Celebrating 21 Years of Success at Ord House Country Park

Durham, 23 May 2024 – A local family business, begun by a father and son team more than three decades ago, has grown into one of the region’s largest holiday and residential groups. Its flagship site, Ord House Country Park, is now celebrating 21 years in business under the stewardship of the Maguire family.

A Family Legacy

Ord House Country Park, nestled in the Border town of Berwick, marks 21 years of hospitality. Brothers Billy (38), Gilbert (36), and Nathan (25) Maguire were raised amidst the family business, learning the ropes from their father and grandfather, Billy Senior, and Billy. This upbringing provided them with invaluable business know-how. Now, with the trio at the helm, a new chapter in the Maguire family history is unfolding.

Maguires Country Parks

Based in Darlington, Maguires Country Parks now owns eight parks, from Berwick in north Northumberland down to Topcliffe in North Yorkshire. They offer a combination of luxurious holiday homes, residential park homes, and pitches for touring holidays.

Transformation of Ord House

What started as humble farmland and neglected buildings has blossomed into a five-star countryside retreat. The centrepiece is a Grade 2 listed building, the grand Manor House, now serving as Ord House Bar and Grill. This transformation epitomises the evolution of Ord House Country Park.

Reflecting on this journey, Billy Maguire Jr. shares:

“My father Billy Snr bought Ord House back in 2003 from the Marshall family, who inherited it from the park’s founders. We were brought up on this and on the family’s other parks and we started at the bottom doing all the mundane, routine jobs – the only way to learn. It’s been our passion and ambition to revitalise it into the gem it is today and build on our family legacy.”

A Diverse Range of Accommodations

Spanning 44 acres of picturesque landscape, Ord House Country Park offers a diverse range of accommodation, from touring pitches to holiday caravans and residential lodges. Nathan Maguire explains:

“Every area has its own personality. There’s a tailored experience for everyone who comes: We have weekenders, seasonal visitors, second homers. Even those who want to move to the countryside full-time in our fully licensed residential areas.”

Commitment to Excellence

The Maguire brothers maintain a family feeling at Ord House Country Park, with longstanding team members playing a crucial role. Gilbert Maguire emphasises:

“Some of them have been with us the whole 21 years. Their passion and dedication make every visit memorable for our customers, and we appreciate the hard work they put into making the park home for so many people.”

Combining Tradition with Technology

The use of good, old-fashioned customer service mixed with modern technology has been a winning formula. Gilbert Maguire explains:

“If someone is having a residential home built on our park, we like to keep them informed of progress at every stage of the design and build. We use the latest trackable video technology to show the building’s progress by email or messaging, communicating with the new owner to make sure we get everything right such as where parking is, or where the main windows should look out onto. We love to get all the little details just perfect for them and it means we can all share in the excitement even before they arrive at the park.”

Looking to the Future

The Maguires Country Parks Group and Ord House Country Park show no signs of slowing down. Expansion plans are underway, with new developments and more residential opportunities on the horizon. The brothers have created a management team to help drive the business forward. Gilbert Maguire states:

“We’ve an excellent leadership team who share our family values. We’re excited for the future. As a family, we remain committed to delivering exceptional experiences and creating lasting memories for our guests.”

Nathan Maguire adds:

“We’re so fortunate for the foundation that we’ve been given from our dad and granddad, and we want them to be proud of what we’ve achieved thanks to their guidance and their foresight when we were young.”