Center Parcs closes ALL its British sites until January 7 ‘with heavy heart’ due to Covid super-strain
- Center Parcs has announced it will close all five of its UK woodland resorts
- Company said staying open would go against government’s advice to ‘stay local’
- Elveden, Longleat, Whinfell, Woburn and Sherwood Forests will now remain shut until at least January 7
Center Parcs will close all of its UK villages until the New Year due to fears over the highly infectious new coronavirus strain.
The holiday company said they were acting on the Government’s ‘strong advice’ to minimise social contacts and keep local by cancelling all bookings until at least January 7.
Elveden, Longleat, Whinfell and Sherwood Forest resorts all closed on Monday, following Woburn Forest which closed on Friday according to the BBC.
Guests are being sent instructions on how to cancel activity and restaurant reservations, and are to be offered a rescheduled holiday with a £100 discount or a full refund.
Center Parcs will close all of its UK villages until the New Year due to fears over the highly infectious new coronavirus strain. Pictured: Sherwood Forest
Elveden (pictured), Longleat, Whinfell and Sherwood Forest resorts all closed on Monday, following Woburn Forest which closed on Friday
In a statement the firm said: ‘It is clear that the threat of the virus with the new variant is now at an extremely delicate stage and their strong advice is to stay local, minimise social contacts and take care to protect ourselves and others.
‘Our decisions throughout the pandemic have been with the priority of keeping our guests and staff as safe as possible.
‘Latest Government advice in all Tiers is to avoid non-essential travel outside of local areas and we certainly do not wish to encourage this.
‘We know how disappointed our guests will be, especially during this time of year.
In a statement the firm said: ‘It is clear that the threat of the virus with the new variant is now at an extremely delicate stage and their strong advice is to stay local, minimise social contacts and take care to protect ourselves and others’. Pictured: Woburn Forest
‘Again, we have not made this decision lightly, but we must put the safety of our guests and staff first and there is clearly concern around the new variant being moved around the country.’
Guests with 2021 bookings have been told to keep checking government advice and news directly from Center Parcs for any updates.
On March 20, the holiday firm announced all its villages were to temporarily close amid what they called ‘exceptional circumstances’ during the first coronavirus lockdown.
They reopened three months later with dozens of modifications to services, and each village’s Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Spa areas would remain off limits.
Legoland Windsor was forced to close its doors on the weekend, as the Berkshire attraction moved into Tier 4 restrictions.
Warner Bros Studio Tour in Watford had already closed in anticipation of the move to Tier restrictions and is extending its refund period to cover all visits from December 16 to January 3 inclusive.
Around 38 million people, or 68 per cent of the population, are now subject to the top bracket of restrictions – including the Queen at Windsor Castle.