Latest news with #BognorRegis
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sam Thompson ‘punched by kid' after visiting one of UK's 'worst seaside resorts'
Former Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson admits he has never been on a caravan holiday, but has visited one UK seaside town that welcomes six million tourists a year Sam Thompson was 'punched in the b******s by a kid' when he visited the city dubbed one of the UK's worst seaside destinations. The former Made in Chelsea star says he was in Southend-on-Sea when he was struck by the youngster. The city was recently named among the worst seaside locations by consumer champions Which?. It propped up the table of seaside resorts along with Bognor Regis, Bangor in Wales, and Clacton. The I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! winner opened up about his visit to Southend after being quizzed if he had ever been on a caravan holiday by pal Pete Wicks. On their Staying Relevant podcast, Sam replied: 'No.' It led to reality TV star Pete reminiscing about his childhood holidays to towns such as Frinton and Saint Osyth in Essex. The former TOWIE star said: '[We] used to go to the static caravan homes. 'You'd go there, there'd be a clubhouse where all that sort of s**t goes on, there'd be weird forced fun activities during the day that even as a child I'd be miserable to do, and you'd get to play in the arcades down at Southend. You'd go to Frinton and the beaches.' It prompted Sam to recall the moment he visited Southend. He replied: 'I've been to Southend. I got punched in the b******s by a kid.' Pete responded: 'Yeah…let's go back. Not for that reason. But a typical old-school staycation like that, I think is fundamental to growing up, especially if you don't grow up with a lot of things. 'They were f*****g brilliant. Like honestly brilliant. I used to love the caravan type of stuff.' It would seem that Sam isn't the only person who doesn't have fond memories of Southend. The Essex city was recently branded the 'worst place on Earth' by Which? readers. Its beaches scored a lowly two stars while the city's scenery only bagged one star. Despite the criticism however, Southend attracts around six million visitors each year. In September 2024, the city was branded a 'no-go zone' due to street drinking, reports EssexLive. While visitors and locals alike have taken to Tripadvisor to share their reviews of the beach in Southend. One wrote: 'Went with my family on a trip to Southend. A few years back this beach was in an absolutely horrible state, so we came back to this beach to see if there were any improvements. However, results were very unexpected and shocking." Another reviewer said it was the "worst place on Earth", adding: "Avoid the beach, avoid the city, avoid the people." Not everyone was critical however. One visitor to the city praised the beach, writing: 'The beach is generally kept clean and tidy, if you're local it's nice to visit early in the day or later in the evening when the tourists aren't swarming the place but on a sunny bank holiday it is absolutely packed with people from out of the area."
North Wales Live
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Iconic holiday park nominated as one of the best in prestigious UK travel awards
A popular family holiday spot is celebrating national acclaim after being shortlisted for two top honours at the 2025 British Travel Awards. Butlin's Bognor Regis has been named a finalist in both the 'Best Company for UK Parks and Lodges Holidays' and 'Favourite Company for Radio Advertisements' categories. These prestigious, consumer-voted awards recognise outstanding achievement across the UK's travel and leisure sector, spanning everything from holiday parks to cruise lines. With winners chosen entirely by public vote, the awards provide a genuine reflection of what matters most to UK holidaymakers. Butlin's is urging holidaymakers to cast their votes before the deadline on 1 November. Everyone who takes part will be automatically entered into a prize draw, with rewards including a £5,000 Greek holiday, a river cruise worth over £4,000, holiday vouchers of up to £1,000, or a £5,000 European villa break. Votes can be submitted online via the British Travel Awards website, reports the Mirror. The Bognor Regis resort has recently revealed new attractions following an ambitious program of refurbishment. Among the highlights is the company's largest-ever indoor Soft Play centre, spanning over 3,000 square feet across four floors and accommodating up to 200 children at a time - double the previous capacity. The resort's family-friendly appeal has been further enhanced with the introduction of a new Puppet Theatre, themed play zones, a sensory area for babies, a cosy café and complimentary shows such as Under The Sea and Christmouse. These additions have already proven popular, with thousands of families set to visit during the school holidays. The £1.8 million Soft Play investment is part of broader developments across Butlin's three seaside resorts. Bognor Regis also boasts the £15 million indoor activity centre PLAYXPERIENCE, offering nine immersive gaming experiences, ranging from laser tag and a VR arcade to escape rooms and more. In addition, the Minehead site recently welcomed a second £2.5 million SKYPARK, an inclusive and interactive playground suitable for children of all abilities. Over in Skegness, the £12 million Maple Walk village introduced 128 contemporary Premium Lodges at the heart of the resort. To mark these developments, Butlin's has launched a significant summer sale on 2025 and 2026 holidays, offering discounts of up to 40%. Deals include Midweek Showtime breaks at Bognor Regis from £69 in June, Summer Holidays with Stephen Mulhern featuring three-night stays from £352 and Justin Fletcher Tots Breaks starting at £79 in September. Holiday parks remain a beloved British institution, with families booking breaks to enjoy an action-packed getaway closer to home. For those seeking a break by the sea Haven Holidays offers an ideal combination of entertainment and sentimentality. Parkdean Resorts offers a similar arrangement across 66 locations featuring swimming facilities, onsite restaurants and more than a touch of old school nostalgia. While Center Parcs remains a favourite for its forest escapes packed with activities, prices can soar during school holidays. Brits love Butlins for the affordable fun it offers, with holidaymakers sharing their experiences on TripAdvisor. One visitor said: "We had a lovely Easter break at Butlin's Bognor. Top quality entertainment, engaging and friendly staff and we had the weather too. Such good fun for young and old alike. Very impressed with the new soft play, the Splash water park was fabulous and from start to finish we received nothing but exceptional customer service." Another family who stayed at Minehead added: "We've just returned from our most amazing family break at Butlins Minehead, marking our fifth year visiting, and we honestly can't praise it enough! From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations." A holidaymaker who just returned from a visit in June, said: "Went to Skegness Butlins over the weekend and it was amazing, the kids absolutely loved it! The place was lovely and clean, staff were extremely helpful and we can't wait to come back." Nevertheless, not everyone left with rave reviews. One less impressed visitor noted: "Decided to give Butlin's a go for half term. Overall, for us adults, everything was a bit meh except for the entertainment, which was awesome." Another positive review from Bognor mentioned: "Always things to do never get bored. Very clean apartment. New playxperience building is very good, packed with new, fun experiences. Had great fun in laser tag. Brilliant and helpful staff." All of Butlin's holiday offers can be found here, with deals available at Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness. Depending on the date and location, guests could also secure up to 40% discount on meal packages.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- BBC News
Sussex Police officers served notices in fatal stabbing probe
Gross misconduct notices have been served to two police officers as part of an investigation into their actions prior to the death of a man in West April an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation was launched following the fatal stabbing of Metodi Petrov Ivanov in Bognor watchdog said the notices had been issued to a police sergeant and police constable and all parties involved had been said the serving of conduct notices did not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings would follow. The IOPC said: "Our investigation began following receipt of a complaint referral from the force in April 2025 and relates to previous reports made to Sussex Police from May 2024 onwards."Mr Ivanov was reportedly attacked near the pier on The Esplanade on 4 April and died the following day, Sussex Police previously Uzhyk, 31, from Bognor Regis, was charged with murder on 8 was also charged with two counts of possession of a bladed article and two counts of criminal damage. His trial is scheduled for 27 April 2026 and is expected to last four Police has been contacted for a comment.
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Butlins nominated for top UK travel awards
Butlins could be bringing home two prestigious industry awards this year, but holidaymakers can still save up to 40% on breaks A much-loved family holiday destination is celebrating national recognition after being shortlisted for two major accolades in the 2025 British Travel Awards. Butlin's Bognor Regis has been named a finalist for both 'Best Company for UK Parks and Lodges Holidays' and 'Favourite Company for Radio Advertisements.' These prestigious consumer-voted awards honour excellence across the UK travel and leisure industry, covering everything from holiday parks to cruise lines. Winners are decided entirely by public vote, offering a true reflection of what UK holidaymakers value most when they take a break. Butlin's is encouraging holidaymakers to cast their vote before voting closes November, 1. Anyone taking part will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win rewards such as a £5,000 Greek holiday, a river cruise worth over £4,000, holiday vouchers up to £1,000, or a £5,000 European villa break. Votes can be made online via the British Travel Awards website. The Bognor Regis resort has recently unveiled new attractions following an ambitious makeover. Among the highlights is the company's largest-ever indoor Soft Play centre, covering over 3,000 square feet across four floors and accommodating up to 200 children at a time - double the previous capacity. The addition of a brand-new Puppet Theatre with themed play zones, a sensory area for babies, a cosy café, and free puppet shows such as Under The Sea and Christmouse has further boosted the resort's family-friendly appeal. These features have already proven a hit, with thousands of families expected to visit during the school holidays. The £1.8 million Soft Play investment is part of wider developments across Butlin's three seaside resorts. Bognor Regis is also home to the £15 million indoor activity centre PLAYXPERIENCE, offering nine immersive gaming experiences, from laser tag and a VR arcade to escape rooms. Meanwhile, Minehead recently welcomed a second £2.5 million SKYPARK, an inclusive and interactive playground for children of all abilities. In Skegness, the £12 million Maple Walk village introduced 128 contemporary Premium Lodges at the heart of the resort. To celebrate, Butlin's has launched a major summer sale on 2025 and 2026 holidays, with discounts of up to 40%. Offers include Midweek Showtime breaks at Bognor Regis from £69 in June, Summer Holidays with Stephen Mulhern featuring three-night stays from £352, and Justin Fletcher Tots Breaks starting at £79 in September. Holiday parks are a cherished British tradition, with families returning year after year for fun-filled breaks. For families looking for a break by the seaside, Haven Holidays offers a perfect blend of fun and nostalgia, while Parkdean Resorts provides a similar experience, with 66 parks featuring pools, on-site dining, and classic seaside activities. While Center Parcs remains a favourite for its forest escapes packed with activities, prices can soar during school holidays. Brits love Butlins for the affordable fun it offers, with holidaymakers sharing their experiences on TripAdvisor. One visitor said: "We had a lovely Easter break at Butlin's Bognor. Top quality entertainment, engaging and friendly staff and we had the weather too. Such good fun for young and old alike. Very impressed with the new soft play, the Splash water park was fabulous and from start to finish we received nothing but exceptional customer service." Another family who stayed at Minehead added: "We've just returned from our most amazing family break at Butlins Minehead, marking our fifth year visiting, and we honestly can't praise it enough! From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations." A holidaymaker who just returned from a visit in June, said: "Went to Skegness Butlins over the weekend and it was amazing, the kids absolutely loved it! The place was lovely and clean, staff were extremely helpful and we can't wait to come back." Nevertheless, not everyone left with rave reviews. One less impressed visitor noted: "Decided to give Butlin's a go for half term. Overall, for us adults, everything was a bit meh except for the entertainment, which was awesome." Another positive review from Bognor mentioned: "Always things to do never get bored. Very clean apartment. New playxperience building is very good, packed with new, fun experiences. Had great fun in laser tag. Brilliant and helpful staff." All of Butlin's holiday offers can be found here, with deals available at Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness. Depending on the date and location, guests could also secure up to 40% discount on meal packages.
North Wales Live
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Evie Pig coming to Butlin's as it launches four new shows
Butlin's is launching four new live family shows on its Showtime Term-Time breaks in 2026 including Peppa Pig and The Dinosaur that Pooped. Families with kids five and under can lock-in a term-time getaway early, with four-night Showtime Term-Time Midweek breaks across all three resorts – Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness - from £39 (£10 pp) for a family of four. Baby Evie Pig will be taking centre stage for the first time in a new Peppa Pig show at Butlin's. Her big sister Peppa is planning a special picnic to celebrate Evie's big debut alongside the rest of the famous Pig family. Filled with mischief and mayhem, The Dinosaur that Pooped a Rock Show has something for the whole family. From Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter, Danny and Dino's Rockin' Adventure! has all-new songs by the McFly duo. Butlin's Skyline new show Imagine That! sees the gang dreaming big and imagining a world where anything is possible. And cranking up the volume is the new original production Theatre of Rock. The production is every fan of West End rock n' roll musicals dream, as guests will be rocking out to hits from Six and Tina, Rock of Ages and Just for One Day, with tracks from Queen, Bowie and U2. There's also a whole host of shows returning. Jack & The Beanstalk pantomime returns in 2026 alongside Animals & Mythical Beasts, featuring life-size, life-like creatures from the plains of Africa to the UK countryside, and the mythical world. Mike Godolphin, Entertainment Director at Butlin's, said: 'In 2026, we're once again showcasing why we are the Home of Entertainment, with four fantastic new shows added to our lineup. We're excited to be bringing our own West End-quality productions alongside every tot's favourite characters to all three resorts, with Evie Pig in our new Peppa Pig show and The Dinosaur that Pooped. 'We're confident our guests will love our brand-new shows, and what's even better is that they are all included in the price of our breaks, alongside our incredible pools, fairgrounds, playgrounds and soft play. Our Showtime breaks offer fantastic value for money with four nights of family fun filled with non-stop daytime activities, West End quality entertainment and so much more. It's the perfect holiday for a family with kids five and under.'
