2017 ABI Beaumont static caravan review

New for 2017, a highly specified static caravan with luxurious touches

The ABI Beaumont from long-time caravan manufacturer ABI features a 14ft wide body as standard and comes complete with many extra, luxurious fixtures and fittings as well as a superb master bedroom suite.

It’s available in both standard and residential specifications and our review model is a two-bedded 42ft x 14ft unit.

Outside, the caravan is clad in a pale cream aluminium with a black steel pantile roof, white uPVC guttering and downpipes with a nice overhang in contrasting black to the front elevation.  This overhang also incorporates four downlighters set above a set of large sliding patio doors with two tall, thin windows to either side.  On our review model there was a splendid decking system that matched the caravan’s colour and styling and included protective glass panels, separated by chunky wooden posts topped with a stainless steel handrail – all of which really made it stand out.

There are plenty uPVC windows down both sides of the Beaumont, which include ABI’s special Low ‘E’ Thermaglass double-glazing. The caravan is mounted on a steel, pre-galvanised twin axle chassis, but it might be worth considering upgrading to a fully galvanised chassis, which benefits from ABI’s generous 10-year warranty.

Insulation on the ABI Beaumont is 100mm in the roof and below the floorboards with 50mm in the walls. ABI also offers customers the option of a special Winter Premium Pack which they’ve designed to keep the caravan warm and cosy during the cooler months.  The packs includes 300W heaters to all bedrooms, heated towel rails and domestic central heating – worth considering if you want to get the best value from your caravan by using it for 12 months of the year.

Stepping into the caravan from the side access door, your immediate impression is of luxury and comfort.  The colour palette chosen for the Beaumont is muted creams to the furniture, light oak timbering on cabinets and units and an accent colour of light mauve – all underpinned by a light grey fitted carpet.  The windows allow lots of natural light into the caravan and on dark days or at night, there’s a central multi-bulb pendant fitting and strips of spotlights in the kitchen area.

The ceiling is pitched throughout and a nice touch is the covering of joints and corners with light oak strips as well as a skirting board. Curtains are on thick poles and reflect the mauve colour scheme, being stylish without the chintz!

There are two large, squashy, Chesterfield style sofas – one of which conceals a pull-out bed for occasional use. There’s also a corner unit for the TV, a square occasional side table and an upholstered footstool with lift up storage top.  Central to the lounge is a really nice fireplace with a gas flame effect fire with stainless steel surround, a classic mantle and a large mirror above. Other useful accessories include a USB hub and TV aerial sockets.

One of the really nice things about the ABI Beaumont is that there’s no hard divider between the lounge and kitchen; one sofa is placed to demark the two areas instead.  This gives the effect of a very large, open-plan space which works well.

In the kitchen and dining area, ABI have taken a different design decision with their layout of this space.  Instead of following the usual ‘C’ or ‘U’ shape or galley style, they’ve chosen to split the units that make up the kitchen into two sets.  The one set comprises a series of cupboards, with a countertop, a huge larder unit (option) and the integrated fridge/freezer with a built-in microwave oven along one wall, with the cooker and sink on the opposite side in an ‘L’ formation near the side access door.  The dining table and its four upholstered chairs is free-standing and can be moved anywhere in the mid section of the room.

The kitchen cabinets are all in light oak with bronze handles and all have soft close mechanisms. The 40mm thick countertops are in a contrasting light marble effect. An oven with grill is surmounted by a five-burner gas hob with central wok burner and fumes are extracted by a three-filter stainless steel hood, vented to the outside.  A dishwasher is a standard fitting with a washing machine as an optional extra.

There are plenty of wall cupboards and a nice touch is a Corian-style white sink and drainer with a monobloc mixer tap.  All in all the Beaumont’s kitchen has been well planned and the fact that it’s spread out across the room gives it a flexibility not often achievable on many similar holiday caravans.

The shower room, although a little on the compact side, still manages to pack in a stylish handbasin atop a storage cupboard, a mirrored cabinet with shelves and a shaver socket as well as a low profile double flush toilet.  A large semi-opaque window lets lots of light into the room and there’s a stainless steel radiator that doubles as a towel rail. A corner cupboard houses the gas combi boiler.

Opposite the shower room is the Beaumont’s twin bedded room. This is a really comfortable looking room with two 3ft beds with lots of space to walk in between, a feature padded headboard that straddles both beds with central table, power sockets and a USB charger point. There’s an over-the-bed unit with three cupboards and integrated reading lights.  In one corner of the room is a very comprehensive vanity unit with shelves and a mirror plus a large hanging wardrobe with drawers below. The nice thing about entering this room is your impression of space. Although small, it’s not over cluttered.

The final section of the Beaumont is given over to the master bedroom suite.  For us, this was the piece de resistance of the whole caravan and there are many who would envy such a room in their own home! First of all, the large, central king sized bed has a gas strut lift up mechanism to give you extra storage for bedding and clothing. This has a built-in headboard unit incorporating twin bedside tables (again with power sockets and USB chargers) with drawers and a central buttoned section in velvet material. Above, on the wall are three storage cupboards with two integrated reading lights and to one side of the bed is a huge vanity and storage unit.

On the other side of the bed, a door takes you into a walk-in dressing area and the en-suite bathroom.  The dressing area of the ABI Beaumont is fitted with capacious wardrobes, open shelving and drawer storage and you also get a full-length mirror set into a wardrobe door.  The whole area is, of course, fully carpeted.  The en-suite has a nice domestic sized bath with shower over and a glazed screen as well as the usual handbasin and low, double flushing toilet, along with storage cabinet, shelves and a mirror. There’s also a tall stainless steel radiator-cum-towel rail.

Verdict

ABI have really taken the typical static caravan to another level with the ABI Beaumont, incorporating many luxurious touches throughout the various rooms without compromising on space.  The caravan doesn’t feel cramped and exudes an air of comfort and style, with the careful use of colours in both finishes and soft furnishings. It’s well planned, isn’t over-designed and should appeal to both traditionalists and forward thinkers alike.

Plus Points

Feeling of understated luxury as you enter.

Split kitchen makes sensible use of space.

Dressing room and en-suite to master bedroom.

Fairly spacious twin bedroom.

Not over-priced for what you get.

Minus Points

Nothing.

In-a-Nutshell

The ABI Beaumont sets the bar high in holiday caravans.

Add a comment to tell us what you think below.

FACT FILE

Size: 42ft x 14ft.

Build Standard: EN 1647. Residential specification to BS3632 also available.

Berths: Six in two bedrooms (one twin and one double). Plus an extra two on a pull-out sofabed in the lounge.

Key optional extras: Can be supplied as residential specification to BS3632 with all the usual enhancements this brings; Washing machine; CanExel exterior cladding; space saver bed (twin room only); larder unit; Bluetooth sound system; pocket sprung mattresses.

Ex-works price: £56,812.04 inc VAT*

For more information e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.abiuk.co.uk

*Additional charges will be made by park operators, and/or distributors for transport, siting and annual maintenance. Please check the price carefully before you commit to buy, as prices vary considerably dependent, amongst other factors, on the geographical location of your chosen park.

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