Holidaymakers at the largest caravan park operator in the UK have consumed one million meals from Wetherspoons. Haven celebrated this achievement just two years after the first Wetherspoons outlet opened at its Primrose Valley site near Filey in North Yorkshire, which has now expanded to nine locations.

Simon Palethorpe, the head of Haven, expressed the remarkable success of the partnership with Wetherspoons and revealed plans to introduce Wetherspoons pubs to most of its 39 parks. He mentioned that what started as an experiment for both parties has turned into a significant hit with guests, with expectations of serving millions more meals in the upcoming years.

Tim Martin, the founder of JD Wetherspoon, expressed his delight with the success of the collaboration. Haven’s Wetherspoons operate on a franchise basis, offering the same menu as other Wetherspoons locations. The partnership model has been extended to various openings, including the first Wetherspoons pub outside the UK and Ireland at Spain’s Alicante airport.

Since the debut of Wetherspoons at Haven in spring 2024, customers have enjoyed 365,000 breakfasts, 57,000 lunches, and 578,000 dinners. The top-selling dish across the nine sites is the Wetherspoons’ big breakfast, followed by the classic fish and chips. Pepsi is the best-selling drink, with Stella Artois leading in most locations, except for cider being popular in parks in southwest England.

The one millionth meal was served to Matthew Deang, 40, his wife Dawn, 37, and their sons Leo, 11, and Jaxon, four. Haven is benefiting from the rise in staycations and cost-conscious customers, with prices starting at £49 for a three or four-night stay in a whole caravan.

Celebrities like Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash have endorsed caravan holidays, with Stacey Solomon having a pitch at Haven’s Kent park. Mr. Palethorpe prefers to refer to the holiday homes as “holiday homes” to avoid any negative connotations associated with caravans.

Haven, owned by US private equity firm Blackstone, has invested £700 million in its parks over the last five years, with a notable £50 million renovation at Kent Coast. The company served 3.9 million customers last year, showing a 10% increase from 2024, and anticipates exceeding four million customers this year, with a record summer expected.

Despite rising costs, Haven has managed to keep price increases to a minimum in recent years, with summer prices remaining similar or lower than the previous year. However, the company is hiring fewer seasonal workers due to increased costs.