THE Victory Versailles lodge was in an eye-catching position on the company’s stand in September at Cottingham Parks Caravan and Lodge show. This is the newly branded show previously referred to as the Golf Club show which runs concurrently with the Caravan Extravaganza held in the nearby grounds of the University of Hull.

New to the company’s portfolio, this two bedroom lodge has a utility room, an en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom and space – plenty of it.

Come on in

French doors into the panoramic open plan living area invited me into the lodge and the dramatic chocolate and red full length curtains set off the area well; they were warm looking and set the ambience for the rest of the lodge, oozing class.

My first thought was that the curtains by the French doors needed tie-backs as they were flapping in the breeze. The black Venetian blinds weren’t oppressive looking and feature at all windows throughout the lodge.

There were two sofas, one of which is a sofa bed – upholstered in what the company calls “ecru” coloured fabric, with large and comfy co-ordinating scatter cushions – arranged in ‘L’ shape in front of the feature landscape style black electric variable setting remote control fire (maximum 2kw) with the optional wall mounted television above it. The lodge is pre-wired for satellite television.

In the middle of the room, but not in the way, was a large square modern coffee table with four drawers. The lighting was contemporary with a large crystal-like cluster low wattage fitting and a matching freestanding standard lamp.

Dine in comfort

A rectangular dining table had four real leather upholstered chairs as opposed to the more common faux leather, and you could possibly get a chair at each end of the table, too. The upholstery was black but it wasn’t out of place.

The feature light over the table was eye-catching and there was a sliding door out onto the deck.

How very sociable this lodge is for entertaining – you’ll have your friends and family, not to mention the neighbours, visiting you frequently!

Cook's corner

The dining area had a very practical laminated tile effect floor, which extended into the kitchen, and it’s a kitchen for those who like to cook! It had a five-burner Rangemaster gas hob with a three speed stainless steel and glass extractor fan over the top. A brushed stainless steel 11/2 bowl sink and single drainer was set under a large window, so you’d need a nice view to admire while preparing food.

Dishwashing is taken care of with an eight-place Baumatic dishwasher. A built-in high level oven and grill is complemented by a built-in combination microwave with grill. The fridge and freezer were both built-in under the worktop. There were five eye-level cupboards, in Mocha coffee colour, and two base units and a generous three stacks of drawers; these were described as Sepia colour. I did like the deep draw under the oven, which I thought was perfect for pans.

Two double power points were seen above the russet and chocolate stone-effect worktops. Worktop space was generous and this kitchen even has a convivial breakfast bar with room for two chairs, if you don’t mind sitting with your back to the panoramic front elevation.

Utility and storage

I knew to expect a utility room in this lodge and I expected the sort of space where you couldn’t swing a cat, but I was wrong! As in the kitchen the worktop had an upstand and there were wall mounted cupboards and base units, the same colourway as in the kitchen, and a stainless steel sink. A washing machine was installed, but it is an optional purchase. There was one double power point and it did strike me that you could have a built-in freezer in the utility room thus releasing space for another base unit in the kitchen.

As in the kitchen the floor was laminated and there was also the benefit of a door to the exterior, and this I thought might be the most practical way of entering the lodge rather than via the French doors and directly into the living area. The wall-hung central heating boiler had its own dedicated cupboard and there was plenty of floor space for welly boots, gardening shoes and the like.
A cupboard in the hall had hooks for coats and there would be some storage space in there as well.

Master plan

Having examined the living area and utility space, I was impressed with the Versailles; it was a little palace, though I accept that the colour scheme may not be to everybody’s taste. Curiously, though, I hadn’t seen a mirror.

But then to the bedrooms. The master was certainly a good size and even though it had a lift-up king-size bed there was still plenty of walk-round space. Fixed bedside tables with three drawers and a single power point were each side, while the chocolate leather-covered headboard with matching footboard was a contrast to the feature wall at the back of the bed – wide stripes of mushroom, cream and claret colour which co-ordinated well with the sill-length curtains and bed runner. Full bedding sets are included in the price of the Versailles.

There were reading lights with square lamp shades each side of the bed. A neat dressing table had a mirror above it and a well placed double power point and shaver socket. More storage was provided courtesy of a chest of drawers. I was surprised to find a compact walk-in with mirrored double wardrobe doors, a second double wardrobe and a shelf unit and there was space to put cases and boxes on top of the wardrobe, too.

The en-suite bathroom shouldn’t have surprised me – by now nothing was a surprise. A spacious room with his and hers rectangular washbasins set on oak plinths each with illuminated mirrors above them, a P-shaped bath, with overbath shower and acrylic screen, laminated floors and the lavatory right opposite the door.

I wondered, though, why there wasn’t anywhere to charge an electric toothbrush, like a shaver socket, perhaps.

Seconds

The second bedroom had 6 ft x 3ft divan twin beds and the décor was the same as in the master bedroom. There was a freestanding central bedside table with one single power point above and a central reading light. The headboards were coffee coloured leather and there was a full height double wardrobe with an open shelf to the right. No dressing table in here, but a small leather-covered stool fits under the shelf and yes, there was a mirror.

Jack and Jill doors lead to the shower room with a single rectangular basin.

Unlike in the en-suite bathroom, perhaps one could say that there isn’t a lot of room for toiletries and that a shelf would improve this.

Accommodation

• Open plan lounge, kitchen and dining area
• Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom
• Twin bedroom
• Shower room
• Utility room with sink

Included in price:

• Plank effect acrylic cladding
• Front end patio doors
• Two freestanding sofas
• Freestanding dining table and four leather-upholstered chairs
• Integrated fridge/freezer and dishwasher
• High level oven and grill
• Integrated five-burner range-style hob and extractor

OUR VERDICT

The Victory Versailles is definitely an attractive home – and you get a lot of lodge for the price. It’s light and spacious, modern and practical, just right for comfortable leisure days, but choose the right size of plot with a good view.



Technical details
• Type: twin unit lodge-style home
• Standard: BS3632, so could be used on a residential park if the park owner agrees
• Size: 40ft x 20ft
• Bedrooms: 2

Other versions
• 40ft x 14ft 2 bed; 40ft x 16ft 2 bed; 40ft x 16ft 3 bed

Main features
• Steel chassis with galvanised corner steadies and two towbars
• Plank effect acrylic cladding
• Steel Metrotile roof
• Vaulted ceilings
• Panoramic front aspect with overhang exterior downlighters
• K glass double glazing
• Full central heating
• Patio doors

Green credentials
• Morco Boiler: B rated
• Fridge and freezer: A rated
• Optional washing machine as seen: A rated
• Dishwasher: A rated
• Low energy lighting
• Lagged pipes
• Dual flush water saving toilets
• 90 mm wall insulation
• 100 mm floor insulation
• 160mm fibreglass roof insulation

Selected options
• Genuine timber cladding £1,450
• Three wall mounted televisions, plus BlueRay DVD, iPOD docking stations and surround sound package £2,726
• Integrated washing machine £723
• Integrated washer/drier £830

Price
£69,310 Ex works (inc VAT)

CONTACT

Victory Leisure Homes, Stoneferry, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire HU8 8EH. Tel: 01482 822822. Email: [email protected]. Web: www.victoryleisurehomes.co.uk

This review was published in the November 2010 issue of Park & Holiday Homes. To order your copy please click here