Introduction

Buying an existing campsite business offers immediate access to trading history, established
infrastructure and an existing customer base. For many operators, acquisition provides a lower-risk
entry point compared to developing a new site from scratch, particularly where planning permissions
and licences are already in place.

However, campsite acquisitions present unique financial challenges. Purchase prices often reflect land
value, pitch numbers, accommodation units and long-term potential rather than simple turnover multiples.
At the same time, buyers must retain sufficient capital to fund improvements, marketing and operational
costs immediately after completion.

Specialist acquisition finance allows buyers to balance these competing demands. By structuring funding
around asset value, trading performance and future growth plans, lenders experienced in rural leisure
can support confident, sustainable acquisitions.

Why Campsite Acquisition Activity Is Growing

The UK campsite and caravan park market has seen sustained acquisition activity in recent years. Strong
domestic tourism, rising demand for experiential accommodation and increasing professionalisation of
the sector have made established parks attractive investment opportunities.

• Growing demand for UK staycations and short breaks
• Limited availability of new planning permissions
• Rising land values in desirable rural locations
• Opportunities to improve yield through upgrades
• Succession planning and retirement sales by existing owners

These factors have increased competition for quality sites, making speed and certainty of funding
critical for buyers looking to secure acquisitions.

UK Finance Options for Buying a Campsite Business

Commercial Mortgages

Commercial mortgages are the most common form of acquisition finance for campsites and caravan parks.
Lenders assess land value, pitch capacity, accommodation mix, occupancy levels and historical
performance rather than relying solely on conventional property metrics.

Bridging Finance

Bridging finance can be used where speed is essential, such as auction purchases, competitive sales or
acquisitions requiring completion before refinance. This short-term funding can later be replaced
with longer-term commercial lending.

Blended Acquisition and Improvement Finance

In many cases, buyers combine acquisition finance with additional funding for immediate upgrades,
allowing improvements to be made without returning to lenders shortly after completion.

Refinancing Post-Acquisition

Buyers may initially use flexible funding to complete the purchase, followed by refinance once
operational improvements and increased revenues are evidenced.

How Gable Business Finance Supports Campsite Acquisitions

Gable Business Finance works with specialist rural and leisure lenders who understand
tourism-driven income models, seasonal cash flow and asset-backed valuations. We help buyers structure
acquisition finance that leaves headroom for growth rather than tying up all available capital.

• Access to lenders experienced in campsite and caravan park acquisitions
• Funding structures aligned to seasonal income
• Support with complex land and mixed-use assets
• Clear, transparent guidance throughout the purchase process

Case Studies: Buying a Campsite Business

The following examples are anonymised and provided for illustrative purposes only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Buying an existing campsite business can provide immediate scale and income, but only if finance is
structured correctly. With specialist acquisition finance, buyers can secure quality sites while
retaining the flexibility needed to invest, improve and grow sustainably.