Zane and Dana Butler set up Carabuild Leisure Homes in 2012 – keeping small, they’ve built a good reputation for quality – at home and abroad
The holiday caravan and park home industry is as vibrant as ever with new makes coming into the market. Carabuild might not be a familiar name but it’s now an established manufacturer and recently moved into a larger factory, and increased its market share at home, and for exports.
With bespoke orders taken as well as their standard model ranges, Carabuild caters for most buyers’ needs. The Carabuild Hampton here is a 40ft x 13ft two bedroomed holiday lodge with a hint of continental design flare.
The exterior is in CanExel and comes with double-glazed windows, full guttering, and an apex roof. The Hampton has a side door as well as front sliding patio doors.
Stepping inside the Carabuild Hampton and it’s remarkably bright, helped by its choice of light, woodgrain furniture and soft furnishings, as well as the large side window.
There’s a comfortable two-seater settee and a single armchair in a soft grey colour in the front lounge, plus some excellent storage shelves, cupboards and drawers.
There’s an electric fire fitted with space for a TV above, surrounded by a handy storage unit. There’s plenty of room for hot (or cold) drinks on the free-standing coffee table and simple lighting comes from the integrated LED ceiling lights.
The dining area is by the large side window with four upholstered chairs around a light wooden table. Opposite there’s an island work bench with cupboard storage on one side and a grey stone-effect worktop.
The kitchen has ample worktop and cupboard storage in a lovely neutral grey colour, plus room to store 10 bottles of wine (or pop!).
There’s a microwave included in the spec and a large eye-level oven, plus an extractor fan, over the modern four burner hob for cooking up all manner of family meals.
Chrome finishes to the sockets, switches, and door handles complete the modern look.
Walking through to the sleeping quarters at the back of the Carabuild Hampton, there’s a large twin bedroom with a central built-in wardrobe, large overhead cupboards and blue padded headboards. This room is bright and spacious and will easily accommodate children or adults – a great feature of this two-bedroomed lodge.
Next to the twin bedroom you’ll find the main bathroom, complete with a good-sized shower, toilet and bowl-shaped hand basin sitting on top of a double storage unit.
Here you can dry your towels on the chrome radiator and get ready for the day in front of a large mirror. The patterned flooring is in the same design as the kitchen and it’s all very light and bright.
From here you walk down the small passageway to the master bedroom. In the same blues and light wood as the twin bedroom, this bedroom has three floor-to-ceiling windows allowing plenty of natural light to flood in.
Modern wall lights above the bedside cabinets and three dark blue padded headboards add a pop of colour and give a contemporary feel to this relaxing room.
There’s a dressing table hemmed between two wardrobes – we do wonder if they might be big enough? Plus, there’s a basic padded stool to sit on to get ready and a large mirror with mains sockets for a hairdryer or other hairstyling instruments!
An en-suite toilet room is in back corner of the Carabuild Hampton. There’s no shower here but a large hand basin, small towel radiator, a mirror and good storage with a large double cupboard and added shelving.
Verdict: Carabuild might not be a familiar name, but the man behind it (Zane Butler) has many years in this industry, working at ABI and Willerby. Using his combined skills he’s created a lodge that has strong continental leanings in style outside, as well as inside.
Bright and cheerful, the interior is contemporary and comes with quality fittings.
We think it’s a well-planned lodge that should make more waves in the UK market as it has for exports.
Plus points: Bright interior, good storage in the lounge area, large kitchen
Minus points: No shower in the en-suite, the wardrobe storage in the main bedroom might not prove enough for some users
In a nutshell: A lodge that offers a different look to what’s on offer with the mainstream manufacturers. Take a look and see what you think…
Size: 40ft x 13ft
Build standard: BS3632
Sleeps: Up to four
Bedrooms: Two
Other Hampton units available: Only one model
Others to look at: Swift Vendee 42ft x 13ft two bedroomed; ABI Langdale 40ft x 13ft two bedroomed; Willerby Gainsborough 38 ft x 12ft two bedroomed; Atlas Jasmine 43ft x 14ft two bedroomed; Pemberton Marlow 40ft x 13ft two bedroomed
Key optional extras: Exterior colours, galvanised chassis, apply to the factory for any extras needed
Ex-works price: £66,000* (EN1647) or £71,000* (BS 3632)
*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
To find out more about insuring a Carabuild lodge or your current lodge visit our holiday lodge insurance page.
For more information about Carabuild’s static caravans and lodges visit: www.carabuildleisurehomes.co.uk or call 01482 870288.
Great looking holiday home. Shame there is no shower in bathroom to main bedroom.
Kitchen is a good looker.