Wythenshawe family’s holiday ruined following dispute over daughters swimwear at caravan park

The family were at Haven Marton Mere Holiday Village, Blackpool between 5 and 8 June, when they said a series of problems occurred including an incident where their daughter was asked to leave the swimming pool

18:42, 22 Jun 2026Updated 09:16, 23 Jun 2026

Ella, 12, was asked to leave the pool at a Haven park due to what she was wearing (Image: Anna Roberts)

A family from Wythenshawe say their daughter has been left distraught after being told to leave a Haven swimming pool while on holiday in Blackpool over her choice of clothing.

Anna Roberts, 50, said several issues occurred during a break at Haven Marton Mere Holiday Village caravan park between June 5 and 8, when she was away with her partner, three children and two dogs. The family said the issues began immediately on arrival at their accommodation, which they described as below standard.

They reported being unhappy with the cleanliness of the caravan and said cleaning staff were still present when they arrived. They also said there was concerns about an unpleasant smell inside the accommodation and said the overall condition fell short of expectations, saying “it just didn’t feel like it had been properly prepared for us”.

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In a separate incident, Ms Roberts said her 15-year-old son, Kai cut his lip on a chipped drinking glass that had been left inside the caravan.

“There was a broken glass left in the cupboard and my son actually cut his lip on it. It was just really disappointing,” she said.

The most significant issue during the break, according to the family, took place at the swimming pool – and has led to their 12-year-old daughter being put off from going swimming again.

Ms Roberts’ said her 12-year-old daughter, Ella was wearing a swim T-shirt and shorts chosen specifically for comfort due to sensory needs.

A lifeguard approached the family shortly after they entered the pool and asked that the child leave the water because of what she was wearing.

“She was only in for a few minutes and then we were asked to get out,” Ms Roberts said.

She said she explained the clothing had been purchased from the swim section and was intended as appropriate swimwear to help her daughter feel comfortable in the water, adding that she had assumed it was suitable for use in the pool and that her daughter needed it for sensory reasons.

“I just said this is what she can wear, it’s what she is comfortable in,” Anna said.

The family said they were told alternative swimwear could be purchased on-site, which they found frustrating as they had already paid for access to the swimming facilities as part of their booking. Anna also shared that prior to entering the pool they hadn’t seen any signs regarding what was fine to wear in the pool.

She said: “It felt really unfair, especially because we’d already paid for the pool.”

Ms Roberts said she raised the issue with staff immediately afterwards but felt she was not given much help at the time and was told she would instead be contacted by someone later.

She said this experience influenced how she dealt with other issues during the stay, including concerns inside the caravan, which she chose not to raise in person at the time and instead reported online after returning home.

The family also said they felt the child had been singled out, adding that they saw other children in the pool wearing similar clothing, including T-shirts and shorts. Anna also shared that her daughter was standing in shallow water beside them at the time rather than actively swimming.

Ms Roberts said: “I don’t want another child to go through what Ella went through. I just think it’s wrong, it’s supposed to be for families.”

Following the stay, Ms Roberts said she made a complaint at reception and was told someone would contact her. She later received a phone call offering a £50 voucher and confirming the matter had been passed on for further review, but said she was disappointed with the response.

A Haven spokesperson has said: “We are sorry that the accommodation did not meet our usual high standards and have since spoken to the guest to apologise. We encourage guests to make our team aware of all issues immediately so that we can rectify them.”

“Our lifeguards work hard to ensure all guests remain safe when using our facilities. For safety reasons, anyone entering the swimming pool must wear appropriate swimwear and everyday clothing is not permitted in the water.”

Kai, 15, was also in the pool with his sister and chose to leave to after his sister was asked to leave