Bucket-loads of memories at the seaside

A 'very British break' at a Somerset holiday park is filled with thrills, spills and nostalgia for LEWIS CLARKE and his young family

- LEWIS CLARKE

HERE'S something about arriving at a holiday park that takes me straight back to childhood. That mix of excitement, the smell of the sea somewhere in the distance, and the hopeful jangle of keys as you check in - it all sets the tone. For our three-night stay in Brean, we booked into a Platinum Exclusive caravan at Sandy Glade Holiday Park, part of the John Fowler Holidays group. And honestly? From the moment we stepped through the door, we knew we were onto a winner.

We're a family of four - myself, my partner, and our two boys, aged one and three. Anyone travelling with toddlers knows that “holiday” often just means parenting in a new location. But in our caravan - minimum 12 feet wide, modern and wonderfully spacious - we had that rarest of luxuries: room to breathe.

The boys had space to tumble about, race toy cars across the living room, and then crash into bed, chocolate-smeared and wide-eyed. Meanwhile, we had a generous sofa, a large TV (hello, CBeebies marathons), and a decked patio perfect for tea-drinking while the little ones let off steam.

We'd pre-ordered the breakfast pack too milk, sausages, bread, cereal, juice all waiting for us. At 6.30am, with a toddler yelling for Shreddies, that turned out to be our most genius move.

Sandy Glade isn’t just a place to kip. After unloading and letting the kids run caravan laps, we took a wander around the site. The general and sales manager, David Harper, summed up his role as “all-encompassing”.

"One minute I’m picking litter, next I'm in a sales meeting or behind the bar,” he said. “It’s a really good challenge.”

The entertainment venue is the heart of the place - morning and evening shows, kids’ discos, live acts, and sheer energy. Our boys were immediately hooked. The mini disco had toddlers flailing to Baby Shark and the Hokey Cokey - parents included.