Southleigh Camp was the first camp on the island and was originally a civil service camp. Sunshine became a good success and interest in the camp grew. Sunshine had been run by local management under the name of Freshfields, but eventually Pontins bought out the camp and Sunshine and Southleigh, not forgetting Northleigh Camp, went head to head.  Coronation and Sinah Warren Holiday Camps were both opened and Hayling Island became one of the first huge UK holiday destinations.

The battle went on from there and for years. Butlins and Pontins, the two biggest names in the business made an empire out of their camps on and off the Island, hitting the mid 1960s and turning England into a holiday camp crazy Country. By the late 1970s it pretty much died down as new crazes came about. By the 1980s both Pontins and Butlins were well established names amongst the Leisure and Tourism Trade but this was also the last time Hayling Island saw either of their names over any of the camps.

The 1980s came, and another huge name had already entered Hayling Island and snapped up Sunshine, Coronation and Sinah Warren. Warners, who had been battling alongside Butlins and Pontins across the UK. They wanted a fresh look on the camps and changed "The Sunshine Holiday Camp" to "Mill Rythe Holiday Village" and "Coronation Camp" to "Lakeside".  Sinah Warren was the only one left as it was.

The 1960s Sunshine Logo

After a few years, Warners decided to merge with Haven with the ownership of Mill Rythe Holiday Village. In the 1990s and after nearly a decade of ownership, the village changed hands a few times to minor Companies. Renowned Holidays sealed a deal with Leisure Holidays in 2001 and Hollybush Hotels took the reins from them after 4 years in 2005. Mill Rythe was soon on the market again after just 1 year and was bought by a fresh Partnership who still own it to date.

Both Sinah Warren and Lakeside are still owned by Warners. Property development took its toll on Southleigh Holiday Camp which is now just a  distant memory for Hayling Island along with Northney Holiday Camp.
 

Sadly, a lot of history about the camps has been forgotten or simply removed for a better image over the years. These include the deals that were sealed with the BBC to shoot scenes from the extremely popular 1980s sit-com "Hi-Di-Hi" at Mill Rythe with the main filming taking place at Dovercourt Bay and the Movie "Confessions From A Holiday Camp" filmed entirely at Mill Rythe! Mill Rythe also picked up a contract to shoot scenes from Eastenders in January 2004.
 

Hayling Island only has 3 Holiday Villages or original Camps now but rest assured, Hayling will never forget that it was the one of the first and best holiday resorts in the UK!