Inside abandoned UK Butlin's resort now transformed into £25m holiday village with poolside sauna, arcades & playground

Business Mayor

14-05-2025

A ONCE-thriving Butlin's resort has been transformed into a £25million coastal holiday village with pools, saunas, an arcade, and spa.
Billy Butlin's Filey campsite was once a haven for thousands of post-war Brits hoping for some beachside R&R.
9 Filey was one of Butlin's biggest resorts and was hugely popular after the end of World War II Credit: Newcastle Chronicle & Journal
9 Holiday makers could enjoy all sorts of activities at the resort Credit: Getty – Contributor
Nestled between Scarborough and Bridlington in North Yorkshire, Filey pulled in more than 150,000 guests every year.
Holidaymakers enjoyed swimming, sunbathing, dancing and amusement arcades at the seaside resort.
In the evening, if they hadn't retired to their simple, yet homely chalets, they were treated to entertainment laid out by the famous Red Coats.
The Butlin's campsite was so popular that it had its own branch and station on the north east railway – which is still open to this day.
Despite its popularity, it was no match for the boom in affordable trips to Spain in the 1970s, and bosses closed it down in 1983.
By 2001, it resembled a ghost town with the shells of abandoned cabins and drained swimming pools filled with rubbish.
Richard Bailey, a former staff member at Filey, paid the site a visit that year and shared his findings on social media.
'I was walking my dog along the beach towards Primrose Valley when I went in search of the remains of the old Butlin's holiday camp whereas an 18 year-old-art student I had worked in the summer holidays of 1968,' he wrote.
'There was still plenty of evidence of what had once been a holiday camp, including the chalets, fountains and remains of the outdoor and indoor pools.'
But now there's almost no trace of the original staycation provider at the redeveloped site, which is now called The Bay.
The luxury complex has been described as a 'purpose-built holiday village on the clifftops.
The first beach house was built in 2012 and in 2021 The Bay expanded to include a new 'Meadows development'.
There are around 500 properties on the site, many are rented out by private owners.
According to its website: 'The developers paid great attention to the look and feel of The Bay, including boules courts, courtyards, grassed areas all around the development to make it a lovely setting.
'Gardens are not enclosed partly to make it easier for our gardeners but also makes it a lovely communal holiday village.'
At the centre of the village is a 20 metre pool with a baby pool and sauna and steam rooms.
There's also a gym for those who want to get the blood pumping.
The Bay has a beauty room for holidaymakers looking for a bit of pampering,
There's a pub on site, which serves food ad drink all day and in a slight nod to Butlins: a family entertainment centre with an arcade.
There's even a purpose-built shop selling all the necessities and souvenirs.
For kids under the age of 12, there's an adventure playground.
Despite its luxurious feel, Filey Bay prides itself on being perfect for those on a budget.
For a two-night stay in June, a two-bedroom apartment will cost £380.
Read More Where cider houses rule in Spain: a tour of Asturias
On the same dates, guests can also stay at the Sea Urchins beach house, which has king-size bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen for £464 .
At the other end of the scale, a massive four-bedroom house with a sea view will cost £1,160.28 for two nights in June.
Butlin's day pass deal: Kids go for just £1
By Catherine Lofthouse
My family loves a Butlin's trip and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the latest day pass deal of just £1 for children.
That actually makes it cheaper for me to take my three boys for a swim at Butlin's than at my local leisure centre, where I have to pay more than a fiver per person.
Instead of spending £20 for an hour in the pool, I could spend £15 for an adult day pass and then £3 for the boys and enjoy a full day out at the seaside resort, with swimming, funfair rides and shows in the Skyline Pavilion all included.
With the incredible Skyparks at Skegness and Minehead and the brand-new soft play at Bognor, now's a good time to head to your nearest site for a day to try out the latest family-friendly facilities, particularly if you have a school inset day in May, like we do.
This deal is only available term-time midweek until May halfterm, so you need to be quick if you're going to take advantage.
Prices for day passes in halfterm rise to as much as £33 for adults and £23 for children depending on the resort, so it could be a huge saving to go midweek in May. Read More K-pop tourism: how Tossa de Mar became a hot spot
Read the full story here.
9 A contestant taking part in the 'knobbly knees contest' at Filey Credit: Getty – Contributor
9 Huge groups enjoy a mass fitness class by the sea Credit: Getty – Contributor
9 The Bay has been built where Filey once stood Credit: FILEY BAY DIRECT
9 The resort was forced to close in the 80s following the surge in popularity for holidays abroad Credit: Facebook
9 A group of holidaymakers playing leapfrog at Filey in 1946 Credit: Getty – Contributor
9 A young girl pours water over her sleeping father in 1953 Credit: Getty – Contributor