Haven Weymouth Bay Review – Great Location, But Would We Return?
When it comes to family holiday parks, Haven is usually a fairly safe bet. Swimming pools, entertainment, plenty of activities for the children and, hopefully, a comfortable caravan to return to at the end of the day.
But as we’ve discovered over the years, not every Haven holiday park offers quite the same experience.
This time, The Hadwins headed to Weymouth Bay Holiday Park in Dorset, where we spent three nights exploring the park, testing the facilities and enjoying some of the beautiful surrounding coastline.
With the children and Roxy joining us, we booked a dog-friendly Bronze caravan and hoped for a relaxing family break.
So, was Haven Weymouth Bay worth visiting?
Well, there was plenty we liked. Unfortunately, there was also one rather big disappointment.
Our Bronze Caravan at Weymouth Bay – Better Than Expected!
We stayed in Epsom 20, a four-berth, dog-friendly Bronze caravan.
Now, we’ve stayed in a few budget caravans over the years, and sometimes the word Bronze can leave you wondering exactly what you’re going to get.
Fortunately, we were pleasantly surprised.
The caravan was clean, spacious and comfortable, with decent beds and parking immediately alongside it.
For a family travelling with a dog, it was absolutely fine.
We were also positioned next to a large dog-walking area, which was a lovely bonus for Roxy. There was plenty of green space, along with a few small climbing activities for the children.
One thing worth remembering is that our booking didn’t include towels, so make sure you check what’s provided before packing.
There was, however, one rather entertaining problem with the bathroom.
The tap seemed to have a mind of its own. Turn it on fully and you’d end up soaking yourself and half the floor!
Not exactly ideal, but apart from that, we were happy with the accommodation.
Our caravan rating: 7/10.
The Entertainment Complex – Weymouth Bay’s Biggest Letdown
As with most Haven parks, the main complex is where you’ll find the arcade, food outlets and evening entertainment.
And naturally, the children made a beeline for the arcade.
There were plenty of machines ready to relieve us of our hard-earned money, including grabbers and ticket games.
We somehow managed to spend around £130, eventually exchanging our winnings for some Haribo, pencils, a book and a cuddly toy.
Quite possibly the world’s most expensive sweets!
But the biggest disappointment was the Live Lounge, where the evening entertainment takes place.
We managed to enjoy the shows on our first night, but the venue felt far too small for the number of guests.
By around 7pm, it was absolutely packed.
On another evening, we arrived at approximately 7.30pm and couldn’t get in at all.
Considering we were visiting the week before the Easter holidays, we couldn’t help wondering how the venue would cope during the busiest summer weeks.
For us, evening entertainment is a big part of a Haven holiday, especially when travelling with children.
Being unable to enjoy it on two of our three nights was frustrating.
Our entertainment complex rating: 4/10.
Food at Haven Weymouth Bay – Better Than It Looked!
There were several food options available during our visit, including Papa Johns, a fish and chip outlet and Haven’s Mash and Barrel restaurant.
Unfortunately, getting something to eat wasn’t always straightforward.
We tried ordering Papa Johns, but the wait was too long.
We also considered the onsite fish and chips, only to discover that the outlet was accepting cash only during our stay.
Luckily, there were two fish and chip shops just outside the park.
We tried one of them and found it cheaper, tasty and much more convenient. They accepted card payments too!
The Mash and Barrel
We’ve had mixed experiences with Mash and Barrel restaurants at different Haven parks.
At Weymouth Bay, the food didn’t look particularly impressive when it arrived.
In fact, Scott had a few things to say about the presentation!
But surprisingly, it tasted really good.
The prices were reasonable, and there were some useful meal offers advertised during the week.
So, despite appearances, the Mash and Barrel received a thumbs-up from us.
Our food rating: 7/10.
Food outlets, menus and payment arrangements can change, so it’s always worth checking what’s available for your particular visit.
Swimming Pools – A Big Hit with the Children
One area where Haven usually performs well is swimming, and Weymouth Bay was no exception.
The park had both indoor and outdoor swimming areas, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.
The indoor pool was fairly basic, but it was warm and pleasant.
The real highlight was the outdoor section, which featured a narrow water channel with a current that carried swimmers around.
The children loved it!
There weren’t any big waterslides or flumes during our visit, but the pools still provided plenty of fun.
If your children enjoy swimming, this is definitely one of Weymouth Bay’s stronger features.
Adventure Village – Great Fun, But Watch Your Wallet!
Another highlight was Adventure Village, which offered a good selection of activities for children and families.
During our stay, the options included inflatable activities, The Big Jump, go-karts, archery and Segways.
Naturally, the children wanted to try everything.
Unfortunately, most activities came at an additional cost.
We found prices generally ranged from approximately £10 to £25 per activity, depending on what you booked.
And when you’ve got two children wanting to join in, those costs can quickly add up.
We’d recommend checking the activity prices before your holiday and setting aside a separate budget if you plan to do several.
It’s also worth booking popular activities in advance where required.
Our activities rating: 8/10.
Weymouth and Dorset – The Best Part of Our Holiday
Without doubt, one of the biggest advantages of staying at Weymouth Bay Holiday Park is its location.
Weymouth itself is a fantastic seaside town, with a beautiful sandy beach, plenty of shops and traditional seaside attractions.
During our visit, the town centre and main beach were approximately five minutes away by car.
The children loved the fairground attractions, donkey rides and all the usual seaside entertainment.
And the sand on Weymouth Beach is wonderfully fine, making it a lovely place to spend time as a family.
Exploring Bowleaze Cove and Durdle Door
There’s also plenty to explore beyond Weymouth itself.
Bowleaze Cove is nearby, while the famous Durdle Door is another brilliant destination for a day out.
Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most recognisable coastal landmarks, and the scenery along this stretch of the Jurassic Coast is spectacular.
For families who enjoy getting out and exploring rather than spending their entire holiday inside a resort, Weymouth Bay makes a very convenient base.
Our location rating: 8/10.
Our Final Haven Weymouth Bay Review Scores
After three nights at Weymouth Bay, here’s how we rated the main parts of our stay.
| What We Reviewed | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| Bronze caravan | 7/10 |
| Activities | 8/10 |
| Location | 8/10 |
| Food – Mash and Barrel | 7/10 |
| Entertainment complex | 4/10 |
The accommodation was comfortable, the children loved the activities and the surrounding area was absolutely fantastic.
But the entertainment complex really did let the holiday down for us.
Would The Hadwins Return to Haven Weymouth Bay?
Unfortunately, probably not in the near future.
And that’s a shame because there was genuinely plenty we enjoyed.
The caravan was better than expected, the swimming pools were fun and Weymouth is a lovely place for a family holiday.
However, when we book a Haven break, we expect to be able to enjoy the evening entertainment.
Finding that the venue was already full and being unable to get in on two of our three nights was a major disappointment.
Would we recommend visiting Weymouth?
Absolutely!
Would we recommend Weymouth Bay Holiday Park?
Yes, particularly if you’re more interested in the swimming pools, activities and exploring Dorset than the evening shows.
But if entertainment is an important part of your family holiday, we’d suggest bearing our experience in mind before booking.
Watch Our Full Haven Weymouth Bay Holiday Park Review
Want to see exactly what Weymouth Bay looks like before deciding whether to book?
In our vlog, we take you inside our Bronze caravan, explore the entertainment complex, show you the swimming pools and activities, and visit some of the beautiful places around Weymouth.
You’ll also hear our honest opinions about the food, facilities and whether we think the park offers good value for families.
Watch The Hadwins’ honest Haven Weymouth Bay Holiday Park review.
As always, we show you the good, the bad and everything in between.
And yes, Scott finds a few things to moan about along the way!
