Sale of family-owned caravan park, Northcliffe & Seaview in Whitby

Harrowells were delighted to act on behalf of the Martin family in the sale of a substantial family-owned holiday park in one of Whitby’s most loved locations. 

Northcliffe and neighbouring Seaview caravan parks have been owned by the same family since the 1960’s. Encompassing over 46 acres, the parks are licensed for 352 pitches, including static and touring pitches, and glamping pods. The sale also included a high-quality café, 5* holiday cottage and various leisure facilities, along with two residences and a full team of employees. Green Wood Parks Limited added the holiday parks to their growing family business which now owns and operates 10 parks across the UK.

This transaction involved almost all the potential issues associated with transactions of holiday and caravan park businesses. There are a range of different accommodation types, food outlets and leisure facilities, differing licensing and consent requirements, and issues particular to the rural locality for which the local knowledge of the team of advisers proved to be valuable.

Led by Matt Rowley, Harrowells’ commercial department coordinated the transaction with property aspects being led by Matthew Hayward and employment matters dealt with by Ruth Rogers, ensuring a team with a solid experience of other similar caravan and holiday park transactions. Our specialist knowledge in this sector ensures we are well placed to advise on the often-complex legal issues associated with this type of business.

As in this case, holiday and caravan parks are often family-owned businesses, sometimes with a long legacy, which can add its own level of complexity, and call for other areas of legal support, such as wills, trusts and tax planning, which we are also well placed to advise on.

The vendors were advised by Harrowells (Legal), Lloyd Dowson (Financial) and Colliers (Commercial Agents).