In a development sending shockwaves through coastal and countryside communities, a major UK holiday park operator has entered administration, placing eleven resorts under immediate scrutiny and prompting deep concern among owners and workers. The situation, which affects well-known sites across Cornwall, Cumbria and Scotland, has left many questioning what the coming months might hold—not just for the industry, but for the thousands of people whose livelihoods and investments depend on these parks.
The Workers Union is closely monitoring the scenario, recognising the far-reaching implications for UK workers, particularly those in seasonal and hospitality-linked roles. Grounds staff, maintenance teams, bar staff, administrative workers and sales personnel are among those who may feel the immediate strain as the structure and future management of these parks come under the control of administrators.
Cove UK, a major player in the holiday-park sector and the organisation behind several well-established brands, has appointed Alvarez and Marsal Europe LLP to oversee operations while potential sale options are assessed. The announcement has left many holiday-home owners facing troubling uncertainty. As one owner explained: “I only bought this year. I spent £50k and now what?” Another long-term resident expressed mounting frustration: “I’ve been on this park for several years. Every year the site fees jump by a lot. It’s not surprising people are just leaving as the caravan site fees are becoming extortionate and causing many disputes.”
The affected sites include Solway Holiday Park in Cumbria—one of the largest, with space for approximately 1,600 pitches—as well as Gwel an Mor Resort in Cornwall and Springwood Holiday Park in Kelso. Eight resorts operated by the Scotland-based Argyll Holidays, purchased by Cove UK in 2022 for £100 million, are also impacted. These include Drimsynie Holiday Village, Hunters Quay Holiday Village, Loch Awe Holiday Park, Loch Eck Caravan Park, Loch Eck Country Lodges, Loch Lomond Holiday Park, St Catherines Caravan Park and Stratheck Holiday Park.
One notable exception is Seal Bay in West Sussex, the flagship resort within the group, which remains unaffected.
For now, holidaymakers are not expected to experience disruption, largely because the parks are in their seasonal closure period. However, owners have been advised not to make further payments to previous bank accounts until clarity is established. This pause reflects the administrators’ attempts to stabilise the situation and maintain operational continuity.
Adam Paxton, managing director at Alvarez and Marsal, emphasised that protecting core activities remains the priority: “As administrators, our priority is to ensure a smooth transition and maintain stability across the parks. We are working to ensure day-to-day operations continue with minimal disruption. Owners, residents and holidaymakers should not be impacted, and can contact the site managers with any questions they may have.”
Such reassurance is crucial for UK workers who may be concerned about job security. While the administrators cannot yet predict long-term outcomes, maintaining current staffing and keeping essential operations active will be key to preserving stability for those who rely on the parks for employment.
Cove UK also issued a statement, confirming the administrative process and reinforcing their commitment to business continuity: “Our focus remains on serving our customers and executing our long-term strategy. We appreciate the continued support of our employees, owners and customers.”
While these comments aim to instil confidence, the situation remains delicate, with future ownership, investment and operational directions still uncertain. Holiday-park workers, many of whom contribute significantly to local rural economies, will be watching closely for signs of progress. The Workers Union continues to urge transparency and provided 10 key rights for employees to ensure responsible management throughout this process, ensuring that UK workers—whether in seasonal roles, permanent positions or contracted support functions—remain protected as the parks navigate turbulent waters.
For now, the public-facing message is calm: parks will continue to trade under the administrators’ supervision, communication with homeowners will remain open, and further updates will follow as the situation develops. For many, though, the underlying concern remains how this will shape the future landscape of leisure, tourism and employment across some of Britain’s most visited regions.
Full list of affected parks
- Drimsynie Holiday Village
- Hunters Quay Holiday Village
- Loch Awe Holiday Park
- Loch Eck Caravan Park
- Loch Eck Country Lodges
- Loch Lomond Holiday Park
- St Catherines Caravan Park
- Stratheck Holiday Park
- Solway Holiday Park, Cumbria
- Gwel an Mor Resort, Cornwall
- Springwood Holiday Park, Kelso
