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The Holkham Estate has completed the acquisition of six caravan parks and the caravan distribution and sales businesses trading as McDonnell Caravans, from one of the region’s leading holiday park operators, Mike McDonnell. The new business has become a subsidiary of Holkham Holiday Parks Ltd.

Holkham has acquired six prestigious caravan parks in Snettisham, Heacham, Thornham (two), Holme-next-the-Sea and Brancaster, as well as the McDonnell Caravans’ head office in Gayton. Alongside being a highly regarded operator of caravan parks, McDonnell Caravans is also a leading business in the sales and supply of caravans and luxury lodges to more than 20 independently owned holiday parks.

Mike McDonnell, who has owned, developed and led McDonnell Caravans for over 30 years is staying as an advisory consultant to Holkham and the management team to ensure complete continuity for McDonnell Caravans’ customers and suppliers. All the McDonnell Caravans team will continue in their roles and continue to run the business, largely unaffected by the change of ownership. Darren Williams, currently Director of Holkham Holiday Parks Ltd and General Manager of Pinewoods, has become the new
Managing Director of McDonnell Caravans.

Mike McDonnell has retained ownership of two holiday parks in Hunstanton and he will continue to manage these independently. His former team in Gayton will provide operational support for the caravan owners in these two parks during a transitional phase.

Mike McDonnell commented, “My father founded the company in 1966, and I took it over in 1983. After 41 years at the helm, this is the right time for me to scale back my involvement. I am very proud of the business I have built and the quality of all its parks. I am pleased to see six of my parks now being taken forward by the Holkham Estate, who I am confident will carry on with the same commitment to running exceptional parks that has worked so well for me. I’m not retiring quite yet, and I will enjoy running my two parks in Hunstanton to keep my connections within this industry which I have loved being so widely involved in for most of my working life.”