Five Stars Awarded
The Talacre Beach Group are delighted that their newest Holiday Home Park, Plas Coch on Anglesey, has recently been awarded a five-star grading by the Wales Tourist Board,
Deputy Managing Director of Plas Coch, James McAllister says ‘We are very excited about the award. By February 2009, our fabulous facility of our state of the art pool and spa will completed and also be complimented by our new Country Club.
Our new development is filling up fast, as new customers are investing now in what will be a truly magnificent and unique park.’
Professor David Bellamy OBE visits Plas Coch
Plas Coch on Anglesey was the chosen venue for the British Holiday Home Park Association Annual General Meeting.
James G McAllister, Managing Director of Talacre Beach Group of which Plas Coch Holiday Home Park is part of said ‘Caravan holiday home parks in Wales contribute to £209m annually to the Welsh economy. Every two caravan holiday homes supports one rural job.’
Professor Bellamy said ‘Caravan parks are very environmentally friendly places, providing havens of sanctuary for wild life and plant diversity and making an enormous contribution to the declining rural community.’
Plas Coch Holiday Park sponsors Harp Festival
Plas Coch Holiday Park part of the Talacre Beach Group recently sponsored a Harp Festival evening at Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias Galeri Caernarfon.
Official harpist to the Prince of Wales, Catrin Finch gave a magnificent performance at the concert.
Rhianwen Pugh, the 15 year old harpist from Dogellau who receives lessons at Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias was given the fantastic opportunity to perform a harp duet with Catrin in the concert.
Plas Coch helps give Brynsiencyn a sporting chance
The Community Council of Llanidan (which covers the village of Brynsiencyn) have been successful in their bid for a Football Association of Wales Mini pitch.
The pitch, which will be located on Community Council land in the middle of the village. It will be 33x18 metre and will be state of the art and all weather.
With little other facilities available, it is something the village is desperate for and local children & youths have been fully supportive, even helping to raise money to reach the total cost of some £70k including construction.
When the directors of Talacre Beach Leisure Group, who own nearby Plas Coch
heard about the shortfall they showed their support by way of a £10,000 donation.
Deputy Managing Director, James McAllister said, “We were delighted to support
this project in Brynsiencyn. Local people have been so supportive of the renovations and restoration that we are in the process of making to the Plas Coch Manor and Holiday Park; we have been made to feel part of the community. “County Councillor Eifion Jones, who has lead the project said" It has been a struggle to raise the funds but we now there, have planning permission and are ready to place order. This will be a huge boost for the village facilities. I would like to thank all our supporters & sponsors especially the Directors of Plas Coch for their important contribution".
Plas Coch springs to life!
In just over a year Plas Coch Holiday Park on the Isle of Anglesey has seen more changes than its beautiful Elizabethan Manor has witnessed in centuries.
The Talacre Leisure Beach Group owned and managed by father and son James G McAllister and James D McAllister bought Plas Coch Holiday Park in 2007.
In 60 acres of stunning parkland, Plas Coch affords an idyllic setting, overlooking the Menai Straits. Plas Coch is being developed as the company’s flagship, an investment not only in the venue but also in the local businesses that have been contracted to undertake the massive regeneration and restoration programme.
Experts in the fields of architecture, design, layout and landscaping have overseen and continue to oversee the £9 million investment programme.
The Elizabethan Manor, the focal point of the park, restored by Donald Insall Associates, whom have themselves, invested in new offices in Conwy.
The ground floor of the manor is now, already home to the park’s fabulous lounge bar. Donald Insall Associates have 50 years experience in all aspects of care for historic buildings including The Houses of Parliament no less! The practice has now received over 120 awards for excellence in design, conservation and craftsmanship. Tony Barton, Director says,’ Plas Coch is one of the great houses of Wales and we are delighted to be helping the new owners bring it back to life. The positive response of Anglesey Council and Cadw to our designs for a sympathetic modern pool extension has been most welcome’.
Charles F Jones & Sons Ltd are leading planning consultants, surveyors and valuers in the caravan industry, based in Chester, they have been advising Talacre Beach Leisure Group for over 37 years. David Middleton, Partner at Charles F Jones & Son LLP said; “We are proud to be involved with the redevelopment and planning process at Plas Coch in a scheme that will make both the holiday park and facilities amongst the best in Wales. We have maintained a close working relationship with Anglesey County Council throughout to ensure that the development is of the highest possible standard”.
Planning consent for the development was granted by the Isle of Anglesey County Council.
Council Leader, Councillor Gareth Winston Roberts OBE, added, “Our planning officers enjoyed a good working relationship with the professional team assembled by the Talacre Leisure Beach Group to work on the Plas Coch project. This unique building and new development will add great value to our tourism product and help boost the Island’s economy.”
Heritage Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, said: "It's wonderful to see that one of Anglesey's historic houses has been given a new lease of life and that the private sector are showing confidence in Anglesey as a quality tourism destination. I wish the Talacre Beach Leisure Group well in their venture."
James D McAllister says, ‘The end of this year will see the completion of our stunning leisure pool on which construction began in November 2007 by Shrewsbury based contractor ‘Galliers.’ The spa and pool which sits onto our lake, we believe will have few rivals within the UK.’ Our architects have specified high quality sympathetic natural materials such as red sandstone and copper and matched them with modern steel and glass to striking effect.’
The park itself has.pitches for caravan holiday homes and pitches for pine lodges.
Bernard Sweeney of local contractors, G H Jones says ‘we are in the process of developing an extra 65 pitches by Easter. As local contractors we employ local people and where is humanly possible we use one hundred percent local resources.
In October 2006 Plas Coch Holiday Park launched a new marine club on site especially for its holiday homeowners.
James D McAllister continues, ‘As a member of the marine club our holiday homeowners can exclusively enjoy the fun of boating without the cost of boat ownership. There are ribs for the adventurous, ski boats for the energetic and sports cruisers for relaxation. The private slipway launches into one of the most sheltered stretches of coastal water and so affords a departure point to explore the beautiful coastline of Anglesey. In addition we are introducing a leisure plus programme in conjunction with the world renowned water sports centre Plas Menai, this unique range of activities especially for our customers ranging from taster sessions to advanced courses.’
Plas Coch is rapidly becoming the jewel in crown of the Talacre Beach Leisure Group and indeed of the stretch of Menai it overlooks and the grounds in which it resides.
North Wales Talacre Beach Group in Times Top 100
The most comprehensive survey of workplace opinion in Britain has revealed that the Talacre Beach Group is the third best small company to work for in Wales and the 83rd best small company in the UK.
The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for survey is compiled from results given by employees to 66 questions related to workplace culture, covering their company’s leadership: their personal wellbeing: career development: pay and benefits: their feelings towards colleagues, managers and the company as a whole: and giving something back to the community.
With a work force of 214, the owners of Talacre Beach Group, the McAllister family, are justly delighted with the news.
Deputy Managing Director, James D McAllister, said ‘“As a customer lead organisation we strive to provide better service continually. This is done by having an excellent team of managers and staff who are dedicated to their roles. By providing ongoing training, coaching and encouragement as well as excellent benefits and rewards it is thanks to the votes of our fabulous and dedicated team that we have achieved this award.”
The Talacre Beach Group are the only member of their industry to feature in this top 100.