At first glance, Broadland Sun, surrounded by the woodlands of Norfolk, looks like any other campsite in Britain, with empty pitches, mobile homes and bungalow tents available for holidaymakers to rent.
Except no one wears any clothes – including the staff who greet you. That’s because Broadland Sun is a nudist club, run by a naturist committee since 1935.
We spoke to former manager Austin Redgrave and current interim manager Tom Gilks, who told us what it’s like to work there, how guests cope with the cold and why there’s a laundromat.
The manager role is the only staff role at Broadland Sun and Austin notes that the day-to-day duties involve ‘being on site, looking after the facilities – toilets, shower blocks, maintaining the pool – cleaning and looking after holidaymakers’.
So far so normal. But unlike other campsites, the manager is allowed to walk around naked.
Broadland Sun Association campsite (above) is a nudist site for members. MailOnline Travel spoke to former manager Austin Redgrave, along with current interim manager Tom Gilks, who say nudity is expected at the site – except when it’s too cold
Austin notes: ‘There are a lot of rules – the pool, sauna and sunbathing area are nudist areas only.’ Here’s a look at guests enjoying the pool at Broadland Sun
Austin explains that he spent 50 percent of his working time naked.
He continues: ‘I tried to spend as much time naked as possible. I greeted customers naked. It didn’t bother me. I lived the lifestyle and got involved in it.
‘But there is a reality: some jobs don’t allow you to be naked.
“There’s a little bit of etiquette, honestly. So if I was cleaning the bathroom, I wouldn’t do it naked, because if I ended up in a stall and a guy walked through the door behind me, they’d That towards them, so, you know…’
And how much time do the customers spend naked?
Nudity is usually required, although exceptions are made due to weather.
Austin notes, “There are a lot of rules: the pool, sauna, and sunbathing area are nude-only areas.
‘It’s not a clothing optional site – the official rule is that nudity is expected when the weather is nice. If it’s 30 degrees and you’re walking around in jeans and a T-shirt, that’s a problem and you’re probably not there for the right reasons.
‘The rest of the site is, kind of, temperature based. If it’s five degrees Celsius outside, you can put some clothes on because it’s cold.
Broadland Sun also offers members access to a fishing lake, a petanque court, mini tennis (a tennis-like game invented by naturists), badminton courts, a TV room, a pool table, darts and a clubhouse.
Tom, the temporary manager, says: ‘I believe that people have more freedom at a naturist campsite than in a hotel’
‘Nobody wants to be naked in those temperatures – but there are the hardy types. You have people who can stand it in weather that makes you shiver, and they’re still naked. And that’s amazing to be honest, all power to them.
“But ultimately, if you’re shivering and uncomfortable, why not put on some clothes to keep warm? A lot of people wear ponchos, or women wear sarongs.”
Tom adds: ‘The great British weather [means] some days are not days to be naked.
‘In addition, many of our members and visitors like to dress up in the evening when they go to a social event. [event].
For these reasons the campsite has a laundry available for guests, which may come as a surprise for ‘textiles’ [non-nudists]who assume that there is nothing to wash.
In addition to the swimming pool, sauna, sunbathing area and launderette, Broadland Sun campsite offers its members access to a fishing pond, a jeu de boules court, minitenné (a tennis-like game invented by naturists), badminton courts, a TV room, a pool table, darts and a clubhouse.
Members pay £201 per year for unlimited daytime access to the site.
Austin says: ‘I tried to spend as much time naked as possible. I would greet clients naked. It didn’t bother me. I lived the lifestyle and got involved.’ Above – guests enjoying the woodland walks on the site
Non-members are also welcome at Broadland Sun, and it has proven popular with first-time nudists.
Pitchup.com – an online booking site – has changed “the demographics of people coming to and staying at Broadland Sun,” Austin says.
He notes: ‘It’s introduced a lot of new people to naturism. People are sitting at home scrolling, seeing it and nudging each other and saying, “Shall we give it a try?” They end up coming here and they’re totally in love with it.’
Young people are also attracted to nude holidays, despite the fact that naturism has a grey reputation.
Austin notes, “I think the campground’s target audience is a little older, but we’re seeing a huge increase in the number of young couples staying with us.”
But what is it that makes people more attracted to a campsite than to a traditional resort?
Tom says: ‘I believe that people have more freedom on a naturist campsite than in a hotel. Furthermore, we are a dog-friendly campsite and people do not have to get dressed to walk their dog!’