We were looking for a nearby place to do a " shake down" visit with our new van Pebble. At only a few days old, we really needed to check her (and our) response to the downsizing.
After a few traumatic days of packing and re packing we were ready for a break. We never thought changing vans would be so stressful! A garage full of camping equipment, empty pockets and heads full of new instructions ( which we kept forgetting and having to look up) made our heads spin. To add to the confusion lots of things these days only come with on line instructions, which are not always easy to find. A few calls to the dealer for further instructions and the local Fiat garage, to sort out the extended warranty, (which had to be done within 14 days of first registration,) we were ready!! As well as all this, there were changes to insurance, registration details and a new French Crit Air and German UmWelt to apply for. The Avtex TV needed sorting, another phone call, we had the wrong bracket and the Wi-Fi router had no instructions, except online. Just as well we are retired with time on our side.
We are seasoned campers and Pebble is our eighth new van, so not exactly novices. How newbies manage we have no idea? Still ,we made it and we are still married!!
So off for two nights to Holiday Resort Unity at Brean Somerset. We thought we were on safe ground as we had been many times before and enjoyed the change. It is a massive site usually with things going on, we thought we would be safe off season.
First big change the site has been bought out and is now called Unity Beach Resort, what's in a name?? We opted for the Yellow field with hard standing. We had stayed there before many times. We made an online booking for two nights for £80, OK short notice, so it was about what we expected in price.
Only about 45minutes from home maybe an hour with traffic. It was a Tuesday so all should be well. Alarm bells rang when we arrived at our pitch. The wardens gave us a few options all about the same type of pitch, pretty seedy we thought. Near to the toilet block. The Yellow field had changed from a nice open area to a new lodge field, landscaping still under way. The Wardens said that the touring pitches here had been reduced to 30 serviced pitches. We chose the best one flat with gravel, services and a small mouldy patch of grass.
The shower and toilet facilities were clean but dated, perhaps there are plans to improve them. The Wardens shack adds to the general feeling that tourers are not really welcome. We did go over to the Brown and Green fields to have a look, they were generally better for camping but a lot further from facilities.
It actually looks better in this picture than it was. Just for a contrast! Some previous pictures taken on the Yellow Field.
Yellow Field June 2013.
I guess the moral of the story is never go back.
The two nights passed really quickly. We enjoyed the most rubbishy drinks in "The Wonky Donkey" on site pub ( a revamp of he old Tavern) The drinks were so bad we took them back and had a refund. We think the new staff hadn't learned how to service the beer, or wash the glasses properly. The food provision seemed canteen style. We didn't risk trying it after the episode with the drinks. We gave up on the entertainment, RJ's club was closed, so no alternative food provision, the swanky new Pavilion, was closed too. Brean Splash and the golf course was open but the other outdoor venues ice cream, burgers etc. closed. Even the new flag ship golf course restaurant was closed for a private function.
We wandered into Brean to find food. The Seagull, a huge pub was closed, eventually we settled on a very nice curry in the Indian Restaurant, Bengal Bay, excellent service and good food.. The following evening we made our way to Ocean View up the road and had a nice drink and lunch there which was very pleasant.
Sad to say, we felt that Brean had been really neglected, which is a shame as the beach is beautiful. It was relatively early in the season but the beautiful weather may have been an incentive to extend the season. There were quite a few people about but the general air was "neglect" and there was too much rubbish around the place.
Would we try Unity Beach Holiday Resort again? Down the road and really handy for us ......NO!!
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