Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Butlins - honesty please!

101 replies

Lionsandtigersohmy · 11/04/2023 09:24

Hi

So we have a tots break booked for September at Minehead Butlins. My colleagues have been very negative about it one even suggested just cancelling it!

Looking for honest reviews! We have booked a comfort plus apartment and are intending to self cater with odd meal out.

Is it really that awful? Surely the kids will love it?

OP posts:
catmg · 11/04/2023 09:25

The kids will love it, and if your priority is having happy kids, then you will love it too

glasgow1983 · 11/04/2023 09:27

Our kids loved the shows and the fairground and the swimming pool.

There are several supermarkets and a McDonald's within walking distance.

TwoManyKids · 11/04/2023 09:29

We went to Skeggy. It was fine. Kids liked the pool and the disco at Reds.

x2boys · 11/04/2023 09:29

I have only been to the skegness,one when the kids were much younger they loved it
lots of people that comment negatively last went in around 1975, and imagine it's still the same or confuse it with Pontins .

shieldmaiden7 · 11/04/2023 09:35

I've been twice when my children were younger, I loved it. We are going back again next year so the kids can experience it as teens rather than primary school age children.

RosemaryAndTime · 11/04/2023 09:38

Honestly, it's what you make of it!

There is plenty to like and plenty to dislike but if you go with a positive attitude I'm sure you will have a great time. Minehead is, in my opinion, the nicest Butlins.

TheShellBeach · 11/04/2023 09:42

We went several times and our children always loved it.
Some people are a bit snobby about it. Just ignore them and go and enjoy yourselves.

Theimpossiblegirl · 11/04/2023 09:44

I don't know if you still need to book pool slots in advance, so I recommend you check that out.

You'll all have a lovely time.

Burritoe · 11/04/2023 09:44

We’ve been to Bognor, the pool is excellent and great fun. We stayed in the hotel which was well equipped, but all the food was very expensive. It really wasn’t for me personally but the children loved it and regularly ask to go again.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 11/04/2023 09:45

Only been to Bognor, it was great fun. The chalets were a bit run down but the entertainment was fab.

MammaYamada · 11/04/2023 09:47

Haven't been for a few years, but pool was great and the little fairground. Evening entertainment was good but very busy. Apartments were OK but not very clean. It's fun for the kids and I'm glad we tried it.

DuesExMachina · 11/04/2023 09:47

I loved it when I was a kid.

I've heard horror stories about drunken brawls all night, with kids left running around unsupervised by pissed parents?

Have wanted to book but not with the above!

MrsMiddleMother · 11/04/2023 09:55

Like pp it's what you make of it!
We went to Skegness last year and didn't enjoy it, it was crazy busy people were rude and smokey, the entertainment was a bit shit but we did the food deal and it was good.
Thought we'd give it another go last month but bognor regis, going with the expectation it's rough around the edges and it's certainly not a 4* resort and we had a fantastic time!

MrsMiddleMother · 11/04/2023 09:56

Oh and we also haven't ever been to the nighttime entertainment, our kids were asleep by 8 and I'm not the type to sit there drinking with a baby in a buggy but there are a lot like that

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 11/04/2023 09:59

We go every February half term - the kids love it (13,13 and 10 now). The pool is great and the fairground is fun. But the arcade can get expensive. And you're right on the beach and Minehead is okay for a hour's wander.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/04/2023 10:02

A dd with young dcs thought it wasn’t her sort of thing at all, but joined some friends/extended family at the Minehead one for a few days and said actually it was brilliant for the kids, with a great beach.

Puffthemagiclizard · 11/04/2023 10:02

It's absolutely grand. If you've upgraded to an apartment it'll be lovely. Tots breaks are only for families so there'll be no stag parties etc.
The pool is huge and lots of fun, there's LOADS of entertainment for the dc, pretty much all in the price.
You'll have a lovely time.

Original poster
Lionsandtigersohmy · 11/04/2023 10:04

Thanks everyone! Super happy now :) x x

OP posts:
boboshmobo · 11/04/2023 10:04

I've only been for a big weekend but I've re booked for next year to Butlin's Bognor
I was so impressed by it tbh and I had a very privileged childhood with fancy abroad holidays and hotels

It was clean and well maintained and frankly the best fun ever which to me is alll that matters 💃💃

Ukholidaysaregreat · 11/04/2023 10:05

Butlins is amazing. Loads of great activities for kids included in the price. Minehead is lovely. Steam train, nice beach, NT place just round the corner. Hope you have a great holiday.

IggyAce · 11/04/2023 10:06

It’s been many years since I went to Butlins Skegness (dc2 was 5 now 11) but both my dcs loved the Butlins experience and we enjoyed several great holidays. We always booked a silver or gold apartment.

Jojoanna · 11/04/2023 10:06

I have been to Bognor stayed in the hotel , kids loved it .

SophiaSW1 · 11/04/2023 10:06

I've been persuaded to go for a second time. It's not for me but my kids absolutely love it and so that's why.

Laiste · 11/04/2023 10:07

My friend went to the Bognor one with her DH and two kids 2 years ago.

It was only 3 nights and it was AWFUL.

She spent more time trying to get their issues sorted out than doing anything else much. The bits i recall her telling me about were:

  • Chalet not very clean - dirty kitchen table and bathroom not clean.
  • Bathroom window stuck open far enough to climb through. Told they would fix it but didn't know when, so friend couldn't unpack car for the first day.
  • Electric socket literally hanging out of the wall next to one DCs bed. Again had to go and ask to get it sorted and told not sure when.
  • No bedding on beds - she had to ask - when it was dropped off it was so cheap and plasticy and sweaty that on the 2nd day she drove to the local Argos to buy fitted sheets. (this woman is NOT a fuss arse - it was was just that bad)
  • There wasn't enough plates for everyone, and there was only a frying pan and no saucepans - so she had to go and ask for some. They hadn't budgeted for eating out every night so waited and waited but nothing came. They went out for fish and chips. A box of saucepans was dropped off the next morning - new saucepans that needed the handles screwing on Hmm
  • There was obvs no screwdriver in the chalet - so she had to go back AGAIN to ask for one - had to wait and wait for that to turn up - and then sit and build her own bloody saucepans! HmmShock
  • She decided to lodge a complaint after she got home and they deneyed all knowledge of any of it!

I mean - i was stressed just listening to it all!

Hopefully different areas are better, and hopefully your OP is fine. Good luck.

Schnooze · 11/04/2023 10:11

I loved it when the kids were younger because it was so great for them. There are really good bits that I enjoyed for itself, and some negatives, but overall it’s a much better place for younger kids than center parcs. I have really great memories of breaks there. Once they hit teens, then the activities at center parcs suited mine better.