Celebrating 90 Years of Family Holidays at Andrewshayes Holiday Park

Guest Blog Post - Andrewshayes Holiday Park

This year is a very special one for all of us at Andrewshayes Holiday Park as we celebrate 90 years since receiving our first camping licence.

It's a milestone we're incredibly proud of, not just because of our history, but because of the thousands of families who have made Andrewshayes part of their own family traditions over the decades.

Our story actually began a little earlier than 1936. After Stan and Marjorie Lawrence moved to Andrewshayes Farm in 1929, they started welcoming passing campers to the farm as a way to supplement the family's dairy farming income. When new Public Health legislation came into force in 1936, we received one of the country's earliest camping licences, allowing us to officially welcome holidaymakers to the beautiful East Devon countryside.

Back then, camping was wonderfully simple. Visitors had little more than a water tap and basic toilet facilities, but they came for the peace, the countryside and the chance to enjoy the great outdoors.

As holiday parks evolved, so did we. New legislation in 1960 introduced higher standards, requiring mains water, improved washing facilities and licences for static caravans. Harry and Stephanie Lawrence embraced those changes, helping shape Andrewshayes into the holiday park our guests know today.

In 1997, our family made the decision to sell the dairy herd and focus entirely on tourism. Since then, we've continued to invest in the park while staying true to the values we've always believed in: a warm welcome, high standards and creating happy holiday memories.

Like many tourism businesses, we've experienced our fair share of challenges over the years, from economic uncertainty to the Covid-19 pandemic. Through it all, the loyalty of our guests and the dedication of our team have helped us continue to grow.

We're incredibly proud of the recognition we've received along the way, including being named Holiday Park of the Year at the Devon Tourism Awards in 2020. More recently, we were awarded Silver at the 2025 Devon Tourism Awards, alongside TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Award.

Today, we're entering an exciting new chapter as the fourth generation of the Lawrence family takes the reins. Josh Lawrence and his wife, Grace, are now managing the park, bringing fresh ideas while continuing the family values that have been at the heart of Andrewshayes for almost a century.

To mark our anniversary, we recently welcomed guests past and present, former staff, friends and local supporters to celebrate with us. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with live music, a barbecue, traditional Devon cream teas and plenty of reminiscing. Seeing generations of families together was a reminder of what makes Andrewshayes so special.

Many of our guests first visited as children and now return with children and grandchildren of their own. Knowing we've played a small part in so many family memories over the years is something we'll never take for granted.

Whether you're looking for a touring pitch, a camping getaway or a self-catering caravan holiday, Andrewshayes remains a fantastic base for exploring East Devon and the Jurassic Coast. With an outdoor swimming pool, clubhouse, children's play areas and woodland walks on site, there's plenty to enjoy before you even leave the park.

As we celebrate 90 years, we'd like to thank every guest, every member of our team and every local supplier who has been part of our journey. Your support has helped make Andrewshayes what it is today, and we can't wait to welcome many more generations of holidaymakers in the years to come.