Olly Murs offered Haven holiday park deal

Beaten X Factor finalist Olly Murs has been given a second chance at stardom - singing to the crowds at holiday parks.

Operator Haven is offering Olly a deal as part of its biggest recruitment drive, kicking off next month.

The firm is holding a series of auditions to find 150 singers, dancers and presenters to entertain guests at its 35 parks over the summer.

The first casting session is at Newcastle United FC's ground on January 11 and 12.

It will be followed by ones at the grounds of Man United, Birmingham City, Norwich City, Reading and Bristol City.

Prepare for Hemsby Viking invasion

Picture Hemsby and it is difficult to get away from benign summer images of its golden sands and a throng of happy families at holiday parks.



It is a long stretch to imagine those same beaches packed with ferocious Viking invaders, but this week's snow has given the coastal village a heaven-sent opportunity to promote plans for its first Scandinavian festival.

Traders hope that next year's festival, building on Hemsby's possible historical links with the Vikings, will bring a much-needed economic lift following the devastating closure of Pontins a year ago.



A host of events has already been planned for the weekend of June 18-20, ranging from schools activities on the Friday to an Abba tribute bands contest on the Saturday and a Scandinavian market with crafts, food and clothes on the Sunday.

Organisers are currently negotiating with Viking re-enactment groups to set up a camp throughout the festival and take part in mock battles.

Designs have already been agreed for logos, including one of a Viking holding an ice cream cone over the slogan 1,200 years of seaside fun, which aim to make Hemsby synonymous with Vikings throughout the year.



Hemsby's Viking recreation has been the inspiration of Simon Middleton, a brand strategy consultant based in Norwich, who has worked on such high-profile brands as Adnams and Pret A Manger.

Mr Middleton, who will be joining traders in a trip to York's Jorvik festival in February, said: “The whole concept has been inspired by Pontins pulling out at the end of 2008.

“Traders running the cafes and attractions along Beach Road were concerned at the loss of 1,300 holiday beds and approached me because they realised they had a brand problem and needed to raise Hemsby's profile.”



Mr Middleton, who was so impressed by the traders he is giving his services free, “dreamed up a new story” based on Hemsby being a Viking name - the suffix 'by' indicating a town or settlement in Danish.

He said: “It is certainly the case that Norwich, Ipswich and Thetford were Viking towns and it is my contention that they had to land somewhere.

“Vikings travelled light and they did not leave a lot of stuff behind so it is hard to prove Hemsby's Viking connection but it seems likely. A lack of proof has not stopped Cornwall cashing in on King Arthur and Nottingham on Robin Hood.”

James Gray, who runs Lost World Adventure Golf, in Beach Road, described the Viking reinvention as a “brilliant idea”.

As a small resort, their ambition was to gradually build up the festival year on year, he said.

T-shirts, mugs and other souvenirs would be printed with the new logo and it was hoped all traders would help in cementing the new brand.

Celebrate Christmas in Northumberland

The beautiful county of Northumberland offers a host of attractions and activities for all of the family at Christmas time. This is according to caravan holidays specialist Haven.

An area packed with culture, history and a natural charm all of its own, Northumberland has a stunning coastline and has been declared as an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is lined with over 60 miles of golden beaches and picturesque villages, with visitors flocking all year round to visit the historic sites of Hadrian's Wall, excavated Roman forts and more castles than any other area in the country.



This Christmas, there are plenty of exciting events happening in and around the area. The spectacular 18th century Kielder Castle, for example, has a number of events going on throughout December which would make a fun day out. A self-led, seasonally themed trail in the grounds of the castle takes place every weekend up until 20 December.

Kielder is also home to some 4000 roe deer and the 13th December sees the Castle host an early morning walk with a wildlife ranger to spot some of these, with breakfast provided afterwards. For those who enjoy mountain biking, the Christmas carol guided bike ride, which also takes place at Kielder, is well worth a look and takes place on the 12th of December.



At nearby Kirkharle, a Christmas walk offers a beautiful and varied insight into this working estate. This takes place on the 20th December from 9:30 until 4, with tickets priced at Pounds Sterling 9. For children, meanwhile, the 'Santa Special' trains, running on the Heatherslaw light railway offer a return trip to santa's grotto. The train runs on the 12th and 19th of December and costs just Pounds Sterling 6 per child.

Finally, after the big day itself, those looking to work off the turkey and mince pies should head for the guided 'walk off Christmas' through the scenic coastal village of Alnmouth. This takes place on Tuesday 29th December from 10am.



A spokesperson for Haven commented on these events by saying:

"There is plenty going on in Northumberland over the festive period to keep everyone entertained. With its beautiful scenery, plus a host of attractions for all the family, it is a great place to visit this Christmas."

Haven's campsites in Northumberland include Haggerston Castle and the Berwick Holiday Park, both close to Berwick upon Tweed near the Scottish border. These parks have been awarded a 5-star rating by the British Tourist Board and offer a range of facilities designed specifically for families.

For immediate bookings, details of special offers and to find out more about the Haggerston Castle park in Northumberland, visit: www.haven.com/parks/northumberland/haggerston_castle, or to find out more about camping holidays visit, www.caravancamping.co.uk.

Holiday park aims to ‘wow’

THE parent company of Exmouth's largest private employer, Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, has seen a bumper year with a ten per cent increase in bookings.

And Haven is using the profits towards a £40 million investment programme at its 35 holiday parks around the UK.

A spokesperson said: "It's all about the 'wow' factor. We want to provide the best possible family holiday experience.

"More and more people are choosing UK Holidays and we want to make sure they love our parks as much as we do.

"The £40 million investment will ensure that families can enjoy even better facilities and some spectacular new innovations on our parks.

GMTV's Winning Family to Return to Haven in 2010

The winners of the GMTV Number 1 family competition for 2009 have been announced as Beardsmith - a family of 6 from Cheshire. The Beardsmiths, who have been performing together for 10 years beat off competition from thousands of other families to win the prestigious award, after wowing judges at the Combe Haven Holiday Park in the first round of the contest last year.



The presence of Beardsmith at Haven is likely to throw the spotlight on the ever improving quality of entertainment at UK holiday parks, and with more than 12,000 acts appearing next year, and with the annual Haven's Got Talent competition taking place around the country, there are plenty of chances to see the next Beardsmith at one of Haven's Parks.

Customers visiting Haven for their Summer Holidays in 2010 will have access to free entertainment every night including wrestling, circus performances by Chinese experts, and a choice of cabaret artistes. All of the parks have a dedicated entertainment complex with a packed schedule of events throughout the year.




Book before the end of December to avoid any possible additional VAT increases and to take advantage of the early booking discounts. Three or four night Spring Breaks are available from as little as £117.32 for a family at the popular Lydstep Beach Park in Tenby.

UK holidays spur caravan park boom

Caravan park owners have enjoyed a bumper year as growing numbers of people opt to take holidays in the UK.

Haven Holidays, one of the biggest operators, has seen sales of static caravans on its permanent sites jump by a record 23.8% this year, double the rise of 2008.

Twenty-two thousand of Haven's 50,000 caravans on its 35 holiday parks are now privately owned.

Haven, part of Bourne Leisure, which also owns Warner Leisure and Butlins Resorts, reported the biggest increase in Wales and Cornwall, where sales soared by 50%.

John Morphet, the 55-year-old millionaire founder of the Pure Leisure Group, which owns caravan parks, said the trend for taking UK breaks had prompted him to spend £10m on adding three extra holiday home parks to his portfolio.