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25 Years of Center Parcs
2008
As part of the continued investment into
accommodation and facilities, every bed within
each of the four villages is replaced and the
entire bike fleet is upgraded.
2001
Center Parcs signs its first franchise
agreement and Starbucks Coffee Shops are
introduced across all four villages.
Oasis Holiday Village near
Penrith is taken over by Center
Parcs UK and re-named Center
Parcs Whinfell Forest.
A five year partnership deal with Badminton
England is signed, making Center Parcs the
official partner of Team England and title
sponsor of the National School Championships.
Center Parcs UK is sold to
venture capitalists Deutsche
Bank Capital Partners.
Celebrity Chef Aldo Zilli opens the first Zilli
Café at Aqua Sana Longleat Forest.
2011
1987
Sherwood Forest Center Parcs
is built in Nottinghamshire.
1994
Longleat Forest opens
in Wiltshire.
2006
Private Equity firm,
The Blackstone Group,
acquires Center Parcs.
1989
2003
Elveden Forest opens in Suffolk
and the British brewers and
retailers, Scottish & Newcastle,
become the new owners of
Center Parcs.
Center Parcs becomes a PLC
and floats on the London
Stock Exchange.
2007
An unprecedented investment
programme begins, resulting in over
£100 million spent on accommodation,
restaurants and retail outlets.
Agreements are signed with Tragus, SSP
and Nuance to manage a small number of
restaurants and retail outlets on each of
Center Parcs’ four villages.
1997
Center Parcs rebrands with a
new logo.
Three new luxury Treehouses completed at
Longleat Forest and New Style Exclusive
lodges are built at Elveden Forest.
2009
Accommodation refurbishment
continues. By Easter almost 40%
of accommodation is newly styled.
Spa Suites open at Elveden Forest.
Planning permission for the fifth UK village at
Woburn Forest is granted.
2010
The first ever Treehouses at
Center Parcs are completed at
Sherwood Forest.
New Style Exclusive Lodges
completed at Longleat Forest.
Center Parcs teams up with interior
designer Tara Bernerd of Target Living
for the design of new accommodation,
including newly built 4 bedroom
Executive Lodges.
Aldo Zilli opens Zilli Cafés
within the Aqua Sana Spa
at Elveden Forest and
Sherwood Forest.
Outline planning permission is gained for
a fifth UK Center Parcs village at Woburn.
2012
As part of a longer term plan,
Elveden Forest to get exciting
new features in the Subtropical
Swimming Paradise.
New shops, restaurants and cafes
including a children’s toy shop (Just
For Kids), gift and home décor shop
(The Store Room) and a new burger
restaurant (Dexter’s Kitchen) open
across the 4 locations.