John Fowler, Ilfracombe Holiday Park

Stayed at JF in Ilfracombe in 1978 and 1979 two best holidays I’ve ever had. 5 stars

No bogs in bar area out side room no dogs so dog frenzy is not no dogs to be left in room unattended so you can't eat on site just taka way so to pay for dogs a real joke

£40 per dog for a room that was not clean

To sum up not a bargain brake just a rip off hi/di/hi accommodation with no comedian nor entertainment

We visited JF Ilfracombe via a sun Holiday booking. We have used Sun holidays before, so had a fair expectation of what we would be getting for our money. We were asked to pay an additional cost prior to arrival for the use of the utilities, linen and entertainment passes. Which we didn't really question, but I think we have been spoilt in the past (have previously visited Haven) as the linen and bedding was so thin and tired it looked like it could be an old piece of bedding you would give to your dog.

The beds were hard, creaky and ridiculously uncomfortable with flat pillows. We had to use the sofa bed in the living room, due to our son sharing our room in his travel cot, and every time a slight move was made the bed woke him up. The sofa bed was just as questionable with stains on the mattress.

In my daughters room the safety catch on the window was broken, no working lightbulbs, and shards of glass on the floor, luckily discovered by my other halfs foot, rather than that of our 5 and toddling 1 year old.

The kitchen and bathroom needed a good scrub and the mirror in the bathroom was missing even though the brackets were still there, and the oven door was difficult to open and close and felt like it may fall off at any moment.

The most cause for concern was the fact that we have 2 children, one of which is toddling and we were placed in a chalet in which the front door opened up to a set of stairs leading to the living space, we spent every day using various items in the room to barricade the stairs. We asked at reception for a stair gate but they do not provide them!!

I can live with the other issues that we found wrong with the accommodation, but as a matter of health and safety, it is pretty disgraceful that we were expected to 'buy our own' (we were informed of this by reception) and put it on the stairs, and we weren't offered alternative accommodation.

The entertainment is not that great, although we could only stay for the mini disco as our children had to go to bed. There isn't much of a disco but a lot of talking and photo opportunities with various characters. None of the arcade games worked and the soft play dominated by what appeared to be feral children over the age of 8.

We made the most of our holiday and spent all day out and about. We used the swimming pool, which was ok, but i wouldn't use the shower there as the ladies changing room shower is in the same space as the toilets and I could see the water was about 2 inches deep and swilling around the base of the toilets and the loo brushes. Which made me feel quite put off.

We enjoyed our time away, only because we spent all day away from the complex. I wouldn't personally stay here again or recommend it to anyone. It needs a total refurbishment throughout.

Six adults and four children under 8, including one toddler; all very excited; only holiday this year:-

1. Faults

Not told chalets - told mobile homes

(b) Pre-fabs - 1950's - outdated; old and tired

(c) Mould and damp on walls; mould running up bed legs

(d) Not been cleaned behind beds - dust had been there for months; mould; other people's bits and pieces

(e) No shower in the bathroom; bath scratched and stained

(f) No warning on hot tap; scalding water (H&S issue)

(g) Put-you-up bed settee; very old and uncomfortable; when pulled out very little room and anyone in main bedroom would have to climb over the bed to get to the toilet.

(h) Very small, very old TV - bracket on wall for TV but TV sat on sideboard.

Filthy windows; outside windows covered with cobwebs and flies; not cleaned for weeks/months

Kitchen grubby and old - no way could you cook a meal in there for 4 adults and children.

2. Swimming pools

Cold

(b) Dirty; people allowed to walk around pool with outside dirty shoes on; filthy; making water filthy

(c) Baby pool closed due to filthy water.

3. Staff

One said the pool was "always dirty".

(b) Assistant manageress said "how can you clean windows when it's raining?"

(c) Told several lies - ie; no manager available; not able to refund money; not able to upgrade

(d) Not one staff member apologised for our inconvenience; one actually said it was a "silver" grade; if that was the case (which it was not), what on earth does a "bronze" look like?

(e) No-one took any responsibility for anything.

(f) Shabby clothing worn by staff and shabby service - outrageous.

(g) Other customers complaining, but no-one offered any assistance or help.

4. Facilities

() We were forced to stay one night, but half of the children's amusements were not working.

(b) Breakfast on Sunday morning - disgusting; swimming in grease/fat/water.

(c) No speed limit on site, despite most families having small children and dogs.

5. Despite being offered a full refund and money returned within 2 days, no action was taken in this respect until we contacted Hoseasons on 31 August, who told us John Fowler had not done anything about this and immediately processed the refund. If we had not obtained written confirmation of the full refund (which was not offered and, when requested, was given reluctantly), we are quite sure the refund would have been denied.

We will never recommend this site and certainly never return; we are astonished that it is still misrepresenting the facilities; it should be closed down.

Chalet very out dated .as it's a new season started .carpets and chairs are hanging .electric heater on wall wouldn't heat up a dog kennel. No shower bath only .it's very run down what a shame. It's location. Is great .I was told they are up dating some of the chalet this year .if ur thinkig of coming here and getting a basic chalet you my be more comfortable camping.we came here with sun 9.50 so cant complain.

Just returned from a week at this so-called holiday park & very disappointed with everything about the place, ie: accommodation was absolute rubbish,beds hard as nails,carpet filthy & bed settee & falling apart . flatscreen tv lol what a joke you need binoculars to watch it, its that small.

Food on site was not very good but very good Indian opposite site.

Also the prices they charge to stay there are a complete joke!!.

The company & site have lost my custom thats for sure!!.

If you want concrete chalets, rusted metal, empty planters, flooded swimming pool changing rooms, crazy golf made out of bricks, run down play area, no attempt at landscaping, stains on the furniture and kicked in doors, then Ilfracombe Holiday park is for you...Was there anything good about this park? Erm...let me think...in a word...NO. We couldn't believe what they charge at the height of the season - rip off just isn't in it. For the sake of a little planting, some painting and decent cleaning, they could improve the place considerably. Says a lot that they haven't bothered.

We booked this for my birthday & anniversary in October 2013 ,we were told we had been upgraded to a 3 bed apt ,when we found it was right at the very end we opened the door & was smelly & grotty stains on the carpet ,dirty bed settie. We went back to reception to ask if they had one nearer & she said no but have got one over the main road .we said no because we had a disabled son then she said we could have a caravan in Combe Martin ..when we asked if we could have the one that we booked she said no it's been allocated we asked why we had been upgraded she just said we thought it would be better for you ,,It's as though she did not want to know We brought some cleaning stuff & made the best of it . We were going to come home but we had paid out so much money we stayed but we went out every day & stayed out most of the day ...

We will not be coming back here again !!!!'!!!!!

Staff were very pleasant and warm.

Swimming pool nice and warm and did not stink of chlorine

Accommodation basic though suited our needs- nice views, well maintained.

Plenty of parking in the area.

Nice high street, close by also.

Supermarket in walking distance

Scenery of a nice mix, ie quiet/ picturesque beaches/ harbour/ gift shops/ stone and sand beaches etc

Plenty for all ages, wonderful for walkers.

Good sea fishing spots, float fishing really advisable than weight due to snagging of tackle on rocks on sea bed.

Big fine sandy beach nearby in Woolacoombe, worth a visit with the kids great for sand-castle building!

We got a good deal, (though may have felt disappointed paying full price!Bad Points−Accomodation on a hill (not ideal for pushchairs), though this is North Devon....should definitely expect large inclines driving and walking!

Parking usually £1 per hour (60p off peak), free parking can be found if you look hard enough up side streets.

We had a top floor apartment, (I did wonder if there was anyone staying beneath us suffering from our creaky floor boards!)

Unsure if it was the time of year or the type of accommodation that was the reason for my biggest gripe.....there was not a lot of on-site entertainment for teenagers, hence older kids snuck into soft play area with an age limit of 8 years! Children were mostly unsupervised by parents whom were busy socialising and getting drunk, occasionally bar staff pulled out the older kids. It's far too small and inadequate for the amount of families on site with young children and toddlers and mayhem and upset on a regular basis, an opinion shared by some other parents. Personally I think this soft play area should have a lower age limit or a separate soft play area for older children, severely needs to be looked at! I understand the need for rough play etc, etc, though by the third night I realised this was way, way beyond rough play, and stopped my son going; by contrast we met many nice families in Illfracoombe and surrounding areas.

I would not recommend to a friend, because you don't know what accommodation you are getting? we got lucky all are basic some are more modern some very dated, whole site needs re-modernising!

We were really looking forward to our holiday, we had never stayed at a John Fowler site before and the brochure looked inviting. When we were given out room we were devastated to say the least. The staircase up to the room was rusted , the paint work on the frontdore all worn away and it looked condemed. Inside it smelt damp and the walls were cracked from the ceiling down to the floor. It had very small windonws which had views of the walls so no light was coming in. Carpets didn t fit, wardrobes were wobbling when I opened the door, cutains hanging off the rail. The sofa bed was disgustinly dirty, and the tv was so tiny I didnt think there was one. We all felt unsafe in the room and my husband went down to reception to ask to be moved. They were helpful and moved us across the road to the manor house which was still uninviting but 50 times better than whar was first offered to us. It was cold, so we just put the cooker on (yes there was one) but I wouldnt recommend cooking on it, as I put something in there to cook but couldnt open the door! Well I finally got it opened but not without a fight, needless to say I didnt cook again, disappointed as we brought loads of shopping! Gladly the fridge was working. There was a lot of condesation in the room, yes it was an old building but I couldnt get the windows open whicfh casued a load of build up of water on the window sills. It was a noisy building doors slamming etc, but I could put up with that. But the worst thing of all was the beds, they were so hard and uncomfortable I had a bad neck by day 5 we decided to go home, so we lost out on a couple of days holiday! The clubhouse was good, nice atmosphere and we used the swimming pool a few times. Entertainment wise it was ok, better than sitting in your room anyway, I think the team deserve a pat on the back really as they seemd to turn their hand at everything. Its a shame as the place is in an ideal spot for Tesco and a walk into Ilfracome. The whole place needs a refurbishment in my opinion even if it does mean charging a bit more, Im sure people would appreciate a nice warm inviting room, where the TV works and the beds are more comfortable especially in the winter months as the weather is so wet! Needles to say that I wouldnt be recommending this to anyone, or be staying again.