Self-catering boom on its way to Blackpool as bookings mount up for April 12 reopening

The Fylde coast is expected to be booming in April with self-catering apartments and holiday parks being allowed to open again, following the government’s announcement on Monday.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that ‘self-contained’ accommodation without shared facilities, will be able to reopen from step two of the lockdown easing plan, meaning that holiday lets will provisionally be made available to open from April 12.

The news was welcomed by the industry across Blackpool and the Fylde coast.

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Stay Blackpool director Mick Grewcock, who owns the Burbage Lodge and Queens Mansions in Bispham, said business is booming.

Haven’s Marton Mere Holiday Park in Blackpool  will be one of the places reopening on April 12Haven’s Marton Mere Holiday Park in Blackpool  will be one of the places reopening on April 12
Haven’s Marton Mere Holiday Park in Blackpool will be one of the places reopening on April 12

He said: “The day after the announcement was the busiest day of bookings that we have ever had I think.

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing and I really do think that it is going to be a good year for the tourism industry in Blackpool and for the resort itself.

“Nobody in the game has been spending money because we don’t know what was going to happen but now we have six weeks of getting ready to open the resort.”

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Claire Smith, president of Stay Blackpool and owner of Number One St Luke’s in Blackpool, said the news has been a ‘double edged

sword’.

She said: “It’s been absolutely fabulous from from the minute that Boris made the announcement. The phone has been going constantly and bookings being made online as well so it’s great, really positive and a really good sign that that as soon as we do open up it will be full speed ahead.

“It’s just hugely disappointing more than anything that it could not have been any earlier.

“We really felt that the infection rate had been so low in the hospitality sector that we could open up for the busy Easter season but unfortunately not.”

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Caravan parks are also expected to be booked up ahead of April 12.

Among these are Haven, which runs the Cala Gran Holiday Park in Fleetwood and the Marton Mere Holiday Village in Blackpool.

A spokesman for the holiday firm said it would be welcoming families back in spring but holidays booked prior to April 12 will be rescheduled.

The spokesman said: “We are pleased that the roadmap has permitted self-contained accommodation to reopen at stage two and we look forward to welcoming many families to enjoy a coastal break that we pride ourselves on from the April 12 across our parks in England.”

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Ream Hills Holiday Park, off Mythop Road in Weeton, said it is also contacting customers with holidays booked prior to April 12 but bookings after that date are being taken.

A spokesman for the park said: “We are very pleased with this welcome news, it feels like light at the end of the tunnel for what has been a very long year for all.

“We really cannot wait to welcome back all our loyal customers who have continued and do continue to support our local family run business, it means so much.”

Among some of the different self-catering apartments and hotels available include the Salt Rock Boutique Suites on Palatine Road in Blackpool town centre where one of the apartment on offer has its own inside hot tub.