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Original poster

Regretting booking Butlins, words of wisdom needed!

118 replies

DogsBehavingWrongly · 26/04/2024 11:34

I used to go to Butlins as a child in the 80s and I loved it! Us kids used to just set off in a morning on our own and have fun until bed time! So I booked it (Skegness) for my granddaughter - going in May.

Im really regretting it 😭 for a start the main reason I booked it was for the swimming pool … turns out most of it is closed yet they never told me that on booking!! Secondly you have to book all activities now … I’ve just gone to book stuff and most is “unavailable”

Then there’s the reviews 🤦‍♀️ do people really strut around drinking Stella and calling their kids little cunts??! It never used to be like this, what the hell happened ?!

Anyone who has been recently … please tell me she’ll enjoy it?! She’s 4

OP posts:
OhmygodDont · 26/04/2024 11:38

The child will enjoy it and I’d expect the pool to be fixed soon as it’s been broken since before Christmas I believe.

But yes ingoldmells is full of people wondering around drinking and smoking weed openly and of course that does tend to go hand in hand with verbal choices. It’s not terrible terrible place like your highly unlikely to get stabbed 😅 but it’s definitely got a certain demographic who really really love it. But there’s also a lot of people
who go to ingoldmells purely because it’s cheap and they are decent people too just the rough bunch tend to stick in your mind.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 26/04/2024 11:41

I was going to say that Butlins is never going to be the same as it was, I also remember going in the 80s/90s and it was a different time, people were just different and kept better control of themselves around others. If the reviews are saying this then I imagine that it's a worst case thing but sadly, probably true. Not something I would like either.

I've had a look at the photos of it and I think there are lots of things for your granddaughter to amuse herself with you there but that said, if the amenities and the pool are not available then I think you would be perfectly within your rights to cancel and get your money back.

Can you cancel and get a refund? Maybe look at somewhere else?

Justme2023123 · 26/04/2024 11:43

Your granddaughter will love it. We just went at Easter and the pool being closed was a pain but we still made it work with what was open and the lazy river.

Kittenkitty · 26/04/2024 11:49

They have put in alternative activities in place of the pool. Things like a big top circus tent thing.

We went when my daughter was 4, we saw a few of the kids daytime shows. We watched the skyline gang show every night, we went to the play areas, to the amusements, the panto (not Christmas time) to the fairground, to the puppet show, we did also go swimming twice. The nighttime shows were incredibly busy, people queue hours before and they’re pretty low quality anyway, I think that’s really about the adults drinking and kids having a dance. The demographic was fine when we were there. I’m a middle class health professional and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice lots of different lifestyle choices to my own like kids in prams drinking Coca-Cola out their bottles etc but it didn’t impact on my enjoyment of the holiday, there wasn’t any antisocial behaviour I noticed. The people might look like “chavs” but most of them are just parents trying to do the best for their kids and give them a nice time.

CJ0374 · 26/04/2024 11:51

I'm surprised you didn't check recent reviews BEFORE booking, considering that the 80's was 40yrs ago! How many things are still exactly the same now as in the 80's?

Have you rung the place to check IF the pool will be fixed? Can you get a refund? Are you going too? Hopefully you both have a nice time.

Original poster
DogsBehavingWrongly · 26/04/2024 12:05

CJ0374 · 26/04/2024 11:51

I'm surprised you didn't check recent reviews BEFORE booking, considering that the 80's was 40yrs ago! How many things are still exactly the same now as in the 80's?

Have you rung the place to check IF the pool will be fixed? Can you get a refund? Are you going too? Hopefully you both have a nice time.

Do you really have to say the 80s was 40 years ago? 😱 Christ talk about making me feel old! 😂😂 I still think of it being 20 years ago 😭

it’s me and hubby taking grandaughter. I just wish we’d booked a seaside cottage or something. I suppose the plus is that there is a fairground and a beach there. Knowing DGD she’ll want to spend all her time on the beach anyway.

OP posts:
LoveSkaMusic · 26/04/2024 12:44

It'll be fine, it's still a good place to go. It's not classy, but then, you'd go to Center Parcs if you wanted that. And Center Parcs is Dullsville.

I wish there was a halfway house between Butlins and Center Parcs. Something that has all the entertainment of Butlins combined with the fresh air and sporting stuff of CP. Anyway, that's a whole other conversation...

With regard to the activities, you will find that booking may not open up for these until closer to the date. Keep an eye on the app.

peakygold · 26/04/2024 12:51

If you absolutely have to go to Butlins, I would suggest staying off site and just buying daily tickets. Easily done in Skeggy.

Original poster
DogsBehavingWrongly · 26/04/2024 13:56

LoveSkaMusic · 26/04/2024 12:44

It'll be fine, it's still a good place to go. It's not classy, but then, you'd go to Center Parcs if you wanted that. And Center Parcs is Dullsville.

I wish there was a halfway house between Butlins and Center Parcs. Something that has all the entertainment of Butlins combined with the fresh air and sporting stuff of CP. Anyway, that's a whole other conversation...

With regard to the activities, you will find that booking may not open up for these until closer to the date. Keep an eye on the app.

Actually you have a point there, it let me book for the Friday but no availability for Saturday or Sunday … but they open 4 weeks before you go don’t they, should they should become available tomorrow!

OP posts:
Beamur · 26/04/2024 13:58

We went to Minehead a few years ago and had a brilliant time. It's very child friendly.

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 26/04/2024 13:59

I mean I wouldn’t go. Can you cancel?

SevenSeasOfRhye · 26/04/2024 14:05

Not specific to Butlins but this is what I always tell myself when having holiday wobbles:

"It will be an adventure!"

Changes your mindset Smile

Pootles34 · 26/04/2024 14:08

A friend of ours had this recently re the pool - they rang up and insisted on being moved to a different Butlins. Of course a bit further to drive, but worth it I think. The pool is the main thing, especially with the British weather!

Createausername1970 · 26/04/2024 14:13

Can't comment on Skegness, but have been to Minehead a few times and it was fine. I would stay there again as a couple and use it as a nice base, but they wouldn't take my booking as there was no child included.

I might have to make up a grandchild that can't come at the last minute 😁

Noideawhatiam · 26/04/2024 14:14

Some of the pool is open, I believe it might be the toddler area so with a 4 year old you might be ok.

jolenethea · 26/04/2024 14:17

I'm in a Butlins Skegness Facebook group and apparently you just queue if you're not booked, with it sounding like everyone who wants to gets in

mummymummymummummum · 26/04/2024 14:24

My 4 year old loves it. We’ve been twice now, once this year when the pool was partially close. The part of the pool she loves most is still open - it’s shallow water with 3 or 4 short slides that she can do independently.

There is a circus to make up for the pool. That was one of her top 3 of the week. I think you also get roller skating (was ice skating, but too warm now believe it or not!).

Yes, you need to book many of the shows etc. Don’t wait for the email, just get onto Plan My Day at 10:20am on the day booking is due to open. Or, if that’s now past, there’s always a non booked queue, and they always seem to get in anyway.

Swimming you can only book one session in advance. But I was able to book every day, on the day at 8am in the app.

SunnySkeg · 26/04/2024 14:25

We're just back from Butlin's in Skeg and have actually booked to go back next year Grin Like you I was dreading it when I found the pool wasn't open (DC2 and 4) but some parts of it are - the smaller toddler pool, which has three slides, albeit small ones, and the big slides, a couple of which your DGD will be able to go on. You can only book the pool once before arrival, but then at 8am every day they open more slots so you can book to go again - we went every day in the end.

Both DC loved the fairground and DC4 is just big enough for some of the main fairground rides now. There's also the new skypark opened.

Yes there are people swearing (I have a pretty good glare and I got quite a few apologies for the language) and drinking, but we didn't venture out in the evening so didn't actually see anyone drunk.

I went to Minehead once in the late 80s/early 90s and it was so grim my dad said never again - he thought we'd lost our minds when we booked Skeg last year but it's cheap and the kids love it.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 26/04/2024 14:29

Ask if they can transfer you to a different site where the pool is open.

Butlins was rough in the late 80s when we had a family holiday there but I am sure you can have fun. We avoided the bars and mainly just used the pool and fairground rides. Had a trip to a pub outside the park one evening but mainly ate dinner in the chalet.

Never went back but it wasn't horrible, we had a decent enough time. My parents rank it as less rough than the static caravan holiday a few years earlier.

A friend of mine is just back from a trip with family and although they wouldn't necessarily pick it they had a nice enough time. There is lots for the kids to do.

BobbyBiscuits · 26/04/2024 14:47

If there's a beach nearby you could make picnics and spend plenty of time there. I think the chalets are meant to be quite grubby, so people say to bring own cleaning products and be prepared to spend an hour on it before you can relax. The beds are uncomfortable too I've heard.
But if you're out most of time, and maybe go off site to a restaurant or cafes in the local town if the food sucks, it should be ok?
Your GD might befriend some of other kids which would be nice for her, so they might be happy just playing without too much structured activity.
But you should check about the activities they actually do have. If it's not at all as advertised they should be refunding you.

OhmygodDont · 26/04/2024 14:50

BobbyBiscuits · 26/04/2024 14:47

If there's a beach nearby you could make picnics and spend plenty of time there. I think the chalets are meant to be quite grubby, so people say to bring own cleaning products and be prepared to spend an hour on it before you can relax. The beds are uncomfortable too I've heard.
But if you're out most of time, and maybe go off site to a restaurant or cafes in the local town if the food sucks, it should be ok?
Your GD might befriend some of other kids which would be nice for her, so they might be happy just playing without too much structured activity.
But you should check about the activities they actually do have. If it's not at all as advertised they should be refunding you.

She’s be better off staying onsite 😅 apart from the beach which is directly outside the prison fencing

I joke a bit. I do love a Butlins pool so much better than any park dean or haven or such. Wish they would up their game on pools.

mysparkleismissing · 26/04/2024 15:12

LoveSkaMusic · 26/04/2024 12:44

It'll be fine, it's still a good place to go. It's not classy, but then, you'd go to Center Parcs if you wanted that. And Center Parcs is Dullsville.

I wish there was a halfway house between Butlins and Center Parcs. Something that has all the entertainment of Butlins combined with the fresh air and sporting stuff of CP. Anyway, that's a whole other conversation...

With regard to the activities, you will find that booking may not open up for these until closer to the date. Keep an eye on the app.

Have a look at Potters better for older active kids/families but price includes all food

Ladybir · 26/04/2024 15:18

Then there’s the reviews 🤦‍♀️ do people really strut around drinking Stella and calling their kids little cunts??! It never used to be like this, what the hell happened ?!

yes it is still like this. We went 2 years ago and will never return. It was like a giant council estate that you see the on TV shows

BobbyBiscuits · 26/04/2024 16:23

@OhmygodDont ah, fair enough, lol. Sounds a bit grim if the beach is next to a prison! I kind of assumed the local town might be reasonable.
I've only ever been to the one in bognor as a kid on a supposed school 'maths trip'? This was in the early 90s. In winter?!
I think if you're there for the kids stuff it might be bearable maybe?

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 26/04/2024 16:27

Are you going in the school holidays? If nit, I wouldn't worry. I absolutely eoldnt go in the holidays but have been a few times in term time, kids loved it, didn't really do the bookable activities (we did crazy golf and bowling which you can book there. )

Went in Reds at night (no need to book) free fairground, beach, play area during the day.

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