Latest news with #Butlin's
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Catherine Zeta-Jones details her and husband Michael Douglas' surprisingly low-key UK staycations to Butlins and Legoland with their two kids - despite their £260million net worth
Catherine Zeta-Jones has detailed her surprisingly low-key family staycations with her husband Michael Douglas and their two kids. The Wednesday star, 55, and the American actor, 80, have been married since 2000 and share two children - Dylan, 24, and Carys, 21. The couple have raised their children amid the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but also enjoy some very low-key family moments away from the spotlight. Catherine has revealed she and Michael have taken their kids on UK staycations to Butlin's and Legoland - despite their £250million ($360million) combined net worth. She told Radio Times of her kids: 'They've been to Butlin's, Legoland, seen the sights in London, up to Scotland, over to Ireland. They've even been to the Isle of Man, I think.' Catherine added that she insists her children spend two weeks in her native Wales every year to spend time with her parents - David James Jones and Patricia Fair. However, Dylan and Carys have also enjoyed some bucket list trips abroad over the years including to India, Patagonia, Africa and Cambodia, among others. Catherine said she always wanted to be a mother and sweetly described it as one of her biggest achievements. 'Having children is one of the most amazing joys of my life,' she gushed, before reflecting on how motherhood changed her perspective on the world. 'All of a sudden, I saw doom and gloom everywhere,' she quipped. 'My husband would be throwing them up in the air and I'd be thinking, ''We have ceiling fans! They'll be decapitated!'' 'I started to see the worst-case scenarios everywhere. But I think that's just getting older and thinking ''Ooh, what if?''' Catherine added that having children brought home the amount of work her parents put in raising her and her two brothers David and Lyndon in Swansea. 'My mother brought up three kids. She had no help. My brother was judo, my other brother was swimming, I was dancing,' she explained. 'I was part of the amateur dramatics, the Dylan Thomas Theatre, I'm sure there was gymnastics thrown in there at some point… 'Just taking us to all of that, as a parent you think, ''Oh my gosh,'' whereas as a kid you're p****d off that she was five minutes late in picking you up that one time.' Catherine and Michael are both household names in Hollywood and their two lookalike children look set to follow in their showbiz footsteps. Carys recently finished her degree in Film and International Relations from Brown University in Rhode Island and is also a skilled piano player. Carys' has four acting credits so far listed on IMDB, with her work including her taking on directorial roles in short films Shell and August. Her latest film, another short called F*ck That Guy, headed to the PROOF Film Festival in Los Angeles and saw Spike Lee serve as an executive producer. Her brother Dylan is also in the spotlight and hosts Young American - 'Gen Z powered political talk show' - with Dylan Douglas. Catherine has previously opened up about how both her children are determined to get into acting - despite a candid warning from their father. Read Catherine's full interview in Radio Times, out now She said on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2021: 'Their love of the craft of acting is so strong that even when their brains are doing politics and history in school, their passion is acting. 'And they've never done anything professional, but they would like to go into acting.' Acting certainly runs in the family as Michael is also the son of legendary actor Kirk Douglas and actress Diana Dill, though he warned Carys about always being known as 'the daughter of...' in Hollywood. Catherine and Michael have been in a relationship since 1998 after meeting for the first time at the Deauville Film Festival in 1996. They tied the knot in 2000 and celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary in November of last year.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Brit claims Bali ‘crushed' his spirit and flared up PTSD
A British fitness coach has launched an attack on Bali and has criticised the way that Aussies behave on the island, sparking intense backlash. Harry Mackarness spent two months in Bali, expecting to experience 'the spiritual, magical, wonderful island of the gods,' but instead was left 'depressed, disillusioned, and determined never to return.' Reflecting on his experience, he posted a 43 minute scathing review on YouTube elaborating on his time on the island, claiming that overcrowding, pollution and over-tourism have destroyed the spiritual paradise it once was. 'Everywhere you go, there's rubbish, construction, or scams . . . the infrastructure just can't handle the number of people being sold this dream.' He says many fellow travellers suggested that he should get out of the Canggu region to experience the 'real Bali' but he experienced the same issues throughout the island. 'I found dirty beaches and overcrowding in all of the places I visited,' he claimed. He elaborated that one of the lowest point of his trip was when a spitting cobra slithered into his villas living room and the landlady dismissed it. 'I'll deal with it in the morning' she said, brushing it off. 'That just summed everything up . . .there's this attitude that once you've paid, nobody cares anymore.'' Mr Mackarness said. Mr Mackarness also focuses on the types of tourists who visit Bali, claiming that Australian tourists seemed to treat it like the Brits treat cheap Spanish holidays. Harry Mackarness spent two months in Bali but was left dissappointed. Credit: YouTube 'There is this weird disparity between what European audiences see and think it's this spiritual magical island, and then Aussies, who see it as Tenerife.' While he compliments the coffee on the island, Mr Mackarness suggests it's as a result of the numerous Aussie tourists and claims the island is being treated like a cheap UK holiday park called Butlin's. 'I would say the coffee is very good, but that's because it caters to Aussies. But that then leads to a whole other problem as well, the 'Aussie Butlin's.'' However, as a fitness instructor, Mr Mackarness did compliment Bali's booming fitness scene. 'If you're coming purely for the fitness, you'll love it,' he said. Harry Mackarness did compliment Bali's booming fitness scene. Credit: YouTube His lengthy review did spark backlash with some people commenting that he was presenting an unfair portrayal of the island. 'Bali is an island, like Britain. Parts, like London, are rough. Other parts, the majority, are quiet, serene and filled with beautiful people,' one person said. 'A part of me is happy though, because maybe you'll convince some people not to come, and I'm not mad about it,' another commented. Others were quick to agree with the Brit, claiming that rowdy tourists were destroying Bali. 'Just got back from what I planned as six weeks in Bali and completely agree with everything you say and experienced the same things! Left the island after three weeks, completely overwhelmed,' one person commented. 'What's unsafe and ruining the vibe are drunk tourists being rude to locals, going only for booze and tattoos, not taking a minute to understand the culture or appreciate the beautiful people who are surviving on very little,' another said. At the conclusion of the review, Mackarness claims that his time in Bali flared up his PTSD from serving in the army. 'You know that I or if you followed me for a while, you know I have PTSD from my time in the army. I go through my kind of waves of ups and downs as is normal for everybody. But Bali really crushed, crushed my spirit.'
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Mum leaves Butlins after ONE night after 'beds were wet' and daughter had 'poo on hands'
One mum took to TikTok to share her disappointment with the accommodation at the Skegness Butlin's holiday park, sharing clips of the filthy room - including a dead bug on her bed Butlin's has apologised after one family checked in to a "grimy" and "damp" room in need of "a massive deep clean". Mum Jasmine took to TikTok to share her disappointment with the accommodation at the Skegness holiday park, sharing clips of the filthy room with her 19,000 followers. "I could make a 10-minute video on all of the issues in here but here's some of them," she captioned the clip."Even walking up to the room I felt grimy. This is the Butlin's comfort room. This is my sign to not blindly book something hahaha." She went on to give a tour of the room - which they couldn't stand to sleep in for more than one night - showing dirt throughout, including in the shower and the bin. Brit's 'holiday from hell' as family given mouldy caravan 'with a giant hole in it' 'Friend wants me to pay £200 for bride's hen party - but I didn't go' In her voiceover, Jasmine said: "I was meant to book the apartment but I didn't realise. When I first walked in there and I saw there's only two rooms and one bathroom in the middle, I thought, 'Where's the rest of it?'. "I am going to emphasise that was not Butlin's fault at all though to be fair - it was my fault. So anyway I don't know if the videos can do it justice because the smell when I walked in there was just absolutely wild. "This isn't the cleaner's fault or anything like that - it's the turnover rate is the issue. These rooms need massive deep cleans because a quick once over is not going to help." "I didn't even want to shower in there - in fact, I didn't shower in there. I ended up going to the swimming pools to have a shower. "We spent one night in this room and the beds were so damp - my daughter even woke up asking why the bed was so wet. "I can't explain the smell. I know I keep saying it but it was horrific. The mould was over the windows, there were cobwebs up the walls... This was a dead bug on our bed and then our daughter got poo on her hand walking out and I was like 'nah, that's it, 100% I am going.' "The stuff kids can do here is amazing though - I will not fault Butlins for that. It is just a shame about the room." When The Mirror contacted Butlin's, a spokesperson for the holiday park said: 'We're sorry and disappointed to see the cleanliness issues the guest experienced with their accommodation. This certainly isn't the high standards we expect our guests to receive when they holiday with us. We carried out a full reclean and offered a gesture of goodwill which was accepted.' Others shared similar experiences in the comments, with one person writing: "This looks so much cleaner than our room [laughing emoji]." Another person said: "Skegness I had the most horrible room haven't ever gone back. It was a hot year window broke couldn't open it, bedding didn't get changed stuff left under the bed etc was horrible." However, another visitor insisted they had only ever had positive experiences at the holiday park, writing: "Which Butlin's is this?? We've always been to skeg one and never had a room like this. That's grim."
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I went to Butlin's to see if its new £15million playground lives up to the hype'
Butlin's Bognor Regis resort has received a major upgrade with a new £15million playground that's open to the public - one writer went to see if it lived up to the hype Given the ridiculously variable nature of the British weather, it is little wonder that UK holiday resorts are investing massively in their indoor facilities. Butlin's is no exception with its Bognor Regis site welcoming a new £15million activity centre, Playxperience, which is open for the first time to holidaymakers this year. Playxperience is home to nine different activities that can be enjoyed by all the family. Whether it is trying to work your way out of one of the three escape rooms, becoming the next Luke Littler on Digi Darts, testing your reactions on the brilliant batting cage, this building boasts the very latest in interactive and immersive technology. For teenagers, it is a gamers' paradise. It can be expensive, as it is an additional cost to your holiday, but it will keep the children occupied for hours. And many memories can be made on the more family-oriented activities like Shuffleboard or TechPutt golf. If parents or guardians want to leave the kids to it, there is also a cafe on the ground floor, or for those fancying something stronger, a superb sports bar on the first floor, which is open until 11pm. As this was a family holiday, though, we were keen to book in for activities we could all enjoy – and there are so many options. The archery was great fun, with our Butlin's guide taking us through games that weren't all about hitting the bullseye and top scoring, which ensured people of differing abilities could be a winner. However, a trip to Butlin's would not feel right without watching some of the many shows they put on, which again cater for all ages. With a 13- and 11-year-old in tow, I did wonder if they would be 'too cool' for it all, but our first night proved I had nothing to worry about, kicking off watching the Cirque du Hilarious show. It was slapstick comedy at its cheesy best, and while some led to groans of 'cringe' from our boys, other aspects were 'sick' or 'bussin', which I'm assured means they were loving it. We also enjoyed SBX Presents Extreme Playgrounds, where performers showcased their football, basketball, street dancing and beat boxing skills. Other shows included the superb Animals and Mythical Beasts and Iconic, which are new for 2025. There's also a Snow White pantomime (oh yes there is) and Electric Wonderland, a dazzling dance display incorporating LED lights and costumes. The most popular was Gladiators, with stars from the show. The place was packed to the rafters and divided into two teams: Red and Blue. We were on the Blue team and having won the brilliantly interactive ball race against the Reds, where the audience must roll a giant ball above their heads from one end of the studio to the other, and back to the stage, we were let down by our Gladiator, Phantom. He lost his two battles with rival Gladiator Dynamite, leading to the Reds winning overall. It may have been 'just a game' to Phantom – but try telling that to two highly competitive boys. Of course, the Bognor resort is right on the seafront, but while we were blessed with beautiful spring sunshine, the breeze meant it was a little too chilly to get out the deckchairs. Instead, the boys tested their skills on the High Ropes before we enjoyed a few hours at the excellent Splash, which boasts a huge pool, slides and a wave pool. While Playxperience boasts the very latest in gaming technology, and Splash the ultimate wet and wild fun activity, the adage that the 'old ones are still the best' rang true for our boys. Asked what his favourite thing about Butlin's was, my son, Stanley, replied unequivocally: 'Waltzers!' As for the Butlin's downtime, we stayed at the Wave Hotel which had bunk beds for the boys and a double bed for my partner and I. Tea and coffee was included – with plenty more on request at reception – and we also had the all-inclusive drinks package allowing us to drink virtually anywhere on site. While the drinks package was confusing at the start, as you had to have a QR code emailed to you which you then had to scan when ordering drinks, it was worthwhile with a superb selection of soft and alcoholic beverages – and branded ones too. Costa hot drinks are also available for the coffee connoisseur. Our food was also in the inclusive package, but limited to the Deck offering a wide range of different hot foods and desserts at dinner time and an extensive breakfast menu. There were also themed nights, such as Italian on the Monday, Indian on Tuesday and Chinese on Wednesday, while our roast potato-loving boy Sam revelled in the different roast meat that was on offer every evening. For convenience and cost, the food and drink bundles are well worth investing in. Butlin's is not the cheap and cheesy British holiday it was once perceived to be, it's had a mighty investment in state-of-the-art facilities, making it one of the UK's leading family holiday destinations where endless memories are made. Book the holiday Butlin's offers a three-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two-bedroom Wave Hotel room in Bognor Regis from £419, for arrival on July 18. Based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows, activities, free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, playgrounds and the new Soft Play centre. Dining packages start at £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (six-14), per day and £6.80 per child (two-five).
The Irish Sun
23-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
I've found an incredible cheap UK holiday park that brings the best bits of Center Parcs, Butlin's and Haven to ONE site
IF you want the style of Center Parcs, the buzz of Butlin's and the hype of Haven, I've found one holiday park that has it all and it won;t cost a fortune. When one child loves spending hours in the pool , another enjoys a boogie on the dance floor and the third wants to swing through the trees on the high ropes, it's hard to know which 7 I took my three sons for a holiday at a Haven park in North Wales Credit: Catherine Lofthouse 7 There's a climbing wall and plenty of other activities too Credit: Haven My family and I recently took a trip to Haven's Hafan y Mor park near Pwllheli in North Wales. We loved it so much I had booked to return next summer before we'd even made it home. The park is set on a little slice of the British coastline that's like stepping back in time to the holidays of your childhood. The site's staycation secret is that it used to be a Butlin's before being turned into a Haven 25 years ago. So it's still got all the best bits of Butlin's - from the flumes and slides of the I even did a double take when I saw the stripy blue tops of the entertainment crew, instead of the Redcoats of Butlin's from days gone by. Now one of the largest Haven parks, there's a stunning choice of outdoor activities you'd usually see at an upscale Center Parc resort. It's the first Haven I've been to where the high ropes take you through the trees, just like at Most read in Family The Dragon Lakes Adventure Park even sees thrill-seekers zipping over the waters where fellow guests can take to pedalos. The adrenaline-charged activities also include The Jump - a terrifying free-fall leap onto a huge inflatable cushion - as well as climbing wall, mini 4x4 off-roaders and even Segways. There's all sorts of accommodation at Hafan y Mor, including Center-Parcs-style pine lodges surrounded by trees. The perfect Haven holiday park for a kid-friendly break - with direct beach access, indoor waterpark and neighbouring seaside theme park 7 You can jump off the free-fall platform Credit: Haven 7 One of my sons was a big fan of the giant trampolines Credit: Catherine Lofthouse There are even old-fashioned chalet blocks from back in the Butlin's days and mod-con caravans you'll see at all Haven resorts, so you can pick whatever works for you and your budget. It's not often that my three boys all get their own bedroom when we go away on holiday, but our recently refurbished four-bed chalet was huge. I loved the village vibe of everyone hanging out on their decking or balcony, so reminiscent of childhood holidays when the kids played together on the grass by your block. I even spotted one family stringing up a badminton net. The chalet accommodation is also one of the cheapest options - we paid less than £300 for our June weekend away and it's only £275 for four nights in the summer holidays next year, which is incredible value for money if you're bringing eight people. We were just a stone's throw from Dragon Lakes Activity Village, which also offers up sports courts , a sandpit playground and even a bark park for furry family members. Like Center Parcs, most of the activities aren't included in the price of your break, and you'll need to factor that in, but the cost is far less at Haven. We paid £12 for Aquajets in the pool, £8 for the mini 4x4 off roaders and £7 for a go on the bungee trampoline. 7 We rented out aquajets which were cheaper than those at Center Parcs Credit: Catherine Lofthouse 7 The holiday park is surrounded by beaches where you can relax or paddle Credit: Haven Aquajets at Center Parcs would set you back £18.50 to £22.50, while children's 4x4 off-road explorers are £24, so there's a hefty saving to be made here. And you could easily just stick to the freebie fun if you prefer. The pool was enough to keep everyone busy for hours and although you pre-book an entry time, there wasn't anyone asking us to leave at the end of our hour time slot on the weekend we were there. The free shows and entertainment were great - my littlest loved the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime and won a prize for his enthusiastic dancing at the kids' disco. And no This is quite a spread-out site with a railway track splitting it in two, but there's a land train that takes you on a turn around the park if your little ones are worn out with all the activities and don't fancy walking. This tucked-away spot is surrounded by dramatic mountains, picturesque beaches and unassuming tourist towns that only add to the magic of a trip here. It's like going back in time to the heyday of the great British staycation. Catching sight of It's a bit of a trek to get there, but the direct train from Birmingham takes less than five hours, around the same time as travelling by train from London to Cornwall. And Penychain station is on the edge of the park within walking distance of its entrance. This haven by the sea could well become our new holiday hotspot as it ticks all the boxes for my boys. Read more on the Irish Sun Here's more about the Plus, the beachfront 7 The Haven holiday park has the best bits of Butlin's and Center Parcs Credit: Haven
