Did Anyone go to Pontins or Butlins in their youth.
Or more recently?
Back in the day, it was probably many peoples holiday of choice, especially with kids.
Holiday Camps
How awfully Plebeian.
Only the odd caravan site without facilities.
But friends cut out the coupons from the Sun and the Mirror and have holiday camp weekends for a fiver.
Normally the sites are next to power stations and close enough for one to go back for a day to watch his beloved Brentford before returning.
They have had some great conversations in car parks with the turns. Mostly they are like Ted Bovis but less coherent.
Actually, tell a lie. I did join my parents once for an organ weekend in West Quantoxhead. The week before they had a Hells Angels convention so there were a lot of whiskey bottles in the chalets.
The one afterwards was the annual transvestites' jamboree. The staff said they were lovely people.
Quote: Steve Sunshine @ September 19 2013, 8:52 PM BSTDid Anyone go to Pontins or Butlins in their youth.
Or more recently?Back in the day, it was probably many peoples holiday of choice, especially with kids.
Back in the day? Holiday of choice?
That's not the way we spoke in the 1960s.
I went several times to Pontins with my parents and later in the 70s went to Ladbrokes in Norfolk with my mates three years running. Also went to Dovercourt where Hi-de-hi was based, Then took my kids to some in the 1980s-90s.
So yes I love them. Everything is there if you want it and if you don't want it go and do something else. It's not all regimented.
Been to all of them, best Butlins, worst Pontins, a dreary place, but fair dues, the kids entertainment was excellent...they just need to put some serious money into doing up the accommodation and get some decent places to eat, chips with everything was the order of the day and overpriced mini marts.
I have lots of good memories of Butlins Skegness.
Butlins Skegness Butlins Filey well the the of it now it is such a shame wished they kept something to do with it,also been to pontins prestatyn and hemsby .
A few other things. Soul weekenders at Caister. I never did but, according to Robbie Vincent around 1980, it was the only place to be. Sometimes I believed him.
Now there's that indie thing in Minehead and elsewhere. You can see all of your favourite bands and Belle and Sebastian etc might compere. But you have to be aged 15.
And Center Parcs. The modern equivalent for sporty Notting Hill types. It's the name that puts me off. In any case, I'd much rather be walking on a quiet coast path.
Caister was where I went with my mates 3 years running. Saw the Barron Knights there in 1976.
I've just come back from Pontins Brean Sands.
It was a big family one & a lot of fun.
I even won an Elvis-off on the Karaoke.
My 2 year old great nephew won the mega jackpot on the kiddies token machine in the arcade.
It was 3000 tickets, they took about 10 minutes to all come out & we had to get someone to refill the paper in the machine.
It was funny to see a crowd of wide eyed kids gather round as the tickets kept on coming.
Been to Brean Sands twice as well.
The second time we'd booked Barry Island - yes Gavin and Stacey's Barry Island - for the second year running but the company had gone bust and they offered us Brean instead.
I once went to Sandy Balls.
Ooh and a Centerparcs.
Quote: Horseradish @ September 19 2013, 9:02 PM BSTI did join my parents once for an organ weekend in West Quantoxhead. The week before they had a Hells Angels convention so there were a lot of whiskey bottles in the chalets.
The one afterwards was the annual transvestites' jamboree.
Where tf is West Quantoxhead? Sounds a little more exotic than Bognor, the one I went to.
I've been to holiday camps many times. Never for a holiday though. I used to play in a brass band so many of the contests are held in them. Prestatyn and Brean Sands were both regulars. A couple of years ago I was guesting for a band and we played in Skegness. Can't say I was too impressed. (Sorry Lee/Leevil/Vil/Lev/Evi}
Quote: zooo @ September 20 2013, 12:50 AM BSTI once went to Sandy Balls.
