Unit 1 – Topic 1 – Butlins
Butlins Holiday Camps
Billy Butlin is seen as one of the pioneers of the United Kingdom tourism industry. He did not invent the holiday camp, as is commonly believed, but developed much bigger and better camps compared to those which had existed previously. The Butlins holiday camp at Skegness opened in 1936, offered high-class interior features, a wide scope of entertainment and attractions and was larger and more impressive than any of its rivals.
The Butlin’s product offered a ‘week’s holiday for a week’s pay’ and targeted working-class families with one-price, pre-paid holidays. The services provided by the holiday camps included individual chalets for families, shops, hairdressing services, floodlit swimming pools, childcare services, ballroom dancing, tennis, bowling and boating.
It has to be remembered that many visitors to Butlin’s holiday camps had never been on holiday before. Their parents generation, very often had not been on holiday either, and so the relative comfort and range of entertainment was much appreciated by the ‘campers’.
People were happy to eat set meals at set times and enjoyed the entertainment which was not available in their own homes. Also, campers were happy to be looked after by the staff of the camps called ‘Redcoats’, named after their uniform. These people could be regarded as the first generation of ‘reps’, or resort representatives that helped to organise visitors during the day and provided the entertainment in the evening.
There is no doubt that the Butlin’s holiday camp concept captured the mood of the nation at that time and was extremely successful at meeting the needs and expectations of people who were not used to travelling and going on holiday.
Another factor in the success of the Butlin’s holiday camp business, and other similar companies, was the introduction of the Holiday With Pay Act in 1938.
The passing of the Holiday With Pay Act marked the end of a twenty-year campaign for paid holiday time for workers. The Act introduced the entitlement of one week’s annual paid holiday for all full-time workers. (Remember, today most full-time workers receive three or four weeks paid holiday per year).
The Holiday With Pay Act represented a milestone in British social history. It provided ordinary working-class people with the opportunity to take part in leisure and tourism activities in a way they had not been able to before.
The following article gives some information about modern Butlins and recalls Butlins at BarryIsland:
Butlins Holiday Camps Report - UK Family Holidays with a Fun Tradition
The Butlins Holiday Camp has become part of the legend of the British seaside, something in which memory lives on. Going on holiday to Butlins with your parents was an experience which as a child you didn't forget. But guess what?
You can still experience this for yourself. You can go on holiday to Butlins and experience what it's really like.
In the words of Butlins 2004: "Butlins offer families and adults a variety of holidays and weekend breaks, packed full of entertainment all year round. Minehead resort plays host to the Arena Tours featuring top names in music such as Westlife & Busted. Other entertainment on offer include themed weekends, 60s, 70s & 80s, soul & Mowtown".
Butlins still have Redcoats, and they still have fairground rides, and fish & chips, ice cream, people walking around and queuing up, swimming pools, crazy golf, novelty features, etc; it is an experience which is there to be experienced.
Butlins: "In 1936 Billy Butlin created the most recognised holiday company in the UK – Butlins. The first Resort opened in Skegness introducing the famous Redcoats. With Butlins, a new holiday concept was created for the British holiday maker. Through the years Butlins has evolved into the great brand that it is today. Butlins offers guests entertainment, great facilities and an atmosphere to have fun and relax with family and friends’’.
Butlins family resorts are open all year round at all 3 holiday resorts in the UK, so whether you're looking for a summer holiday or a half term break, Butlins is the ideal choice for cheap family holidays. Book early and you can get the best deals and choice from the range of resorts including Minehead, Skegness and Bognor Regis. Butlins can offer not only the ideal kids holiday but plenty of entertainment and activities for parents, grandparents and the whole family.
ButlinsBarryIsland opened its gates to customers in 1966. It was the smallest of the Butlin’s Camps, being built onthe headland at Nell's Point. It is believed that Billy Butlin got the idea for his holiday empire here during a rather grim holiday to the resort in his youth. In those days you were likely to find your accommodation was a spare room in a family home. At busy times the home- owner would be letting out theirown room to make a bit of extra money. Rain or shine after breakfast you were out the door and not encouraged to return till tea time.
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The Barry Island Camp ran successfully until 1986, when Butlin’s put the camp up for sale. Finally bought by Majestic Holidays Inc, who re-opened the site as 'The Barry Island Resort'. The site was run the same way that Butlin’s had, but due to peoples expectations and lack of maintenance theresort was not meetingpeople’s standards.
BarryIsland is still a popular seaside resort, although today many tourists visit the destination for the day rather than for a main holiday. The resort has a new claim to fame since being featured heavily in the popular Gavin and Stacey series. Many of the attractions and facilities typical of British seaside resorts can be found in BarryIsland.
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