Full review

Explore a new single-axle, eight-feet-wide model that offers exceptionally spacious living - the Bailey Pegasus Grande Brindisi

When Bailey decided to expand its Pegasus range, taking it to the maximum eight-feet-width, the designers didn't only make the Pegasus models broader. They invented a new lounge layout.

The Pegasus Grande Brindisi, like its standard-width forerunner, has a transverse double bed and a full-width rear shower room. But there, the similarity stops. For the Grande Brindisi has a lounge which wraps around the entire front, with a table for two on the nearside. Bailey calls it a G-shape.

When you remove the table, you have a complete U-shaped lounge. With the table in place, you have L-shaped lounge seating plus a dining area forming the lower part of the letter 'G'.

Instantly, we can see that this versatility is highly practical. Especially when you consider the Brindisi also has a freestanding table. So, two options on dining configurations in one lounge! That's awesome.

Equally impressive is the exterior-access storage system beneath the seating that runs across the front of the caravan. There are hatches on both sides. This storage is the ideal place for long items including windbreak poles which don't fold, or your awning frame (but if it's a steel one, take care not to overload your noseweight!).

The Brindisi is one of two single-axle models in the Grande range; the other is the twin-bed Rimini, which has a lounge identical to the one in the Brindisi. There are also four twin-axle models, two of which have this stunning lounge arrangement.

The Grande Brindisi and Grande Rimini have the Truma Combi 4 blown-air heating system; the more significant, twin-axle models have the Truma Combi 6 system.

The Brindisi has USB ports built into two of its spotlights (one in the bedroom and one in the lounge). The Brindisi comes with the ATC stability control system as standard. All models in the range have exterior mains sockets and barbecue points.

Showering

The Brindisi's shower room follows the style set by both Bailey Unicorn and Phoenix ranges with domestic-style, matt, rock-effect shower cubicle walls and a superbly full mirror, illuminated by bright LEDs, placed within the top of a frame.

A shelf runs under the mirror, and there are three more beside the small washbasin. There's a three-shelf cabinet below the basin and a wall cabinet on the offside, also with three shelves. So, plenty of hideaway places and ample shelving, too.

There's a towel loop, alongside the basin, plus two hooks on the wall close to the shower, so there's adequate towel provision.

A sliding door leads to the bedroom; that's far better than a hinged door because it takes up less floor space.

Sleeping

The bed is 1.83m long when fully extended. You can retract it, to increase corridor width but, considering the caravan's breadth, we don't think buyers will find that necessary.

A small triangular dressing table is in the forward offside corner of the bedroom. TV points are here. Wardrobes stand alongside the bed.

We love the Brindisi's bedroom focal style point: two vertical upholstered bedheads. We also like the long shelf over the window; it runs the length of the bedroom and somehow serves to make the bedroom look even more significant than it is.

The lounge converts to a double bed by removing the side table and drawing out a base from under the front settee. It makes a bed 2.2m long, but at just 1.2m wide it's not full double bed width. Backrests plus two infill sections, which you store under the main double bed, complete the mattress.

Storage

Bailey has innovative storage solutions for its batteries – under the floor. In the Brindisi, it's disguised by a hatch under the double bed.

Also, here is the wind-down point for the spare wheel, mounted on a carrier under the caravan. So neither of these necessities impinge on under-bed space, vast and exceptionally easy to use; that's because there is no metal framework to impede access.
 

Under the lounge, the storage arrangement is even more impressive. There's space under the seat by the door; you reach into this by raising the top. And there's space which runs under all the rest of the seating, accessible from inside the caravan using drop-down doors on the near side under the table and across the front, and from the outside.

The nearside hatch is 34cm wide; the offside opening is 78cm wide, giving you options about which items best fit in from each side. If there's a downside to this arrangement, it's those small items. Notably, chocks and bottles of toilet chemical will move around as you tow unless you place them in containers; a plastic tray of the type used in Unicorn lockers would have gone a long way to curing this.

There are top lockers on each side of the lounge and, in each corner, large, triangular cabinets will hide away all manner of stuff.

Dining

The side table is 62cm x 80cm; that's perfect for two place-settings. You store the larger freestanding table in a frame under the bed. We've never been fans of tables stored horizontally rather than vertically, but the Brindisi's arrangement doesn't present a difficulty. It's easy to get hold of in its frame and relatively light to lift.

We placed the table in the lounge and understood the extraordinary dining arrangement of the Brindisi. You can use both tables, which means five can sit here to eat. Or you can remove the smaller table and have a dining room for three. We love the versatility – and the amount of table space.

Lounging

You can remove the larger table and perhaps also the smaller one – and fully appreciate the extra space that the eight-feet-wide width gives you. With loads of seating space and loads of floor space, too, this lounge easily earns our A rating for space, and comfort, with backrests that curve at the top.

Kitchen

Kitchen storage is generous, in a 72cm-wide cabinet with a drawer of the same width that's 20cm deep. The draw contains a cutlery tray, and there's ample space around it for more cooking utensils than you'll ever need.

In addition to top lockers over the kitchen, there's a locker above the microwave. The 103-litre fridge is in the dresser here, with TV points above it.

The sink is 32cm square; not generous but adequate. The drainer fits over it when it's not in use. The kitchen surface is 1.26m long when the hob cover is down. When you're cooking, though, there's only 33cm of surface width, forward of the sink.

A hinged extension would have made it easier to work in the kitchen.

The Brindisi has a double hob cover; there's a glass hob lid, plus, above it, a top which matches the kitchen surface. The lid means the entire hob becomes part of the kitchen surface before you start to cook.

Towing

Bailey revealed Pegasus Grande to us at their factory before the  was unveiled to the public. Obviously, Bailey didn't want us to take it for a tow. We look forward to a chance to put the Brindisi and Rimini through the Caravan road test.

Will towing an eight-foot-wide, single-axle caravan feel much different to towing a standard-width model of this size? We're delighted, though, to see the electronic automatic stability system, ATC, is standard.

Verdict

One of Britain's first two single-axle, eight-feet-wide caravans, importantly of average length, takes touring to a new level of lounge versatility.

The Brindisi has what must we regard as one of the best-ever caravan lounge designs. As with all max-width caravans, the feeling of spaciousness is brilliant. Pegasus Grande is the only mid-priced British-made range of caravans to be eight feet wide.

So this new range makes a big statement in caravan layout evolution. We applaud it.