Butlin's interested in taking over abandoned Pontins site in Wales

Holiday camp giant Butlin's has expressed an interest in acquiring one of the recently abandoned resorts from its competitor Pontins. Butlin's managing director Jon Hendry Pickup disclosed that they have reached out to Britannia Hotels, which owns Pontins, regarding the potential takeover of either the Southport site in Merseyside or the Prestatyn location in North Wales.

The sudden closure of the Pontins resort in Southport this January, following the shutdown of the Prestatyn and Camber Sands sites in East Sussex at the end of November, has dealt a significant blow to the local areas, sparking concerns about their future. Britannia Hotels, led by business magnate Alex Langsam, acquired Pontins back in 2011 but has faced criticism for allegedly not investing sufficiently in the holiday parks.

"We would definitely still be interested," Mr Hendry Pickup told the Mirror. "We would definitely like a conversation with them."

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He mentioned that if Butlin's were to acquire the Southport site, they would likely demolish the existing structures, indicating a more long-term investment plan. The appeal of the Southport and Prestatyn locations lies in Butlin's absence of a resort in the North West, and the company is not inclined to build a new one from the ground up elsewhere.

Butlin's, the iconic British holiday brand, currently operates three resorts located in Minehead, Somerset; Bognor Regis, West Sussex; and Skegness, Lincolnshire. Although the latest financial figures are pending, the turnover for Butlin's soared by 54% to £290.4 million in 2022, bouncing back from the downturn caused by the pandemic.

The holiday firm is in the midst of an ambitious £150 million investment programme set to continue until 2027. This includes exciting developments such as a new £15 million indoor activity centre at the Bognor Regis resort and the addition of more than 100 high-end lodges at the Skegness site.

Mr Hendry Pickup has emphasised a return to the company's core values, prioritising value-for-money and fun-filled family holidays. "The mission is to give loads of things to do," he explained.

"The mission isn't to relax - if people want to do that, we aren't for them." This summer, guests can look forward to entertainment from TV personality Stephen Mulhern, who once donned the famous Butlin's Redcoat, as well as performances linked to The Masked Singer.

To boost off-peak occupancy, Butlin's hosts Big Weekender events which have become incredibly popular. This year's performers include Atomic Kitten, Jason Donovan, and Chesney Hawkes.

These events have significantly increased Butlin's occupancy rates, from 77% in 2018 to approximately 93%. Butlin's was founded by Billy Butlin, who began his career as a travelling showman, with the vision of making holidays accessible to the average family.

The first Butlin's resort, located in Skegness, opened its doors in April 1936 and within a year, it had doubled in size. Subsequent resorts were established in Clacton, Ayr, Pwllheli, Bognor Regis, Mosney, Minehead and Barry Island, with an additional location even set up in the Bahamas.

Many of these resorts boasted funfair rides - Billy Butin is credited with introducing dodgems to the UK - roller skating, boating and beauty pageants. They also hosted their famous talent contests, including the iconic knobbly knees competition.

Over time, the resorts have featured a variety of attractions, from monorails and glass-sided swimming pools to ski slopes. Butlin's has changed hands several times over the years, resulting in many of its sites either being closed or sold off.

In late 2022, US private equity giant Blackstone agreed to sell Butlin's to the Harris family for a whopping £300million. The ultimate owner of Butlin's is now billionaire Peter Harris.