To ask how Pontins is still able to trade?

[pinkpetal2]

So I used to go as a child/teen to the Camber Sands Pontins resort last went in 2009. From 2005 now it has become so bad across each resort.

The reviews on trip advisor are terrible absolute shambles. Yet people still go? I understand it's very very cheap for a week. However the place isn't safe, management have told people to go away when you make complaints and they don't seem to ever be in trouble anywhere?

Watchdog have done reports, environmental health have carried out reports yet it still stands

Last year a ceiling collapsed on to people and injured 18 people at Brean sands and they are still thriving with bookings.

The whole place is really run down the accommodation is infested with bed bugs and mice it's really sad. They still have the green baths and sinks etc from the 70s.

I just don't understand how they are still operating? Every post I see from their Facebook groups are full of complaints and people walking away. I find it bizarrely fascinating to read.

When we last went in 2009 a manager we spoke to said they was being left to be run in to the ground so they could say it doesn't work anymore, knock them down and place hotels there.

I know people take the mick out of Butlins but I feel they really do provide a nice British seaside holiday experience and have fantastic entertainment, with Covid they have made a festival type outdoor entertainment thing at the moment it looks great.

Pontins have rooms that haven't been cleaned in months full of mice droppings? And you still have to pay for electric and bedding. I just wondered if any one has ever worked for them or knows how they get away with treating customers like this? It's been years now and hasn't changed.

And I agree with the pp who said it was like an open prison. That's definitely the vibe we got there. I'm no delicate flower offended by a bit of swearing and we didn't have children with us then to worry about but it was like looking out of the window and watching a live version of Shameless.

I’ve just priced up for a week at the end of August for butlins minehead, a sea side lodge is over £3,300! For a week!! I went there for a 90s weekend in January and it was ok but defo not worth over £3k! That’s without the food packages as well.

www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2019-11-13/former-employee-of-pontins-brean-sands-says-working-there-left-him-needing-hospital-treatment

😳 Poor guy!

It’s odd really, I mean with a bit of spending on cleaners and so on, they could charge double and not have nearly so much aggro and complaints. It’d still be fairly cheap but attract a wider range of customers (as there are plenty of people prepared to pay quite high prices for Haven/Butlins).

Haven't done pontins since 70's but did haven 10 years ago and it was grim, so called half board but couldn't stomach the food, pool complex was newish and nice but apartment was terrible and got bites.

Park resorts however had good holidays at with a youth group, perfect for teens. But we did choose the most expensive caravans

As a business model I don’t understand how it works. Surely they could clean it up and run it properly and charge more? They can’t make much money on it, unless it’s the bar that keeps it running.

It’s a very strange place. We have driven past occasionally and I always wonder how it’s still there.

I ended up in one a few years ago, just 2 nights because dh made a cock up with a hotel booking. Where we stayed thankfully was clean that was Brean sands but before we got there I read the reviews and my heart sank. I wouldn't go out of choice. We went to the entertainment area one night and it was my idea of hell. Some drunk guy getting up on stage and proposing, kids running around shouting and swearing. My mother in law and her husband go regularly to some adult only event... don't know if theirs a swingers thing I don't know about

@TheSoapyFrog

I am now reconsidering our October trip to Pontins Camber Sands.

Might be a good idea

We lasted 14 hours at Camber. It is scarily bad in a way you can't even write off against its proximity to the beach.

I tend to take reviews with a pinch of salt but you need a full salt mine with those! I can imagine his gutted people must be especially if they've saved hard for week away and rock up to that! My kids are only 1 and 3 so we've had a few caravans holidays at Haven camps and I honestly can't fault them. I'll definitely give Pontins a miss

We went to the Southport one just over a year ago on a cheap Sun Holidays deal. Was surreal seeing bouncers on the doors of the entertainment hall at night.

The kids loved it, would happily go back again.

It was pretty run down and dirty, but we just cleaned the place ourselves before unpacking.

You get what you pay for I guess.

I used to go to a beautiful pontins in Jersey as a child. It’s a world away from these photos.

As for why people go - I think people just take a chance because it’s so much cheaper than elsewhere. They think they’ll use it as a base and just somewhere to sleep. The sun deals are always available for pontins so you can decide last minute if you want to go. If you aren’t the sort of person who knows about caravan/holiday camp type places you might just think wow! Cheap! And not know the full extent of their reputation.

And as for why they are still in business I don’t know. I honestly think it will take someone getting seriously hurt before action is taken.

Omg I'm glad I didn't book Pontins with my sub vouchers! As an aside, butlins Skegness is great for kids! We went last year.

Had issues with our accommodation but they upgraded us and gave us vouchers and wine and chocolates! Amazing customer service!

We are going to haven in a few weeks!

I really don’t mind Haven and had a very nice time at Butlin’s. My dd prefers places that are more open / quieter, but my ds really adored both. I think for younger children they are brilliant. With older ones it depends a bit on the temperament.

I'd rather not have a holiday than go to a Pontins. It looks horrifying.

I went about 2 years ago to the Southport one. It was grim to be fair. The room was dirty and the mattresses were so thin you could feel the springs they gave us new duvets to cover them. The main problem was the people there. Throwing used nappies out the windows, getting really pissed and throwing up on the footpaths. Letting their kids run wild. The kids just didn’t see it and were desperate to stay so we just went out all day everyday! The beach is fab it’s massive and right next to the site.

I'm really worried now
My mum booked it as sun holiday for threee nights to go in a weeks time
Me my 1year old partner and her and her partner
I feel sick with worry now and feel really bad if I let her down she booked it thinking be nice go on little holiday with her granddaughter now I'm reading this
I don't even wanna tell her about the reviews she gonna be so upset!
Help what do I do

We go to Southport about once a year and have never had a bad chalet. We normaly pay around £89 mon-fri which is often cheaper than camping. We often have a few days out and the children enjoy the entertainment on site

15:11BonnieMcflurry
I read the rewiews after booking for the first time and was dreading it. But when we got there it was fine the chalet was clean and my children had a great time as there always plenty to do. The site is very dated but if you can ignore that I'm sure you'll have fun

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus I thought CP was grubby. I imagine the high turnover means nowhere ever gets a deep clean, just a constant wipe over.

@juglover2008 that apartment has the same layout as the one we stayed in but is about a million times cleaner - and has had new flooring. I would be perfectly happy with the that.

Why does Pontins never get cleaned?

I guess if they are charging £90 a week they can't afford to employ cleaners.

@x2boys

You can't compare Butlins to Pontins ,Butlins is so much nicer ,it might not be everybody's cup of tea ,but it's fine also Haven ,I have never had a problem at either of them ,we were supposed to go to Haven in Scotland last week for a week ,we cancelled because of uncertainty about what would be open ,etc but they were great refunded within a couple of weeks no issue.

Everything is open to everyone at all Havens now, including in Scotland x