Quality improvements & upgrading it's image !

“Quality improvements and upgrading it's image !”

Written on: 31/05/2011 by grumpybear (18 reviews written)

Third trip in 3 years, first year we camped, then a small caravan and large sea front trailer this year. It's just brilliant! definately trying to upgrade and change it's image.
It's a small privately run holiday park that just tries really hard. Lots of money spent this year, toilets upgraded, all new play equipment and changing rooms in the swimming pool and new seaview appartments.
The clubhouse has great scheduled kids disco and character entertainment with ossie otter a pirate and pickles the parrot ( kids loved it, and on the week we were there, a superb Take That tribute act. All free(would have happily paid £20 for them alone!) Restaurant upstairs, Pebbles, is very efficient and a really good varied menu carvery £8.25, asian, thai, mexican,italian and regular pub grub.all fresh tasty and good value. kids menu at 4.50. There's a shop with fresh bread and everything you need and a take away plaus a smart cafe that does evening meals if you fancy a change from Pebbles, with special offers eg( mains 2 for £12 on a tuesday)
The statics are all immaculate and I'm really really fussy. none of them are more that 4 years old. ours had tv/dvdplayerand a Ipod docking station. oh and a hot tub, with view over the sea. Brilliant !!
ok what's the problems? They are trying to upgrade and price out the chavs. We went 3 years ago and it was rough, shouty nasty tattooed families with football shirts and shell suited, feral teenagers running riot and feckless parents getting lashed in the bar all day.It was just so horrible!!That has largely gone, yes there are still a few rough families but the Stella and tattoos, fat shouty chav wenches are less prevalent than decent families with smartly dressed children. ( girls in smart dressed, lads in rugby tops, Mums and Dads in superdry/crew/joules, plenty of yummy ( not scummy) Mummys. That transitional phase is still very much in evidence with those working and happy to pay £12/14 for a bottle of wine sitting albeit awkwardly, right next to the hardcore tatooed Benefit bunnies. Another year and they'll get it right.
The staff are so, so helpfful. they even have security staff walking the park in the evenings and trying to keep the rougher elements from smoking right outside the doors of the pub and the teenagers from the softplay areas.
Oh, be aware that there is Bingo. However, there is a hard core of residents/owners who feel they own the park and the Bingo is there solely for them. They are Rude Ignorant and badly behaved. just avoid !

Ladram Bay is pretty close to sidmouth, exmouth etc and there are some lovely walks in the area. Rockpooling in their own bay is great and very quiet on the days we went. you can rent little boats, kayaks( £5 for 30 mins) etc and they looked new as well.
Ladram is evolving for the better and I will be back later this year. It's improving it's image and getter better with the focus on quality the policy of ricing out the rougher element and encouraging better families,clearly works as i've seen myself. It if continues this way, I think it'll secure it's future. Great value british holiday !!