Weekend at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest

The birthday plate I made for Lauren

Some time in the late 1980's some woodland north of here was interspersed by some little houses called (bungalows in in its native Holland) villas. At the centre of these villas a lake was made, some restaurants and shops and even a church were built and the most fascinating thing of all a giant greenhouse like dome called a "Subtropical Swimming Paradise" was the crowning jewel. Center Parcs had arrived in the UK
The concept was the brainchild of Piet Derksen who created parcs where the Dutch city folk could get away from it all. Center Parcs became "the holiday the weather couldn't spoil". Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire was joined by Elveden Forest in Suffolk, Longleat Forest in Wiltshire, they bought Whinfell Forest in Cumbria and the next and possibly final UK Centre Parcs*, Warren Wood in Bedfordshire will commence it's building phase some time this year hopefully.
When it first opened it sounded like a haven for groups of young singles, a bit of a gimmick, but gradually Center Parcs shed this image and began to focus on child friendly, family holidays and started winning awards.
Several refurbishments and many years later Center Parcs is now still firmly family orientated, but a mix of young families, families with adventurous teens, extended families and couples looking for a relaxing short break. They've gone from the simple bungalow to having a portfolio of villas - comfort, comfort plus,woodland lodge, executive, exclusive and tree houses. In Elveden last year they introduced some luxury spa suites for those wanting to enjoy the Aqua Sana. The church at Sherwood is now a Starbucks!
I actually used to work for Center Parcs many moons ago, I enjoyed my job and the perks were the best - lots of cheap holidays! Things don't work the same now, but in those days cheap meant cheap and in the 7 years I worked there we had about 30 holidays there! Nothing about Center Parcs is cheap anymore, except the swimming of course, so we are now limited to a visit once every year or two. I have to say I am still a fan, I wish the changes hadn't bought so much more expense, but I think the changes are mostly for the best, although I was sad when we went to Longleat last time that the beautiful village I had seen being built was now packed full of villas and a little too busy, but then I woke up in the night and there were 2 badgers on our patio and I forgave them everything!


December 2012
Back to present day. We been to Center Parcs for Lauren's birthday a couple of times before and decided to do it again this year. The easiest thing to do was go to Sherwood as at most it's a 40 minute drive from home, we booked a basic 2 bedroomed villa, then Tony's mum and dad booked an executive 1 bedroomed apartment. We got word that my mum and dad were coming to visit from Spain, so we upgraded to a 3 bedroomed woodland lodge and then my brother booked for himself and his children and all of a sudden we had a party!

The Village

Singing Reindeer!

Sherwood Forest the village had a warm welcome for us, even if the weather was freezing. Santa was on the driveway to greet us, the checking in staff were very helpful, they tailor your arrival to your needs, a little info if you've already been and a bit more for the first timers. You get your key, but entry to your accommodation is not until 3pm. The village was in it's Winter Wonderland phase which starts round about the beginning of December until the new year, glittering little white and blue bulbs throughout the trees, sparkling deer and other animals, amazing trees of light "Singing ringing trees" as we call them, a stable of robotic reindeer singing Chrsitmas Carols - always a winner with the children, a wonderful Santa's grotto and an enclosure of real reindeer are among the many things to get you into the Christmas spirit. We took Lauren and Theo to see Santa, what a lovely experience, to be greeted by elves and led into a cosy little room where Santa sits and waits to bestow a gift on you and have his photo taken with you while gathering your all important Christmas list information. On the Sunday night there was a fantastic fireworks display, with carol singers and neon jugglers and hula hoopers.

The Accommodation

Self catering in the villa

The Villa's Blackboard

We went for a 3 bedroomed Woodland Lodge this time, it's a midrange villa in a new style. I really love the modern open plan style of the villas. Our bedroom was lovely and cosy, beech effect furnishings and co-ordinated in green and cream and plum. The Sealy beds are very comfortable, the room has plenty of storage for 2 people for 3 days, might not be enough for a weeks stay, all rooms have hair dryers and the master has a TV. We had one double room and 2 twins. There was a bathroom, a bit long and awkward  -toilet first, then sink, then bath and shower, which meant on the way out I fell over the low level wc a couple of times (no drink involved!!) and there was a separate toilet in the entrance hall. Fresh white towels for everyone. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you would expect and in the Woodland that includes a dishwasher. Big patio doors and windows let you be at one with the wildlife, you will at least get birds and squirrels on your patio, ducks, geese and swans, rabbits. In the past at the various villages we had also had a roe deer, a muntjac deer, badgers, cats (never seen any more), hedgehogs and mice.

The exterior of the villa, complete with Christmas wreath

Lauren enjoying the falconry!

Activities
There is a plethora of things to do at Center Parcs depending on your taste and budget, the swimming (subtropical wave pool, water slides, rapids, hot pools, outdoor pool, plunge pool, exercise pool etc) is free, right up to off the village 4x4 off roading, there's abseiling and tree top activities for the adventurers and a wonderful Spa  for those who prefer the quieter side of life.

Fluorescent bowling from a previous year

We made full use of the swimming, we went everyday and made sure we swam outside in the freezing cold and in the dark at night until the children were all quite exhausted.
My brothers 2 oldest children Hebe and Xander tried out the indoor climbing which looked great fun. For her birthday we treated Lauren to Falconry, she was a bit nervous but it was brilliant and she ended up holding all the birds including a very large buzzard and a Harris Hawk.
We stumbled by chance into a doorway near the takeaway to find ourselves in a paint your own pottery studio. Lauren immediately wanted to join in but it looked like you needed to book. They were very accommodating though and got us in there and then, We had such a lovely mother and daughter time, Lauren made herself a dragon and I made her a birthday plate (see above). I would definitely do it again.

Lauren's Dragon

Eating Out

Sunday Dinner at Café Rouge

You are not short of choice and there's a range of budgets, more and more of the outlets are turning over to franchises rather than Center Parcs own food. At Sherwood there are a couple of Starbucks, Hucks American Diner, Rajinda Pradesh (Indian), Dine (Indian and Italian takeaway), The Sports Cafe, Made (takeaway), The Foresters Inn, Strada, a poolside café and a Café Rouge. If you want to cater for yourselves there is an on site Parcmarket selling books, magazines, fresh breads and pastries, hot snacks and a full range of groceries, priced along the lines of a local Co-op. We had a takeaway from Made on our first day standard burger and chips fayre but we could have had baked potatoes or paninis etc.
Saturday we ate at Cafe Rouge and we all really enjoyed our lunch. I had steak and chips with petit pois a la francais it was delicious and I would have happily gone back and eaten it again the next day. As it turned out we did go back to Cafe Rouge but for a Sunday dinner, some of us had lamb and some had beef, it was just OK but nothing special and considering how nice our lunch had been the day before Tony especially was a little disappointed with his. The staff though were all very nice and helpful as we've always found in this restaurant whatever it's been called.

Fish, chips and mushy peas at The Foresters Inn

Our final meal out was over at the Country Club in the Foresters Inn on our last day. It's out near the nature trail and bird feeding hide and the golf range. It was not a great meal, my mother in law ordered a Tuna Nicoise Salad and the order was taken, 5 minutes later the waitress, a very full on waitress, was back to tell us that the tuna didn't have enough date so they didn't want to serve it, so she had the Lasagne the same as my father in law. It was quite a portion and Lauren helped her finish it, I think my father in law enjoyed his with garlic bread but my mother in law thought it was a bit greasy, it's not normally what she would have, that's why she'd asked for a salad. Tony had sausage and mash, he said the mash was lumpy and the sausages didn't have a nice texture, I think for him the portion was too small. Lauren had chicken goujons, standard fayre nothing exciting and I had fish and chips, I always fancy it but never enjoy it!
I have to say this is not normal for us to not like meals, we have been to Strada for several meals at Center Parcs and have had really lovely meals and we normally always love our Café Rouge meals, so maybe it's because they were busy but that's not really a good excuse, at busy times you need to be at your best as this is when you have most impact.

Cheese board at Café Rouge

So the verdict, we had a brilliant time, it's a great place for getting together with family, for getting some fresh air, for making time for your children, trying something new. I would always recommend it, but read up about it first and make sure you budget, definitely make a loose plan of how you are going to spend your time to get the most out of your stay.