There are moments in business that feel almost surreal, and this one sits right at the top. Kimberley – The Caravans and Motorhome People – have been voted Caravan Dealer of the Year 2026 at the Out & About Awards. Public vote. No panels tucked away in quiet rooms. No mysterious judging criteria. Just real caravanners, motorhomers, weekend wanderers, and lifelong road-trippers choosing the dealer they trust most.
Honestly, that makes it hit a little deeper.
Awards pop up everywhere, don’t they? You see a shiny badge online and sometimes wonder who decided it and whether they’ve ever stepped foot on a forecourt. But this one? It comes directly from people who spend their holidays in awnings, argue good-naturedly about MTPLM figures, and can reverse a caravan more gracefully than they can park a supermarket trolley.
That’s why it matters. It’s recognition from the very people Kimberley show up for every day.
And you know what? That feels like a warm cuppa after hitching up in the rain.
Kimberley’s two dealerships — Nottingham and Darlington — aren’t trying to be flashy or corporate. They’re built on that old-school principle: look after people and they’ll look after you. Sounds simple, but it takes years to get right.
If you’ve ever walked the Nottingham site on a Saturday, you’ll know what I mean. Staff actually pick up the phone; customers can wander freely through caravans without someone shadowing them; and there’s always someone who has a story about their own touring mishap (usually involving a forgotten water cap or a grumpy dog).
The Darlington branch? Same energy. More northern humour, perhaps, but the same sense that you’re dealing with people who genuinely enjoy matching a family with the right layout.
So when the public votes and says, “Yep, these are our people,” it feels less like a surprise and more like a confirmation of what caravanners have been whispering for a while.
Awards aren’t won with luck — they’re built on a string of choices that create momentum. And 2026 has been a big, busy year.
Huge range across Swift, Coachman, Bailey, Auto-Trail, Elddis and more
Not just stocking them, but actually knowing them. Someone can wander in asking about a 6-berth with a decent payload and not get blank stares.
Straightforward service levels
No fuss. No pressure. Just real conversations and honest timeframes.
Events that people wanted to attend
Like the Preloved Summer Show, which somehow became part-sales-event, part-community-meetup. (If you were there for the kettle-boiling marathon, you’re not alone.)
A website that didn’t feel like a maze
Customers mentioned it loads: easy browsing, clear stock listings, proper photos, and the ability to view or reserve a caravan without jumping through hoops.
Aftercare that felt human
Because nothing spoils a holiday quicker than a problem no one wants to fix. Kimberley’s workshop and tech crews earned their share of the votes too.
And then there’s the atmosphere — that thing you can’t really quantify but you feel the moment you walk on site.
Caravanning isn't just a hobby. It’s one of those lifestyle choices that weaves into everything — your weekends, your summers, your family memories. When people pick a dealer, they’re choosing who they’ll call when something rattles, leaks, or behaves oddly halfway to the Lakes.
Trust becomes the whole game.
So when thousands of people point to Kimberley and say, “Yes, this is who we rely on,” it makes perfect sense that the award hit differently this year.
The Out & About Awards have a bit of a cult following among touring folk. Voting is open, transparent, and surprisingly spirited — you’d think people were picking the winner of Eurovision, not a caravan dealership.
For Kimberley to top that list? It shows consistency. Reliability. And a whole community of customers who’ve had good experiences and wanted to shout about it.
A dealership can run ads until their budget evaporates, but you can’t buy this level of goodwill. It’s earned, one conversation and one handover at a time.
Awards are lovely, but they’re also a bit of a challenge — they raise expectations. And Kimberley knows that. Winning Caravan Dealer of the Year isn’t a finish line; it’s more like a signpost saying, “Right then, keep going.”
So, what next?
Even more focus on customer experience
Continued investment in support, servicing, and training
Bigger and better events that bring the community together
Fresh stock arriving weekly, especially as 2026 Coachman and Swift models hit the forecourts
And, most importantly, keeping that same friendly, no-pressure feel that helped win this award
Because if this result shows anything, it’s that caravanners don’t want gloss — they want dealers who listen.
The message coming from the Nottingham and Darlington teams is simple: thank you.
Thank you to everyone who voted. Thank you to those who visited, bought, browsed, called, emailed, or simply shared their experience online. This award belongs to the whole caravanning community as much as Kimberley.
And if you’ve never visited? Well… maybe now’s the perfect time to see what all the fuss is about.
The kettle’s usually on.
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