A long-established tourism business in East Devon has more reason than most to be looking forward to the end of lockdown.

Midweek Herald: The family team at Andrewshayes: Stephanie, Harry, Stephen, Peter and ClareThe family team at Andrewshayes: Stephanie, Harry, Stephen, Peter and Clare (Image: Max Redwood)
The team at Andrewshayes Holiday Park near Axminster can’t wait to start welcoming visitors back to the venue this summer because this year, owners and staff at the family-run business are celebrating an impressive 85 years of trading. Not only that, they have also reached the finals of the Devon Tourism Awards.
Back in 1936 the Andrewshayes Farm was first granted a licence for campers under the Public Health Act. In those days, visitors were happy with the basic facilities offered alongside the dairy farm, conveniently sited just off the main A35 trunk road near Axminster.

In 1960 The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act became law. It meant that in order to operate, caravan parks needed to have mains water, toilets and washing facilities and the new licence was also required for static holiday caravans. The then young Harry and Stephanie Lawrence set about developing the business.

Sadly, the cows are not a feature any more, but over the last 60 years the holiday park has gone from strength to strength. Weathering recessions, near crippling interest rates and now Covid-19, the park has grown into a successful and thriving business. In fact, the fourth generation of the Lawrence family are now helping out.
This leads to the news that the park has now reached the finals of the Devon Tourism Awards in the Holiday Park category. The awards require entrants to complete a comprehensive application process and then independent judges mark all aspects of the business to come up with a shortlist of finalists.
The finalists will have to wait until March to learn the outcome.

Peter Lawrence, the park’s managing director, said: “Although we have no idea yet when we will be allowed to open, we are really hoping that the many businesses and individuals that rely on tourism will not have to wait too long for the season to start. 2020 was a huge challenge in so many ways. We are really hoping that we can celebrate the park’s anniversary in style later this year.”

Andrewshayes offers luxury self-catering holiday caravans for hire and sale, as well as pitches for touring and camping. Facilities include a swimming pool and clubhouse.