Centre Parcs is a top-pick holiday destination for many thanks to the lush woodland landscapes and fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. But while it may seem tranquil on the surface, behind-the-scenes things can be very hectic, as one former employee has revealed.
Giving insight into what goes on behind closed doors at Centre Parcs, a former staff member spoke to Bedfordshire Live anonymously after working at the Woburn Forest branch for two summers.
They worked in hospitality at one of the on-site restaurants - and said they became 'all too familiar' with the happenings at the holiday park.
Staff parking is too far to walk from the village
The former employee explained that staff are provided with free parking while on site, but unlike the guests, the staff parking is far from all facilities and amenities.
They explained: "Staff parking however is not as conveniently close to the facilities and requires more of a walk to get into work, particularly, like me, when you worked at the opposite end of the village, near the boathouse.
"Despite being told to park in staff parking, it was common for staff to park in guest parking out of convenience, not that I would ever have done such a thing. It just seemed to make sense for staff to park closer if possible, we were after all, working."
All staff knew if there was a celebrity staying on site
Apparently, the Woburn Forest Center Parcs' close proximity to London meant that it was a haven for celebrities to visit. From Premier League footballers and managers to Dragons from Dragons' Den, staff greeted them all.
They recalled: "When well-known faces were visiting it became a hot topic of discussion, probably helped by most of the staff in the village's multiple restaurants knowing each other outside of work, with many going to school together."
The former employee also explained that staff would be confused as to why the celebs hadn't gone abroad - but staycations seem to be all the rage nowadays.
Wasps are the worst
The former employee worked at the Pancake House, and said that warm summers and sticky syrup made Centre Parcs a haven for wasps.
They detailed: "As staff, we seemed to spend more time swatting wasps away from guests than actually serving guests, not to mention the chaos that ensued when the wasps got into the kitchen or around the open hatch area.
"It wasn't uncommon to walk through the restaurant and see at least 10 to 15 trapped under plastic cups."
Staff took advantage of freebies
The former employee said: "Staff at Center Parcs are entitled to 'day passes' as a benefit of their role, or at least they were when I worked there prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A day pass was an absolute joy to use, free use of all the activities on site, provided there was availability and discounted prices at restaurants and bars."
They also explained that you could take a friend, and as soon as people caught wind of what they could do for free, you'd become incredibly popular.
No matter how chaotic changeover days are for guests, they are much worse for staff
Changeover days are Mondays and Fridays when guests leave and a new bunch arrives - which sounds stressful.
Housekeepers have to clean the lodges, cabins and hotel rooms to look brand new in a short window.
They fumed: "For restaurant staff changeover days are the busiest days. All of the people on the last day of their holiday are desperate to get that one final visit to their favourite restaurant in for one final treat for the already-full family."
They also said that families would arrive too early - too early to get into their accommodation, but not too early to walk into the already bustling restaurants where a reservation wasn't required at the time, much like the Pancake House.
They continued: "Everybody working on a changeover day, from lifeguards to cleaners, activities assistants to chefs, knew they were in for a busy day.
"Especially during the bank holidays and summer holidays, which regularly saw near 100 percent capacity. Nobody was ever quite prepared for those busiest days, however."
Have you got industry secrets to share? Email us: danielle.wroe@reachplc.com
