For much of the last century, the Great British holiday was a defining part of family life: Windbreaks on breezy beaches, sandcastle flags bought from promenade shops, the smell of vinegar on chips, and the sound of a Wurlitzer drifting from a seaside pavilion.
However, after the introduction of cheap overseas jetsetting, the Great British staycation became a thing of the past.
But now, it’s stopped being a fallback and started to feel like a choice again. And one of the people who has helped shape that revival is Carl Castledine.
He is the CEO and co‑founder of Away Resorts, but his connection to the industry runs far deeper than a job title.
The third generation of his family to work in holiday parks, raised among the rhythms of an industry that once defined the British summer.
“UK holidays could be done better,” he tells GB News. “I’d grown up around holiday parks, so I understood both their magic and their flaws. Too often they were treated as dated or transactional, rather than places where families make memories.”
Carl Castledine is helping to bring back the Great British getaway
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away resorts
That belief guided the business he launched in 2008 with friends Neill Ryder and Greg Lashley.
It was a difficult moment to start anything, let alone a leisure company.
“The early years were tough,” he says.
“Credibility had to be earned, and we were competing with much bigger players, not to mention a credit crunch.”
Their first park on the Isle of Wight kept the familiar comforts people expected but introduced ideas that made the experience feel more contemporary.
It was not an attempt to reinvent the holiday park but to restore its relevance.
As the business grew, so did the number of families choosing to stay in the UK.
Some were looking for better value, others for convenience, and many for the sense of connection that comes from holidaying somewhere that feels part of the national story.
Government ministers have been consulting on plans to cut red tape so small tourism businesses can collaborate more easily, allowing B&Bs, restaurants, attractions and activity providers to create joint offers without navigating outdated rules.
Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders described the reforms as a way to give families more choice and support the domestic travel market.
For Mr Castledine, the direction of travel aligns with what he has seen for years. “Holidays aren’t a luxury add‑on,” he says. “They’re a chance for families to reconnect, reset and spend time together.
“If we can make that more accessible, that matters.”
His approach has always been to blend tradition with modern expectations.
Families still want the familiar comforts of a British break, but they also want quality, flexibility and experiences that feel considered.
The staycation could be making a return after its 20th century peaks
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AWAY RESORTS
He talks about the emotional value of holidays more than the operational side of running parks, a perspective shaped by decades in the industry and by watching guests return year after year.
“Traction came when we realised we weren’t just growing revenue, we were building loyalty,” he says. “Growth is one thing, trust is another.”
He is quick to credit the people around him.
“No one builds a business alone,” he says. “The real credit goes to the teams I’ve worked alongside.
“I’ve been lucky to work with people who care deeply about customers and bring energy even when things are tough.”
Although he is the third generation of his family to work in holiday parks, he treats that background as context rather than destiny.
It has made him aware of how quickly the sector must adapt and how easily it can fall behind if it doesn’t.
His advice to new entrepreneurs reflects that realism. “Don’t romanticise entrepreneurship. It’s hard, messy and rarely linear.
Carl Castledine believes the UK holiday sector is still evolving
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“Focus on customers, stay close to cash, surround yourself with people who tell you the truth and don’t confuse growth with progress.” It is the kind of guidance that comes from someone who has lived through recessions, regulatory changes, shifting consumer habits and a pandemic that shut down travel entirely.
Mr Castledine believes the UK holiday sector is still evolving. Families are more selective, more value‑driven and more focused on experiences that feel personal.
They want to feel that a holiday at home is a deliberate choice rather than a fallback. “The focus now is on making UK holidays more accessible, more consistent and better value,” he says.
“The opportunity is still huge.”
He talks about the future with a mix of caution and optimism. Rising costs and regulatory pressures remain challenges, but he sees significant potential in a sector that is once again part of the national conversation.
“We’re still shaking up the industry,” he says. “There is so much we can still do to make guests’ holidays even better.”