The Retreat, a new twin lodge from Pathfinder Park Homes was introduced to the public for the first time at the Boat and Caravan show at NEC in February. The company is known for its build quality and The Retreat oozes casual opulence and stylish sumptuousness, says Liz King.

The side entrance door leads to a small hall with mirror doors to the vast hall cupboard, with the twin bedroom straight ahead, two bedrooms and bathrooms to the right and living area to the left.

The open plan living area had a huge freestanding sofa covered in warm plum and contrasting oatmeal; these colours were replicated on the six dining chairs, carefully upholstered and set around the beech wood table in alternate colours. Plum and oatmeal full length curtains hung on chrome poles by eyelets were at the windows. Oh the windows weren’t just any old windows but two sets of bi-fold doors, and a large picture window to let the light in.

The kitchen was L shape and was fully equipped, even with high gloss grey cupboards which co-ordinated with the real Granite worktop, the real McCoy. Four very funky stools were at the island breakfast bar great not just for breakfast time but ideal for casual entertaining; under the breakfast bar, a definite feature of the room, were wine racks and a wine cooler. Yes, I can see myself pouring you a glass of lightly chilled Chablis.

The first twin bedroom had pretty roman blinds at the window which coordinated with the padded headboards and bed covers.

The visitors’ bathroom was fully tiled, and had clean lines with a nice rectangular shaped basin and over bath shower.

The second twin bedroom was bright with mirror door wardrobes and free-standing bedside tables, but it was the master bedroom with its 5ft double bed and en-suite wet room that really had the bedroom ‘wow’ factor.

The cream and charcoal curtains and comfortable looking padded headboard, the run of cupboards over the bed, contemporary bedside lights and free standing bedside tables, and mirror fronted wardrobe doors were just what I wanted to see. If I was pernickety (what me?) then I might say that space around the bed was a bit tight.

Energy saving features include water saving tap nozzles, Gas argon-filled double glazed K units in 70mm A grade uPVC frames.

The Retreat is just that; a sanctuary from everyday life – Cheers!

Specification

42ft x 30ft
Twin unit lodge
Built to residential BS 3632 standard
Vaulted ceilings
Canexel cladding
Three bedrooms

If you’re looking for an excellent living area with plenty of room to stretch out from your next holiday home then it’s certainly worth considering the Cambrian Broadview.

It seems larger than its 40ftx20ft size and offers you a roomy twin-unit, three-bedroom lodge in which to enjoy your holidays. It is built to BS3632 standards so can also be used as a residential lodge subject to park licence. Even as a holiday lodge though, this will give a potential owner confidence to use the Broadview even in colder months, again subject to the holiday park’s licence.

Inside you’ll find the lounge area is lit by the French doors and two normal sized windows on the home’s back wall.

Between the two windows on the back wall is a wall-hung chrome electric fire with pebbles and a brown slate-effect surround, and above that power and receiver points for a TV. There’s a large radiator on the partition wall and plenty of power points.

The whole open plan living area has a vaulted ceiling and there are six inset ceiling spots to the lounge area, and four each to the diner and kitchen.

Walk through the front door and you enter the kitchen/dining area, which takes up more than half of the spacious open plan living area. There is very nice plank-effect vinyl floor covering running up to where the lounge area carpeting begins.

The dining area is to the left, in front of the three picture windows at the end and three side windows.

A doorway leads from the living area to the hall. First left along here is the family bathroom. There’s an overbath shower, hinged glass shower screen, lever taps and mixer, a chrome ladder towel dryer/radiator and four ceiling spots.

To the right of the front door is the kitchen, which is L-shaped, with identical two-doored tower units at the end of each leg, one by the entrance housing the boiler in the upper section and the one in the corner hiding the integrated fridge/freezer.

When planning to prepare meals on holiday you can do so easily using the four-burner gas hob and integrated oven in the centre.

It’s a very attractive, practical kitchen, with tons of floorspace (so no squeezing past the commis chef) and plenty of power points.

The master bedroom offers you lots of room and it’s light too thanks to the two full-height windows facing the large double bed. There are four ceiling spots as, plus TV connections on the wall.

Beyond the bed are double-doored wardrobes (each with shelf and hanging space) either side of the entrance to the en suite. This has a spacious shower and a similar sink, shelf, mirror and light arrangement to the family bathroom.

If guests are invited to stay while you’re holidaying or there are a group of you a simple but reasonably-sized single bedroom is available for use as is the twin bedroom, found at the end of the hall.

Verdict

The Cambrian is an excellent twin unit offering a superb living area, stylish interior décor and a quality finish. Perfect for that summer break.

Specification:

Type: Twin unit lodge-style home

Standard: BS3632, so can be sited for residential use if the park owner agrees

Size: 40ft x 20ft

Bedrooms: 3

Visit www.cambrianleisurehomes.co.uk

The exterior of the Lindera Mini-Lodge is a pretty standard 40ft x 14ft rectangle, with pitched roof and a small overhang to the front end elevation.

Inside, it has vaulted ceilings throughout, and the show home we examined had plank effect vinyl in all the rooms, including the bedrooms, in the continental fashion.

The walls are tongue and groove-style MDF, the ceilings painted white and the walls a restful, warm grey. Papered plywood walls are available as an alternative.

The L-shaped kitchen is self-contained and a four-burner gas hob sits on the shorter leg of the L, to the right, with a single oven/grill below and a steel splashback behind rising to an integrated extractor hood.

Either side of the oven are cupboards – and the one to the left, in the corner, actually turns out to have double doors, a useful arrangement that allows much easier access to the corner storage space. There are also two narrow wall cupboards either side of the extractor, and a larger one in the corner.

The longer leg of the L has an 11/2 bowl stainless steel sink and drainer with a lever operated mixer tap and workspace either side – the worktops are black marble effect.

From the kitchen, an open doorway leads to the lounge/diner. This is simply furnished as standard, with – in this show home – a rectangular wooden dining table and four black leather-upholstered dining chairs, a narrow wicker storage drawer unit in the corner, a deep pile rug and an attractive, abstract wall clock.

The sofa is a free-standing, two-piece corner unit in brown distressed leather and there’s a feature fireplace with a black and brushed chrome electric fire, dressed with shell and pebble decoration. There’s a TV aerial point and power socket above the fire.

At the end of the hall, you will find a master bedroom which, although not huge, has sufficient walk-round space.

The double bed has two-drawer cabinets either side, with double power points and switches for the circular ceiling light. There’s another double power point on the wall opposite the end of the bed and a fitted wardrobe.

There’s a good-sized en suite with a spacious shower with sliding glass doors.

Also like the bathroom, there is specialist, low-maintenance, marble-style wet wall panelling, though it is not fitted to ceiling height here.

The family bathroom is through a door on the left as you enter the kitchen from the entrance hall. It’s a comfortable size, with a white gloss vanity unit with lever operated mixer taps.

It has marble effect wet wall panelling, a frosted glass shelf with glass holder and glass and a mirror, above which is an attractive semi-tubular-style lamp with a shaver point cleverly hidden behind a sliding cover at one end. On the wall is a chrome ladder radiator/towel dryer and there is a circular ceiling light.

The full-size bath is fitted with a lever-operated mixer, a hand-held shower head and a hinged glass shower screen.

The second bedroom had twin beds but could easily accommodate a double.

Verdict:

This mini-lodge combines simplicity with solidity. Customers are encouraged to specify their own individual requirements – there’s lots of room for personal touches.

Fact-file:

Lindera Mini-Lodge
Type: Single unit leisure lodge
Standard: BS3632
Size 40ft x 14ft
Bedrooms: 2

Willerby’s Boston holiday lodge caused a bit of a sensation when it was launched at the caravan show at the Lawns, Cottingham last September, not only because of its high specification, but more importantly because it is a 40ft x 20ft two bedroom lodge. As a holiday lodge it is built to BS EN 1647 but there is a residential version built to BS 3632.

One of the features, which is not immediately obvious to the eye, is the fact that the Boston has a heavy duty galvanised chassis. The standard exterior cladding is vinyl but buyers can also choose genuine timber or pre-finished Canexel high density wood composite cladding in a range of colours, plus environmental green vinyl.

The lodge has a large open-plan living area comprising the lounge and dining area, plus what can only be described as a kitchen which would not be out of place in a holiday home costing twice the price of the Boston. The standard furniture and fittings in the lounge-diner include two, two-seater settees, an electric fire, a dining table and chairs and sliding patio doors to the exterior for when you want to go out into the garden or onto the decking. Standard equipment in the kitchen includes a five burner stainless steel hob, an oven and grill together with a curved stainless steel extractor and a full size fridge/freezer. All the base and wall units have soft-close doors and drawers.

When it comes to the sleeping accommodation the Boston lacks for nothing either. The main bedroom is large enough for a 5ft bed with lift-up storage below the mattress, a walk-in wardrobe with both hanging rails and drawers which would not disgrace many modern conventional houses, and an en suite. This has a ceramic washbasin mounted on a vanity unit, a quad shower cubicle with a thermostatic shower, plus a dual flush toilet and an extractor fan.

Although smaller, the second bedroom is large enough for two 3ft single beds and equally importantly, it too, has a walk-in wardrobe with hanging rails and drawers. Both rooms incidentally have wall-mounted TV points.

The bathroom has a full size bath with a shower mounted on the wall above the taps, and a shower screen. Like the en suite, the washbasin is mounted in a vanity unit with plenty of storage space for toiletries and there is a large mirror on the wall above the washbasin.

Main features

• En suite and a family bathroom
• Two walk-in wardrobes with hanging rails and drawers
• Three bedroom option available
• Several cladding options available

Verdict:

Once you’ve had a chance to look around the Boston you’ll quickly realise why it caused so much stir at the Lawns show last year. Put simply, its level of design and build, not to mention the fittings and furnishings which come as standard, put it in a class of its own.

Specification

Type: Double unit holiday lodge
Standard: BS EN 1647
Size: 40ft x 20ft
Bedrooms: 2

For further information: For further information: Willerby Holiday Homes, Imperial House, 1251 Hedon Road, Hull, HU9 5NA. Tel: 01482 713838. Email: sales@whh.co.uk Website: www.willerbyuk.com

Stately Albion’s new three bedroom Warwick holiday home lodge has in fact, been built to residential home standards and so is a home you can use all year round – providing the site licence permits it. It’s a 36ft x 20ft twin unit which is also available as a two bedroom option. In both cases the exterior is brown Canexel simulated planking with matching brown rainwater fittings.

The lounge, dining and kitchen areas are open plan, the lounge taking up one half of the area, with the dining and kitchen area being opposite. The end wall of the lounge and dining areas feature tall glazed units, those in the lounge being sliding patios doors. As the lounge takes up approximately 50 per cent of the total area it has no difficulty in accommodating a three seat, and two seat settee, plus an armchair. The dining area has space for six or more diners.

The kitchen adjoining the dining area, is U shaped and is separated from the lounge by a low wall. It’s very well appointed with a free standing fridge/freezer, an electric oven, a four burner gas hob, above which is an extractor unit and a washing machine. There is a good supply of cupboards and drawers, power points and working top space, making the kitchen one of the best features of the home.

From the lounge a door leads into the sleeping area. Immediately on the left is the bathroom. This is a good size with the bath running the full length of the wall opposite the door. The walls surrounding the bath are fully tiled and there is a shower unit above the taps at the end of the bath. Next to the bath is a pedestal washbasin followed by the toilet.

Opposite the bathroom is the second bedroom which is large enough for two single beds, plus a three drawer chest, and a one and a half door wardrobe with three more drawers below it. Next to the bedroom is the home’s shower room which, in addition to the shower unit, has a pedestal washbasin and low level toilet.

Bedroom three – which is virtually identical to bedroom two – is next to the shower room at the end of the home, whilst the door to the main bedroom is opposite the shower room door. In addition to a double bed there are two large floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, a dressing table, plus five cabinets on the wall above the bed.

Main features

• Three bedrooms with two bedroom option
• Separate bathroom
• Separate shower room
• Washing machine as standard

Verdict

Although it’s built to residential home standard, the Stately Albion Warwick is still competitively priced. And you get a three bedroom home that you can have holidays in all year round – which is more than can be said for many other similarly priced holiday homes.

Specification

Type: Twin unit caravan holiday home lodge
Standard: BS 3632 residential
Size: 36ft x 20ft
Bedrooms: 3

For further information: Stately-Albion Ltd., Prince of Wales Industrial Estate, Abercarn, Newport, NP11 5AR. Tel: 01495 244472. Fax: 01495 248939. Email: sales@stately-albion.co.uk Web: www.stately-albion.co.uk