The ABI Roecliffe’s styling is a meld of country cottage-inspired design and bright, light modernity.
The use of matt marine blue teamed with pale, natural wood for the cabinetry, makes sure the modern element is predominant. A more subtle country cottage vibe comes in the form of an abstract floral design on a pale cream background for the curtains and Shaker-style kitchen drawer handles.
Arguably, the lounge seating style sits in both cottage and modern design camps. It’s a delightful light grey, with a prominent weave to create interest. And it’s slightly traditional in shape, with rolled armrests for the two settees (one is a three-seater and the other seats two.)
In our review model Roecliffe, there’s also an armchair, which is one of a number of optional extras offered by ABI. Cosiness is very evident, both in the look of the lounge and the quality and comfort of the seating.
The ABI’s Roecliffe’s front line is of an interesting and unusual design, incorporating an offset, angled, bay window effect where the two patio doors (these are among the extras) open up on to your decking.
Our review unit is equipped with voiles; another extra. Both of these features significantly add to the ABI Roecliffe’s appeal as you sit in the lounge and take in the view from the patio doors and large windows. In the case of our review model, it’s a fantastic seascape vista that really encapsulated the appeal of owning a holiday caravan.
We reviewed this ABI Roecliffe static caravan at Marsh House Holiday Park, which borders the shore of the Irish Sea; Warton Sands, to be precise, where the River Keer flows into Morecambe Bay.
We loved the ABI Roecliffe’s lounge for its enchanting ambience and its colour scheme, bringing in mustard for the cushions (mustard and grey are always an interior design match made in heaven) that keys in with one of the colours in the curtain pattern. Colours are so important when you’re choosing your perfect holiday caravan, and the Roecliffe’s grey, marine blue and mustard palette works really well.
We also liked the design of the coffee table; it incorporates a recess for a mustard-upholstered cube stool that you can move anywhere, to use as a footstool or as a seat.
Marine blue is the standout colour of the kitchen, alongside which is the dining table, with comfortable, high-backed chairs upholstered in fabric that matches the lounge seating.
Soft-close hinge mechanisms on the kitchen drawers and doors inject a quality touch, as do the two cast iron pan stands on the four-burner hob, above the wide grill and oven. Surface areas to the left and right of the cooker, plus an expansive L-shaped area that runs around the front of the kitchen, give a really good amount of space.
Three drawers and five large cabinets amply take care of lower storage – and one of them reaches deep into a corner, making the most of all available space. A large microwave – another item on the extras list – is set into an upper cabinet surrounded by shelving.
The fridge-freezer incorporates a wine rack; a nice refined touch.
Most holiday caravans have a central corridor leading from the kitchen to the bedroom sector.
The ABI Roecliffe static caravan, has its corridor on one side though, and it’s wider than the majority.
What’s also special here is that there’s a seat on which to perch for taking on and off footwear, plus two shelves to place them out of the way, and three double coat hooks and two sleeves above. That’s all of the gloves and woolly hat paraphernalia taken care of. There’s also space for footwear at the base of the cabinet that houses the central heating unit, alongside.
Both the main bedroom and the shower room are at the back of the ABI Roescliffe. The main bedroom’s en-suite facilities are a toilet and hand-wash basin, with a mirrored cabinet and shelving.
King-size bed luxury awaits the ABI Roecliffe buyer, in a bedroom where soft pink and grey are the statement colours, for the bedhead, the wall behind it and the simple, modern leaf pattern of the curtains.
There’s a definite overall luxury feel about this bedroom. Storage space arrives in the form of a double-doored wardrobe with two deep drawers beneath. There’s shelf space above the wardrobe, too.
A small dressing table, tucked away in a corner alongside it, provides all you need, with a mains socket and an upholstered stool. Double mains sockets are on each side of the bed, with USB ports, too, and there’s a mains power point, plus connections for a television, on the wall at the foot of the bed.
The shower room isn’t spacious, but it doesn’t have to be. The shower cubicle is stylishly finished with a grey tile effect panel.
The washbasin is nicely deep and has a mirrored cabinet above, plus a cabinet below. A white towel warmer is opposite.
We reviewed the two-bedroomed ABI Roecliffe static caravan, with a twin room (with 2ft 3in-wide beds) just forward of the main bedroom. Here, there’s a wardrobe incorporating a drawer, and a shelf and mirror opposite. This room has two mains sockets and two USB ports. Colours are the same as those in the main bedroom; lovely.
Verdict: A super value static caravan with a distinctive colour scheme that exudes a definite holiday atmosphere – the ABI Roecliffe is a spacious, bright and comfortable home away from home. Elements that set it apart from the pack are the wide side corridor leading to the bedroom zone, the accommodation for coats and shoes close to the door, and the bay window-style frontage.
Buyers will want to go for the extras that are in the Roecliffe we reviewed here – without the voiles for example, it would look much less sophisticated. And, without the built-in microwave, you’d probably buy one and have it taking up work surface space.
Another important element of the extras list is the fully galvanised chassis, for longevity, rather than the standard painted chassis.
Plus points: The wide corridor with coat and shoe provision. The cosy ambience of the lounge. The distinctive marine blue and mustard accent colours. The cleverly designed coffee table with hideaway for a stool.
Minus points: No shower in the en-suite of the 37ft Roecliffe’s. (There is one in 39ft model)
In a nutshell: A great-value holiday caravan of character, with an unusual side-corridor layout, plenty of kitchen space – and a very appealing colour scheme of marine blue, grey and mustard
Size: 37ft x 12ft
Sleeps: Four
Other sizes available: 39ft x 12ft, 41ft x 12ft with three bedrooms
Key optional extras: Fully galvanised chassis, voiles throughout, patio doors, iIntegrated microwave, Bluetooth sound system in lounge, armchair in matching fabric and pocket-sprung mattresses
Ex-works price: £46,646*
Spotted in the classifieds: A 2022 ABI Roecliffe holiday caravan for sale in Lancashire. (LA5). Sited costs £69,950
Cost to insure this sited static caravan would be £208**
*Extra charges will be made by park operators and/or distributors for transport and siting and annual maintenance. Please check the price carefully before you commit to buy as prices vary considerably dependant amongst other factors, on the geographical location of your chosen park
**Leisuredays static caravan insurance quote based on 2022 ABI Roecliffe holiday caravan insured for £74,950 (£69,950 for structure and £5,000 contents). Owners are a 68-year-old retired couple with previous holiday caravan insurance and three years no claim discount. £5,000 contents included. £75 excess applies. Insurance premium includes insurance premium tax at the current rate and is correct as of 07/10/2022
For more information visit about the range of holiday caravans and lodges from ABI visit www.abiuk.co.uk
