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Center Parcs faces backlash for kicking out holidaymakers for the Queen’s funeral
Guests booked in next week will have to find alternative accommodation for one night
Center Parcs is facing criticism today after it revealed it would be closing all its UK holiday sites to mark the Queen’s funeral on Monday, kicking out holidaymakers for twenty-four-hours.
The holiday company, which operates and runs five resorts across the country, said it will be shutting its sites from 10am on September 19th to allow staff ‘to support our Queen on her final journey’.
It added that all holidaymakers who would be affected by the closure would receive an email later on Tuesday to outline their options.
They are also offering a full refund if guests want to cancel.
This sudden announcement means families enjoying a seven-day holiday at one of the resorts – which can cost as much as £1,000 at this time of the year – will be forced to find alternate accommodation or go home early with a refund.
Center Parcs’ decision has been met with an overwhelming wave of backlash, with many slamming the move as ‘ridiculous’.
One holidaymaker took to a Center Parcs Facebook page, writing: “We were five related families getting together for our annual family holiday – with two small children and two dogs, three hours from home!
“Where the hell are we supposed to go for one night?! It’s that or cancel some or all of the much-anticipated holiday! Sorry, but this is an awful, awful decision that has left us devastated.
“By all means close the restaurants and activities, but let us stay on the park!!”
One Twitter user branded the whole thing as ‘bonkers’, writing: “Center Parcs closing on Monday and asking all guests staying there over that time to leave at 10am Mon and return Tuesday is bonkers.
“Oh, but it’s okay. They can leave their belongings in their lodge. They will just have to sleep outside.”
Another suggested: “Surely it would be better for Center Parcs to put up big screens for guests to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, should they so wish, rather than kicking them out for a day? They’ve not thought this through, have they?”
Center Parcs are yet to respond to the backlash.