Center Parcs, the popular family holiday destination with five UK parks including Longleat, Whinfell and Woburn forests, has been praised by many for its Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Forest Spa. However, a number of former employees have come forward to criticise the working conditions, describing them as 'toxic' and 'degrading'.
On Indeed, the company scores an overall 3.5 out of 5 rating, but some reviews paint a different picture. A food and beverage assistant at the Elveden park in Suffolk claimed staff areas lacked air conditioning, forcing them to work in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. Another ex-employee, a cleaner at the same park, gave a one-star rating, stating: 'Management made me feel unwanted and very defeated'.
A beauty therapist who worked at the Sherwood Forest park, which opened in 1987, described the workplace as 'degrading' and 'stressful', adding that 'what goes on there is shocking' without providing further details. She said a typical day was 'stressful, you just don't know how you will be treated day-to-day'.
However, not all feedback was negative. A former employee at Longleat described their experience as 'wonderful', praising the team as 'extremely kind and collaborative'. Center Parcs responded to the criticism by encouraging former staff to contact their local HR department to discuss concerns.
Despite the negative reviews, Center Parcs remains highly popular, with over two million Brits taking a holiday there in 2024 and villages booked for 97% of the year. The company offers starting wages of around £12.40 per hour, along with perks such as day passes and discounts on services.
