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We stayed here for 2 nights with friends, who were in a caravan. Site facilities were good and local facilities were available a bike ride away in Pevensey Bay (chippie, pub and small shops) and Sovereign centre (ASDA, big shops). There is a gazebo ban but as it was dry we did not need ours. Our friends asked to stay a few hours extra and were charged the whole daily rate, including £4 for electric. This seemed a bit steep.
We had a friendly greeting on arrival and were shown to our pitch. We were asked if we wanted to pitch anywhere, which having not been here before we didn't. Instructions on which way to park the caravan were very specific though. After reading previous reviews of this site, I was pleased that I never saw any rudeness or grumpiness from staff and saw them helping a number of elderly campers even winding down their caravan steadies for them.
There were 3 blocks of showers/ toilets. One of them was older but they were all very clean. Of the two newer ones only one was open which was disappointing as there was a bit of a queue for the toilets in the morning. There seemed to be a lot of elderly people staying on this site and only a few families with children probably due to the fact it was September.
There was a fish and chip van on site Friday and Saturday evening from about 5-7 pm which was handy if slightly expensive but you pay for convenience, and we also saw an ice cream van both evenings. The beach is just across a quiet road and although not the best was fine. Great for dog walking especially when the tide goes out as there was plenty of sand to walk on and there were lots of people fishing.
Loved the open aspect with views all round - except for the sea. It was hidden behind a bank but it was just a minute's walk away to the pebbles-and-sand beach.
Ablutions blocks dated and tired but quite usable. For campervan with only an inflexible drop-down waste, there's no open drain at m-h service point, so no use to me. My local Tesco carpark drains easier!
I would go again and recommend this site. One other disappointment, though, was I couldn't hear the waves!
Just returned from 8 nights at Normans Bay, which started with a bang and finished with one too.
When we checked in the reception staff informed us they had just finished picking up the debris of broken windbreaks, canopies and tents, from the previous nights thunder storms.
Reception staff were friendly, in a school teacher type of way, explaining the rules.
Contrary to a previous review there are jumbo pitches with electric (2), we were given a choice of both, but we chose the pitch with shelter from a hedge, nearer the new toilet block. Be aware that for seven of our eights days the sun shone, but the wind also blew and the direction of which could change by the hour, so pitching beam into the wind did not help.
Our pitch was large and we had plenty of room and it was also flat. When we arrived the site was sparsely filled, but as our break encompassed the first weekend of the local school holidays we soon discovered what the site was like full.
The new toilet block was clean, but had a school facility feel to it. Of the three showers in the male toilets, one was good, the middle one, you had to run around to get wet and the third the head was angled so the supposedly dry area got flooded.
The older toilet block needs an upgrade.
If you go with a family expecting a play area, the toddler swing, normal swing and a small slide did not hold their attention for long. Also when the site was full campers used the play area as extensions to their pitch.
The reported beach:- sand at low tied has gone post last winters storms, at best is 50:50 sand/ pebble.
Be aware when going to the beach stay to the left of the groin, as some helpful person has stuck a series of wooden spikes below the high tide line to warn that the pebbles here are covered in barnacles and rip flesh to shreds.
There is a laundry room and a washing up area, three sinks crammed in, is not sufficient when the site is full, also have to clean off dead flies constantly. There is also a recreation room, which was dominated by a few.
The site is a long linear site with an entrance at only one end (also all waste recycling at the entrance only), the site is sandwiched between a minor road and a railway line.
This was our first experience of a camping and caravan club site.
Would we come back - probably not.
We woke to the sound of thunder and made a hasty pack away.
We were very fortunate to have a sunny week here with only two short periods of rain.
On arrival, pitches with family members were reserved together for us, which was great. However, the IT systems demanding payment on entry were not up to much and if I had not had my original booking showing how much we owed, we would have been liable for extra costs. As a result the booking-in process was not too smooth.
Our pitch was level but I felt that the neighbouring car was far too close to our awning but we were fortunate to have very quiet and respectful neighbours at all points during our week-long stay. The site is very busy in August with constant comings and goings. I am not sure that the six-metre rule was always observed and the facilities are clearly over-used when the site is this busy, especially with the arrival of a bus-hotel from Germany with twenty-four hungry and shower-needy German tourists. The old block nearest to us was overwhelmed. After a quick clean in the morning the facilities start clean and I was once in in the evening when it was checked, but apart from that there is not a visible presence of comings and goings from site staff. Used toilet rolls are dumped and by the evening the water for mopping the showers is grubby, the mop hairy and in need of replenishment. This is in addition to the fact that this toilet block is in desperate need of an upgrade. This was our seventh visit and the money has been spent on new barriers and shop changes but we would all prefer less-mould ridden and cleaner facilities. This is something that the Club should be getting right.
As for it being the friendly club, I am not so sure any more. The staff were not always particularly friendly with my children being shouted at for playing badminton and told to read the handbook. A quiet word with their parents would have been good, while other families were playing with huge frisbees just a metre away from the front of my caravan.
We swam in the sea every day which was great, but please note that the 'underwater obstructions' referred to on a small notice by the beach are not very pleasant and are old wooden breakwaters that will tear your flesh if you hit them. Go as close to the main groyne on the right as you can. We have never had this problem before and the sinking sludge which you have to cross to get to the sea is horrible.
We will still return to Normans Bay but it has changed. It is much more business like and I do not think that the highest of club standards are being adhered to.
Set in 500 acres of beautiful, rolling Kent countryside. The Oast village on site is the World's largest Oast house collection and makes for a spectacular backdrop. Grass and hardstanding pitches for caravans, tents and motorhomes with electric option. Modern toilets and showers and multiple washing up facilities.
Small shop onsite and pub/restaurant at the entrance. The River Medway flows through the site, providing idyllic waterside pitches. Make the most of the location and try your hand at canoeing or fishing or simply sit back, unwind and enjoy wildlife spotting. Five minutes' drive from Paddock Wood station and trains to London Find out more here
Myself and four others stayed at this campsite in mid July for 3 nights. Overall we had a lovely time especially due to the gorgeous weather (apart from the odd storm at night). However when we first arrived we were met with sarky remarks from one of the staff who instantly judged us because we were 18 year old girls and asked us if we here to 'party' and said we would soon be asking where we can 'plug our hair straighteners in'. Especially seeing as that was not our intention at all we were quite taken aback at the quick judgement. Apart from that particular incident we found the other staff to be pleasant for the remainder of our stay. The toilet and shower facilities were excellent, really clean and well lit at night. We also made good use of the recreation room which had a pool table and air hockey. The beach being really close by is especially handy and good for ball games when the tide is out. Unless you have a car the local pub and supermarket is quite a treck that you wouldn't want to be doing after dark. As it is quite a remote area there isn't much to do in walking distance so we mainly stayed on the beach and at the campsite which suited us fine, although a couple of us did walk to Eastbourne and back on one of the days which took about 3 hours there and 3 hours back. The train station is only a 15 minute walk away which is really handy where you could get the train to Eastbourne and Brighton if you wanted. The shop looked well stocked but not much variety and quite pricey so I'd recommend stocking up beforehand. Overall a nice relaxing short break, apart from the incident at the start we were pleased with this campsite.
Just returned from a long weekend stay here. Staff very friendly and made us welcome. Small shop was well stocked with the essentials. Pitches seemed a bit crowded even with the legal gap between them. The old toilet block, although very clean could do with a upgrade as it is bit 'seedy'. And as others have pointed out the shower water goes everywhere. Fish and chip van Friday and Saturday evenings and the local Chinese will deliver to the camp. Will go back again
After reading a lot of reviews, I was really looking forward to this spotless, if a little dated, campsite. The washing up area had black mould on the white sealant with green mould growing on top of that. From the write-up I expected to see the sea from the campsite but that was a definite 'No'. The site was very crowded with no rhyme nor reason to how the units, be it tents, motorhomes or caravans, were sited. In the showers the water was able to get past the shower curtain on to clean clothes. The grass was a lot longer than many of the sites we've been to, which hid the trailing hook-up leads. In the main it reminded me of a caravan and motorhome dealers rather than a campsite. Sadly this did not meet my expectations of a Camping and Caravanning Club site.
We opted to stay at this campsite on the very wet bank holiday in May.
The staff are extremely welcoming and when we arrived on the Friday the fish and chip van (every Friday) was there which made the welcome even better. We were showed to our pitch by (happy) owner, who gave us a couple of options. We stayed in the main central area which, when fully booked, (which the site was) was a bit of a car park, with little room left for kids to have a good run around. The play area is very basic but well kept.
Out location was extremely windy, which kept us away each night, if you are in a tent opt for a location where you are given shelter by some hedges. I can't emphasis this enough.
Facilities are in very good condition, my only gripe is that he shower curtains do nothing to prevent the dry area flooding, meaning that you need to get changed in the main toilet area. Water and power facilities well positioned.
The adjacent beach is very good as it is shingle and the Star Inn is about a mile up the road. They serve food all day and have a great playground in the back.
Would go back again but only if the weather is very very good.
Set in 500 acres of beautiful, rolling Kent countryside. The Oast village on site is the World's largest Oast house collection and makes for a spectacular backdrop. Grass and hardstanding pitches for caravans, tents and motorhomes with electric option. Modern toilets and showers and multiple washing up facilities.
Small shop onsite and pub/restaurant at the entrance. The River Medway flows through the site, providing idyllic waterside pitches. Make the most of the location and try your hand at canoeing or fishing or simply sit back, unwind and enjoy wildlife spotting. Five minutes' drive from Paddock Wood station and trains to London Find out more here
The staff and camp are great, the toilet and shower`s are kept very clean at all times` the disabled facility's are quite big and are kept very clean at all times, the shingle beach is just across the road so young children need to be watched when crossing` you will need storm straps for awning at this site due to the wind off the sea. There are a lot of places to visit I would recommend New Haven fort and battle castle to start with then old town Hastings with it`s fisher mans museum and the cable car that goes up the top of the cliff what a view, there are height barriers so those with coachbuilt or high top campers forget that part of town.
After reading reviews about what a lovely site it was I booked for bank hol weekend, have to say bit disappointed being bank hol weekend I do expect to be busy but felt crammed in! too many people squeezed in, had no privacy! pitches were not clearly defined! 3 good shower blocks thou which were clean and lovely hot showers, great location for eastbourne, bexhill on sea & hastings. I would maybe use again just not on a bank hol weekend!
We have been here several times a year over the last 6 or 7 years, with our rather large Outwell Vermont XL tent (and its rather large predecessor - a trailer tent), and always felt at home with the site, it's facilities and the staff - and we only live about 15 miles away.
Relaxation is surely the point of camping and Normans Bay has always given us that & our kids have learned to ride bikes, with then without stabilisers, here, cycling round & round the relatively safe perimeter road of the site.
However this visit was not good and, if we didn't know better, we would not return.
I would say that the site is pleasantly situated and the toilet/wash/shower blocks are plenty good enough, certainly better than many sites, although the older block could do with an update and more thorough cleaning. The toilets seem to have 'economisers' on their water supplies, which is a bit silly at busy times as the cisterns seem to take 5 minutes to fill up and you end up in a cycle of having to flush the toilet when you arrive and not being able to flush when you leave - a bit unpleasant.
Our last holiday was end of May (Spring) Bank Holiday (2014). We arrived Friday and learned that they expected to be fully booked. Good for them, we thought. We didn't recognise any of the staff and the former site shop had been knocked through to make way for more reception desks with only a scattering of the stock of the former stock, albeit in a cleaner environment. We gathered that the place has changed hands.
As usual, we were shown to our pitch by an chap on a bike and given what we thought were clear parameters for the limits of our pitch. With a sturdy breeze from the South (the site is usually a bit windy as right by the coast) we mucked about with our footprint groundsheet to leave us a couple of metres in front of the tent before the site road, with our back to the prevailing wind. Our tent is large at 7. 7m x 4. 8m, so we spend a lot of time & thought with the footprint as once the tent goes up, that's us.
After half an hour a friend arrived and occupied the next pitch as we started to put the tent up, shown to her pitch by the same chap who showed us ours. He asked how we were doing and we explained about the wind and how we should end up a couple of metres from the road. We exchanged a joke or two with man on bike and carried on finishing pegging out our tent, stopping for 10 minutes or so to help our friend get her smaller tent up & pegable.
45 minutes after starting, our tent was nearly finished and we were about to start 'nesting' when a different man on a bike came & told us that we were 'too far back' as they were full this weekend and would need to get someone in behind us. Remaining calm and polite, I explained that we were within the parameters we were given and, when finished, the front would be quite close to the road. We didn't win the discussion and were told we had to move. Apparently, he was the boss & the other chap was just learning.
Despairing of the time wasted (as it was time return home to pick up the kids from school & bring them camping) he offered to assist in moving the tent. 40 tent pegs and 10 minutes later, we had collapsed the tent & got it off of its footprint, so that we could move the footprint 3 metres further forward. I pointed out that we would be over the road and asked if he wanted me to peg out the front of the tent onto the road and we negotiated a metre or so back so our tent just opened a few inches short of the road.
We spent the holiday with passing cars, caravans & motorhomes narrowly missing the front our tent and spraying puddles of muddy water in our faces if we sat with the front of the tent open and our little westie on a short lead, not allowed out. Fortunately our kids are not toddlers any more, but we all had to be careful not to get run over coming out of our tent. Obviously we would have pitched into the wind if we had known that we would be moved onto the road.
In the 4 days of the holiday, nobody pitched closer than 30 metres from the back of our tent. Maybe the weather kept some away, but it didn't help! I wouldn't let it spoil our holiday, but it certainly detracted from the relaxation we paid for and expected and left much of our tent sprayed with mud.
Our friend & neighbour was also moved, once she had finished pitching, despite her tent barely being 1/2 our size - officious, pointless and stupid. Maximum tent size for a pitch here is 9m x 5m. Whilst we fill most of that, she was moved so far forward, that she couldn't put her front canopy on and had no kitchen for the duration. Again nobody parked or pitched within 30 metres of the back of her tent.
Anther gripe, apart from the reduced facilities of the shop (ice lollies now £2 each!), where there were previously four or five rubbish bin points, now all rubbish has to be taken to reception - for 200+ pitches? Rubbish!
We will nervously try again, maybe next year, but not again this year as we get too little holiday for it to be rubbish again. Perhaps the new managers are still learning customer service and where their pitches are but, if they don't want arguments & upsets, they should probably mark out the corners of the pitches definitively - not difficult, really.
Spent the weekend at Norman's Bay - what a gem. Wardens were very friendly, site clean, tidy and shower blocks very clean. The beach (pebbly) was a short walk across the road and the sunsets were stunning. Great for cycling both into Eastbourne and to Hastings. If you want a quiet location then this is the place to come to but bring your supplies with you as not much in the way of local shopping. We will be returning.
Wardens were warm and welcoming, we were shown to our pitch which was a good hard standing. It was quite busy, there did not seem to have an order to where caravans were pitched on the grass. The toilets were clean and tidy. The site well kept. There is a small shop selling most items and newspapers, although you needed to go early or the papers sold out. The dog walk was OK but would be pretty muddy if it rained a lot. No problem as there was a walk across the road. The beach is thick shingle until the tide goes out. No good if you are disabled or unsteady on your feet. The Star Inn offers a discount but it is a fair walk from the site, we were told by others that the food was good. Eastbourne is very close, they have an Asda and Tesco. If disabled this is not the site for you unless you want to just stay on site or have transport. Bit bleak not a lot to see on site.
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Common Questions
Is Normans Bay Camping And Caravanning Club Site child friendly? YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Normans Bay Camping And Caravanning Club Site? There is a shop on site View all facilities
Is Normans Bay Camping And Caravanning Club Site dog friendly? YES View all facilities
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Tent Pitches 
Caravan Pitches 
Motorhome Pitches 
Small Campervans 
Glamping Units 
No Statics for Hire 
No Statics for Sale 
Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
Hardstanding Pitches 
No Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
No Rallies 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
Toilet Facilities 
Hot Showers 
Washing Up 
No Bathroom 
Baby Changing Facilities 
Laundry On Site 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
Chemical Disposal 
No Battery Charging 
Gas Exchange 
No Recycling Facilities 
No Kitchen Facilities 
No Freezer / Fridge 
Motorhome Point 
Wifi Access 
Shop On Site 
No Bar 
No Restaurant 
Kids Playground 
No TV Room 
Games Room 
No Evening Ents 
Fishing On Site 
No Wild Swimming 
No Indoor Pool 
No Outdoor Pool 
No Horse Riding 
No Cycle Hire 
No Golf 
No Tennis 
Beach On Site 
No Watersports 
No Boat Launch 
Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
No Campfires Allowed 
Coastside Pitches 
Public Transport <1 mile
Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access 
We stayed here for 2 nights with friends, who were in a caravan. Site facilities were good and local facilities were available a bike ride away in Pevensey Bay (chippie, pub and small shops) and Sovereign centre (ASDA, big shops). There is a gazebo ban but as it was dry we did not need ours. Our friends asked to stay a few hours extra and were charged the whole daily rate, including £4 for electric. This seemed a bit steep. 
