Latest news with #RedCoat
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Three UK seaside towns set for £150m Butlin's boost with eyes on 'fourth site'
Butlin's has unveiled a huge £150 million investment to make drastic improvements across its three UK sites, which attract around 1.5 million holidaymakers every year, over the next five years A trio of seaside resorts are slated for a huge tourism boost thanks to an ambitious £150 million investment. It's no secret that the UK's coastline suffered a huge fall from grace in the late 1950s - when packaged holidays to sunny hotspots like Spain started to become more affordable. The Benidorm-boom resulted in swathes of holiday resorts closing their doors, and saw once-vibrant seaside towns slip into disarray. However, Billy Butlin's holiday camps have stood the test of time, attracting around 1.5 million guests per year across their three resorts. Renowned for its huge swimming pools, stellar entertainment, and iconic Red Coat staff - Butlin's has now got its eye on a potential fourth site. READ MORE: UK's 'worst' seaside town's £60m tourism plan after Butlin's snub 41 years ago In a statement sent to the Mirror, a Butlin's spokesperson said: "With Butlin's turning 90 next year, we are immensely proud of the role we've played in so many seaside towns around the country, entertaining generations of guests. Our priority today is investing in our existing three resorts." Over the next five years, the holiday resort is investing a staggering £150 million into its Bognor Regis, Skegness and Minehead sites. This huge boost will focus on 'upgrading our accommodation and opening state of the art facilities'. Just last month, Butlin's unveiled a £1.8million upgrade to its Bognor Regis site as it opened its biggest ever indoor Soft Play centre and Puppet Theatre. The four storey, 3,000 square feet Soft Play centre - which is included in the price of a family break and day passes - doubles its capacity of the previous Soft Pay. Able to hold around 200 children, the Soft Play area features slides, climbing challenges, cargo nets, log ramps, and even a multi-sensory area for babies. The brand-new Puppet Theatre will entertain guests with shows including Under The Sea, Jingle in the Jungle and Christmouse. It follows the £15 million that was invested last year to open up Butlin's PLAYEXPERIENCE in Bognor Regis. The indoor activity centre, which opened on October 7, 2024, spans across two floors and offers a slew of entertainment including TechPutt, Escape Rooms, VR-cade, Glow Pong, Shuffleboard, Laser Tag, Batting Cage, Neo Games and Digi Darts, as well as a new café and bar. As previously reported, Butlin's also allocated £23 million last year to spruce up guest rooms and upgrade children's play facilities over at its Minehead site. This follows severe flood damage back in September 2023 which meant 400 units of accommodation needed a total makeover. £2.5 million of the investment was used to open Minehead's SKYPARK, which boasts the UK's longest swingline at 42 metres, as well as a wheelchair-friendly seesaw and two light-up intertwining slides. Over in Skegness, upgrades include four new fairground rides, a new SKYPARK, and the decision to make Studio 37 - a high-tech entertainment venue - a permanent feature. In 2013, Butlin's also unveiled a £12 million accommodation project to open 128 premium lodges in Skegness. The luxury lodges each have three bedrooms including a main bedroom with king sized bed and en-suite shower room, two twin rooms, a fully equipped kitchen with full sized fridge freezer, microwave and hob, private decking with outdoor furniture and parking space for two cars directly outside the accommodation. If you currently live too far from all three Butlin's sites in the UK - don't worry, as a fourth site could soon be in the works. "We've identified the North West of England where we don't have a resort as the near-term opportunity for our continued growth," the spokesperson added.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Daily Record
Abandoned seaside town was once home to huge Butlin's resort but looks completely different now
Butlin's Barry Island was once a bustling resort that could accommodate 7,000 visitors every week - but now the site looks completely different, apart from one small reminder An iconic coastal town, once the site of a massive Billy Butlin's resort, has undergone a dramatic transformation, yet retains a subtle nod to its past. While many Brits credit the popular TV series Gavin and Stacey for thrusting south Wales' Barry Island into the tourist spotlight, the town was already a magnet for holidaymakers in its heyday. Nestled in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, Barry and its namesake island are home to a vast expanse of golden beach, blue waters, and a recently revamped seafront teeming with restaurants, cafes, and vibrant beach huts. However, back in 1966, the town also played host to a Butlin's resort capable of housing 7,000 holidaymakers every week. According to reports, Sir Billy Butlin is said to have conceived his holiday camp venture after his family was inadvertently locked out of a B&B in Barry Island by the landlady. The all-inclusive complex, comprising 800 'no-frills' chalets, boasted heated swimming pools, a cable-car ride, a miniature railway, bars, restaurants, and even a Fish and Chip shop - not forgetting the iconic Red Coat staff. However, much like the Butlin's resort in Filey, business began to wane as package holidays to destinations such as Spain became increasingly affordable. Hampered by the 'Benidorm boom', Barry Island's Butlin's, situated on Nell's Point, operated for just 20 years. The site was later acquired by Majestic Holidays, rebranded as The Barry Island Resort, but only managed to survive another decade. During its final years of operation, the iconic Red Coat staff were compelled to don blue uniforms due to legal threats, reports the Mirror. However, in 1996, a storm exacerbated existing maintenance problems leading to the closure of the entire resort. Rows of once bustling cabins, swimming pools, and eateries were abandoned and left to decay for nearly a year until Vale Council purchased the site for £2.25million. The property was later sold to Bovis Homes and razed to make room for a new housing development as part of a £3million regeneration scheme in the area. Today, the former Butlin's resort resembles any typical residential neighbourhood, complete with modern homes and green spaces. While visitors flocking to Barry Island for a sunny weekend getaway won't be able to enjoy an iconic Red Coat performance or lounge by the pool, they can still experience a touch of nostalgia. This is thanks to a blue plaque installed at the seafront garden in 2014 to honour the legacy of the holiday entrepreneur. Ex-Red Coat Tony Collier spoke to the BBC, saying: "We couldn't want for a better position in this lovely garden for the plaque. Hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers and staff came from all over the country each summer and Christmas, to enjoy the facilities offered on site, and the beautiful Welsh countryside on its doorstep."
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
UK seaside town abandoned by Butlins where rows of houses and fields now sit
An iconic UK seaside town propelled to fame thanks to a popular TV show also used to be home to a huge Billy Butlin's resort - which was flattened after just 30 years An iconic seaside town previously home to a huge Billy Butlin's resort now looks completely different - but there's still a small reminder of what once was. While many Brits think the hit TV series Gavin & Stacey cast south Wales' Barry Island into the tourist limelight, the town was already luring in swathes of holidaymakers back in its hey-day. Situated in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, Barry and its eponymously named island boasts a sweeping stretch of golden sand beach, cobalt waters and a recently refurbished seafront complete with restaurants, cafes, and colourful beach huts. But back in 1966, the town also featured a Butlin's resort that had the capacity to accommodate 7,000 overnight visitors every single week. According to reports, Sir Billy Butlin is rumoured to have been inspired to create his holiday camp business after his family was accidentally locked out of a B&B in Barry Island by the landlady. The all-inclusive complex - which consisted of 800 'no-frills' chalets - featured heated swimming pools, a cable-car ride, a miniature railway, bars, restaurants, and even a Fish & Chip shop - and of course, the iconic Red Coat staff. But, similarly to the Butlin's resort in Filey, business started dwindling when package holidays to destinations like Spain started becoming more affordable. Hindered by the 'Benidorm boom', Barry Island's Butlin's, located on Nell's Point, ran for just 20 years. It was then taken over by Majestic Holidays - and renamed The Barry Island Resort - but only managed to last a further 10 years. In its last decade of welcoming tourists, the Red Coat staff were forced to wear blue uniforms following threats of legal action. But in 1996, following a storm that worsened growing maintenance issues, the entire site closed. Rows of once fun-filled cabins, swimming pools, and restaurants were left to rot for almost an entire year, when Vale Council bought the site for £2.25 million. It was later sold to Bovis Homes and bulldozed to make way for a new housing estate as part of a £3 million regeneration project in the area. Now, the Butlin's resort looks like any normal residential area - filled with new-build properties and green space. While Brits heading over to Barry Island for a weekend of sun and ice cream won't be able to watch an iconic Red Coat show - or spend their days by the pool - they'll still be able to find a tiny slice of nostalgia. This is because in 2014, a blue plaque was erected at the seafront garden to commemorate the holiday entrepreneur. Former Red Coat Tony Collier told the BBC: "We couldn't want for a better position in this lovely garden for the plaque. Hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers and staff came from all over the country each summer and Christmas, to enjoy the facilities offered on site, and the beautiful Welsh countryside on its doorstep."
Telegraph
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Johnny Ball on Playschool: ‘I dropkicked Humpty through the round window'
'Last night, somebody in the pub told me I'd changed their life.' Apparently this sort of thing happens to Johnny Ball frequently, but perhaps it's no surprise. For three decades, the presenter was one of the most recognisable faces on children's TV, charming toddlers on Play School, and then breaking new boundaries by bringing maths and science to a wide audience on shows such as Think of a Number and Think Again. But as his new memoir My Previous Life In Comedy explains, it could have all been very different. Ball was a stand-up comedian for 17 years, before finding his niche in the nation's living rooms. Ball tells me he inherited his sense of humour from his dad. 'He was a comic, but he never had a chance in life, he never even had a car. I couldn't think of any better career than making people happy, which in a way is what I've always done.' Chatty and energetic, Ball, 86, welcomes me into the cheerful sitting room of his large Buckinghamshire home of 46 years, where his wife Di is sitting in on the conversation just in case he says something he shouldn't. 'We call her the manager,' he quips. Two dogs tumble about, while photos of his family – three children (including, of course, presenter Zoe Ball) and six grandchildren – line every surface. Despite a lack of money, Ball says his childhood was happy. He was an academically engaged child, pouring over encyclopaedias and, unsurprisingly, a whizz at maths (although he only got 2 O-levels), before joining De Havilland Aircraft Corporation where he shone in accounts and then spent three years in the RAF as a radar operator. Following a stint as a Red Coat at Butlins in Pwllheli, he tried to launch a career in comedy. 'I was very shy. So, for my opening, I used to come on shaking a paper bag – 'bag of nerves' – and it always got a laugh,' he says. He was invited to appear on the BBC talent show Opportunity Knocks several times, but always turned it down. So instead he toiled away in a world of sticky-floored clubs, watching the likes of Bob Monkhouse ('The best technician in the world') and Frankie Howerd, learning the tricks of comedy. He also compered shows by the Rolling Stones and Dusty Springfield ('Fabulous, a tomboy'), and worked at big venues of the day including the City Varieties in Leeds. 'A sh–thole,' he mouths. Indeed his was a Zelig-like existence saw him rub shoulders over the years with stars including Matt Monro, John Profumo, Val Doonican, Bud Flanagan, Muhammed Ali, the Duke Of Edinburgh ('I told him I had a crush on his wife'), Scott Walker and Freddie Starr. Starr, he says, was 'anti-social but sheer genius. He was trying to get Brian Epstein to sign him, but he didn't want to know. Two years later I gave him my agent's number – and bang!' Ball himself, however, still wasn't getting the breaks. Was it bad timing, bad luck or bad agents? 'I always blame the agents,' he says. 'I always ended up at loggerheads with them. It's a very up and down life.' And then, in 1967, he was offered a job on the relatively new Play School at the BBC. 'At first, I didn't take to it. They said, 'You're brilliant but when you're doing something you think is beneath you, you're terrible. So do you want this or not?' The money wasn't great but was keeping me out of the rougher clubs.' And what about those toys – Big Ted, Little Ted, Humpty, et al? 'We were never irreverent on screen, but as soon as it was a wrap I'd dropkick Humpty through the round window.' He was also writing and starring in other BBC Children's shows such as Cabbages And Kings and Play Away, but off-screen, life was tricky. Ball had married Julie Anderson, nine years his junior, and in 1970 they had Zoe. But he was travelling all over the place for work and cracks were beginning to appear in the relationship. While doing a summer season in Blackpool in 1973, a fortune teller told him there were two women in his life. He rubbished it then, 45 minutes later, met Di. 'Then I went home, and my wife told me she was leaving me,' he says. 'But the marriage was totally dead in the water anyway. I was really half a person. It was a clean break, there was no animosity. But I'd met Di and I knew she was very special.' At this point in the mid 1970s, Ball had to endure both personal and professional upheaval. He called time on his stand-up career and started to think big. 'I didn't enjoy being in other people's shows, I wanted my own.' Did he think he'd failed? 'No, I feel circumstances failed me. I got the mucky end of the stick. And then I had to think again. So I started writing…' Then came the big successes: Think Of A Number, Johnny Ball Reveals All and Knowhow, each demystifying maths and science with Ball's warmth and slight zaniness offsetting the sometimes complex subject matter. His own children – broadcaster and presenter Zoe, Nick, who works in the arts, and Dan, a structural engineer – were no great shakes at maths. Regardless, Zoe became one of Britain's (and the BBC's) highest-paid stars, which he says he could never have predicted. As her career began to flourish, he explains that: 'People started saying things like, 'Isn't your Zoe lovely?', and it seemed to be more marked than just casual. She's a great broadcaster, and the girl is still going full tilt.' He doesn't agree with what's happened to children's TV, now a fragmented digital force, and victim of horrific budgetary cuts, although a cough from Di shuts down any expansion on that. Despite the BBC's denuded children's coverage, he says that the Corporation still has a place in his heart. 'It's worth its weight in gold,' he says. 'It's a stabilising influence on society. I've got so much trust and faith in the BBC, and it's got to be supported.' Ball has found himself at the heart of several controversies. There was the knotty incident in Strictly Come Dancing in 2012 when his professional partner Aliona Vilani withdrew after an injury which, in a subsequent interview, Ball said was faked which Vilani then denied. Now, Ball will only say that he shouldn't have left the show when he did. At around the same time, he was also accused in some quarters of climate change denial after questioning the theory of man-made climate change. He later said that he had been turned into a 'global-warming heretic'. Today Ball seems, if not exactly mellow, then contented. 'When you're happy within yourself, then you're capable of anything,' he says. 'But you've got to strive to get it right, because when you do, you can't imagine what it was ever like being wrong.'
