A 5 minute tour around Butlins Bognor as it was in 1995 before the Skyline pavillion ruined the place. My apologies for the shaky nature of the camera work, it was mostly shot from a pedal car.
.this brings back so many memories,...i worked down in bognor from 1995 to 1996 in everydays...and it was brill!!!,...went back down there to work in 2001,...and by then the atmosphere wasnt there anymore,...probably to do with the skyline pavailion being put up!!!!.....happy memories of butlins bognor 1995. ta very much for this!!!!!!!!
Do you remember a chap called Wayne who worked there at a similar time? Had long hair/pony-tail. He was a waiter at one of the half-board restaurant areas.
Butlins is much better now for having the pavilion. Just got back and prefer it now to back then. More to do and a better atmosphere. Great holiday with my son.
Thank you for posting this. Many happy memories of Butlins . As a single parent of two children it saved my life ! Also met my present Wife at Minehead Butlins so thank you Mr Billy Butlin !
I worked as a musician there from 1973 to 1978. You are quite right - the Skyline ruined the place, ripping out the old Gaiety Theatre in the process. More than that, the old Butlin philosophy has long gone. How the present company dare use Sir Billy's image and motto (Our true intent is all for your delight) amazes me. Thank you for posting this.
It was a yearly 80s thing holidaying at butlins, remembered the Umbrella rides, the horses, Movies at 9.30pm every evening, it was a little village. The large entertainment hall with the stage lights at the front. If i remembered correctly, they had a baby sitting service where you was able to leave your baby in his/her cot & they were checked on regularly. The chalets. I remembered the donkey derby where i got through to the final i think. The old style swimming pools. We used to do half board, i think, Breakfast in the morning & dinner in the evening paid as part of our package. Sometimes it was self catering.
Love these videos of old Butlins Bognor. I went with my family, from in the womb in 1969, nearly every year until 1998. By this time, the old traditional Butlins, was gone anyway. I guess the only way to survive was to adapt, the question is, Butlins adapted, or Butlins out of business by doing the same as the 60's until it's death. I guess I prefer I can still visit the camp, unlike Filey, Clacton fans. Love the Jarre music, even if it's sad, very fitting.
Just got back from butlins bognor.me and my mrs really enjoy it there.but she never went there before the skyline.does anyone remember the wizzy kingdom castle with the ghost train and helter skelter?
WOW! It looks like Butlin's Bognor was a wonderful place for a holiday in 1995. It's one camp I've never been to but even though it was always small, it obviously was in many respects just as good as most of the other Butlin's camps.
Butlins Bognor, always went on school strips and went on that massive scalectrix track. Also remember the mexican hat featured here with the indoor and weird alice in wonderland car thing!
I don't get the pavilian really..... I guess the weather can be bad but I recently went to Minehead in heatwave (At the beginning of October) and nobody used the skyline everyone just sat outside in the sun! x
