General Chat

Just got back from a weekend break at Butlins, Skegness, and it bears no resemblence to the Butlins I knew and loved as a child. No Gaiety Theatre or competitions, and the cinema and crazy golf were not free.

Me and my fella had quite a nice time and he thought it was great. We will go again sometime on our own. We took my elderly parents, and at meal times, it was like having a couple of 5 year olds. "Sit there and eat your cornflakes while I get your cooked breakfast" That was me to my mother. Its true what my grandmother once said "Once a mother, twice a child"

Nichola, when I said free, maybe I should have said, included in the price of the holiday. Buying drinks and paying for bingo is one thing, but the cinema and crazy golf in quite another.

we took our children to bognor 6 years ago ,since then we have averaged between 2 to 3 breaks a year there .my kids adore the place and when offered any other hol anywhere they always want butlins, in fact it is my 8 y o ambition to be a red coat one day sean

hi carol....never been to butlins...but ime quite a regular at pontins..camber sands...and just about everything,apart from sailing/surfing is free........so maybe next time,look up pontins,ive never had a better holliday. bryan.

Butlins is so-called because it was originally started by a man called Billy Butlin. I haven't been to Butlins in many years so I've no idea what it's like now, but I spent several happy holidays there as a child, especially at the Pwhelli camp where there was a riding stables. Rides cost extra of course, but I spent much of my holiday helping muck out the stables. I remember vividly the 'Morning Camper's' call on the tannoy system summoning us to breakfast every morning!

Bryan, just looked at Pontins website and like what I see. Will definately give it a go. I remember the tanoy for 1st or 2nd sitting breakfast. I know why it is called Butlins as such, the reason I asked, is that it now bears so resemblence to the holiday camp Billy Butlin intended.

Do they still give out badges? I used to have quite a collection.

I remember sitting on the beach at Barry Island a few years back and watching them demolish either Butlins or Pontins holiday camp on the top of the cliff. Seemed such a waste and a big loss to the area. Jacky

We spent many a happy holiday at Butlins between 35 and 43 yrs ago, several times at Pwllheli. once at Minehead and once at Bognor Regis (got engaged there), but about 3yrs or so ago we went to Ayr and we hated it, there was no comfortable seating to be had and a lot of the 'activities' were non events. Also been to Llandudno at a hotel type Butlins nearly 10yrs ago and quite enjoyed that. Into cruising now, at times that can be described as a very luxurious floating holiday camp!! lol Val

Carol, I was always told it was "Once A Man, Twice A Child", and I always believed it too LOL. Pat x

I have forgot who asked now, but no, they do not give out badges anymore, but surprise, surprise, there are about 27 different ones to buy at about 1.50 each. As for Pontins, it looks like Butlins used to be. I have ordered this years brochure online, so will go for a short break later this year. They are sending me brochure for 2005 when it comes out, and if we like the short break we will go for a week next year, hopefully for our honeymoon.

We took our 4 children to Minehead Butlins about 15 years ago, it cost us around £600 for 2 weeks self catering, they had a free cinema and an inbuilt free funfare, my husband and myself hated it on sight, the accomodation block was like Hi de Hi on stilts, and about half a mile long, they used to lock the compound door to the beach around 7.30 every night, so no outsiders would get in (not sure they would want to) the entertainment was crap, the only decent thing was we saw Shane Richie in a late night caberet, my kids always say it was the best holiday they ever had, I always said it was the worst, needless to say we never darkened a Butlin's doorstep again. Belle.

Carol We had 2 weeks at Butlins Skeggy in june as it was half price holidays. we booked the same week as we had last year on site. Last year we had a great time. There was loads of entertainment every night and day. This year alough we booked on the basis that entertainment would be praticly the same ( as it was the same week we arrived ) it sadly wasnt. entertainment in my view was cut by almost half (i had last years programme which proved this) some nights ...well most nights entertainment was finished by 9-9;30pm in the pavillion. For one full day in the pavillion there was no entertainment at all, because they were digging up the floor ""for your future entertainment"". Another night entertainment finished in there at 8;30pm, and disco music was played as people drifted back to their chalets. Billy blooming Bear had almost doubled his involvement in the entertainment activities. He was marketed to death so much our kids kept saying "oh no! not Billy Bear again ! ". The small pool near guest services was closed (we could use it last year) for renovation as a health suite ? We were 1/2 board & one day i asked for breakfast one sausage one egg one peice of bacon an TWO HASHBROWNS the dozy mare serving said i couldnt have 2 hashbrowns as they wernt allowed to give too much food out !!!!! I diddnt even ask for beans LOLOL To top it all I caught a serious tummy bug (apparently loads of staff had it during the time i was there! I wrote & complained on site but i got only an appology back. Next year were going abroad ive had it with Bleeding Billy Bear & Butlins ! Elaine x

i take my 5 chidren and my grandaughter to butlins,my eldest is 23 now and weve been going since he was 4,i agree with alot of the comments it has changed such a lot over the years,it does seem like the entertainments gone down hill,years ago you could go to a show and have chicken in a basket and relax knowing the chalet patrol would alert you if the kids woke up,now it costs alot just to put them in nursery for 2 hours.and billy bear is so over bearing as well. but my kids love it so no dought ill still be going in 10 years time,or the grand children will be taking me! Debs

OOOOOOh ted you rascal ! I actually went to the Warners holiday camp at Haling Island??? where it was filmed in the early eighties. In the foyer there was piccys of the cast & while we were there the twin blokes who were in the programme came on & did an act. I remember the child patrol at warners & there used to be a blackboard with BABY CRYING on it, a light over the top would flash if someones child was unhappy. you used to have to put something white in the chalet window to say there was a child inside.....unthinkable nowdays ! & after that nights entertainment , everyone danced in the ballroom to GOOD NIGHT CAMPERS <happy memories....> Elaine x

after I left school I used to work at Warners at Dovercourt Bay - Essex - in the dining rooms (Used to live in Dovercourt - so lived out). The local paper had a field day - as not much happens. This is where HI de HI was filmed - Dovercourt. Warners is no longer there - the area where the camp was - is now a housing estate. Liz

Have never been to butlins and i doubt very much i ever will. For 6 of us ... myself, hubby and the four kids ( would love to leave them behind but no-one stupid enought to want them!!) Butlins wanted over a grand for a short break. Butlins simply don't cater for the large family. I have tried a couple of times to book but we are only ever offered two lots of accomodation. Pointins on the other hand we go to quite regulary. Not a 5* holiday by anyone standard, but you pays your money you takes your choice. It can look tatty. Camber sands is a nice park. Short, safe, level stroll to the sandy beach is a bonus as well. My sister and Nan booked to go for the first week of the summer hols. I decided on teh monday to jin them, I booked at 7.55pm on the monday, and arrived on the tues. I paid £150 for three night for four of us. Hubby satyed at home and daughter was with sister. I hardly saw my kids the whole time we was there. IT was the best £150 i've spent in a long time. Another good park i must mention is Dawlish Sands in Dawlish!!! Very small but very good and very reasonable. WE went at easter for two weeks and after discounts we paid £240, for a three bedroom caravan. WE could've had 9 in there but we paid extra to have a bit of space and not have to sleep in the living area!!!!! And Carol the crazy golf is free!!!!!!!!! was amazed the first time the kids brought the money back!!!!! The park just asks for deposit which when you return the club and ball you get back!!!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Really strange today, I read this thread earlier and then my local paper arrived. Each day it tells you what famous people were born or anything that happened. And Billy Butlin was born this day in 1899