Longford Forest news
Longford Forest important updates and latest news.
Latest update
Last updated 6th April 2021
To recognise the current situation we have made the decision to extend the closure of Longford Forest until at least Thursday 6th May 2021. We obviously want to open as soon as it is permitted and deemed safe to do so and feel this decision gives guests on affected breaks fair notice to rearrange or cancel their breaks.
Our decisions throughout the pandemic continue to be with the priority of keeping our guests and staff as safe as possible.
All guests impacted by the extended closure period will receive an email from us over the next few days with instructions on how to cancel activities & restaurant reservations and how to reschedule with a discount to the value of €100* or cancel with a full refund.
Guests due to arrive during a closed period
All guests impacted by a closure will have the option to change dates with €100* discount or cancel and claim a full refund. We will email all affected guests with instructions on how to cancel activities and restaurants and how to reschedule or cancel. Once activities and restaurant reservations are fully cancelled please complete this form**.
*If you select a lower-priced break we will still offer you the €100 discount and refund the difference. If the break you select is higher-priced, we will, again, apply the €100 discount but you would need to pay any outstanding difference. The discount is only applicable once, so if you have already received this as a result of a prior move or in the event of a further date move the discount will not apply again. It is also only applicable to breaks arriving on, or prior to 18th April 2022.
**Please ensure any activities, restaurant, spa sessions or treatments are cancelled prior to filling out the form.
Guests due to arrive 7th May onwards
We understand that guests with breaks booked for when Longford Forest re-opens and new guests looking to make a booking will have questions too and the information below should help.
Government COVID rules and advice are constantly under review. Guests must check government information themselves to understand any changes or new rules prior to visiting Center Parcs, booking a new break or when considering a date change or cancellation of an existing booking. The following Government links should provide the most up to date information:
You must check the Local Covid Alert level of your home area and the village you’re visiting and comply with both sets of rules.
https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c36c85-covid-19-coronavirus/
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19
Can I contact you?
I’m sure you will appreciate that we have lots of guests to support during this time, if you are impacted by the closure period please complete this form to tell us if you would like to reschedule or cancel your break and the team will action your request and confirm via email.
Our opening times for calls, social and webchat are as follows:
- 9am - 7pm Monday, Friday and Sunday
- 9am - 5:30pm (until 7pm for social and webchat) Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
New Joules stores to open
30th March 2021
We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with the popular lifestyle brand, Joules.
The company, who are renowned for their distinctive designs, will open a store at Center Parcs Longford Forest, as well as at the five villages in the UK, over the next few months.
The stores will offer menswear, womenswear and childrenswear, as well as offering a click-and-collect service.
Joules and Center Parcs are a natural fit – we both love the great outdoors (whatever the weather), we both know how important time spent with friends and family is and we both have a deep respect for the forest and woodland.
Our retail shops
4th September 2020
Like many businesses, our retail partner has been severely affected by the pandemic. As a result, they have decided to no longer operate in the fashion sector, which sadly means that they will be closing some of their stores on our villages. Aquatique, Just for Kids and The Store Room will remain open, but unfortunately, Spirit, Sportique and Time for Shade will all close by October, with some closing as soon as Sunday 6th September. We know these stores are firm favourites with our guests and we are working hard to look at new and exciting alternatives to add to our retail offering.
Forest safety
7th August 2020
During extreme dry weather spells we take advice from the Met Office, please see below some basic fire safety points:
- Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking locations on village and on the patio/ balcony of accommodation
- The use of wood from the forest is strictly prohibited for use on the fire in accommodation (please only use logs purchased from ParcMarket)
- The making of fires of any sort is strictly prohibited
- Should you discover a fire no matter how small, please contact the village emergency number or call 999
- Due to our forest environment, we may need to withdraw the use of BBQ’s in extreme hot weather
We do have regular fire checks in place but please be vigilant and help us to maintain a safe environment in the forest.
COVID-19 Safety Charter
28th July 2020
Center Parcs Longford Forest is pleased to announce that we have secured our COVID-19 Safety Charter from Fáilte Ireland. The Safety Charter demonstrates that we are operating in line with current Government safety and public health advice and is designed to give comfort and reassurance to our guests and colleagues that we are opening our villages safely, while still retaining the Center Parcs experience.
For more information, please visit the Safety Charter website.
Festive breaks at Center Parcs – FAQs
20th December 2019
Be the first to experience the uniqueness of a festive break at Center Parcs. Enjoy quality time with your family and enjoy the twinkly lights and Santa’s Woodland Village throughout your stay.
If you’re spending the festive period with us, we have compiled a list of answers to the frequently asked questions.
Longford Forest welcomes local suppliers to its shelves
9th August 2019
Two local companies will have their products displayed on the shelves around Center Parcs Longford Forest. One is local biscuit maker The Lismore Food Company, whose bakery sits on Lismore Main Street, and recipes are a mixture of sweet and savoury biscuits, all with Irish tradition at heart. We also welcome Rowan Beg, who create soy wax candles in Connemara, all designed and crafted by their founder Nicola McGuinness.
Center Parcs Ireland is officially open!
29th July 2019
Longford Forest is officially open, and our first guests are arriving today.
See what some of our guests have already been saying about Longford Forest.
An Taoiseach marks completion of Longford Forest
5th July 2019
An Taoiseach, Mr. Leo Varadkar T.D., today officially marked the completion of our landmark €233 million forest resort. Following an almost two-year construction process Center Parcs Longford Forest has been delivered on schedule and within budget.
Be the first to experience the new way to short break in Ireland
12th June 2019
The waters in our indoor Subtropical Swimming Paradise are warming. The luxury lodges are being filled with everything you need to be your home from home. The lake is full of water and the beach is complete with sand. The 400 acres of forest and its friendly forest creatures are waiting to greet you. And up to 100 indoor and outdoor activities are waiting to entertain your family. So, what are you waiting for? Family short breaks in Ireland have changed, forever.
Our new Ireland charity partnership
29th May 2019
We are delighted to announce that we’ve chosen Barretstown as our charity partner in Ireland for the next two years. Based just outside Dublin, Barretstown runs residential camps for children with serious illnesses, offering a range of adventurous and challenging activities, making sure that even with a serious illness these children can still have a childhood.
Introducing Ireland’s biggest spa
16th May 2019
Aqua Sana Spa brings Ireland a unique spa escape. 2,500 square-metres of spa experiences and treatment rooms make Aqua Sana Longford Forest Ireland’s largest stand-alone spa, taking inspiration from some of the most spectacular natural environments from around the world. You can add a trip to Aqua Sana to your Center Parcs break, or indulge anytime with a Spa Day or Spa Break.
Take a look at Longford Forest
16th May 2019
Our accommodation is now complete, and the village is due to open soon, so here’s our latest video for you to see how the build of Longford Forest is progressing.
All our accommodation is complete
15th May 2019
466 lodges and 30 Lakeside Apartments are now complete at the resort. Each one of our self-catered lodges has been designed with families in mind. Our apartments are perfect for couples, small families or friends and our lodges range from two bedrooms to four bedrooms, so you can bring the whole family.
Watch Longford Forest bloom
25th April 2019
It’s springtime in the forest and the resort is transforming not only with leaves on the trees and new wildlife but we have our latest video update. Step into the resort and see the progress we’ve made this spring.
Visit Longford Forest this summer
23rd April 2019
Great news! We’ve opened up our bookings from 16th August 2019 at Longford Forest. You may not be first in the forest, but we’re excited to share everything Center Parcs has to offer with you. Longford Forest will be open all year round, so whatever the weather there will be something for your family, with indoor and outdoor activities for little ones and big ones alike!
What’s being said about Longford Forest
1st April 2019
It’s an exciting time as we are getting closer to officially opening Longford Forest this summer. Here are some reviews from Irish media from people who’ve been over to the UK to experience a Center Parcs break. Their insight shows what to expect here in Ireland very soon.
The team behind the scenes
1st April 2019
It’s official, Longford Forest has a full senior management team in place. These eight senior managers will be intending to recruit approximately 1,000 members of staff before the resort opens this summer. Joining General Manager, Daragh Feighery we have:
- Olwyn Hughes (Service Delivery Manager)
- Jonathan Latimer (Finance Manager)
- Mike Ahern (Accommodation Services Manager)
- Lorraine Danaher (HR Manager)
- Dave McCourt (Technical Services Manager)
- Celine Bowyer (Leisure Services Manager)
- Gavin Riley (Food and Beverage and Retail Manager)
Coming soon…
20th March 2019
Now in March, we’re getting very close to the opening of Longford Forest and the construction of the resort is coming along nicely. The iconic structure of the Subtropical Swimming Paradise has started to come together with the glass windows and the lake continues to fill, see our latest video for your peek into Longford Forest.
Planting a paradise
14th March 2019
Our Subtropical Swimming Paradise is going to be home to exotic plants, coming all the way from the Netherlands. Two palms will dominate the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, one is 10m high and weighs 3,000kgs, both palms will thrive in the 29.5C heat! There are lots of other trees flagged to head to Ireland’s biggest indoor water park. Book your break so you can see them for yourselves.
A sneak peek into Longford Forest
15th February 2019
The construction of Longford Forest is progressing nicely, and your soon-to-be favourite areas are starting to take shape. With aerials views starting at the Aqua Sana Spa, moving to the heart of the resort – the Subtropical Swimming Paradise – with its iconic structure. To see more of Longford Forest see our latest video.
Make a splash
13th December 2018
55,667 Lego bricks, 105 days and 840 hours later and Irish mother and son Lego artist duo – Jessica and Faolán Farrell – unveil the show-stopping Lego replica of our Subtropical Swimming Paradise, which showcases all that Ireland’s largest water park has to offer to those experiencing Longford Forest.
Great news!
13th December 2018
We’ve opened bookings for Longford Forest from 4th November 2019 onwards. With the construction of Longford Forest progressing nicely you may not be the first in the forest, as we still expect to be open in summer 2019, but we’re so excited to share Center Parcs with you that you can now start planning your very first break at Longford Forest, remember we have up to 100 activities to book, Aqua Sana Spa to relax in and up to 400 acres to explore.
A perfect forest escape
13th December 2018
Aqua Sana Spa is a one-of-a-kind spa in Ireland and we’ve teamed up with VOYA and Elemis to provide our guests with premium spa products. Aqua Sana Spa will offer a variety of treatments which will use VOYA and Elemis products. VOYA products are formulated using the finest natural ingredients, while Elemis blend nature with science to provide products with transformative results.
Longford Forest brings activities for all
13th November 2018
From adrenaline and adventure to the calm and creative, Longford Forest will have up to 100 indoor and outdoor activities for all the family to enjoy. Our outdoor activities will range from being up in the treetops at Aerial Adventure, to down on the ground on a Segway Experience, or Off-Road Explorers for the little ones. Indoor activities range from sports like Badminton and Ten Pin Bowling, to our unaccompanied Activity Den sessions like Chocolate Chefs Academy.
The structure of the Subtropical Swimming Paradise
13th November 2018
Longford Forest is breaking Center Parcs records as the resort welcomed the record-sized 53-metre long, 22-tonne, glulam beams that will form the structure of the impressive Subtropical Swimming Paradise. The glulam beams travelled over 2,000 kilometres from Altheim in Austria before arriving at Longford Forest.
Family togetherness
13th November 2018
It’s becoming more of a challenge to spend time together as a family as the rise in technology continues. We did some research into the battle for screen time and it showed that children in Ireland spend three hours per day using technological devices. So, at Center Parcs, put down the technology and try new activities, get back that quality family time and make new technology free memories together.
Briody Bedding secures Longford Forest supplier contract
November 2018
Meath based family run business, Briody Bedding, has secured a contract to supply Center Parcs Longford Forest with bespoke beds and handmade mattresses for the 466 lodges and 30 apartments. So, you’ll be able to sleep easy at Longford Forest knowing that Briody Bedding are committed to ensuring that our guests get a good night’s sleep.
Our first lodge complete
30th July 2018
With modern design, stylish features and open-plan living, the first – of many – lodges at Longford Forest has been completed, marking a key milestone in the resort's development as we prepare to open in summer 2019.
Center Parcs serves up contract to Irish food companies
10th July 2018
Four of Ireland’s top food companies have been given food supplier contracts, meaning these will supply the entirety of Longford Forest’s extensive dining options, from dining out at a number of our restaurants to Dining In, our delicious takeaway service you can get delivered to your accommodation.
Center Parcs has awarded the following food supplier contracts:
- Dublin based Keelings will be the fresh produce and dairy supplier
- Family-run Heaney Meats in Galway will supply fresh meat
- Coleraine based Lynas Foodservice and Antrim based Henderson Foodservice will be the premium foodservice partners to Center Parcs Longford Forest