To be worried about Butlins?!

I live close to a popular Butlins. The pool is amazing, I have been for a day just to use the pool and spa with friends. It was clean and really good fun.
I took a group of my students there on work experience for the day a couple of years ago, one of their jobs was glass collecting in the pub. It was 2pm in the afternoon and we saw two fights and various people passed out drunk with their children running riot, we got our students out quick haven't been back again unsurprisingly! Hopefully we were just unlucky but it was an eye opener!

We went to Minehead a few years ago and it was great. I was actually surprised by how polite and well behaved everyone was.
It does sound like occasionally a room is not cleaned well enough but as long as that gets remedied I wouldn't let that ruin my holiday.

My manager just got back from the one in Skegness. Her photos looked good and she didn't have any complaints!

I was worried after reading reviews but all turned out brilliantly during our trip.

Went to Bognor last year 3nights during late Aug bank hol. Stayed in slightly more expensive apartments, had fridge, freezer section and hob/oven, which were functional and clean. Also served nicely to chill and rest a little as has TV in kitchen/lounge.

People of all sorts were there but nothing really unpleasant or rude that you describe.

I got a Sainsbury's shop delivered,which goes to the massive car park near the hotels rather than the seaside entrance , so had lollies, crisps , snacks and simple meals all ready. Shop does appear reasonable though expect small mark up on everything.

8 year old and four year old loved the pool and all the shows. For all shows we just turned up five mins before as you get a good view regardless though book on the Butlins app. Mini fairground indoor and outdoor too so plenty to do...I think three nights about right...a week we would have to venture outside.

Went to Bognor and there were too many people when I went. Huge queues. We stayed in the hotel and it was so dirty. I walked in to our room and was instantly disappointed. We had to change our pillows as they were covered in chocolate/snot so obviously hadn't been changed. Closed the curtains at night to find dried food all over them. Was horrible we wouldn't go back ever.

I think some people are confusing Butllins with Pontins
It's nothing like pontins
Or last went through n 1975 and assume its still the same.

You may aswell seen as you clearly want to. Most comments have said it’s fine but you’ve ignored those ones. Water was fine when I was there, didn’t see anybody change a nappy on a table. Don’t recall seeing any Stella. Food was a bit repetitive as we had a dining plan but was nice (obviously it’s not 5*). But if you’ve not much to loose and you don’t want to go then don’t go.

I have holidayed in Butlins loads of times. I'd rather the snobby lot stayed away so me and my rough chavvy family can enjoy our holidays without being looked down on.

We have been to all 3, Minehead twice.
It's fine. There are rough people wherever you go (Even MN fave Center Parcs!) but i have never seen anything outrageous.

Its a bit scruffy in places but our accommodation has always been fine.

The main thing though is it has so much for the kids. The pools are great, the funfair, and the entertainment is awesome. We watched the Masked Singer show last year, it was really good (Barry from Eastenders was behind the mask!)

But saying that, I think everyone's standards are different. I recommend my friend to go. She hated it and I was mortified. My in laws would hate it, but they are very much Center Parcs type of people. I hated Center Parcs because its overpriced and there's nothing to do unless you're prepared to pay a fortune for the additional activities.

It's not that bad! Yes it's a bit run down and some of the people there are a bit chavvy. But you get that anywhere I reckon. My kids absolutely love it. Just accept it for what it is and have a laugh with it! There are loads of Facebook groups about it too that's where I get all my info from.

OP I also grew up on an estate and would also not want to spend my holiday on a Shameless set. The people saying stop being snobby probably holiday abroad and wouldn't dream of holidaying in Butlins. Total hypocrisy.

I went to Minehead, the chalet was awful. We were 5 adults and the bathroom (no shower) was through the 2nd bedroom. To get out everyone had to go through the 1st.

We’ve been, but it does seem to get worse each time we visit. Last time we didn’t even last 48 hours before turning round and going home - even the kids were asking to leave.

The apartments are shabby but functional. I’ve always turned up and cleaned it though as their standard of cleanliness is poor.

The current issue with the pool is a big problem. Their toddler pool is still open (water is about knee height) which is fine for the kids but because everyone now visits such a small body of water, the water is murky despite all the chemicals.

The food is fine. It’s not something I’d choose to eat, but it’s edible.

We have never seen the evening shows, we stay in the skyliner for the kids disco. Some people stake out a table all day, but we prefer to dance with our kids so it’s never bothered us we have nowhere to sit. It seems sad to waste a day saving a table for the evening.

You do need to book on the app the second it’s available. Last time everything was booked up within 20 minutes.

I agree with previous posters I’ve never seen so many people swearing like that around children. I’ve also seen people changing nappies on dinner tables. And yes, lots of alcohol. Equally it’s so incredibly cheap I think you need to acknowledge that’s the sort of clientele it attracts

The people swearing at their children are not necessarily poor. They're just shitty (and sometimes drunk) parents. It's these rough people I don't want to be around, not poor people. I also choose to avoid rich shitty people.

We go to Butlins Bognor and have been several times. My kids LOVE it. We don't swear. We don't drink. I haven't noticed swearing but there does seem to be a fair bit of alcohol consumed. The accommodation is okay. Its a bit cheap and cheerful but clean enough. Honestly, I think it's 4 days and is good or as bad as you make it.

I’m confused - out of curiosity I just googled butlins Skegness reviews and it has 4.3 stars on Google and 4 on tripadvisor. Where are the terrible reviews?

It’s healthy for children to mix with a range of people and realise that everybody is just living their lives the best they can. Mixing with poor people won’t damage your child. You never know, they might even be human beings, just like you.

I love reading bad reviews on Tripadvisor even for places I have no thought of going to. I would take them with a pinch of salt. Exaggeration is the name of the game. The review writer takes their genuine complaint, and bolsters it with subsidiary observations, e.g. the caravan wasn't very clean and people were swearing everywhere and everyone was drinking Stella for breakfast ...

Again its not exactly cheap.

Yes there are a few people there rough as a badgers arse but plenty of standard people too

But if swearing but I never heard the c word

Entertainment was great - I went with a friend and our 4 DC were 8 & 10ish

Which part of the pool is shut as that is important - they loved the slides, lazy river bit and waves

We took cleaning wipes but our silver apartment was clean, if a bit tired

It is what you make of it and a good laugh

Ours said it was a great holiday - and they've previously done Disney, Universal Studios, Dubai, villas with pools, hot tub lodges, port Aventura etc. so plenty to compare it to

Couldn't agree more. CP is another place I wouldn't recommend to anyone. Also as a previous poster mentioned, the middle class festivals are no better. Coked up parents with Bombay Sapphire stored in the buggies. ~All just observations though (with a side serving of judgement but hey I'm human)

Butlins is not exactly cheap
Mums net is very snobby about Butllins
It is what it is I have Been to skegness Butllins twice when the kids were little its not everybody, s idea of a great holiday but children seen to love it .

There we go then OP. Wherever you go there will be alcoholics.