Latest news with #BalticWharfCaravanandMotorhomeClub
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Deserted caravan park remains eerily empty during the height of summer
The Baltic Wharf Caravan and Motorhome Club boasts an enviable location at Bristol's harbourside in Bristol, but despite offering 56 pitches, the holiday park lies empty at the peak of the summer season With temperatures soaring over the last week, holiday parks across the West Country are heaving with visitors. From Cornish coastal gems to breathtaking Cotswolds countryside, such destinations provide the perfect opportunity to explore the region's finest spots without emptying tourists' wallets. In Bristol, Baltic Wharf Caravan and Motorhome Club boasts a prime harbourside location, featuring 56 pitches that would typically be fully booked throughout the summer break. The site has been running for nearly five decades but now stands hauntingly deserted, shutting its doors on Monday following a hectic final weekend that aligned with Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. It comes after news that an abandoned UK Butlin's site is now seaside town's 'hell hole' hotel. Bristol City Council owns the land beneath it and now harbours ambitious schemes for this coveted spot, reports Bristol Live. The authority's housing arm, Goram Homes, plans to controversially erect 166 new properties in apartment blocks, providing spectacular vistas across the harbour and towards the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge. This comes after multiple lease renewals granted by Goram Homes, and the city council have now run out. The Caravan Club released a statement saying: "Following a number of lease extensions, sadly, the site will permanently close on 11 August 2025. "Thank you to everyone who has stayed with us at Baltic Wharf Club Campsite. Our nearest alternative campsites are Cheddar Club Campsite and Bath Chew Valley Affiliated Club Campsite." Some regulars have suggested that there might be potential for the club to relocate within Bristol, but when asked by Bristol Live, the club chose not to comment. With the site now empty, work on the new residential development is expected to start in the next few weeks. One father, who was one of the last guests at the caravan park, shared his experience on Google this week: "Stayed with my 10-year-old and felt very safe as it's a closed-off site. Walk away from everything in Bristol, it's perfect!". A German tourist left a translated review saying: "Quiet complex in the heart of the city with good access to bike paths and public transport. The sanitary facilities are a bit older but well-maintained. The site is very well secured with a code." Many expressed their disappointment about the redevelopment, including one visitor who wrote: "I'm sure it's a money thing, but what a huge shame. The campsite attracts a very diverse set of folk who come from far and wide. "There isn't anywhere else to stay if you have a camper that is closed by. I expect that the place brings a lot of businesses to the surrounding pubs, restaurants and shops, and I was very excited when I arrived to think I could revisit here time and time again... Until I read the notice board explaining they would be relocated somewhere else." Construction is set to kick off this month on a new development led by Goram Homes' contractor, the Hill Group. The project will include retail or café units at street level and newly landscaped public areas, opening up the location to the community for the first time. Stephen Baker, managing director of Goram Homes, expressed his concern about the housing crisis, stating: "We cannot ignore the housing crisis. As developers, we must find solutions to ensure policy levels of affordable homes are built, even in a challenging market." He added: "With SNG on board, and Homes England grant funding in place, we are now ready to get building a beautifully designed scheme in a prime waterfront Bristol location." Mr Baker also highlighted their commitment to reinvesting profits back into the city, saying: "A significant portion of any profit we make will go back to the council, to be reinvested into the city or the development of more new homes. We have also worked closely with the Harbour Authority to make sure it receives the best value for its land."
Metro
12-08-2025
- Metro
Cherished UK holiday park in 'perfect location' shuts for good after 47 years
It's the end of an era for one of Bristol's most beloved holiday spots. Baltic Wharf Caravan and Motorhome Club campsite, located on Bristol's harbourside has closed its gates for the final time. For nearly 50 years, the 56-pitch site was regularly booked with tourists, offering views of the colourful Cliftonwood terraces and the historic Floating Harbour. The business had rave reviews on TripAdvisor, where holidaymakers praised the 'lovely clean and well organised site' in the 'perfect location' to explore Bristol. 'What a lovely gem of a find in a busy city!' one visitor, Mark, wrote. 'We were stunned by how lovely this place is!' However, yesterday [Monday 11 August] marked its last day of operation, with the final caravans pulling away by mid-morning. The closure followed a packed farewell weekend, with the site fully booked for Bristol's International Balloon Fiesta. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. In a statement on its website, the club confirmed: 'We regret to announce that Baltic Wharf Club Campsite closed on 11 August 2025. 'The Club had been operating the campsite for several years on a renewable lease and we were informed that, sadly, it was not going to be extended. 'Thank you to everyone who stayed with us at Baltic Wharf. We know there is another perfect pitch just waiting for you.' The land, once a timber yard, belongs to Bristol City Council and will now be redeveloped by its housing company, Goram Homes, into 166 flats with space for shops or cafes on the ground It's safe to say loyal visitors are heartbroken. The shock closure has sparked a wave of grief, especially among the caravanning community – and concern from residents about the upcoming development. As the park closed yesterday, dozens gathered for a 'tree funeral' to protest the planned felling of around 70 mature trees to make way for the new housing. Among those taking part were local residents, members of the Bristol Tree Forum, environmental campaigners and the so-called 'tree brides', a group of women who symbolically married the threatened trees back in 2021. They argued that the site, described by the council as brownfield, should instead be protected as green space. Others have expressed their upset online. One review on the club's website, left by Paula Watkins, read: 'Oh what a shame!!! Numerous visits in various motor homes over many many years. How short sighted by Bristol council.' More Trending Another reviewer, Paul Grasby, wrote: 'We've been lucky enough to visit Baltic Wharf a few times a year for the three years we've had our camper van. 'It has always been our favorite site, thanks to its awesome location and the amazing girls, Lyndsey and 'Chelle, who managed and ran it so beautifully.' While the closure marks almost half a century of caravan holidays in the heart of Bristol, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has recommended alternative sites for those still hoping to visit the area, including Cheddar Club Campsite and Bath Chew Valley Affiliated Club Campsite. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Harriet Kemsley took me back to her hotel room at the Edinburgh Fringe MORE: I took my family on a digital detox holiday and something extraordinary happened MORE: I'm American — my first trip to an English vineyard was nothing like I expected
