The Willerby two bedroom Rio holiday home

As many readers will know, Willerby Holiday Homes Ltd has been designing and building holiday homes since the early 1960s. One of its latest models, which was launched for the 2009 season, is the Rio, a two bedroom entry-level home with a specification which wouldn’t be out of place in a home costing considerably more. The two bedroom model will sleep six thanks to the sofa bed which is included as standard, or you could opt for the three bedroom model sleeping eight.

One of the cost saving features is the chassis which is painted rather than galvanised but which does have galvanised corner steadies. The exterior is ‘sandstone’ aluminium cladding and the home has a pitched pantile steel roof. The floor is insulated and all the pipes are lagged. However, PVCu double glazed windows and doors are optional features.

On entering the home, the kitchen and lounge/dining areas are on your left and the bedrooms to the right. The kitchen is a fairly modest affair comprising a combination oven with hob and grill plus floor and wall cabinets with space for a fridge and a microwave. Vinyl flooring has been installed here and in the shower room adjoining the kitchen.

The lounge/dining area is carpeted and has fixed seating which includes a fold-out bed. There’s a gas fire, a TV cabinet and storage unit, and a wall unit incorporating display cabinets. In one corner of the living area is the free-standing pedestal dining table and two stools plus fixed seating. Lighting here, is provided by low energy lights fitted to the vaulted ceiling – which actually extends throughout the home. There’s plenty of daylight too, from the full width window in the end wall plus a couple of others in the front and back walls of the home.

The shower room is well appointed with a large shower cubicle with a chromed thermostatic shower, a large washbasin mounted on a vanity unit with plenty of storage for toiletries and a low level toilet.

The main bedroom is the full width of the home and has a double bed with storage above the headboard and a floor to ceiling wardrobe with drawers in its base. There is also a small ensuite comprising a washbasin on a vanity unit and a low level toilet. The second bedroom has two single beds plus a small floor to ceiling wardrobe.

Verdict

The Rio is an entry-level holiday home from one of the industry’s leading manufacturers and hence benefits from Willerby’s many years of building homes. It may not have refinements such as double glazing and central heating but still has some excellent features. As such, the Rio is likely to be the choice of those who want great value for money.

Main features

• Aluminium cladding
• Steel pantile pitched roof
• Vaulted ceilings throughout
• Gas fire
• En suite to main bedroom
• Chrome thermostatic shower

Specification

Type: Single holiday lodge
Standard: BS EN 1647
Size: 35ft x 12ft
Bedrooms: 2

For further information: Willerby Holiday Homes, Imperial House, 1251 Hedon Road, Hull, HU9 5NA. Tel: 01482 713838. Email: [email protected] Website: www.willerbyuk.com