Holiday park operator Haven has revealed ambitious plans to construct four new Wetherspoons pubs across its UK sites as part of a significant £9 million investment programme. The expansion will bring the total number of Wetherspoons establishments within Haven parks to nine, significantly boosting the company's hospitality offerings.
Strategic Locations and Expansion Timeline
The four new pubs are scheduled to open their doors in spring next year, strategically positioned at key holiday destinations across England. The selected locations include Haven's Cala Gran in Blackpool, Lakeland in Cumbria, Riviere Sands in Cornwall, and Hopton in Norfolk. This geographical spread ensures coverage across popular holiday regions from the northwest to the southeast coasts.
This development forms part of Haven's broader strategy to capitalise on what industry analysts predict will be an exceptionally busy period for the holiday park sector. The company is preparing to welcome up to four million guests in 2026, making the additional hospitality venues crucial for managing customer demand and enhancing the overall holiday experience.
Partnership Success and Future Prospects
The collaboration between Haven and JD Wetherspoon, which began in 2024, has already demonstrated remarkable success. The inaugural Wetherspoons pub opened at Haven's Primrose Valley Holiday Park in Filey during March 2024, quickly establishing itself as a popular destination for holidaymakers.
Since the partnership's inception, the existing Wetherspoons pubs across Haven parks have achieved impressive sales figures, serving 907,000 main meals, 288,000 breakfasts, and pulling 692,201 pints. These statistics underscore the popularity of the brand combination among holiday park visitors.
Simon Palethorpe, CEO of Haven, emphasised the company's commitment to enhancing customer experiences: "Haven is all about giving our customers more of what they love – and our partnership with J D Wetherspoon does just that. All our parks give our guests and owners access to brands which they love, be that Burger King, Slim Chickens, Chopstix, Millies Cookies, Papa Johns, Costa or J D Wetherspoon."
Broader Investment Strategy
The Wetherspoons expansion represents just one element of Haven's comprehensive investment programme. The company is simultaneously developing a new £10 million water park at Kent Coast and renovating the Marton Mere Show Bar, among other park improvements.
Michael Barron, Commercial Director at JD Wetherspoon, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership's continued growth: "Our partnership with Haven continues to go from strength to strength. We are delighted that four new J D Wetherspoon pubs will open at Haven parks in 2026. We are confident that they will prove popular with Haven's holidaymakers and owners."
The additional venues will provide holidaymakers with familiar, value-focused dining and drinking options while supporting local employment in these popular tourist regions. With construction set to begin imminently, the new pubs are expected to create numerous job opportunities and contribute significantly to the local economies in Blackpool, Cumbria, Cornwall, and Norfolk.
