Review by @jodie.girlmumadventures
Only 2 hours from Central London, this little mini break was a festive dream for us!! We managed to snag an absolute bargain using our sun savers codes back in the Summer which meant we paid just shy of £90 for a 4 day caravan and then £60 for the entertainment passes, and the entertainment was top notch!! The production to the cast to the variety of shows. Although we went during Christmas they have the same quality of entertainment all year round including a broadway musical show which is catered for adults and families! My girls particularly enjoyed the elf school, the cast taught the children a festive song and dance and then the children even got the chance to perform on the real stage, which went down fabulously with lots of little and big ones! The entertainment didn’t stop at the evening either, there were daytime visits from characters that fitted into the festive theme such as the grinch and the naughty elves. These visits were paired with a mini production/show as well which really excelled our expectations.
Something we really appreciated, compared to other big resorts was the swimming pool. Thankfully there were no blood, sweat and tears 48 hours in advance to use an app to book a slot, you could just turn up and swim just like pre covid days which made such a refreshing change!
Food Options At Seal Bay Resort…
Something that really makes or breaks our holidays is the quality and variety of food, we are big foodies in our family and whilst we don’t expect Michelin star meals, a good variety and tasty food is a must! I had looked up before about the food and there had been good reviews. The main restaurant is in the arcades and has a soft play attached which is very handy for parents of slightly older children who can go off and play without too much supervision, but if you have younger kids there are a handful of tables by the soft play so you can watch your kids and enjoy your food too. Now on to the menu, it did have your usual selection of children’s meals like nuggets, burgers etc but surprisingly for adults it had these flatbread type things with more exciting fillings such as halloumi or Greek lamb! Whilst being reasonably priced, tasty and of course family friendly, the option to eat at your caravan is still there.
There is a little convenience store on site but only a 5 minute drive away is a big asda so you can stock up on things and cook in your caravan if this is what your heart desires! We did notice there were some food vans outside with fish and chips and Asian noodles however these didn’t seem open when we were there so slightly disappointing as they looked great so worth keeping your eyes out for these if you go during more of a peak time!
Things To Do Around Seal Bay Resort…
We took a short 25 minute drive to the city of Chichester, which is home to a beautiful cathedral and a very quirky church that is now a family friendly pub that serves food!
Unfortunately due to the time of year we went it was super chilly and windy as the resort is located directly on the seafront but the recently renovated outdoor area looked brimming with activities for younger children and older alike and we will 100% be trying it when we visit again in the summer this time! Keep your eyes peeled as I believe the sun saver codes are coming up again at the start of January so this is the perfect opportunity to grab a great discount!! I did get speaking to another family there and they managed to book using hoe seasons so there are opportunities there if you miss the sun savers!
I have since come back and after raving about the place to my family and friends, we heard there are some rubbish reviews online saying that kids were bored as entertainment had been cancelled and there were lots of drunk adults. I have checked these out and it seems to be these reviews were written when people attended a tribute weekend at the resort, so please make sure you are checking the entertainment guides which are widely accessible online prior to booking and make sure that you are booking a time that is suitable to you. I did notice when we were there, in the main entertainment area there were lots of security/doormen on hand to deal with any issues that may have arose. May I mention nothing did happen when we were there!
Would We Return To Seal Bay Resort?
So overall, we had an absolutely fantastic time. My kids cannot WAIT to return and in comparison to other more well known holiday resorts we were extremely pleased!
- Value for money – 5/5
- Entertainment – 5/5
- Food – 4/5 (would have been 5 if the food vans were open)
- Cleanliness – 4/5
- Overall – 5/5
Looking for more things to do? Head to our recommendations page for all reviews on fab family attractions! From Fonmon Castle, Hobbledown and Stockeld Park to the National Space Centre in Leicester and the Knights Village at Warwick Castle!