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Original poster

To be worried about Butlins?!

316 replies

Burlee · 14/01/2024 07:46

I’ve booked a few nights at Butlins in May - I used to go as a kid.

Last night I saw on their website that part of the pool in closed which was the main thing we were going for so I checked the trip advisor reviews to see if anyone mentioned it - OMG the reviews!! They were so bad they were actually funny! One person saying that the people who go there are tough as toast and it’s not unusual for parents to be calling their kids “little cunt” etc - kids running around absolutely feral, people queuing for 6pm entertainment from 2pm - everywhere smells of urine - half the rides don’t work - the accommodation is like a run down council flat - WTF have I done!

Anyone been recently and can tell me it’s not this bad?

OP posts:
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6
CornishTiger · 14/01/2024 07:47

Which Butlins?

LittleOrangePip · 14/01/2024 07:48

Oh dear god. I'm going I'm going in a few weeks and now I'm scared 😨

If it helps, I've never called my child a "little cunt"!

Iwishiwasasilentnight · 14/01/2024 07:50

Hmm. A lot of the clientele are very rough and the place needs a good clean. When are you going? We went term time and didn’t queue for anything but we weren’t seeing any if the late shows.

When you arrive check your room carefully, especially for mould and make sure the mattresses are OK so they have time to resolve issues.

sherrybaby23 · 14/01/2024 07:51

I've been and can confirm some of this is true 😂

There was a strong wee smell in the swimming changing rooms along with a few used nappies. Never heard anyone call their dc a little cunt but saw lots of people drinking early in the day (like before lunch) and generally a bit chavvy.

But my dc loved it and said it's the best holiday ever. So I'm sure you'll be fine.

drowningintinsel · 14/01/2024 07:52

I go to Minehead all the time. It's nothing like that.

Hashtagihearya · 14/01/2024 07:53

Went years ago when kids were I think 3 and 1 and my 3 yr old loved it so much he always talked about it for some time after. It was a bit shabby and chavvy and I had to leave one night early as I couldn't take it anymore but that was more me and it was raining at that time and smokers everywhere and I do remember the distinct wee smell in the changing rooms I nearly gagged. Sorry.

JubileeJumps · 14/01/2024 07:54

I took my kids for the day a few years ago and they loved it. But the queue for the entertainment was truly nuts. I couldn’t comprehend why you would go on holiday and do it every day.

DriveMeCrazy1974 · 14/01/2024 07:55

We go to Butlin's a lot - have been going since the early 1990s. Some of the accommodation is looking a bit dated, but, on the whole, it's OK. I've certainly never heard anybody using the language you've used to describe their children. I'd say you get what you pay for. If you've booked the standard, cheap, accommodation, then, yes, it's not going to be brilliant. We always try to stay in hotel rooms in Bognor or in the Seaside apartments in Minehead. Have also stayed in the Bayside Apartments in Minehead and they're great.
I think if you go with preconceived negative thoughts, then you're going with the wrong attitude.
Now, if you had said you were going to Pontins, it'd be a completely different story!!

stormy11 · 14/01/2024 07:59

It is what you make of it. We have been twice the last 2 years and we had a great time both times. It's not as bad as someone those reviews sound, but it's not a luxury place either. My kids were 3 and 1 last time and they loved it.

Original poster
Burlee · 14/01/2024 08:00

We’re going to Skegness - 2 adults and one 4 year old who is very timid bless her. We won’t be doing the late entertainment but I was hoping to take her to the kids disco at 7pm … she is autistic however and we certainly won’t be able to stand queuing for hours! When I was a kid you just turned up and walked in!

OP posts:
spanieleyes · 14/01/2024 08:03

Well, you might certainly hear some choice language in Skegness! But most of the families there just want a good, cheap holiday just as you do.

Vegetus · 14/01/2024 08:08

Take my son every year, he loves it. It's okay it's definitely worth spending a bit extra for the nicer accommodation. Some people are who go are a bit rough and ready different to any package holiday in Spain in that respect. Certainly less drunken idiots about anyway.

Purpleturtle45 · 14/01/2024 08:10

We have been going to Butlins Skegness every year for the last decade. Not going to lie the first time we went I was horrified by the accommodation when we first arrived, staying in a standard apartment. However the kids had such an amazing time by the end of the week we had decided we would come back the following year. The following year they upgraded us to a gold apartment and that's what we have booked very year since. The good apartment is basically what you would find as standard everywhere else 🤣.

That being said we all love it, usually go as a group of 9 raging from kids to grandparents. There is so much for everyone of all ages and you will not find better entertainment anywhere in the UK, such a fab range and great quality!

You do need to queue for shows etc if you want a good seat, we usually went about half an hour before doors opening but one of us usually queued and got the seats for the rest. If you aren't bothered about a good seat then you can turn up right before, the venues are huge.

We have just booked our 11th year so obviously we like it but might not be for everyone.

LubaLuca · 14/01/2024 08:16

We went as mystery shoppers to Skegness a few years ago. A lot of what you've read is true. The accommodation was of a poor standard (we were in a 'gold' apartment, it was shabby).

A lot of parents are there seemingly only for a piss-up, with cans stashed under the pushchair and cracked open in all public spaces from morning onwards. There's weirdly loud swearing everywhere. I swear, I'm not shocked by anyone swearing in adult company, but this was like being on the Kop on a sunny Saturday rather than waiting to see the Tweenies. I've never seen this sort of thing anywhere else, and I've not exactly led a sheltered life. I don't know why it's like that, it's like someone's told people swearing is mandatory, it's not like real life.

The food was much better than we expected, lots of choice, all hot and presented well. The pool was very good, but the changing rooms were grubby and smelly. The fairground was good as well.

It wasn't awful, not even the worst holiday we've been on, but I do think it would have felt worse if we'd have paid for it.

DriveMeCrazy1974 · 14/01/2024 08:16

You can book an early access VIP pass if you don't want to queue for ages:
https://www.butlins.com/discover-butlins/extras/early-access-vip-pass
You do need to pay extra for the pass and you will need to buy a pass for everybody on the booking - but might be worth it if queuing is an issue.

Early Access VIP Pass | Butlin's

Fancy feeling like a VIP? We thought so! That’s why we’re rolling out the red carpet to give you the star treatment with our brand-new Early Access VIP passes.

https://www.butlins.com/discover-butlins/extras/early-access-vip-pass

PeskyPotato · 14/01/2024 08:16

Skegness is rough and chavvy. Butlins or not. But you get out ehat you put in.

For kids disco there's no need to queue. You can book places via the app a month before you go. Queueing is just for the best seats.

I go Bognor Regis Butlins every year and never had an issue, heard bad language, or smelt urine.

wellhellohowstheweather · 14/01/2024 08:16

Went to Skegness last year, will go again this year. It's not posh certainly and it does get louder at night time but it's absolutely fine

and I'm an anxious mum with a timid kid and the kind of person who arrives on holidays with wipes to clean the place down just in case (and I didn't need to) I would suggest arriving in day light, accommodation is really hard to find first time in the dark

ElevenSeven · 14/01/2024 08:17

A friend went last year for last minute long weekend break… they left at 9am after the first night, sorry.

PicaK · 14/01/2024 08:19

I was at Butlins Bognor in half term and it was busy. You had to book the shows (free) on the app and people were queueing to get to the front. But we arrived as doors opened and (also autistic dc) just happily sat at the back and to the side (near the sir con)
It wasn't Center Parcs. But it wasn't terrible. The rooms in the hotel were clean and huge.

bananamangoes · 14/01/2024 08:21

The reviews are an entertaining read

It is quite rough. Well; the people are
A four year old will like it though

Beanie567 · 14/01/2024 08:25

I’ve been to Bognor Butlin’s twice and loved it both times. Great food, accommodation was fine (and we were in a silver apartment!) didn’t see it hear anything awful going on anywhere. Both times (one pre-Covid, the other after Covid) were fantastic.

PonkyPonky · 14/01/2024 08:25

I had a brilliant time at the Minehead one last year. Apartment was clean but definitely a bit rough round the edges and the people below us were so loud. But that aside, the entertainment day and night was great and we didn’t have to queue for anything. Most things you have to book before you go anyway, just be very quick when you get your booking window. I would recommend upgrading your accommodation if you have the lowest type and can afford to. I genuinely would go again, DC absolutely loved it and was 4 at the time like yours. There’s plenty of normal people that wouldn’t call their kids cunts there but yes there’s an element of that too. I remember seeing a woman holding a fag in one hand and a baby in the other and the baby had some sort of bright orange drink in its bottle! It takes all sorts to fill a Butlins

Screwballs · 14/01/2024 08:27

drowningintinsel · 14/01/2024 07:52

I go to Minehead all the time. It's nothing like that.

I got ring worm from Minehead. We went for Shiine.

ArnieLinson · 14/01/2024 08:30

We go roughly every year because my children love it. Rough as toast is accurate for skegness. And a lot of smokers who are always near bloody entrances. We used to always stay in gold apartments and yes they are not clean enough. I always take cleaning products and give surfaces a wipe down. when my children were little i took a mat or large blanket for the floor for them to sit and play on as the carpet is filthy.

The entertainment at butlins though cannot matched. The shows are brilliant and all the staff are too, not just redcoats. Reds is great and theyll love the skyline gang. Mine are teens now and use the adrenaline passes and hire the bikes rather than see daytime shows. We now always go catered because it is easy and food is ok.

People at butlins do love to queue. we queued for reds to get good seats and shows like steven mulhern.

I much prefer minehead but my dd really wants to go to skegness this year as the pool is so much bigger. If youre saying parts of it are shut, that might work in my favour…

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 14/01/2024 08:35

I've been twice in the past couple of years. But not in school holiday time (I do think this majes a difference!)

We stayed in a fairground apartment both times, it was very nice, and clean. All but 2 of the rides were open the first time. All were open the 2nd.

We attended a booked show, no queue. We went in "Red" , no queue and in the centre bit fir the kids stuff.

The 2nd time I did the premium dining plan which was a bit busy at times but was ok.

Honestly, it was great, the kids loved it. But again, I don't think I'd go in the holidays.