If you are looking for something suitable for the whole family to do when staying at Sandbank Holidays then Flambards Theme Park is a great choice. I remember visiting Flambards at least twice a year when I was a child and have some fantastic memories of fun filled family days out. There are places to eat within the park but you are also welcome to bring in your own picnic to enjoy on one of the many grassy areas dotted around the park. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome at Flambards but they are not permitted in the indoor attractions so please bear this in mind when planning your trip.

The adventurous among you will love braving the sky-high thrill rides and the younger children can enjoy the undercover soft play area and rides designed for toddlers. Flambards is much more than just a theme park, it's a Cornish institution that is a must see for families visiting for their holidays. What's more, for just a small £3 charge, you can upgrade your ticket enabling you to come back free of charge for the next 6 days after your initial visit.    

There's much more than rides though; discover dinosaurs in the Jurassic Journey and uncover fossils in the Dino Dig. One of the most interesting things to do is stepping back in time in the life-size Victorian Village and experience Britain in the Blitz in the award-winning indoor attractions. If rides aren't your thing then it would be worth going on what Flambards refer to as a blue day, the price of admission is cheaper but only the indoor attractions are open. It's best to check their website before you visit so you know what will and will not be open before you make the journey there. You can find this information at https://www.flambards.co.uk/ or alternatively you can give them a ring on 01326 573404.

​Take a look below to see some of the family friendly events Flambards are putting on this year.

​Explosive Easter at Flambards
28th March – 19th April 2020
Join the Flambards team for fizz-tastic fun as our team of mad scientists take to the stage in the Flambards Indoor Laboratory this Easter holidays! They will be experimenting in rocket science, chemistry and myth busting and budding lab scientists can don their lab coats and goggles and take part too.
 
Enjoy explosive shows throughout the holidays at 1pm and 3pm and be amazed by experiments galore including slime making workshops and dry ice! Everyday this Easter holidays except Sunday 12th April.
 
Ferdi’s BIG Easter Egg Hunt at Flambards
Sunday 12th April 2020
Join Ferdi, Flambards's friendly bear mascot, on Easter Sunday for his big Easter trail. Armed with a special quiz paper, go on the hunt around the park for the hidden clues. Once you’ve completed the quiz hand in it to claim your chocolate prize!
 
VE Re-enactment at Flambards this May Bank Holiday
Friday 8th – Sunday 10th May
Travel back in time this Bank Holiday weekend as Flambards marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Be immersed in the realistic re-enactment of a World War 2 camp set up on the lawns of the Park. Then journey indoors to the Britain in the Blitz attraction which transports visitors onto a war time London street during the war. Hear the deafening air-raid siren and feel the ground shake beneath your feet.
 
Dinosaur Week at Flambards this May Half Term
23rd – 31st May
Look out, look out, a T-Rex is about! Venture down to Flambards this May Half Term for a ‘roar’some time. Families can meet Titch the T-Rex as he roams around the Jurassic Journey with his prehistoric ancestors! Little ones can meet the animatronic baby dinos, Ralf and Remmy the Raptors and the baby triceratops.
 
You can also discover dozens of other life-sized dinosaurs and uncover fossils in the Dino-Dig. Explore the caves and say hello to the new baby arrivals in the Dino-Hatchery too. Titch the T-Rex will be making appearances throughout the day so be sure to stay on the look-out!

Last week we published our first ever blog article letting you about the renovations we are undertaking here at Sandbank Holidays. Work as been progressing at a rapid pace so here's a little update for how we are getting along.

As you can see from the photos, not only are we in the grip of some rather some rather sombre weather, but the insulation has all but finished being added to the exteriors of the bungalows and apartments. Our first shipment of cladding has also arrived, ready for when the batten is added to the insulation next week. It's exciting for us to see our buildings adopting this contemporary aesthetic and we are certain the park will look great once the Spring is here.

A number of kitchen base units have been assembled in Porthcothan (they are hidden under the dust sheets in the photos!) and new electrics and plumbing have been installed. In a snowstorm of white plaster, the old Artex ceiling has been smoothed out and freshly plastered. Next week we are hoping to install the kitchen providing all goes to plan.

In other news, we have been talking to the guys at Gwithian Academy of Surfing and the Red River Inn. Expect to see articles on both these local businesses in the very near future. We may even have secured some special offers for our guests should a spot of surfing or delicious pub grub take your fancy. More information on all this and more to follow shortly.

Over the last few years we have been gradually renovating some of our apartments at Sandbank Holidays. These are now our Premier apartments and bungalows, boasting striking yet tasteful decor for our guests to enjoy when relaxing between exploring the many delights of St. Ives Bay and the Cornish coast. This year we are stepping it up a notch and making lots of beneficial changes to the park and accommodation.

Cornwall is renowned for unpredictable weather and that's unfortunately outside our control. Trust us, we would love to have sunshine all year round too! However, our new insulation and cladding will ensure our guests will be nice and cosy inside our properties no matter what the Cornish weather decides to do. This is currently being installed on all our buildings and will be ready for your 2020 holidays.

​This particular project has involved a lot of scaffolding going up around the park as you can see from the pics below. Thick insulation boards are added to the exterior walls to keep the warmth in and the cold out. To make it look attractive (and to create the necessary cavity!), the insulation will be covered with cladding that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional.

Obviously this is the type of work that can only be undertaken during the off season; our stout maintenance team is braving the worse of the winter weather to get this complete in time for April when we reopen. The pictures were taken during an unusually dry (but cold!) day and as I write this the heavens are chucking it down on the lads so hats off to them.

That's not all though. The feedback we received from guests was very positive last season but a few people commented that some of our accommodation needed updating. Always keen to hear constructive feedback, we are now doing just that! Porthcothan is a very popular one bedroom dog friendly apartment and is the first of many apartments to get a fresh makeover before the Spring arrives. 

You can see from the pictures that we mean business; the kitchen and bathroom has been completely ripped out to make way for a more modern layout and new units and a bathroom suite. We are very excited to see the finished article and will be keeping you all updated along the way. When complete, we will be moving next door to do the same to Porthcollum.

Well that's all for our very first blog post, we hope you enjoyed it and are keen to see the fruit of our labours when the renovations are complete. We will be adding new posts as work progresses in addition to content about the local area, attractions and places to eat.

You can book your 2020 holiday now on our booking page. Hope to see you soon!

Carl Croot - Office Manager