Butlin's facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Butlins Skyline Limited

Type	Private
Industry	Leisure
Founded	1 January 1936 (1936-01-01) (First site, Skegness) 9 April 2000 (2000-04-09) (As present company)
Founder	Billy Butlin
Headquarters	Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England
Area served	United Kingdom
Key people	Jon Hendry Pickup (CEO)
Products	Seaside resorts
Revenue	£184.6M (2010)
Operating income	£17.2M (2010)
Net income	£12.2M (2010)
Owner	Harris Family Trusts
Number of employees	3,571 (2010)

Butlin's is a famous chain of large seaside resorts in the United Kingdom. It is officially known as Butlins Skyline Limited. Billy Butlin started Butlin's to offer fun and affordable holidays for regular British families.

Between 1936 and 1966, ten holiday camps were built. This included one in Ireland and another in the Bahamas. In the 1970s and 1980s, Butlin's also ran many large hotels. They even had a revolving restaurant in the Post Office Tower in London.

Over time, it became harder for Butlin's to compete with cheap holidays abroad. Costs also went up, and people's holiday tastes changed. This led to many Butlin's locations closing in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, three of the original camps are still open under the Butlin's name. These are in Bognor Regis, Minehead, and Skegness. They are now owned by the Harris Family Trust.

This 1985 photo of Butlin's in Ayr shows the typical buildings before they were updated. Look at the rows of small holiday homes called chalets in the distance.

History of Butlin's Holidays

Billy Butlin getting his Filey camp back from the RAF. The RAF used it as RAF Hunmanby Moor during World War II.

Billy Butlin got the idea for his holiday camps from a bad holiday he had as a child. He was staying on Barry Island and was locked out of his bed and breakfast all day. This was a common rule back then.

Butlin opened his first holiday camp in 1936 in Skegness. He had already been successful with amusement parks. A second camp opened quickly in Clacton in 1938. Building for Filey Holiday Camp started in 1939.

When the Second World War began, building at Filey stopped. The camps at Skegness and Clacton were used by the military. Other Butlin's resorts in Ayr, Filey, and Pwllheli were finished and opened as military camps during the war. The Ayr camp later became Wonderwest World and is now run by Haven Holidays.

After the war ended in 1945, Filey reopened as a holiday camp. The camps at Skegness and Clacton opened in 1946. Ayr and Pwllheli opened in 1947, and Mosney in Ireland opened in 1948. Butlin's became very popular in Britain after the war. Families could enjoy entertainment and activities for about a week's pay.

In 1948, Butlin bought two hotels in the Bahamas. In the 1950s, Butlin's started buying hotels in England and Wales. These included places like Saltdean (1953), Blackpool (1955), and several in Cliftonville (1955–1956). More camps opened in the 1960s at Bognor Regis (1960), Minehead (1962), and Barry Island (1966).

In the late 1940s, Butlin's tried to build a huge resort for 1000 guests in the Bahamas. This was at West End, Grand Bahama Island. They even built an airport there! Almost all building materials had to be brought in by plane or boat. The island was mostly undeveloped at the time. Butlin's ran the resort for only one season in 1950 before running out of money.

The camps at Ayr and Skegness also had separate hotels inside their grounds. Later, more hotels were added in Scarborough (1978), Llandudno (1981), and London (1993). There was also a hotel in Spain (1983). In the 1960s and 1970s, the company also ran the Top of the Tower revolving restaurant in London's Post Office Tower.

In 1968, Billy Butlin's son, Bobby, took over the business. In 1972, the company was sold to the Rank Organisation. Butlin's faced problems as cheap package holidays to sunny places like the Mediterranean became popular. People also started to see Butlin's as having very strict holidays. Because of this, the Butlin's name was almost dropped from its resorts between 1987 and 1990.

The Mosney camp closed in 1982. Clacton and Filey closed in 1983. The Barry camp was sold in 1986 and closed completely in 1996. The lease for the Top of the Tower restaurant ended in 1980. In 1998, the camps at Ayr and Pwllheli were given to Butlin's sister company, Haven. All the Butlin's hotels from the 1950s to 1990s were sold in 1998. Most of them are still open today under different owners.

In 1998, the "Holiday Worlds" name was removed. The focus returned to the main Butlin's brand. In September 2000, the resorts and brand were sold to Bourne Leisure. A new Butlin's logo was introduced in 1999. It has changed a few times since then. In 2011, Butlin's brought back a logo similar to its original design. This new logo was meant to be temporary for the 75th anniversary, but it is now the official logo.

In 2005, a new £10 million hotel called Shoreline opened at the Bognor Regis resort. This hotel, with its Art Deco style, offered fancy rooms. Each of its 160 rooms had big windows, comfy beds, TVs, DVD players, and private bathrooms. Some even had sea views. A second hotel, Ocean Hotel, opened at Bognor in 2009.

In September 2022, it was announced that the Harris Family Trust bought Butlin's back for £300 million. They had originally sold it to Blackstone Group in 2021. This deal did not include the land and buildings, which had been sold earlier to the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

Butlin's Locations

Butlin's has had many locations over the years. Here are some of the main ones:

Butlin's also ran smaller holiday parks in England and France in the late 1970s. These were called "Freshfields holidays." They were simpler parks with fewer facilities and less entertainment. They were for people who wanted a quieter holiday.

Butlin's also owned several hotels:

What You Can Find at Butlin's

Places to Stay

Blue Skies Apartments in Minehead.

Butlin's resorts have different types of places to stay for every budget. You can choose from "Standard" rooms and apartments to "Silver," "Gold," and "Deluxe" options for more luxury. Minehead also has "BlueSkies" apartments. Plus, there are three fancy hotels at Butlin's Bognor.

Butlin's was first known for its "chalet" accommodation. These were long blocks of small holiday homes. They were set up in rows facing each other, with a grassy area in the middle. Originally, chalets didn't have their own toilets. Guests used shared toilet blocks. The rooms were also very simple. Many of these chalet rows are still used today. They have been made bigger and much nicer with modern features. All chalets now have their own bathrooms.

One of the very first chalets is still standing at the Skegness resort. It is now a historical display and is protected.

Skyline Pavilion

The Skyline Pavilion in Minehead.

The "Skyline Pavilion" is the main entertainment area at each resort. It is covered by a large white roof, so you can enjoy it in any weather. These pavilions were created in 1998–99 by connecting several existing buildings. This made a big indoor space for activities.

Each Skyline Pavilion has a stage for daytime shows, especially for kids. There's also a cafe, a bar (like Bar Rosso or Costa Coffee), and restaurants such as Burger King and Papa Johns. You'll find an amusement arcade, an information desk, and shops selling souvenirs and groceries. Many other attractions in the resort can be reached directly from inside the Skyline Pavilion.

Splash Waterworld

Every Butlin's resort has a big indoor waterpark called Splash Waterworld. These parks have several waterslides, spas, a wave pool, and a lazy river. There's also a shallow pool area for young children. Sometimes, there's a deeper area for serious swimming. Minehead also has an outdoor toddler pool open in the summer. Guests and day visitors can use these facilities for free.

In 2013, the Skegness resort opened a new £16 million Splash Waterworld. It has two new fast slides (Jet Stream and Vortex) and a new dinghy ride (The Riptide). There's also a rope-walk challenge (Captain's Challenge), a lazy river, and a poolside cafe. It also has a new outdoor fountain area that dances with music and lights. In 2019, Butlin's opened a new Splash Waterworld at the Bognor Regis resort. It has a fun theme inspired by old seaside fairs.

Entertainment and Fun

Butlin's resorts have many large places for entertainment. These include Centre Stage, Studio 36, Reds, and the Skyline Stage. There's also Bar Rosso, Hotshots 10-pin bowling with a bar and snooker tables. Green Baize snooker hall is only at Skegness now. There are also other bars, pubs, and cafes that are different at each resort. Almost all entertainment is included in the price of your holiday or day visit.

The TV presenter Stephen Mulhern often performs at all three resorts during the summer and school holidays.

Famous Shows at Centre Stage

• Spider-Man The Musical (April – June 1999) at Bognor Regis
• The Mask Musical (June – September 1999) at Bognor Regis
• Casper The Musical (September – November 1999) at Bognor Regis

• Casper The Musical (April – June 1999) at Minehead
• Spider-Man The Musical (June – September 1999) at Minehead
• The Mask Musical (September – November 1999) at Minehead
• Tweenies Live! (2004) at Minehead

• The Mask Musical (April – June 1999) at Skegness
• Casper The Musical (June – September 1999) at Skegness
• Spider-Man The Musical (September – November 1999) at Skegness

Sports and Games

Butlin's resorts offer many sports activities and coaching. You can try archery, fencing, tennis (at Skegness only), table tennis, and football. Most of these sessions are included in your holiday price.

For general fun, there are multi-sports courts, adventure golf, playgrounds, water zorbing, and high ropes courses. You can also find funfairs, inflatable castles, and go-karts. Minehead resort also has bumper boats and donkey rides. An extra charge usually applies for some of these activities, but the funfair is free.

Skegness and Bognor resorts each have a spa where you can get massages, swim, and enjoy other relaxing treatments.

Activities for Younger Kids

Each resort has special attractions and facilities for younger children. These include playgrounds, a supervised arts and crafts room, and "Bob's Yard" (a miniature funfair). There's also a "Junior driving school" with small go-karts for kids. A nursery can look after children while parents enjoy other activities.

Butlin's Bognor Regis

Butlin's Bognor Regis in 1962.

Butlin's Bognor opened in 1960. It was later known as Southcoast World until 1998. It is now called Butlin's Bognor Regis Resort. In 1999, it was updated with a new Skyline Pavilion. In 2005, a new £10 million hotel called "The Shoreline" opened. A second hotel, "The Ocean," opened in summer 2009. In July 2012, a third hotel, "The Wave," opened to guests.

Butlin's Minehead

A typical scene at Butlin's Minehead in October 2010.

Butlin's Minehead opened on May 26, 1962. It was greatly updated in the 1980s and renamed Somerwest World. In 1998, it was updated again with a Skyline Pavilion. Since 1999, the Minehead resort has had more improvements. Most of the original buildings are still there, including almost all the first chalets. This makes Minehead the last Butlin's camp that still looks a lot like Sir Billy Butlin designed it. Minehead is the largest of the three camps still open.

Butlin's Mosney

Butlin's Mosney, County Meath, Ireland. This was the first camp built outside Great Britain. It was sold in 1982.

Mosney was the first Butlin's camp outside the UK. It opened in 1948 on about 200 acres of land. In 1982, Butlin's sold the camp, and it was renamed Mosney Holiday Centre. The camp continued mostly the same until 2000. Fewer visitors and trouble finding staff for the short 12-week season led to its closure. In December 2000, it became a refugee center. Mosney is now home to many refugees from different countries. Like Minehead, most of the original buildings are still there, including all the first chalets. Mosney is the only camp that has changed very little since it opened.

Butlin's Skegness

Butlin's Skegness funpool in 1987.

Butlin's Skegness was the very first holiday camp started by Billy Butlin. It opened in 1936. However, the military took it over in 1939 and called it HMS Royal Arthur. The camp reopened for holidaymakers in 1946. In 1987, the site was updated with a modern fun pool and newer accommodation. At this time, it was renamed Funcoast World. In 1998, it was updated again with a Skyline Pavilion. Since then, it has had more improvements.

In 2011, the resort added new restaurants called The Deck and Ludo's. In 2013, the new Splash Waterworld opened, adding a new pool area. There are plans to update the resort again with more new restaurants and shops.

Butlin's Barry Island

A view from the beach at Barry Island showing the chalets.

Butlin's Barry Island was the last holiday camp Billy Butlin built. It opened in 1966 and closed 20 years later. It was sold to Majestic Holidays in 1987 and renamed Majestic Barry Island.

Butlin's Ayr

Butlin's Ayr, seen in the mid-1980s before it was updated.

Butlin's Ayr was built by Billy Butlin as a naval training camp in 1940. It opened to the public in 1946.

In 1948, Butlin also opened a hotel and a railway station at the camp. In 1987, it was updated and renamed Wonderwest World. A new indoor fun-pool and modern accommodation were added.

The site was changed to a sister company, Haven Holidays, in 1999 and renamed Craig Tara. Since then, the focus has been on replacing the original chalets with static caravans.

Butlin's Pwllheli

A view across the boating pond at Butlin's Pwllheli.

Butlin's Pwllheli was built by Billy Butlin as a naval training camp in 1940. After the war, it opened to the public in 1947. In 1987, it was updated and renamed Starcoast World. A new indoor fun-pool and modern accommodation were added. In 1999, the site was changed to a sister company, Haven Holidays, and renamed Hafan Y Môr.

Butlin's Park

In 1932, Billy Butlin opened an amusement park called Butlin's Park in Littlehampton. It was on the site of an old fort and windmill. It is now known as Harbour Park.

Butlin's in the Bahamas

Butlin Bahamas Limited planned to build a holiday village near West End on Grand Bahama Island. The plan was approved in August 1948. The village was meant to be open for six months each year. It would first hold 1000 guests, then expand to 2000. An electricity station was built for the village. In late 1949, Butlin also bought an airline company called Nassau Aviation.

In 1950, the village had 18,363 guests. However, it closed soon after.

Music Weekends for Adults

Butlin's offers special music weekends for adults (over 18s only). These happen regularly at all three resorts. Each weekend has a different music theme, like soul, alternative, folk, disco, or rock and blues. They also have weekends celebrating music from different decades, from the 1960s to the 2000s. Famous acts like Beverley Knight and Rick Astley have performed. The band Madness has also held special weekends at Minehead.

All Tomorrow's Parties

All Tomorrow's Parties was a music festival held at Minehead. It was named after a song by the Velvet Underground. This festival was different from bigger, mainstream festivals. It felt more personal, and the organizers and artists stayed in the same accommodation as the fans. It was also a festival without sponsors.

Bloc Weekend

Bloc Weekend is a yearly music festival focused on electronic music. It includes both DJ sets and live shows. The first two Bloc events were at a different holiday camp. The 2009 event moved to the larger Minehead resort. Even with 5,000 spaces, it sold out before the festival began. Bloc returned to Minehead in 2010 and 2011 for more sold-out shows.

Butlin's and Dodgem Cars

Dodgem Cars are a type of bumper cars. They were first made in the US. Billy Butlin saw them and got the right to use them in the UK. Because of this, the first Dodgems cars in the UK appeared at a Skegness funfair owned by Billy Butlin in 1923.

Butlin's Beaver Club on the Radio

In 1956, the Butlin's Beaver Club radio show could be heard in the UK and much of Europe. It was on Sunday nights at 6:00 pm on Radio Luxembourg.

Reds TV

Butlin's started its own in-house TV system in 1995. They used the 'empty' fifth channel (before Channel 5 launched). A system was set up to show text information and play background music. This was sent to guests' chalets. Later, a video camera was added to show interviews with celebrities and chats with the Redcoats. The name "Butlin's Channel 5" changed to "BTV" and then to "Reds TV."

Publicity and Souvenirs

Butlin's Badges

Butlin's Badge Skegness 1938.

Butlin's Badge Filey 1945.

From 1936 to 1967, every guest at Butlin's received a special enamel badge when they arrived. Each badge was unique to that camp or hotel. Guests wore the badge during their holiday to show they belonged and to get back into the site if they left. Each camp usually had at least one badge design each year. Larger camps had different color versions for better security. Sometimes, two different designs were used in one season.

The badges were made of metal, usually brass, and were shiny or chrome plated. The colorful design was made with vitreous enamel, a process similar to Champlevé.

Jewelry makers in London, Dublin, or Birmingham made each badge by hand. Some guests would keep badges from past holidays and wear them all on a ribbon. Some of these old badges are now valuable collector's items. There were also special badges for people staying a second week, staff, and other groups.

Badges were not given out during the Second World War (1940 to 1945). This is because the camps were used by the government for military personnel.

Some famous badges include 'Skegness 1936' (the first one ever) and 'Filey 1945'. The Filey 1945 badge has a 'V for Victory' design. It's special because Filey was the first camp to reopen after the war, just in time for the end of the 1945 season.

The Barry Island 1965 badge is very rare. The badges were made but never given out because the camp didn't open that year as planned.

In 2004, Butlin's started selling similar badges again in their souvenir shops. Some are new designs, while others are exact copies of old badges. These new badges are just souvenirs and don't identify guests. Many regular guests like to trade badges with Butlin's staff, who often have special badges not available to others. You can also buy ribbons in the shops to display your badge collection.

Members of the Premier Club (Butlin's loyalty club) get a free badge with a new design every year they visit.

Slogans Over the Years

Butlin's has always advertised a lot. Here are some of their famous slogans:

• Early slogans (1930s-1950s): "Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight," "A weeks holiday for a weeks pay," "Holidays are Jollidays," and "Holidays with pay. Holidays with play!"
• 1960s: "You'll have a really wonderful time at Butlin's by the sea"
• 1970s: "Butlinland is Freedomland" and "A holiday that's out of this world" (this one featured two blue alien characters named Toot and Ploot).
• Early 1980s: "A little bit of this, and quite a lot of that"
• Mid 1980s: "Butlin it once and you'll do it again!"
• 1990s: "Let yourself go, and you won't want to leave" and "No.1 for family fun"
• Around 1999–2002: "Come to life. Come to Butlin's"
• Around 2002–2004: "A million holidays. One Butlin's"
• 2005–2007: "Kids love it"
• 2007–2009: "Altogether More Fun"
• 2010: "Isn't it time you came round to Butlin's?"
• 2011: "Happy Days" then "Happiness is..."
• 2012 to 2014: "Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight" (a return to Sir Billy Butlin's very first slogan, inspired by William Shakespeare).
• 2014 to 2020: "Butlin's by the sea" (same as the 1960s slogan, with "Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight" still used around the resorts).
• 2020: "Ready to Butlin's"

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