Up to date and fun-packed - that's the beauty of Butlins
BRITISH family entertainment does not come any more traditional than a break at Butlins.
But just because the resort company (yes resort, not holiday camp) is 70 years old don’t be fooled into thinking it is old fashioned or out of date.
Just 90 minutes from your Devon doorstep is a vibrant, modern holiday experience which, along with all the family fun, seems to have bottled the impossible - a sense of community.
Butlins Minehead is a fun-packed holiday location right on the seafront near the centre of the Somerset town.
Everything from accommodation and food to entertainment and shopping is provided on site, all within easy walking distance, and all in a family-friendly environment.
The chances are you know what to expect at Butlins, a fairground, a massive indoor pool, an outdoor pool, playgrounds, a huge theatre venue, a nightclub, pubs, a children’s indoor play area, restaurants and the Skyline indoor entertainment and leisure complex with a stage packed with shows throughout the day.
But for us the surprise was just how friendly, relaxed and relaxing the atmosphere was.
We felt at home, and we felt like the children were safe and welcome at all times - everyone from staff to Redcoats to guests were friendly, welcoming and courteous.
This sense of community is built into the very fabric of the park and is worked into the holiday experience from the minute you book to the minute you leave.
For example, the layout of the accommodation puts chalets and apartments into ‘village squares’ so everyone feels a sense of community life the way it used to be.
The whole experience feels like a step back into a safer, happier world the way we used to be.
Accommodation comes in a range of ‘standards’ from the very basic through gold standard apartments with multiple bedrooms, several TVs, large bathrooms and kitchens through to the 2007-built hotel-style experience.
Entertainment takes place at dozens of venues across the centre but focuses, in the day, at Skyline, a vast ‘tented’ area that is the natural home of the Redcoats.
The Redcoats guide the entertainment through the day with fun and music and bring on short shows including children’s Cartoon favourites, the robotic Titan, the Skyline Gang gangshows, cheerleading and more.
At the same time activities are laid on at any number of other venues in the park so if you don’t fancy what’s on the stage, you will find something to do somewhere else. You would have to work very hard to be bored at Butlins.
In the evening the entertainment switches to Centre Stage and Reds, with spectacular shows, celebrities and more and at the end of the night Jaks is everything you would expect from a nightclub.
There are sports both indoor and outdoor for the active types, including a climbing wall, an aerial rope walk and adventures on Exmoor and on the rugged Somerset coastline.
The indoor pool has plenty of flumes, waves, a flowing river and areas
for swimmers of all abilities. It does get busy so prepare to queue and
you may have to restrict your swim to a pre-set session.
The sheer number of events and activities on offer at any one time is
staggering.
If you get a few minutes, you may want to try grabbing something to eat.
If you don’t want to go self catering there are plenty of places to get food, The Yachtclub provides a very acceptable eating experience with a great range of healthy and tasty food. When on the first day we asked for organic babyfood they ensured they had a supply on hand for the whole week.
You can also try a number of other restaurants or the resort’s fish and chip shop, bakery, supermarket, noodle bar, ice cream parlours, pancake stalls etc.
One word of warning, Skyline is exactly like St Mark’s Square in Venice.
OK, not exactly like, but in the same way you will find that if you buy food or drink at the heart of the action you will pay considerably more than if you walk five minutes round the corner to one of the shops. Prices are not uniform across the site.
The only real downside for us was finding a number of things on the resort you have to pay extra for - and finding that you don’t know you have to pay extra until you get to the front of the queue.
There doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to what you will have to pay for. Some of the trampolines you do, for example, some you don’t.
Some of the children’s attractions do charge, some don’t, bowling and cinema yes, nightclub no.
Throughout a week on the park we had conversations with a number of people who felt the same - having paid out for the holiday they expected it to be all inclusive.
The positive is that by charging for a few attractions Butlins can keep the cost of holidays down - and there are so many things to do which are free you can easily avoid paying if you steer the children in the right direction.
For those not looking for a family holiday, the park also turns itself over to adult only breaks several weekends of the year.
If you get a chance, it’s worth leaving the park to explore the beach
and Minehead, both of which are very attractive and well worth a
wander. You can pick up a ticket at the gate to make sure you get back
in to Butlins.
And if you want to venture further afield Butlins also has resorts in Bognor and Skegness.
With holidays for a family of four starting at less than £60 per person this is one staycation it is well worth considering whatever your circumstances.
To book a Butlins break call 0845 070 4730 or visit www.butlins.com
The live entertainment continues long after the concert ends with further shows as well as the rest of the park being open.
Prices start from £88pp for the full weekend including accommodation, all live entertainment plus tickets to the gig, meaning the concerts are better value for fans than travelling the country to see the boys on tour.
For more information or to book the break call 0845 070 4730 or visit www.butlins.com/McFly (The maximum call charge is 2p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may vary)
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