by Britain’s great seaside holidays are under threat. Or more specifically, Pontins is, with the holiday park institution announcing the closure of its Southport site just hours after hosting a New Year’s Eve party. A few weeks ago, the company’s Camber Sands and Prestatyn parks were also permanently closed. These events represent a miserable fall for the UK’s once-thriving Christmas icon, which at its peak had 30 parks spread across the country. Now there are only two in operation.
Founded in 1946 by Fred Pontin, a stockbroker turned entrepreneur, Pontins offered smaller, and often cheaper, alternatives to its rival, Butlins. The first camp was a converted US Army base at Brean Sands in Somerset; Within a decade, sites would spring up everywhere from Brixham in Devon to Blackpool in Lancashire.
Pontins became synonymous with the classic British seaside holiday: refreshing weather, basic cabins and lively entertainment, provided by the “Bluecoats”. For many families, the company offered a rare opportunity to get away at a reasonable price. He also launched the careers of many British light artists, including Bradley Walsh, Shane Richie, Brian Conley, Dave Benson Phillips and Lee Mack.
After the heyday of the 1960s and 1970s came the decline. Pontins was sold to Coral, the betting conglomerate. More liquidations and mergers followed, before it was saved from administration by Britannia Hotels in 2011. A modernization plan was carried out, but it has clearly not been enough. We seem to prefer spending our money on cheap flights to the Mediterranean or stays at trendy campsites, rather than the company’s kitschy seaside holiday parks (see below).
Despite many positive TripAdvisor reviews (particularly about the staff at Pontins), reviews of the Camber Sands site in the months before its closure were scathing. One punter described the park as “prisoner-of-war camps in old movies.” Another wrote: “This is the worst caravan we have ever stayed in and we will never go back.”
And it appears the headache is not entirely over, as locals describe their confusion and concern over how the parks will be repurposed, with some fearing they will be used to house asylum seekers (a theory the Home Office has denied ). All of this is quite ignominious for such a long-established and once successful British company.
As the future of Pontins is uncertain, we would love to hear your memories of its holiday parks. Perhaps you visited as a child or, more recently, with your own children? Were you enchanted by old-fashioned entertainment or were you longing for somewhere a little more modern? If you have been more than once, how has the brand changed? Please leave your comments below.
Pontins on the brink of the abyss: where 21st century Britons spend their holidays
butlins
A decade before Pontins, its spas operated, for most of the 20th century, in a similar way. Now Butlins has had a stylish rebrand. No longer a vision of cold chalets and knobby-kneed competitions, its resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness have been revamped to be considerably more exclusive. However, his family origins have not been abandoned. Half-term activities include live Peppa Pig-themed shows and performances by Stephen Mulhern.
How to do it: A three-night stay at Butlins Minehead during the May half-term (May 24-27) starts at £257 for two adults and two children (or £64.25 per person).
Premier Inn
The hotel giant has become the best of the bunch when it comes to budget stays. It is regularly praised for its clean, accessible and reasonably priced rooms. Flexibility is also key, with its easy check-in and simple decor regularly cited by superfans. Meanwhile, its “bean barrier” plates, designed to stop leaks between breakfasts, have a cult following.
How to do it: A three-night stay at York City Premier Inn, May 24-27, starts at £408 for two adults and two children (or £102 per person).
hipcamp
Camping holidays are back. It’s been a golden few years for tarp breaks and booking sites are reportedly busier than ever. Childhood memories of parents trying to start a fire in the pouring rain have been forgotten, and Brits head out, armed with gas stoves and inflatable mattresses, to sleep outdoors. In fact, campsites are usually sold out throughout the summer, so it is a good idea to get organized and reserve a pitch well in advance.
How to do it: Hipcamp lists, as the name suggests, some of the most interesting sites in Britain. A stay from 24 to 27 May at Dernwood Farm, in Waldron, East Sussex, starts at £120 for two adults and two children (or £30 per person).
Canopy and stars
Perhaps the prospect of arriving at an empty field, with children and equipment in tow, is quite daunting. Head to Canopy and Stars for extravagant glamping options in the UK. You’ll get bonus points from the kids for choosing a treehouse or yurt, and many accommodations also have hot tubs, ideal for once they’ve gone to bed.
How to do it: The Just Sheared safari bungalow, at Drover’s Rest in Herefordshire, is equal parts luxurious and outdoorsy. Equipped with wood stoves, outdoor barbecue kits and plenty of farm animals, it’s the ideal location for an unforgettable family getaway. A stay between May 24 and 27 starts at £660 (or £165 per person).
Costa del Sol
The thing is, a breakup in the UK is no longer the savings it once was. Pontins and company were once a necessity, but the arrival of low-cost airlines (and cheap packages) means the Costa del Sol has been among the most cost-effective ways to holiday for decades.
How to do it: Traveling with Jet2, a stay from 24 to 31 May at the Gran Hotel Bali in Benidorm starts at £2,716 (£679 per person). The price includes round-trip flights, coach transfers, four cabin suitcases and four checked suitcases, as well as breakfast.
