Winner of Discovers NEC Awning Competition!

Discover have enjoyed a busy week at The Caravan show at the NEC this year.
For all those visitors that came to our stand we were offering them a chance to enter into our competition to win one of our popular Harringtons Awnings.

The Harringtons Awning is a favourite with our customers, and offers exceptional value for money. The response to the competition was overwhelming.
However there can only be one winner and we are pleased to announce that Steven Pemberton from Bridlington in East Yorkshire was the lucky winner of the Harringtons awning competition.
Mr Pemberton said “he was very surprised and excited to win the awning, as he has never won anything in his life” Mr Pemberton said he is looking forward to enjoying caravanning again with his disabled son next year after losing his wife recently. Mr Pemberton and his son travelled to our branch at Flaxton Moor in York to meet the Brand Manager Sheldon Cockburn and receive their awning.

For all of those competition entrants who weren’t so lucky, we are now offering the Harringtons awning at a reduced price.
There are savings of up to £170 against the Harringtons steel and fibre frame awnings, so there has never been a better time to buy!!

Discover Chorley achieves CaSSOA Gold Award

Following on from a successful inspection by CaSSOA, Discover Leisure in Chorley has been awarded the prestigious Gold standard for secure caravan storage joining sister company Discover in Darlington who where awarded Gold level back in August.

Alan Freeman, Brand Manager at Discover Chorley says “Being accredited with the CaSSOA Gold level means that we can offer peace of mind to owners knowing that their caravan is stored safely when not in use or over the long winter period. Security includes 24hr manned CCTV monitoring, electronic security fencing surrounding the site, as well as entry and exit control. Spaces are generous and most European models can be catered for, along with the additional benefit of on-site service and repair facilities for convenience.”

Katy and Helen join the After Sales team at Discover Leisure, Darlington

Discover Leisure, Darlington have announced today the appointment of Katy Head (bottom right) and Helen Balbach (top left) as Service Advisors, working at their National Caravan Council approved workshop. Katy and Helen will strengthen the existing and established team at the Burtree Gate site of Service Manager Fergus Easton and Les Morton.

Fergus said "With the upturn in holidaying at home since the turn of the year, the need to have your leisure vehicle serviced is increasing and having Katy and Helen on board will allow us to meet the demand put upon us over the Winter months.”

Fergus is confident that Katy and Helen, who both come with the experience of careers in the customer service industry, will play a key role in providing and implementing high quality solutions whether it is for service, storage or specialist repairs.

Recently Discover was awarded the prestigious CaSSOA Gold level for storage which means that Discover can now offer peace of mind to owners knowing that their caravan is stored safely when not in use or over the long winter period.

Discover at Burtree Gate Darlington, is part of the UK’s largest camping, caravan and motorhome dealer network and one of 5 Discover stores throughout the north of the country.

Alan Freeman appointed Brand Manager at Discover Leisure Chorley

Alan, who has previously held the Motorhome Sales Manager and Group Motorhome Manager positions at Discover, formerly Barrons, prior to Discover Leisure taking the Barrons business over in 2007, is now responsible for the Chorley site, overseeing the team of 59 people. Alan is well equipped for the management role with over 15 years experience in the caravanning and motorhome industry.

Alan Said "I'm really looking forward to the challenge and to working with the team at Discover Chorley and am keen to develop the superb site to its full potential. It has been a difficult year but with the rise in interest in both camping and caravanning and for holidaying at home since the turn of the year, things are looking up.”

Discover on Chapel Lane in Coppull, is part of the UK’s largest camping, caravan and motorhome dealer network and one of 5 Discover stores throughout the north of the country.

Discover Darlington achieves CaSSOA Gold Award

Discover Darlington is pleased to be able to offer secure storage and has recently been awarded the prestige CaSSOA Gold level. CaSSOA, the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association, has just celebrated ten years since it was set up back in 1999 to combat caravan theft.

CaSSOA grades storage sites in three tiers – Bronze, Silver and Gold – according to the level of security offered. The storage network has had to adapt over the years to reflect the changes in security products and the methods used by thieves to commit caravan crime and awards system allows for sites to be upgraded and even downgraded where standards are deemed to have dropped – they are constantly reviewed. A recent government survey of 630 thefts showed that nearly half where (48%) were stolen from private driveways whilst a staggering further 45% were stolen from locations such as service stations and holiday parks. CaSSOA Gold offers the highest standard of theft protection. Security includes 24hr manned CCTV monitoring, electronic security fencing surrounding the site, as well as entry and exit control. Spaces are generous and there are service and repair facilities on site for convenience

Paul Cockburn, Brand Manager at Discover Darlington says “Leisure vehicles represent a considerable investment and being accredited with the CaSSOA Gold level means that we can offer peace of mind to owners knowing that their caravan is stored safely when not in use or over the long winter period. The recent government figures reiterate how important safe and secure storage actually is.

Discover can offer storage for long or short term.

Tribfest 2009

Tribfest is the summer’s biggest tribute music festival in East Yorkshire, probably Europe, now in its 3rd year! This year's festival is being held at The Beverley Polo Club, Tickton (Near Beverley) 7 Miles from Hull on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd August 2009 and Discover Leisure of York are pleased to be one of this years main sponsors.

The idea of Tribfest is to enable families to enjoy an affordable, fantastic, fun weekend away, meeting fellow festival friends old and new, whilst listening to some great live music. Who will be performing on a stage of high quality with big screens and top sound and lighting to accompany this. Over 20 top tribute bands are due to appear which are specifically chosen to cover a wide range of age groups so at least everyone knows some of the music, or better still all of it! Tribfest has a capacity of 5,000 so it doesn't get overcrowded like some of the other festivals, and has achieved great acclaim in such a short space of time.

Sheldon Cockburn, Brand Manager of Discover Leisure in York commented that he and his team where delighted to be involved with Eddy Faulkner and Tribest. The vast majority of Festival-goers will spend their weekend under canvas, and we are pleased to be able to offer for sale a large selection of those all important “forgotten” essentials.

For more information on Tribfest please visit www.tribfest.co.uk

The Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning

Last Year more than 45,000 people held coffee mornings and together with their family, friends and colleagues raised over £7.5 million.

With this in mind Discover Leisure is proud to be taking part in Feel Good, Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday 25^th September 2009.

Come along to any one of our stores and join in the fun and help us to raise funds and join thousands of others in changing the lives of people affected by cancer.

We will be fundraising from 10am till 4pm – watch this space for details of what will be happening at each one of our stores.

Susan’s Relaxing Time!!

The lucky winner of the May Lets Go Outside Free Prize Draw was Susan Cumming from Lancashire. Susan pictured here with her family, was presented with her prize by Mike Rimmer and Terry Bowe from the Discover Leisure store in Coppul. Susan commented “I am really excited I never win anything – Many thanks the chairs are fantastic.”

THE NORTHERN MOTORCARAVAN SHOW Pickering Show ground

Both York & Darlington will be attending at Pickering Showground between 17 & 19th July. Come and check out our fantastic show offers and the opportunity to win a Thatcham Approved Outsmart Cat 1 Alarm & a Sold Secure approved Defender Tracking System.

Discover Supports Courageous Life Cycle

The combination of 936 miles, 11 days and 2 motorhomes has raised a huge amount of money for Children’s Hospices UK thanks to efforts by the Barclays Life Cycle team who have cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End having been supported by Discover Leisure.

Discover Leisure has shown their support for the team and the charity by donating two motor homes for the duration of the epic journey.

Riders from Barclays Commercial Bank took part on this courageous charity cycle ride leaving John O’Groats on 26 May and crossing the finish line on 6 June, stopping off at each Children’s Hospice along the way; an admirable 936 miles in just 11 days!

Nine riders took part for the full duration and numerous others showed their support on different legs of the journey, the donation of the motorhomes has been greatly received and offered warm, comfortable accommodation for the whole team.

Mark Attwood, Relationship Director at Barclays Commercial Bank said: “We were all thrilled when Discover said they would support us, as one of the cyclists taking part, I know how essential these motorhomes have been to our journey, especially after a long hard day, on a hard bicycle seat!

“We all enjoy endurance sports and have completed a number of marathons and mountain cycles between us so we where alll really looking forward to the challenge of LifeCycle. We thank Discover for their generosity.”

Vicki Welsh, of Discover Leisure said: “The whole team at Discover are very proud to be supporting this worthy cause and tremendous effort. The motorhomes are just like a home from home and have provided a comfortable place for the riders to rest and rejuvenate between each leg of their journey. ”

By Staying local and buying local the great british holiday can boost the economy

If just 5% more of the UK population opted to spend their summer holidays in this country this year instead of going abroad, we would be giving much needed support to local businesses and could boost our Great British Economy by as much as £3 billion.

Holidaymakers from the UK already make up four fifths of the UK tourism industry with 60 billion of us holidaying in this country spending an average of £1,000 per person each year. Already a staggering figure but if just 5% more people could be persuaded to visit places closer to home we could plough around £3 billion into our nation’s economy and help keep local businesses afloat!

We are busy promoting our Doorstep Challenge, aimed at encouraging more people to visit places closer to home they may never have been to before and is giving customers examples of how they can have a huge positive impact on the UK economy by staying local and buying local. This drive is already looking positive as the company is reporting year on year growth for camping and caravanning equipment already for 2009.

Discover’s 5 destination stores is promoting a range of businesses, organisations and initiatives that would benefit from more visitors from this country this year including local farmers markets, cafés and restaurants, craft and boutique shops selling local produce or souvenirs as well as amusement parks, museums and natural beauty spots.