Haven Holidays review: Seaview Caravan Park, Osmington/Preston, Dorset - Holiday dates 8th to 18th September 2023 booked in the name of John Ward

Please could you reply to the below email, which has been sent @ 3 times to the Customer Service email address, but we have not received an acknowledgement nor a reply at any time.

Here is the contents of email to Customer Service on behalf of John Ward and myself, (slightly amended due to errors).

The Reception ladies Sara and Sue, were very polite, helpful and accommodating. So were the entertainment team staff,

I would like to raise the issues with you which we experienced on holiday at Seaview Caravan Park.

The Silver caravan we booked had a number of things wrong with it, which although it was still a nice caravan, we thought the price we had to pay, should have been checked and problems reported before we arrived or notify us on arrival as to when they would be rectified, please see as follows:

1. The front door was not hung correctly in the door frame - the gap was on the top left hand side, from inside the caravan, whereby we could see daylight through it around the top of the door - not noticed until the last part of our holiday due to the weather changing - not reported.

2. The outside security light was working - was fixed once reported.

3. Pulley cords to the kitchen window and bathroom window were broken - fixed when reported.

4. The Decking area was very dirty around the bannisters and flooring. Looked like it was jet washed due to the amount of water, when reported this was near the end of our holiday.

5. Some of the internal window handles needed to be tightened or replaced - not reported at the time, felt uncomfortable reporting these too.

6. Net curtains were scruffy and fraying in places - made mention to the reception staff but this was for future attention.

7. The heavy curtain at the front door only had a hook at either end so hang down in the middle - reported but was not rectified.

Outside Smoking Area by the Games Area/Clubhouse - observations

This area has seating, but is in need of an outside light for safety reasons, it would also be good to have an umbrella or open sided covering for the smoking area, especially when there is bad weather.

The outdoor pool was advertised on your email confirmation as being opened during good weather, when in fact it was closed. This was very disappointing, we came a day later last year and it was open for the duration of our 10 day holiday stay. This could be seen as false advertising. People were saying that Weymouth Bay Caravan site pool was open, but we don't know!

2022 the confirmation said the restaurant was open, it wasn't, very disappointing.

Restaurant - Sunday Lunch - this was chaotic on Sunday 17/9/2023, the weather was wet, the Iron Man competition was on, so many campers chose to have a Sunday carvery lunch. However, the kitchen ran out of supplies i.e. beef, turkey, gammon ham and had to close the service after they had taken the money.

I suggested that chicken could be cooked for people, which they did, bit late.

Surely, the person responsible for ordering Food supplies, does a stock take and can freeze meat and vegetables?

The restaurant/bar is only open until 20.00 hrs Mon-Fri & 21.00 hrs, this is ridiculous, given the amount of people on site.

1. The entertainment time was often changed from the advertised time, so we missed or arrived half way through.

2. The bar closed at different times throughout our holiday, mainly earlier than 11.00pm. At one point, during the DIY disco, one of the barman shouted at Tash (I think her name was) that the bar was closing in 15 minutes! It is very disheartening when you are not sure if it was worth getting ready to go out of an evening.

Bar opening and closing hours should be displayed and stuck to, we understand when the season slows down, but closing before 22.00 hrs. or before 23.00 really, when people are still buying drinks?

3. If you left drinks on the table and jackets on the chairs, to go out for a cigarette, the pot staff would take away your drinks, even if you had full glasses. At one time, I was sitting talking to someone else at the next table, and the drinks were nearly taken, I just turned round in time to ask them to be left. This isn't good enough, the pot people should be sure and look for coats or have beer mats that people can cover their drinks with.

We felt it was time to report on our bad experiences because it did put a dampener on our holiday and Afterall, it is not a cheap holiday, especially when you feel you are getting a little bit of luxury in a Silver Caravan.

We have had similar experiences over the last couple of years but thought to let it go.

This time we thought Haven should know before things got worse.

We did have a nice holiday but it could have been much better and wished it was more positive.

Thanking you, looking forward to hearing from you.

Shirley Drake

John Ward