I used to go to Butlin's regularly as a child, because we lived near the Skegness one and my Dad used to love going there. I went to Butlin's every year for a long time, but the ones I really remember were in the 1980s, when we used to go to the camp at Barry Island in Wales.
The chalets were basic, but not unpleasant and we hardly spent any time in them anyway. There were great facilities, everything you could want on the site. There were organised competitions, discos, nightclubs, good quality entertainment, free cinema, swimming pool, etc.
I used to take the National Pentathlete Awards each year, which meant you automatically had a program of sporting activities to attend, and had an instant bond with a group of strangers who would soon become your friends over the week.
We still keep in touch with some of the people we met on holiday in Butlins, and I had a few holiday romances which lasted a few months afterwards too.
So Butlins holidays in the 1980s were wonderful, dream-like and full of happy memories. But what about nowadays ?
I have been to the Butlins camps in Minehead and Bognor in the last decade, since having four children of my own. Things have definitely changed, not always for the better either.
Butlins is trying to lose its working class, cheap and cheerful image. It has done this effectively by introducing more expensive attractions. These include excellent swimming facilities, the huge indoor heated pools with jacuzzis, play areas, water slides and the like.
The cinema now shows recent films, but they are no longer free. The creche facilities are very good too, as is the Noddy theme idea with excellent play areas and special events for little ones.
The shops have grown, the streets are now undercover plazas containing a range of fast food restaurants and circus acts. The theatre shows have always been good, but they are now even more professional.
The whole Butlins experience has been polished and preaned, but they have outpriced themselves. It is now cheaper to go abroad than to go to Butlins for a week. But it still retains that image, where people will turn their noses up if you say you are going to Butlins. The irony of it is that the "ordinary" family cannot afford to go on a Butlins holiday now, and those that can afford it feel it is beneath them.
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Karen, I think you hit the nail on the head about Butlins out pricing themselves. They have great facilities, but at a high cost. Have you tried Pontins? Better value for money I feel :)
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Advantages: Great fun, lots to do, well themed, brilliant location, very atmospheric Disadvantages: Expensive on site, get fat from all the drinking and junk food.
Trixie_Firecracker 12.05.2005 (12.05.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Butlins
Advantages: Lots to do, great fun family entertainment, good standard of accommodation Disadvantages: Limited choice of food outlets for self-catering guests
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