1968: First Center Parcs village opens at De Lommerbergen in Holland.
1987: The concept of the “villa in the forest” found its way to the UK when Sherwood Forest was built in Nottinghamshire
1989: Elveden Forest opens in Suffolk and the British brewers and retailers Scottish & Newcastle become the new owners
2001: Center Parcs UK are sold to venture capitalists Deutsche Bank Capital Partners
2002: The Oasis Holiday Village near Penrith is taken over by Center Parcs UK and re-named Center Parcs Whinfell Forest
2003: The business is floated on AIM (Alternative Investment Market)
2005: Center Parcs move to main stock market listing
2006: Private Equity firm The Blackstone Group acquires Center Parcs
2007: Unprecedented investment programme begins with over £100 million spent on accommodation, restaurants and retail outlets
Agreements are signed with Tragus, SSP and Nuance to manage a small number of restaurants and retail outlets on each of Center Parcs’ four villages
Center Parcs teams up with designer Tara Bernerd of Target Living and for the first time the new lodges, including the newly built 4 bedroom executive lodges, are available to book
Outline planning permission is gained for 5th UK village at Woburn
2008: As part of continued investment on at Center Parcs every single bed on the four villages is replaced as well as the entire bike fleet
Center Parcs sign their first franchise agreement and Starbucks Coffee Shops are introduced across the four villages
Center Parcs signs a five year partnership deal with Badminton England and are the official partner of Team England and title sponsor of the National School Championships
Celebrity Chef Aldo Zilli opens the first Zilli Café in Longleat’s Aqua Sana
2009: Phase 3 of the accommodation refurbishment starts. By Easter nearly 40% of the accommodation will be newly styled lodges.
