GWR Dawlish camping coach site for sale again
THOSE with a head for business and a love for railways, and who are seeking a move to or within South Devon have been presented with an ideal opportunity as the Brunel Holiday Park at Dawlish Warren has gone up for sale – less than six years after it was last sold and only three since reopening after a major refurbishment.
Located at the Blue Flag seaside resort, the holiday park is sited directly next to the main line along the seafront, with accommodation offered in five BR Mk.1 restaurant coaches.
The site, established by the GWR in 1935, the Great Western Railway Staff Association (which ran it on a not-for-profit basis) announced it was to close permanently in 2016, with the vehicles earmarked for scrap after years of exposure to the sea air had taken its toll on the bodywork and the rising repair costs were believed to be financially unviable.
However, the site and stock were auctioned together on November 3, 2016, selling for £261,000 after a heated bidding war. The new owners began a major scheme in 2017 that saw five of the eight coaches refurbished ahead of reopening in the summer of 2019.
The remaining three carriages are still present and comprise of two Mk.1 designs, plus LMS Inspection Saloon No. 45046. One of these carriages is partway through refurbishment, with an estimated £30-40,000 worth of work required to complete, while the other two have been repainted but require circa £70,000 worth of investment to bring up to standard.
Matt Bettesworth, who is handling the sale, said: “The Brunel Holiday Park is an iconic landmark site, offering a unique holiday destination.
“The business has been incredibly successful since its relaunch despite the pandemic years, and future bookings are looking particularly strong.
“This is believed to be the largest and most impressive ‘traincation’ site in the UK, with the carriages having been renovated to an incredibly high standard.”
The sale includes all eight carriages, as well as the signal box-style reception and office building, a twobedroom owner’s/manager’s chalet, and further amenity buildings on a 0.83-acre site that boasts easy access to both beach and station. Offers in excess of £950,000 are invited.
The business is advertised on www.bettesworths.co.uk under the ‘commercial-other’ category, with the reference No. 4248, or telephone 01803 212021 for more information.