01 Feb 2021

One of the UK's longest established providers of outdoor education announced the closure of their two residential centres on 29th January. 

In a statement on their facebook page Allnatt Outdoors said

" We are sad to announce that we are closing our doors today. We have been at the forefront of the #SaveOutdoorEd campaign and are proud of what we tried to achieve. To all the other outdoor education centres that are struggling - Good Luck and we will miss being part of the wider outdoor family. To our lovely customers - Thank you for choosing us for your outdoor learning experiences. Next time you toast a marshmallow, think of us.#AllnattAdventures #Goodbye".

The closure is a direct result of the Covid pandemic with no school visits being allowed to take place since March 2020. In a press statement the company said:

"The current surge in the infection rate and another lockdown period has made it impossible to continue for an organisation which prides itself on providing a safe experience for children."

Allnatt Centres are located in East Dene on the Isle of Wight and Swanage in Dorset.

The Swanage Centre offered 5 seaside guest houses providing for a variety of group sizes offering accommodation for up to 224 students.

The Isle of Wight centre comprised a Victorian mansion, original Coach House and a splendid campsite set within 5 acres of woodland grounds. The mansion and coach house offered accommodation for up to 168 students. 

Allnatt Centres were founded by Joseph Allnatt in 1924. Joseph was the brother of Major AE Allnatt who owned the famous Allnatt Diamond. Both were property millionaires and philanthropists. When Joseph bought a disused aerodrome in St Mary’s Bay in Kent, he had a vision.

He saw the run down property converted into accommodation which would buzz with children and young people from different localities and social classes getting to know each other and having an educational and fun time together. Soon St Mary’s Bay Holiday Camp opened and quickly became incredibly popular and respected with regular visits from the Duke of York who fully embraced the vision.

A true entrepreneur, Joseph ran the camp as a Turkey Farm during the empty winter months, competing with Bernard Matthews and supplying a turkey to 10 Downing St for Christmas Lunch. The camp was renamed the School Journey Centre and the company went on to acquire additional centres throughout the UK.