John Fowler, Devon Coast Holiday Park

People who moan about John Fowler holiday parks...Were you expecting to be staying at the Ritz? How many people do you think stay at these places during peak season? 1000's. They can't possibly cater to your idea of complete perfection 100% of the time. We recently stayed at the Tolroy manor site. It's early in the season and the were very few people there. The accommodation was basic but clean and tidy, my children were entertained by Freddie the fox even though we were the only ones in the club most evenings and my kids had a great time. I've stayed at various John Fowler parks about 6 times now. I've never had a compliant and do you know why? Because that's the kind of holiday I'm going on. If you want pampering and luxury, you'll need to spend a bit more money, won't you. I've been abroad on holiday and had much worse. For the money, there's nothing wrong with John Fowlers.

We had a family holiday at John Fowler's st ives holiday village in may 2010. The photos in any book do not stand up to this park at all.

We arrive on bank holiday monday to a lovely setting, until we arrived at our woodland chalet (oh my god) we could not get in at first as the door was stuck, then we entered and a waft of mould and damp hit us even my 2 yr old commented on the stench.

The whole chalet needed to be written off as unfit for any human living in, every room was disgustingly smelly/dirty, window frames rotted, rusty fridge, dirty floors etc.

We soildered on for that night and all night i lyed awake as the smell of damp was in my lungs and so irritable, i felt that i had let my family down as my wife was willing to evacuate thet night. The next morning my wife went to ask for a refund and we were prepared to find a B&B near by, but they offered us a free upgrade.

We took the offer of this upgrade and it had doulble glazing and a nice wood interior and the smell was better, but still a hint of damp.

The next was the evening entertainment, we thought family holiday parks included children, when the evening entertainment started by 9 pm they ask the kids to leave the dancefloor so the adults could dance to the entertainment team doing sexual acts on stage very inappropriate for the little ones we thought, so most of the family's got up and left.

This was not of our idea of a family evening out.

The swimming pool and surroundings was in a disgusting condition as well and the slide was out of order so we went to st ives leisure center most days.

Its a shame they let these nice places in such nice surroundings rot.

Wish we had looked at this site before booking. This weekend Sept 10th-13th 2010, was our first holiday with John Fowler holidays at Illfracoombe and OUR LAST. First chalet we were given 210, was filthy, grease on kitchen worktops and cupboards,broken air vent, filthy loo and windows,one leg missing off dining table, overall appearance, was in need of a good scrub all through. Insisted on another chalet 258, first appearance not as bad but as we unpacked, found plate in microwave not been washed, floors in kitchen and bathroom needed a good mopping, bin under wash basin not been emptied, sofa felt damp, bed very hard, all windows needed cleaning inside and out. Fridge was put on max to get it cold quicker but may as well been on setting one, ice cold milk we bought ended up warmer. Luckily the ice box worked well and we chilled our drinks in there. TV had poor signal, had to swill the bath down before use. light switch in kitchen also switched on living room light and vice versa. Light over wash basin didn't have a light pull or switch so couldn't be used. Nowhere to hang wet towels and no heating whatsoever, heaters had been removed. Also, came back Saturday afternoon to find the electric had tripped. The brackets the microwave rested was not level so microwave very unstable. Shop was closed when we needed it so had to drive to the nearby Tesco. Overall appearence on the inside and out was very dated and in need of urgent attention. Preferably demolishing.

The website we saw and booked through showed nice new looking appartments, hence why we booked, what we saw was the new chalets behind the old prison block we had been assigned to. Car park was small and cramped and nowhere to dispose of rubbish. We so disgusted and disappointed with the site we came home a day early.

WARNING: Two hob rings on work top next to the wall and close to the sink. The law states it is ILLEGAL to have them in these positions because of health and safety.

Spoke with older couple in chalet 235 who were also so disgusted they too left a day early. Some of their complaints were they found mould in their downstairs chalet and bottle tops behind the bed and a bathroom light that didn't work.

Went to Illfracoombe and Barnstaple and was disappointed with how grotty the places were and the public loos all in need of a good clean, so too were the loos at Lynton, on the sea front and Woollacoombe.

Have holidayed before in Devon and enjoyed it so wanted to see other areas. Have to say, WE WILL NOT RETURN.

Ilfracombe - The first sight of this holiday village was Welcome to the Prison Camp!!!!!! I have stayed in John Fowler before and this was NOT what I remember. The accomodation was awful! Mould on the curtains, dirt around the edges of the carpets, Bathroom ready to collapse due to mould, Never again. Entertainment was mediocre, when the music system worked right. Swimming pool staff miserable, you were not allowed to have fun!!!!! We did complain and would have appreciated an upgrade but they were having none of it. Hence to say we spent alot of time away from this hell hole at wolacombe beach with my family and had a great time. I would not recommend John Fowler to anyone!!!!!!

After reading these reveiws i was dreading going, but luckly plesently surprised when we arrived nice building polite and friendly staff the rooms where great nice and clean heating was fine.

Foxy club was great for children. The only bad thing was the drink prices a bit.

i thought that jhon fowlers is the best park yet in brixham i own a carvan and it is all lovely the entertainment is brill the accomadation is very well i think thta pepole thta go there will be pleased and i hope they enjoy as much as me and my family did there are no bad points

John Fowler, Devon Coast Holiday Park was awful and i would not reccommend it to anyone. The chalets were unclean and the reception staff need to learn some manners and have lessons in how to smile and dealing with customers.

The whole family could not wait to go home.

Stayed at Combe Martin for 1 week...9th to 15th Aug. Will never ever go again.

Having booked in May and paying upfront, we decided to book another night a week before. We received a formal (hostile) letter stating that the whole holiday would be cancelled if that night was not payed for in advance.

The whole site was discusting, with litter everywhere, mud, unkept lawns etc. The toilets were permanently filthy, with 'scum' in the showers, urine smells, pubic hairs, mold on the walls, and a cleaner who hated her job, and it seemed - refused to clean to any standard at all.

The walk to the toilets through a narrow path and archway, had no lighting and an uneven, bumpy path, which was a health & safety hazard.

There was no clear dircetion for grey and toilet waste. We had to search the site!!

The childrens' park did not adhere to opening and closing times, which resulted in a bombardment of 20+ screaming, foul mouthed teens from 8am until past 10.30pm.

The entertainment was awful, in a cramped, dirty, overcrowed bar.

The food from the 'take out' was overpriced and vertually un-edible, which was heated up in a microwave in front of us.

This was without a doubt the worst touring holiday we have ever had!!!

Devon Coast Holiday Park accommdation not what you think your geting gold accomdation very poor .smell damp did not even get the cases out the car .got our money back found some were else.god knows wot a silver accommation is like. stayed in hotel in st ives every body we spoke to knew about how poor st ives holiday was. please belive the reviews we didant. avoid

We have just returned from john fowlers in combe martin, Devon.. not impressed at all. will not be staying with john fowlers again!! Combe Martin itself was quaint, nothing to do there with the kids.. but walking to the beach and up the many hills there...