakes from year to year. Homes were sold, buyers took the opportunity of asking lots of questions, and the show proved, yet again, how much it is an absolute anchor in the seasonal show diary for the buyers to attend. Next year’s dates have not yet been announced, but you can bookmark the website to be the first to find out when that is at www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk, or just keep reading Parklife, where we’ll let you know what’s upcoming in terms of shows for the next quarter, and keep you in the loop for the year ahead!
