In a swift decision following severe flooding caused by Storm Henk, Pontins has announced the permanent closure of its Southport holiday park, marking the third closure within weeks.
The holiday park, which hosted a New Year’s Eve party for families, faced extensive flooding, prompting the closure in the last 24 hours. Pontins cited the assessment of the “future viability of the park” as the basis for the difficult decision to permanently shut its doors.
This closure comes on the heels of two other Pontins sites shutting down in November, leaving only three operational parks. The Britannia Hotels-owned company once boasted 30 destinations, but dwindling numbers have led to this series of closures.
Britannia Hotels, the parent company, has not provided additional comments or information about the closure. Staff at the Southport site were reportedly informed shortly before lunchtime, raising concerns among employees about job security.
Rave Kidz, a dance event business scheduled to host an event at the Southport site in February, received confirmation of the closure from Pontins. The company is working to reschedule the event at an alternative venue, promising to keep ticket-holders informed.
Damien Moore, MP for Southport, expressed concern for the affected staff but saw an opportunity for the region. He stated that the closure could be an opportunity for a high-quality holiday accommodation provider to take over the site, offering economic benefits to the area.
Sefton Council, the landowner in Southport, claimed they were not informed about the closure, and the Home Office denied speculation about using Pontins sites to house migrants.
The closures raise questions about the future of holiday parks in the UK, with Pontins, once a giant in the industry, facing challenges that have led to a significant reduction in its operational sites.
