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Skegness Camp
Butlins Skegness was the first of Billy Butlin's holiday camps. The camp opened in 1936 but was taken over for military use in 1939. The camp reopened in 1946.
1980s refurbishment
In 1987 the camp underwent refurbishment and was renamed Funcoast World.
1990s major redevelopment
In 1998, as with Bognor and Minehead, Butlins Skegness again underwent major refurbishment. The camp's Funcoast World identity was dropped and a new Skyline Pavilion was built.
The Spa
In 2004 'The Spa' opened at Butlins Skegness with a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, fitness suite, spa, sauna, steam room. The adults-only facility offers a range of treatments including manicures, pedicures, facials and massages.
Spring Harvest, the largest Christian conference in Europe takes place at the Minehead and Skegness sites every Easter. The event attracts some 55,000 Christians from a range of denominations and plays host to many renowned preachers, Christian musicians and dramatic artists. While there, attendees can make the most of the Butlins facilities in addition to a range of activities for people of all ages put on by Spring Harvest.
Butlins and Dodgem Cars
Dodgem Cars, a brand of bumper cars, were manufactured in the USA by the Dodgem Cars Ltd. Billy Butlin saw them and obtained the UK franchise. As a result, a Skegness funfair owned by Billy prior to going into Holiday Camps saw the first Dodgems cars in the UK in 1923.
Butlin's Beaver Club on The Radio
In 1956 Butlin's Beaver Club - with Uncle Eric Winstrone was heard in the United Kingdom and much of continental Europe on Sunday nights at 6:00 PM over the famous 208 wavelength of Radio Luxembourg.
Butlin's Holiday Camp, Mosney, County Meath, Ireland was the first camp to be built outside Great Britain. It was sold in 1982.
Butlin's Holiday Camp, Mosney, County Meath, Ireland was the first camp to be built outside Great Britain. It was sold in 1982.
The first of the Butlin's holiday camps was opened by Billy Butlin in 1936 in Skegness following his success in the development of amusement parks. A second camp quickly followed in Clacton (1938) and construction of a third began at Filey (1939). With the outbreak of World War II, building at Filey was postponed and the camps at Skegness and Clacton were given over for military use. Wartime use of Butlins camps continued with resorts at Ayr, Filey & Pwllheli being completed and opened as military camps.
Butlins in Ayr, seen during the mid-1980s, prior to refurbishment. This camp was later renamed Wonderwest World, and is now owned and run by Haven.
Butlins in Ayr, seen during the mid-1980s, prior to refurbishment. This camp was later renamed Wonderwest World, and is now owned and run by Haven.
In 1945, with war over, Filey opened as a holiday camp. The camps at Skegness & Clacton (1946), Ayr & Pwllheli (1947) followed and a new camp was built on the east coast of Ireland at Mosney (1948). Butlin's became popular in post-war Britain with family entertainment and activities available for the equivalent of a week's pay. Further post-war camps were opened in the 1960s at Bognor Regis (1960), Minehead (1962) and Barry (1966).
In 1948, Billy Butlin acquired two hotels in The Bahamas and in the 1950s, Butlins began opening hotels in the UK: Saltdean, Brighton (1953), Blackpool (1955) and five in Cliftonville (1955-1956). In later years, they were joined by further hotels in Scarborough (1978), Llandudno (1981), London (1993), a sixth hotel at Cliftonville and one in Spain (1983). The camps at Ayr and Skegness also had separate self-contained hotels within the grounds. In the 1960s and 1970s, the company also operated the Top of the Tower revolving restaurant at the then-named Post Office Tower in London.
All the Butlins hotels of the 1950s-1990s were sold in 1998 but the majority are still open today under different ownership, the art decor style Ocean hotel at Saltdean is under redevelopment into flats (2007) and the hotels at Cliftonville have both been demolished.
The camps at Clacton (now a housing estate) and Filey closed in 1983, and the camp at Barry closed in 1986. The lease on the Top of the Tower restaurant expired in 1980. In 1998 the camps at Ayr and Pwllheli were re-branded as Haven Park.
In 1968 Billy Butlin's son Bobby took over the management of Butlins and in 1972 the business was sold to the Rank Organisation for £43 million. The company was later sold off to Bourne Leisure in 2000.
In 2005, the new £10m Shoreline hotel was unveiled at the Bognor Regis resort to expand on the existing variety of apartments on resort. The hotel, styled with an Art Deco theme, aimed to offer luxury accommodation inconjunction with the entertainment and facilities at the resort. Each of the 160 rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, king-size beds, leather chairs, widescreen TVs, Global Gathering 2008 DVD players and en-suite facilities, some also include sea-views.
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