‘Before Eurocamp, we’d go to a cottage in Wales. Eurocamp was my first experience of travelling abroad and my first taste of different cultures.’

Fast forward to today and Chris knows only too well how the Eurocamp experience has changed – he is the Northwich-based company’s brand marketing director, having started in the business from university in 2001.

Eurocamp managing director Chris Hilton is overseeing major changes to the Eurocamp offering from its home in Northwich. Image: Eurocamp Armed with a marketing degree, Chris, from Chester, began by working for Richard Atkinson, the company’s first holiday rep who rose through the ranks to head the business as chief executive.

Eurocamp’s story begins in 1973 when founder Alan Goulding came up with the concept of family camping holidays made easy, opening a travel agency in Knutsford. By the 1990s, and changes in ownership, the head office was at Hartford Manor. Today, the ever-evolving business is based at Gadbrook Park, home to a team of around 120.

The business has boomed post-pandemic, especially in the past year since acquiring a key competitor and expanding the holiday offer substantially.

This holiday home has space for 12 guests. Image:Eurocamp ‘In 2023 we had 150 holiday parks; by 2024 we had around 400,’ says Chris.

Destinations now reach as far as Italy, Portugal and Croatia – the first Eurocamp offer was a single campsite in Brittany, northern France.

Childhood memories of camping under canvas with a pool on site cannot compare with the realities of holiday parks today, says Chris. ‘The level of accommodation and facilities are not what people expect from a traditional camping holiday.’

Eurocamp tent life in 1988. Today, most guests stay in mobile homes, alongisde ther chalets and safari tents. Eurocamp He highlights the revolution in the leisure offer – particularly the on-site park pools.

‘When I went to Eurocamp in the 1980s the pool was basic and there was a small slide next to the pool if you were lucky.

‘Today they are aquatic complexes with several pools – more equivalent to what you would find at a water park.’

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Accommodation has had a 21st-century upgrade too. ‘It used to be tents, but most people now stay in mobile homes and these have gradually evolved. Guests want a premium experience with guaranteed comfort, but to still be in touch with the great outdoors. Our accommodation comes with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning and a Nespresso machine.’

Being piloted this year is Eurocamp’s first tipi, bringing the glamping element to the EC experience by combining a holiday home next to a canvas tipi along with a shared outdoor space including a kitchen. Guests can also relax in a hammock net and enjoy a tropical shower in the open air. The two-storey tipi, which sleeps four and has a TV and Nintendo Switch console, has premiered at Eurocamp’s five-star Domaine des Naïades in Port Grimaud, on the French Riviera, and if successful will be rolled out to other parcs.

Then: a family barbecue at Eurocamp in the 1977. Image: Eurocamp It’s all part of keeping the Eurocamp offer up to date and attuned to customer demand.

A Eurocamp holiday also offers a varied vacation, combining the best of camp facilities – bars, restaurants, and on-site entertainment – with the opportunity for sightseeing and adventure, says Chris.

‘People use the camps to explore local areas – the beaches, towns and historical places. Different sites offer different experiences, for example, the Dordogne is great for canoeing, and south-west France for surfing and body boarding.’

Budget airline travel has led to an increase in the number of fly-drive holidays and allowed the company to expand beyond France.

Among the top 10 destinations for customers is Duinrell in southern Holland, Bella Italia on Lake Garda, Italy, and the Camping Fabulous Village, near Rome.

Now: the Eurocamp brand now offers European holidays at around 400 sites.Image: Eurocamp As the company grows its international business, it has not lost sight of important matters closer to home, supporting organisations and events including the North West Air Ambulance and local schools, and as the 2024-25 season sponsor of Winnington Park Rugby Club’s under 10s rugby union team.

Its main charitable focus, however, has been with Cheshire Young Carers, Eurocamp’s charity partner since 2022. Since then, the company has hosted annual residential trips for around 50 young carers during the Easter holidays.

Eurocamp provides accommodation, supports passport applications, and pays for ferry and coach travel, food, staff and Eurocamp and Cheshire Young Carers branded hoodies, as well as Disneyland Paris tickets.

Chris says: ‘For many, it is their first experience of going abroad. The feedback we get is really positive.’ eurocamp.co.uk

Domaine des Ormes in Brittany – the region of Framce where the Eurocamp story began. Eurocamp

TOP 10 EUROCAMP DESTINATIONS

 1. La Croix du Vieux Pont, Paris, France

2. Domaine des Ormes, Brittany, France

3. Bella Italia, Lake Garda, Italy

4. Duinrell, South Holland, Netherlands

5. Le Chêne Gris, Paris, France

6. La Vallée, Normandy, France

7. La Baume, Riviera, France

8. Le Domaine du Clarys, Vendée, France

9. Camping Fabulous Village, Rome, Italy

10. Kaatsheuvel, North Brabant, Netherland

 

To Paris. Cheshire Young Carers, Eurocamp’s charity partner since 2022, on a residential holiday last year. Image: Eurocamp

EUROCAMP COMPANY TIMELINE

1970s

1973 – Eurocamp Travel Ltd is founded by Alan Goulding at his home in Knutsford, offering: ‘Family camping made easy’ to a single campsite in Brittany

1975 – Eurocamp’s bungalow tents spread to four campsites across France

1977 – Mobile homes are introduced

1980s

1981 – Eurocamp is sold to London-based retail group, Combined English Stores

1984 – Eurocamp launched in Holland

1987 – Eurocamp becomes part of Next plc when the company acquires Combined English Stores

1988 – Eurocamp launched in Germany Kids’ clubs are introduced

1990s

1990 – Eurocamp launched in Ireland

1991 – Eurocamp plc floated on the London Stock Exchange

1992 – Eurotunnel is launched, making European holidays with Eurocamp even more accessible to British holidaymakers

1994 – Eurocamp packages offered to newly opened Disneyland Paris

1998 – Eurocamp plc acquires Keycamp Holidays, changing its name to Holidaybreak plc 1998 – Eurocamp’s first website is launched

1999 – Kids’ Clubs introduced for 13 to 16-year-olds New territories include Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark and Poland

2000s

2000 – Eurocamp plc buys Eurosites

2008 – Eurocamp Independent purchases Select Sites

2009 – Tree houses introduced Mobile homes now have air conditioning, decking areas, double-glazing and insulation First television advertisements are aired

2010s

2010 – Eurocamp launches the safari tent

2011 – Holidaybreak plc acquired by Cox & Kings Limited

2011 – Eurocamp’s first social media channels launched (Facebook and Twitter)

2012 – Redesign of the ‘classic tent’ accommodation

2013 – Keycamp brand merges with Eurocamp

2014 – Eurocamp bought by Homair Vacances Group

2017 – Homair Vacances Group rebranded as European Camping Group

2018 – European Camping Group acquires tour operator Palmiers Océan, adding 1,800 mobile homes to its fleet

2020s

2021 – European Camping Group acquired by PAI Partners

2022 – European Camping Group acquires VacanceSelect Group and the Canvas Holidays brand, adding 22,000 mobile homes across 270 holiday parks

2024 – European Camping Group acquires Vacancesoleil’s assets and a further 900 mobile homes..