Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi caravan
Description
One of the lightest maximum-width tourers on the market – and with Bailey’s unique and superbly versatile G-shaped lounge configuration
Key Features
Full Review
Words: Val Chapman Photography: Richard Chapman
The Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi
Amid the layout fashions that drift in and out of the market, driven by invention and by popularity, most conform broadly to a pattern. One, though, stands out from the crowd as being totally different.
It’s a lounge layout that’s unique to Bailey. It appears in four models, all in the Pegasus Grande SE range. And it gives these 2.45m-wide models impressive seating and dining versatility.
This G-shaped lounge layout is in the twin-axle, transverse bed Bologna; the twin-axle, rear bed Messina; the single-axle, twin-bed Rimini and the single-axle Brindisi. The Brindisi is the lightest of the Grande SEs, at 1,539kg. So, if you like the G-shaped lounge layout, and weight-watching is an influence on your choice, this is the one to go for.
The layout
We’re accustomed to descriptions of U-shape and L-shape in terms of lounge/dining configurations. This creative layout, though, is called G-shape. When you look at the layout diagram, it’s easy to see why. And when you spend time in these caravans it’s easy to see why this layout works so well.
Seating along the front and offside creates sprawling-out space for two, just like any other L-shaped lounge. What makes it different is the arrangement on the nearside, where there is a two-person dining table.
And there’s a lot of versatility available... The monopod table can be removed from its clip on the wall; there’s a small seating area under it, so, if you do this, the lounge seating area very nearly becomes U-shaped. Or, when more than two are eating, you can leave the small table in place and put the free-standing table adjacent to it, creating lots of dining space.
So you can adjust the G-shaped lounge to your varying requirements. And you can make a single bed across the front of the caravan, or pull out the base from under it and turn the lounge into a double bed.
All of these models have a width of 2.45m, meaning that the lounge area is gorgeously spacious. The width plays its part in giving the Brindisi (and also the Bologna, that has the same bedroom layout) great appeal. That’s because there is plenty of space at the foot of the bed.
Although there is a mechanism that enables you to reduce the length of the bed by 40cm during the daytime (the mattress is hinged at the pillow end so that you can raise this section when you push the mattress and its frame back), you can easily walk along the foot of the bed without needing to do this.
The kitchen
The kitchen provides enough surface space to make culinary activities a pleasure, especially when the hob top is down. That’s because Bailey’s unique double hob cover design that runs through four of its ranges gives you, in addition to a glass top, a second top that matches the kitchen surface. This means that the Brindisi’s kitchen surface is 1.25m long, and it’s 74cm deep for 75cm of that length.
The sink obviously takes up some of that space, but you can position the drainer over the sink to give you extra surface. And the sink is worthy of comment; at 36cm in diameter, it is plenty large enough to make washing up an easy task.
Opposite, the dresser that houses the fridge and microwave, gives you extra (very brightly lit) kitchen surface, here is the natural position for your television (connections are here), there may have to be compromises.
Kitchen storage comes in the form of a double-doored, two-shelf cabinet, 72cm wide, with a drawer of the same width above it. Here, there is a four-recess cutlery tray, plus space alongside it and behind it, for utensils.
There are two lockers above the kitchen and one above the microwave opposite, plus the pan cupboard under the oven, of course. So, storage space is sufficient but not generous – but, if you need more space, kitchen apparel can invade the lounge, where there are two huge lockers (90cm wide), each containing three shelf spaces, plus two triangular, corner lockers that give you a surprising amount of space.
More storage
The Brindisi, in common with the Messina and Bologna, is a star performer on the topic of lower storage space. That’s because these models have a locker that runs all of the way across the front. It has two exterior access hatches, the offside one being 78cm wide and 34cm deep, and the nearside one 38cm by 34cm.
This means that you can put folding chairs in through the offside hatch, if you wish, and the nearside entrance can be used for smaller items, the obvious ones being toilet chemicals, chocks, and the like. And the centre area? That is best accessed via the 1m-wide, drop-down door on the inside. This locker is capable of hiding away a phenomenal amount of stuff; like the G-shaped lounge and double hob cover, its design is unique to Bailey.
And there’s more on the topic of hideaway places. Beside the door is arguably the most important locker of them all in terms of convenience. It’s designed for shoes; this is one caravan in which there is no need for footwear to take up residence on the doormat!
The top-class storage story continues in the bedroom, with a bed that’s quite easy to raise, and an exterior hatch plenty wide enough for outdoor tables and chairs if you don’t want them in the front locker.
The wardrobes, and the cabinets beneath them, are 33cm wide and 25cm wide. (Whoever brings more clothes on holiday will get the wider wardrobe!) There is a small triangular dressing table with a cabinet beneath it; television connections are here if you want the luxury of watching TV in bed.
The washroom
The full-width shower room is nicely spacious, at 75cm deep. It has a spacious luxury feel, thanks to the mirror that runs almost the entire width between the shower cubicle and the wall cabinet on the offside wall.
The shelf under the mirror, plus five smaller ones, provide plenty of space for stuff that you use every day. There’s a towel loop beside the basin and two hooks on the forward wall.
Our Verdict
<p>The G-shaped lounge is super-versatile – and also super-spacious. The storage capability of the whole-width, lower front locker is a strong selling point of the Brindisi and also of its G-shaped lounge siblings. The kitchen configuration easily meets the needs of buyers for whom meal-making is a strong element of holiday enjoyment. And there’s a shoe cabinet by the door! </p>
<p>If you want a maximum-width tourer and also want one that has an MTPLM figure of only 1,539kg, making it among the lightest of the 2.45m-wide tourers on the market, the Brindisi answers both needs.</p>
