Center Parcs to reopen UK holiday villages next month

Its five villages shut on 20 March in response to the coronavirus crisis.

However, they will begin reopening from 13 July, the operator revealed on Thursday (25 June).

Locations will enforce new social distancing and safety measures to protect guests and the firm’s 8,500 employees.

Center Parcs’ Longford Forest village in Ireland will also reopen on 13 July.

It comes after prime minister Boris Johnson earlier this week gave a swathe of the UK leisure and hospitality sector the green light to reopen from 4 July, including holiday parks, campsites, hotels and B&Bs.

Chief executive Martin Dalby said Center Parcs would only reopen once the business was "100% satisfied" it was safe to do so.

"We’ve had our teams working around the clock to review everything we do, right down to the smallest detail, and we‘re now ready to open our doors again," said Dalby.

“We know a lot of families were looking forward to Center Parcs breaks, and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the forest.

"Those families who have visited us before will notice some changes to the way we’re doing things, but the essence of a Center Parcs break will remain the same, offering a fantastic short break experience with plenty of space within our 400 acres of natural woodland.”