Elvedon Forest blooms again (Center Parcs)

Member Name: coogeesurfshop

Product:	Center Parcs
Date:	15/07/03 (2504 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Countryside, Facilities, Value

Disadvantages: Booking availability, Not being there now, No sign of Pierce

A TABBY cat lay sleeping in the early morning sunshine, curled up on a chair on the patio of our villa.

Center Parcs in Elvedon Forest is back in business, for the wildlife as well as the thousands
of customers who flocked to the Suffolk holiday village for the official reopening.

Fifteen months earlier, the scene was total devastation after fire raged through the piazza, leaving the heart of the village a tangled wreckage of steel girders.

But in just 42 weeks it has risen from the ashes like the magnificent phoenix, carved out
of a tree near the cycle centre, which welcomes visitors as they arrive. "They said we couldn't do it," said Martin Dalby, managing director
of Center Parks UK. "They said we couldn't do it so well. But we've proved them wrong - that's the spirit of Center Parcs."

Maybe it was a little of that spirit which flowed our way after our own pre-trip crisis and allowed us the privilege of attending the celebrity launch
of the £45-million redesign village.

The day before setting off on the 80-mile journey from Skegness, I received the sort of call every parent of a 17-year-old new driver dreads: "Mum, I've had an accident. We're all right, but my car... my beautiful car, it's wrecked."

The vehicle was in the bottom of a dyke on a winding road near Spilsby, only a few miles away from the spot where four youths were killed only months earlier. What had been a mint condition first car was now a twisted wreckage and my son, James, stood in a field behind it, hands on head, shaking in shock and disbelief.

He and his friend, Andy, like the customers who had been evacuated from the forest, escaped unhurt - but it is always hard to rise up after a blow like this and it would have been so easy to have called the whole weekend off. But they and friends Simon and Tim
had just finished weeks of tough exams and really n
eeded a break, and another friend, Karen, was coming up from Devon to join us, so we didn't want to let anyone down. So we dusted ourselves down as best we could, made alternate arrangements for a second car and set off. We were so glad we did.


Martin Dalby's story of how, three days after the fire in April of last year, the concept of the new design was being born over a curry in a restaurant in a nearby village was truly inspirational. And when he was encouraging the boys on to the dance floor after
a magnificent fireworks display to mark the reopening, he didn't realise he was offering them a little bit of that Center Parcs spirit and the knowledge that however bad things might sometimes seem, life does go on, there are lessons to be learnt and things often turn out for the better.

Over one and a half million pounds have been spent at Elvedon above requirements to make sure that there is no repeat of last year's disaster. An extra £7-million has also been spent at the three other UK villages - Oasis Whinfell, Sherwood and Longleat - to improve fire safety there.

Designed by Don Camilleri, the rebuild started last August with the laying of the first stone by Steve Davis, who was also a guest at the reopening. A workforce of 1,764 has been involved in the reconstruction. The result? "You have to pinch yourself," said Martin. "It'll be like greeting an old friend - lots to catch up with and lots to discover."

For those who know Elvedon, the most stunning change is the creation of an open village square with a truly Mediterranean feel. A cascading stream divides the new romantic piazza from the extended sports plaza. Tuscan pines line the walkway up to the sports plaza, where there is a dramatic view into the subtropical swimming paradise.

The dome, which is a favourite with families at no extra cost, now has a Balinese theme and is full of Indonesian artefacts. The brain
child of Jean Henkens, an interiors designer for Center Parcs for 20 years, it features statues carved from stone from the Merapi volcano on Java. "It's a Javanese belief that the stone from the Merapi is the stuff of life. They say the mountain is the naval of mother earth, who gives them the stone to carve out a better spirit and create a better world," he explained. The statues commissioned for Center Parcs convey the well-being that is the essence of the swimming paradise. "All the statues have a certain spirit. The belief is that when you touch them, the spirit will come to you." The centrepiece of the dome is a 13.5m Roystonian palm from Cuba, weighing 400kgs.

Visitors will also be bowled over by a new 12-lane facility with adjoining cocktail bar, which also has a Balinese twist. And when you've worked up a appetite, there is an excellent choice of good value places to dine. The Rajinda Pradesh restaurant, Hugo's and Platform 5 are three new eating places which may be totally different in concept but have one thing in common with all the other dining facililies - exceptional food. Also new is the Sports Cafe and another addition at the side of the sports plaza is a handy coffee shop.

If you're working on a tighter budget, it's always worth remembering that supermarket prices on site are the same as at home, or if you live in Skegness, probably a lot cheaper.

Of course, it'll be a wonder if you find time to eat. The aim of a Center Parcs holiday is to do as little or as much as you feel like doing. You can take a cycle ride or leisurely stroll in the 400 acres of unspoilt countryside, or take on the challenge of climbing, water sports, ball games, golf, fishing, horseriding, and a selection of keep-fit classes. You can even take in a movie. For total indulgence, there is the new Aqua Sana, which also has an Indonesian theme. The range of multi-sensory spa experiences are some of the best in
the UK and were certainly top of our list when booking activities.

The high standards Center Parcs sets are continued when it comes to accommodation. We were in one of the 574 comfort villas, which include a fully-equipped kitchen,
open plan living and dining area, muli-channel TV, open fireplace, bathroom with shower and central heating thoughout. There is a private patio with outdoor furniture and
bed linen is provided. Three-bed executive villas also include an outside sauna and new four-bed two-storey luxury villas also include a hot tub and private parking. I
promised myself I wouldn't mention the fact that we were originally earmarked to spend the weekend in one of these because Center Parcs always makes us so comfortable and welcome, but there was this rumour about Pierce Brosnan being there for the opening - we would have been happy to share!

With all the excitement of Elveden reopening, the village is already fully-booked for the holidays, with some availability in September. Prices vary depending on
size of accommodation, season and whether it is a midweek or weekend break, but a typical comfort two-bed villa for a weekend in September works out at just over £28
each per night. There is also the option of staying in an apartment or in the Lakeview Hotel, with its revolving fine-dining restaurant, La Sapiniere.

What you can be assured of is a great break and excellent value from a management team which is deservedly proud of its achievement and really cares about it's
customers. "It's been a 15-month long haul and it's a great relief to have been ready in time," said Martin. "But the hard work starts here, ensuring our customers
continue to enjoy the high standards we set."

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