Potters Resorts

Potters Resorts is a short breaks holiday company in the United Kingdom, operating two five-star resorts in Norfolk and Essex. The company has been privately owned by the Potter Family since opening its first location in Hemsby, Norfolk in 1920 after solicitors' clerk Herbert Potter won £500 in a Sunday Chronicle newspaper competition.[1] It was called 'Potters' and is widely recognised as the first permanent and mixed use holiday camp in the United Kingdom, with timber huts for accommodation and permanent main buildings. 'Potters' moved to Hopton-on-Sea in 1924.

Potters Resorts
TypePrivate company
Industry
  • Leisure
  • Hospitality
Founded1 January 1920 (1920-01-01) (first site, Hemsby)
FounderHerbert Potter
HeadquartersHopton-on-Sea, Norfolk, England
Number of locations
2
ServicesAll-Inclusive Short Breaks
OwnersThe Potter Family
Number of employees
800
Websitepottersresorts.com

Now under the management of fourth generation John Potter, the company acquired a second location[2] at Five Lakes Resort in Essex in 2021, which relaunched as Potters Resorts Five Lakes in 2022.

The company is currently the only all-inclusive short breaks provider in the UK, where guests do not have any additional expenses during their stay.

Locations

Potters Resorts own and operate a coastal location at Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk and a countryside location at Five Lakes in Maldon, Essex. Both resorts provide All-Inclusive Breaks and are open all year round, with the option of weekend or midweek breaks.

Country Resort Nearest city or town County Nearest motorway or dual carriageway junction Year opened
United Kingdom Hopton-on-Sea Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Norfolk A47 1920 (originally in Hemsby)
Five Lakes Colchester and Tiptree Essex A12 2022

Hopton-on-Sea

Located in the small seaside village of Hopton-on-Sea between the towns of Gorleston, Norfolk and Lowestoft, Suffolk is the company's original Resort and current headquarters. 'Potters' first opened in 1920 at nearby Hemsby, close to Great Yarmouth, before moving to Hopton-on-Sea in 1924, close to the railway station. In 1934, having acquired new land by the seaside, 'Potters Beach Camp' was opened where Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea remains today.

The Resort sits on the clifftop overlooking the North Sea. Accommodation includes approximately 270 brick-built bungalows and 110 hotel rooms, which cater for adults all year round, as well as families during the traditional school holidays. Main facilities include The Atlas Theatre which hosts nightly entertainment and West End style productions, the Garden and Gallery Restaurants for full board dining, the Garden Bar for daytime music and activities, and the outdoor South Terrace which opens during the summer months. The 6-rink international bowls arena has been the venue for the World Indoor Bowls Championships since 1999. Guests also have access to a gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam room.

In 2003, Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea became the UK's first five-star holiday village as awarded by the English Tourist Board, a status which has been retained ever since.

Five Lakes

Located in the village of Tolleshunt Knights and close to the Blackwater Estuary National Nature Reserve, the site originally opened in 1974 as Manifold Golf Club.[3] Under new ownership, Five Lakes Resort opened in 1995 complete with a 114-hotel room, a new golf course and additional spa facilities. The resort operated as a corporate hospitality venue until its acquisition by Potters Resorts in 2021.[4]

After major investment following the acquisition, the resort now features 202 rooms and short breaks are exclusively for adults throughout the year. The main facilities include The Glade Theatre where guests can watch West End style entertainment each night, the Eden Restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and an evening meal, the Garden Bar for daytime games and entertainment, as well as the Garden Terrace with outdoor stage which is open during the summer months. There is also an indoor sports park featuring a dance studio, bowls, shuffleboard, badminton, table tennis, darts, snooker, pool and a games zone area.

In 2023, Potters Resorts Five Lakes was awarded five star holiday village status by VisitEngland.

Potters Resorts Five Lakes Golf Club is located at the resort which features an 18-hole championship course (the Lakes Course), a 9-hole par 3 practice course, driving range, pro shop and dedicated bar for golfers. The resort also has a spa which offers treatments and spa day packages, as well as indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room. While the resort's main facilities are exclusive to guests on short breaks, its golf and spa facilities are available to the public.

Recent awards

Both resorts in Norfolk and Essex currently hold five star holiday village status from VisitEngland and the company is a 2023 winner of Tripadvisor's annual Travellers' Choice Awards.

In 2022, Potters Resorts won multiple awards including Best Accommodation for Groups[5] at the Group Leisure & Travel Awards, the Customer Excellence Award[6] at the Norfolk Business Awards, as well as the Customer Excellence Award and Resilience & Innovation Award at the East of England Tourism Awards.[7]

Most notably, Potters Resorts came top of Which? Magazine's independent survey for The Best & Worst UK Holiday Parks and Resorts.[8]

Prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic Potters Resort (as it was known then) won the award for Outstanding Customer Service[9] at the inaugural iNews Staycation Awards held at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

All awards won by the company are on display at Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea in a dedicated 'History Room' which opened in 2020 to celebrate the company's centenary.

References
  1. "Potters Resort on the hunt for early visitors from 1920s to 1960s". Great British Life. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  2. "Four-star resort in Essex to be taken over by new firm for 'undisclosed sum'". Gazette. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  3. "Golf: It all started 25 years ago..." Gazette. 9 July 1999. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  4. "Potters Resort expands into Essex after acquiring new site". Eastern Daily Press. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  5. "Revealing your 2022 Group Leisure & Travel Awards winners". Group Leisure and Travel. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  6. "Potters Resorts wins Customer Excellence Award at Norfolk Business Awards 2022". Eastern Daily Press. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  7. "Family business claims two awards in face of pandemic pressure". Eastern Daily Press. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  8. Rhodes, Jo (24 November 2022). "Best and worst UK holiday parks and resorts". Which?. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  9. Rowe, Jenny (27 November 2019). "The i Staycation Awards 2019: The winners announced". Britain Magazine | The official magazine of Visit Britain | Best of British History, Royal Family,Travel and Culture. Retrieved 13 June 2023.

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