Center Parcs u-turns on decision to close Suffolk resort for Queen's funeral
There was a huge backlash to the announcement
Last updated 14th Sep 2022
Center Parcs has partially u-turned on plans to close its sites for the Queen's funeral on Monday 19 September.
The holiday company had told customers to leave at 10am for 24 hours, leading to several complaints.
It is now allowing guests on longer breaks to stay on site, but those who start or end their breaks on Monday are still set to face disruption.
The villages are still due to close at 10am on Monday, so guests will not be able to use any of the facilities.
Affected visitors are being offered a 17% refund of the lodge cost.
In a statement, Centre Parcs said: "Like many businesses we have taken the decision to close all our UK villages on Monday September 19.
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 September 19 and offered them a number of different options. Our villages will be open to welcome guests on Tuesday September 20.
The vast majority of our guests are either due to arrive or depart on Monday September 19.
We have however reviewed our position regarding the very small number of guests who are not due to depart on Monday and we will be allowing them to stay on our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday.
The villages will still remain closed on Monday and we will be offering a discount for the lack of facilities available on that day."
Elvedon Forest in Suffolk is one of five UK Centre Parcs' sites. The others are in Cumbria Suffolk, Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire and Bedfordshire.
Messages were sent to customers on Tuesday, admitting that asking them to leave and return a day later would be inconvenient for them.