NewsBeat
Center Parcs is making a major change to villages across the UK
Center Parcs fans heading to one of the UK villages soon might notice a big change to the food and drink offering.
That’s because the holiday company has revealed it’s going to be adding something new to its sites across the UK.
Back in 2024, Center Parcs introduced a gastropub called The Dozing Duck to its Sherwood Forest village, and it’s proved so popular with visitors that they now want to open more.
And there are already a few specific spots lined up to get their own gastropub soon.
Center Parcs has revealed it’s looking to open a gastropub in Longford Forest, and then later in 2027 they’ll be looking to do something similar at Elveden Forest in Suffolk too.
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Those familiar with the Elveden village will know it already has a pub-style venue, known as Foresters’ Inn, which will be the site of the new gastropub.
According to Suffolk News, plans have already been lodged with West Suffolk Council to transform Foresters’ Inn into The Dozing Duck.
If the proposal is approved, the pub will be extended and refurbished, with a new dining space added, as well as indoor and outdoor play areas, shuffleboard, and crazy pool.
A new lobby and an extended terrace with four dining pods and a buggy park would also be on the cards.
A spokesperson for Center Parcs told Propel Hospitality that The Dozing Duck has ‘gone from strength to strength’ since it opened and is now ‘the blueprint’ for other villages.
They continued: ‘Our guests were clear in their feedback to us – they were willing to pay more for a premium experience and environment.’
Each of the gastropubs will have bespoke theming and a local focus, with designs reflecting local heritage.
While Center Parcs is clearly loving The Dozing Duck, reviews online are pretty mixed, with the gastropub only earning a rating of 2.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor.
Some have claimed the food is ‘lovely’ and ‘delicious’, while others think it’s ‘school dinner quality’, ‘overpriced’, and ‘average’.
Dishes on the menu include pub classics such as toasted sandwiches, black pudding scotch eggs, fish and chips, burgers, sausage and mash, and apple crumble.
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This isn’t the only change the holiday company is looking to make to its villages in the near future, though. There’s also going to be more fun and games, with The Entertainment Hive being rolled out to other sites.
The concept features immersive gaming experiences, such as The Bat Cage (a high-tech batting experience) and The Arena (a mix of games and physical and mental skill challenges).
Known as a ‘competitive socialising space’, The Entertainment Hive first launched in Woburn Forest in 2025, with a second one being introduced in Whinfell Forest at the end of last year.
According to Center Parcs, The Entertainment Hive has already generated more than £1 million in revenue, and The Arena has an average daily occupancy of 95 per cent.
Metro has contacted Center Parcs for further comment.
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