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FROM brand-new swimming pools to restaurants, bars and adventure activities – some holiday parks are undergoing major upgrades.

What’s even better is that they’re still as cheap as ever to book with some costing as little as £7pppn.

Unity Holidays Skirlington Coast, Yorkshire

Back in July, Unity Holidays‘ Skirlington Coast in Yorkshire was given the green light for a major £20million glow up.

There will be upgraded dining spots and leisure facilities, as well as a new entertainment zone and outdoor pool surrounded by sunloungers.

Kids aren’t left out either, with a new splash pad including a children’s pool.

Other additions will be new pavilion home to restaurants, along with fairground attractions and cabanas.

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Accommodation at the park will be expanded as well, with 92 new caravans planned for the site – currently it has 680 caravans and 400 pitches for tents.

A spokesman for Unity Holidays said: “We thank the council’s planning committee for approving our application to redevelop the land on our park currently occupied by Skirlington Market, as well as the buildings on that land used by the market.

“We look forward to commencing work on that project as soon as possible, which will see us add indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities as well as re-landscaping the entire area.”

There’s plenty open already at Skirlington Coast holiday park if you fancy booking a break sooner rather than later.

A family of four can book a four-night stay the holiday park from £119 in a Bronze 2 Bed Caravan this October.

If you want to wait it out, the price is the same for a stay in May 2027.

Parkdean Resorts, UK

If you’re looking for a holiday park break next year, then two Parkdean Resorts are getting major makeovers for spring 2027.

It’s part of a £10million upgrade across multiple sites – those which have already undergone transformations include Highfield Grange Holiday Park in Essex and Vauxhall Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth.

Next on the list is Thorness Bay on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight.

One of its new additions will be the Hat-Tricks Sports Bar which is a family-friendly spot which will have pool and darts.

Joe’s American Grill is its new dining spot and there will be Minigolf & Adventure Activities which include high ropes, low ropes and climbing wall.

The second resort undergoing an upgrade is Skipsea Sands in East Riding of Yorkshire.

On its Facebook account, Skipsea Sands Holiday Park revealed: “Skipsea Sands Holiday Park is getting a multi-million pound makeover, bringing even more to see, do, eat and enjoy from Spring 2027!

“Here’s a little taste of what’s coming… Exciting new activities and adventures, More ways to splash, play and have fun, New and improved family experiences, Even more indoor and outdoor fun, whatever the weather.”

It will be getting a Clip & Climb wall, Bear Grylls Escape Rooms and Fairground Golf.

You can book for 2027 already if you want to get ahead of the game.

A family of four can book to stay in a Bronze 2 Bedroom Caravan at Skipsea Sands (which sleeps up to six) from £128 in May 2027.

Lyons Robin Hood, Wales

Lyons has announced new planned investment at one of its biggest sites which is Lyons Robin Hood in Rhyl.

The firm has invested more than £1million at its Rhyl site this year and opened a brand-new Altitude Adventure Hub in May.

New activities included Altitude Aerial Adventure, Nitro Go Kart Track, Mini Aerial Adventure, a climbing wall, bungee trampolines and bouncy pillows.

A new adventure-playground also opened earlier this year too – and there are still more upgrades to come.

A spokesperson said: “We’re excited to announce further investment coming to Lyons Robin Hood for the 2027 season.

“As part of our continued commitment to investing in the park and enhancing the experience for our owners and their families, we’re investing in our gym facilities for 2027.

“It’s another exciting addition to a growing list of investments designed to make your time at Lyons Robin Hood even better.”

For more on new openings, here are all the destinations set to be big in 2027 with the opening of new theme park lands and luxe holiday parks.

A family of four can getaway this October across four-nights in a Silver 3 Bedroom Caravan from £123.

Or book a getaway for April next year from £99 in a Bronze 3 Bedroom Caravan – which works out as £6.19pppn.

Reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were denied access to White House after Trump calls news outlets ‘fake news’.

Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico have been barred from entering the White House and have had their press credentials deactivated or confiscated, as United States President Donald Trump’s ban on the three news organisations took effect.

Journalists were turned away from the grounds on Saturday after Trump announced on Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing the outlets of reporting what he called “fake news”. Trump has said other outlets could also face bans.

CNN White House reporter Betsy Klein and MS NOW White House correspondent Akayla Gardner both reported on air that they had been denied access. Gardner said an officer confiscated her badge after telling her it had been disabled and that the decision was “above him”. An MS NOW photographer also had their badge disabled, she said.

Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett was subsequently turned away, with Politico saying the Secret Service denied her entry and confiscated her White House access pass.

“A few minutes ago, our colleague Cheyenne Haslett attempted to enter the White House to do her job as a POLITICO reporter,” the news organisation said. “Secret Service denied her entry to the complex and confiscated the pass that allows her access to the White House.”

“We stand by her and all reporters here covering the White House,” Politico added. “As we said yesterday, we will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights.”

“The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” MS NOW said in a statement. “MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”’

CNN media analyst Brian Stelter called the move “a direct threat to press freedom in the United States”.

“It’s so much bigger than CNN,” Stelter said. “This is a free speech test in America.”

The White House Correspondents’ Association said Trump had described “his own planned action as a ‘ban on the free press’”, and said constitutional press protections do not depend on whether a president approves of a news organisation’s coverage.

The ban is the latest in a series of confrontations Trump has had with news organisations during his first and second term.

In 2025, his administration restricted Associated Press access to the Oval Office and presidential travel after the agency declined to adopt the administration’s preferred name, “Gulf of America”, for the Gulf of Mexico. That case remains ongoing.

A key precedent is a 1977 federal appeals court ruling, Sherrill v Knight. The court found that once the White House establishes press facilities for credentialed journalists, access cannot be denied arbitrarily or for less than compelling reasons. It also said journalists denied credentials must receive notice of the factual basis, an opportunity to respond, and a final written explanation.

It is not yet clear what legal recourse CNN, MS NOW or Politico may pursue, or how courts would apply Sherrill to the administration’s decision to revoke existing credentials.

Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher reported from Washington, DC, on Friday that Trump’s ban will likely be challenged soon.

“The United States has the First Amendment [of its Constitution] that says the government cannot restrict access to this sort of thing,” he said.

Press freedom advocates are watching closely.

Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a news release that the move raises constitutional concerns.

“If President Trump means to expel these news organizations from the White House press pool, his action is doubly unconstitutional because the press pool is a ‘public forum’ under the First Amendment, which means the president can’t exclude journalists from it on the basis of their viewpoints,” Jaffer said.

The fight over access could now become a broader test of the limits on the White House’s ability to control which journalists can cover the administration.

“It’s difficult to imagine a more blatant violation of the First Amendment than Trump banning news outlets from the People’s House for criticizing the government,” said Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation. “It’s also hard to imagine a dumber move.”

A MEMBERS club loved by the Royals is opening a new location in a historic English town.

It will feature restaurants, bars, a 25-metre pool, racquet courts and even direct access to the River Thames.

A new “reimagined” country club from the Soho House brand is set to come to Windsor, situated directly along the River Thames from next year.

Located less than 45 minutes from central London, Soho River House will also be home to a Health Club, riverside restaurant and Vinyl Bar.

The main house, a Victorian mansion within 35 acres of land, will feature 93 bedrooms designed for members who wish to extend their stay overnight.

The Health Club comes with a gym dedicated to all members’ fitness needs as well as a novel Lazy River feature, which offers cold plunges designed for muscle recovery.

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The location will also hold the first Soho House Racquet & Rowing Club with padel, tennis and pickleball courts.

For those wishing to try their hand at rowing, the site will come with boat storage, a dedicated staging area, and direct access to the river through a launching ramp.

The Lazy Lawn overlooking the Thames also provides the perfect lounging spot to catch some much-needed sunrays.

Every week, the club is set to host a number of events for members – including live performances and “One Night Only” dinners with well-known chefs.

Expected to arrive in 2027, those interested are able to register their interest online to keep an eye out for upcoming applications.

Soho House has 14 other locations in the UK, including sites in Manchester, Somerset and East Sussex.

The brand is loved by both Royals and celebrities, with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry having their first date at 76 Dean Street, a Soho House location in London back in 2016.

The announcement late last year that the iconic train company would start running double-decker trains across its network from 2031 was big news for those of us who love the towering carriages found in Italy, France and Spain

Eurostar’s new-look trains will feature two-storey bars, maximizing passenger capacity and Continental drinking opportunities.

The announcement late last year that the iconic train company would start running double-decker trains across its network from 2031 was big news for those of us who love the towering carriages found in Italy, France and Spain, but never in the UK. The height of UK tunnels means we’re stuck trundling around on lower-capacity, single-storey trains.

Except that is on the high-speed line from London to mainland Europe, which is perfectly capable of taking taller trains, a la France’s TGV Duplex, Switzerland’s SBB IR Dosto and Germany’s DB IC2.

Eurostar’s double-decker announcement last year was exciting enough, but now the Belgium-headquartered firm has announced that its new Celestia trains will feature two-storey bars as its “star attraction”. A Eurostar spokesperson told Euronews Travel: “The name Celestia means ‘heavenly’, reflecting the idea behind the double-decker bar: to create a travel experience beyond the ordinary.”

Eurostar has ordered 30 Celestia trains, with the first scheduled to begin service in May 2031. As well as sporting the bar, the classic blue, grey, and yellow livery that high-speed train fans have become used to seeing whizzing through the countryside will be replaced by a new, more understated grey and green. Their capacity will also be increased.

A Eurostar spokesperson explained: “Eurostar Celestia will have a bespoke design to capture the unique, premium experience Eurostar passengers expect. It is expected that each 200-metre set will have around 540 seats. If running in 400m formation (as through the channel tunnel today), there would be around 1,080 seats per service, a 20% increase from today.

“The first trains are due to join the fleet in January 2031, with commercial services launching in May 2031. Six new trains will be operational at that time, marking the beginning of a new era for travel on board Eurostar Celestia. Once delivered, the new trains will operate alongside the current fleet of 17 e320s, bringing the total fleet to 67 trains – a 30% uplift overall versus today.”

The train company has pledged that the new trains will offer 20 to 50% energy savings compared to the current fleet.

Eurostar is upping its game ahead of the arrival of a potential competitor on the rails. In August, Virgin was granted track access by the Office of Rail and Road, having announced plans to run a rival rail service to Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel. The access will allow Virgin to run up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam, with the agreement running from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040.

Eurostar has held a monopoly on passenger services since the tunnel opened in 1994. Before Virgin can join it on the tracks, it needs to secure rolling stock for the services and get safety approval from UK and EU authorities. The ORR approval only covers the HS1 route from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel, and not on rail networks in mainland Europe.

THERE are certain holiday compromises I’m willing to make – a slightly disappointing balcony view, early rises for sun lounger dashes or the hotel buffet serving chips for breakfast.

But booking a holiday and then discovering there’s nowhere to watch the football? An absolute no from me.

At some hotels, watching the match means squinting at a television above reception, with the sound off.

But at others, it’s treated as part of the holiday.

By that I mean dedicated sports bars and even enormous outdoor screens beside the pool which show the matches.

So I’ve picked eight hotels where Premier League fans should be particularly well catered for – with all-inclusive deals starting from £355pp.

But a quick note before we jump in: exactly which matches are screened can depend on local broadcasting rights and the hotel’s entertainment schedule, particularly when several big sporting events clash.

So if there’s one fixture you absolutely cannot miss, it’s always worth checking directly with the hotel before you travel.

1. Philoxenia Hotel, Halkidiki – from £355pp

The Philoxenia Hotel offers a much more peaceful way to keep up with the Premier League.

Football is shown around The Local Bar, the hotel’s main bar and lounge, with indoor tables and comfortable communal seating, along with an adjoining outdoor terrace where you can take your drink before or after the match.

It isn’t a full-on sports pub covered from wall to wall in screen – instead, it gives guests a relaxed place to gather for the bigger fixtures without having to leave the hotel.

The hotel itself is surrounded by pine and olive trees, with a large outdoor swimming pool and a beach around five minutes’ walk away.

There’s a buffet restaurant, children’s facilities and a pool bar, too.

This is the one for someone who wants a quiet, traditional Greek beach holiday but would still like to know there’s somewhere nearby when the Premier League weekend begins.

A five-night all-inclusive stay in October comes in at just £355pp.

Not only is this the cheapest hotel in my selection, but other board options are also available if you want to bring the price down further.

2. Barcelo Royal Beach, Sunny Beach – from £405pp

For a more serious football setup, Barcelo Royal Beach is difficult to beat.

Premier League matches are among the sports shown at the Red Lion Pub, a British-style bar within the hotel gardens.

It sits directly in front of the children’s pool and one of the adult pools, so you barely need to leave your sunbed to watch the match.

There are numerous tellies and four big screens, with the ability to show two different sporting events simultaneously – useful if a Premier League fixture clashes with another match or even another sport altogether, as it also shows rugby and F1.

The pub has around 200 seats inside (and another 100 in the garden), English commentary is available and its weekly sports schedule is displayed at the entrances.

There’s also a pool table, darts, live music and karaoke, plus familiar British beers on draught.

The wider hotel has a huge lagoon-style pool, children’s facilities and a position close to the beach and the centre of Sunny Beach – ideal if you want a proper package holiday with a ready-made football pub included.

You can get a full seven-night all-inclusive holiday here for £405pp. Bargain!

3. Muthu Clube Praia da Oura, Albufeira – from £430pp

Muthu Clube Praia da Oura is a brilliant compromise if not everyone travelling cares about the Premier League.

The resort has a lounge where live football is shown, with indoor seating, tables and bar service.

This means having somewhere comfortable to sit down and follow the match properly without having to venture onto Albufeira’s Strip and fight for a view in a busy pub.

The communal setup also means the biggest Premier League fixtures can attract a bit of an atmosphere among British guests, rather than leaving you alone with your phone beside the pool.

Meanwhile, anyone who couldn’t care less about the score can remain around the swimming pools, walk down to Praia da Oura beach or take advantage of the hotel’s spacious grounds.

The apartments provide more room than a standard hotel bedroom, while the bars and nightlife of Albufeira are within walking distance if the result leaves you in the mood to celebrate… or in urgent need of somewhere to forget it happened.

And this October, £430pp gets you five nights with all your meals and selected drinks included.

If you’d rather explore Albufeira’s restaurants and bars, you can always pick a cheaper board, although at under £500 for five nights all-inclusive, it’s pretty hard to beat.

4. Magic Aqua Rock Gardens, Benidorm – from £440pp

At Magic Aqua Rock Gardens, watching the Premier League can become part of a pool day.

The hotel has an enormous outdoor LED screen beside the swimming pool, which is used for sporting events – as well as films, concerts and music videos.

That means you could potentially follow one of the weekend’s big matches from the poolside on your sunbed, rather than sacrificing two hours of Spanish sunshine in a dark television room.

There’s a swim-up bar in the pool and a daytime snack bar nearby, making it relatively easy to collect another drink or something to eat without missing a goal.

The hotel even has an indoor television room, offering another option for matches that don’t make the outdoor entertainment schedule.

Beyond the football, it’s an African-themed family hotel with waterslides, a splash area, swimming pools, entertainment and a rooftop adults-only chill-out space.

It’s the strongest family option on the list: the children get a waterpark holiday, you get all-inclusive food and drink, and there’s a giant screen waiting when the Premier League kicks off.

And at £440pp for a full week all-inclusive this October, it’s also one of the best-value packages I found.

5. AX ODYCY, Malta – from £445pp

AX ODYCY gives you a modern Malta hotel and a football-friendly gastropub in the same building.

Premier League fans can head to Cheeky Monkey Gastropub, the lively bar and restaurant attached to the hotel which has a massive television with indoor tables, bar seating and a spacious outdoor terrace overlooking the Qawra seafront.

And because it’s a full gastropub rather than a television in the hotel lobby, you can order burgers, wings, sharing platters and drinks while keeping an eye on the match.

The venue attracts local customers as well as hotel guests, helping the bigger fixtures generate some genuine atmosphere.

There’s plenty of seating for groups, while the terrace gives anyone less interested in the football somewhere to sit without abandoning the rest of the party.

The hotel has several pools, loads of restaurants, children’s facilities and rooftop areas, all overlooking the Mediterranean.

It’s a smart option for families or couples who want more than a sports bar, but would certainly prefer to have one just downstairs when the Premier League is on.

A five-night all-inclusive stay costs from £445pp, with even cheaper board options available if you’d prefer to spend more of your holiday eating and drinking around Malta.

6. Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island – from £655pp

If you want reliable sunshine long after the European summer has finished, why not try Ras Al Khaimah?

The Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island offers a winter-sun alternative to Dubai’s more expensive hotels.

The place to look for the Premier League is RBG Bar, the resort’s dedicated beach-facing sports bar.

It has a relaxed indoor seating area, an outdoor terrace, retro-inspired pub decor and games to keep you entertained before kick-off, plus draught and bottled beers, cocktails and food are all available from the bar.

It opens from late afternoon until 1am, which works well for many Premier League kick-offs once the time difference is taken into account.

The hotel itself sits directly on the beach at Marjan Island and has outdoor pools, children’s facilities and several places to eat and drink.

Crucially, it delivers the UAE beach-holiday experience without the enormous price attached to some of Dubai’s best-known sports hotels.

I found a five-night all-inclusive deal for just £655pp this October, an insanely affordable deal for a mid-haul holiday.

7. Iberostar Waves Bouganville Playa, Tenerife – from £670pp

Iberostar Waves Bouganville Playa is suited to supporters who want to watch the Premier League without their entire hotel feeling like a sports pub.

Football can be shown around the hotel’s communal bar and lounge area, where guests have proper tables, comfortable seats and bar service close at hand.

The hotels in Costa Adeje, right beside the seafront and close to Puerto Colon.

This is where you will find sports bars galore – try The Corner Sport Bar or Palms Sport Bar.

And the hotel itself has a large swimming pool, kids activities, entertainment and excellent access to the waterfront.

You can sit down with a drink, watch the match with other guests and then return to the pool or promenade when it finishes.

And the five-night all-inclusive package in November that I found is available from a very reasonable £670pp.

If you plan to spend more of your time exploring Costa Adeje, other board options are available for less.

8. Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife – from £850pp

Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife is definitely the premium option of this list, but it also has one of the best sports bars by far.

The action takes place in 3rd Half, a purpose-built sports bar on the ground floor of the hotel’s Nirvana Tower.

It has giant screens as well as smaller televisions positioned throughout the venue (helping guests get a good view from different seats) as well as an indoor bar and stage, a pool table and a semi-open terrace overlooking the gardens.

Football shirts, balls, trophies and other memorabilia line the walls, making it feel like an upmarket sports bar rather than a standard hotel lounge that happens to own a television.

Premier League football sits alongside LaLiga and other major sporting events on its screens. 

You can watch with an imported beer or cocktail and order burgers, pizzas, nachos, hot dogs or chicken wings from the match-friendly menu.

There are sometimes bands and jam sessions on the indoor stage later in the evening, so you can stay after the match rather than heading straight back to your room.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that this is a full-on five-star resort with loads of pools, a beach club, live music and more places to eat and drink than you’re likely to visit during a short break.

It’s expensive compared with the rest of the list, but very good for groups or couples where one person wants a luxury Tenerife holiday and the other has mentally organised the entire trip around the Premier League fixture list.

The four-night all-inclusive break I found in October comes in at £850pp – not cheap, no but this is the hotel to choose if you want to go all-out.