I Return To Pontins! - Worst Rated Holiday Park In Wales? 

BEST Rated Holiday Park In The UK? 👉ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uR5_Kdmqqb0.html

This looks like one of those tours around Chernobyl

Utterly depressing. I feel sorry for anyone who books a holiday there. The place should have been bulldozed years ago.

How they get away with selling family holidays like this is a disgrace, how it continues to operate is beyond me, surely no one would pay for this.

The eerie silence, the left abandoned atmosphere, and the squawk of the seagull. Genuinely creepy!

Honestly it looks like some kind of social housing for offenders.

Why anyone would pay to stay in what looks like a rundown council estate is madness. Me and my family went to Pontins breen sands a few years ago it was absolutely disgusting. We cleaned the room for over 2 hours before it was clean enough to get bags out of the car. Pontins needs to shut all their doors for good!!

This is sad. Imagine a family thinking that they’d have a nice holiday here. :(

I used to stay here quite often as a kid in the 90s. It was always a place to go for a cheaper family holiday, you knew it wasn't luxurious but some of my fondest childhood memories were formed at this holiday park. Such a shame to see how rundown it has become.

This reminds me of an urban exploration video of an abandoned holiday park.I'd say that would still be cleaner than this.😂

I’ve just priced that up for a 3 night stay in late July (just out of curiosity! 🤣) Basic apartment. £171. Even if Pontins paid ME £171, I would not step foot in that place. What a dump. Absolute shysters charging people to stay in that s***hole. It’s outrageous.

how they accept a guest and can’t even clean the mark off the door is beyond me 🫣😂

being from north wales. whenever you’d hear someone going here on holiday, everyone would pray for them of a night

I worked as a temp cleaning at Pontins Camber Sands when I was a student. There were four of us assigned to a block (two to each floor) and we literally had a few minutes to do each room. We were told to wipe down the surfaces, empty the bins out and put a new bin bag in, give the bathroom an once over,clean any mirrors in the room and that was it. This was nearly twenty years ago, it looks as though not much has changed.

It’s scary it’s so quiet and desolate that it almost looks like you broke into an abandoned building!

As someone who used to work in Pontins as a cleaner for the summer of when I left school, they gave us all a 5 minute tutorial on our first days and said go for it and left us all to it. We did have checkers going over our work but the majority we were left to it for the whole day which was a good 8 hours. Most of the facilities were old and we were given a list of rooms to do before we finish (average 8-10 per person) so had no time to actually give them a decent scrub 😅 it didn’t help that most of the customers left it a shithole and I think my worst room had sick in the sink covering all of the already dirty pans 👍😂

With video games such as Warzone fueling a rise in the popularity of gulags, Pontins are really missing a trick here by not renaming the park "The Soviet Prison Experience" and charging double.

In the 1970s as a kid, I always looked forward to summer holidays -- Butlins, Llandudno, Silloth, Whitley Bay, etc. Awesome places (at least in the 1970s) that I still remember. I feel sorry for people (especially the kids) saving up for a holiday and ending up in a dump like this.

Absolutly disgusting , how on earth can they charge a penny for entry is beyond me 😢

Prestatyn is a beautiful and thriving historic town, and this hellhole is an absolute blight on its reputation. No idea if local authorities have any powers to intervene with the park but something desperately needs to be done.

My wife booked us a surprise holiday here about ten years ago. The surprise became shock when we arrived. We lasted about forty minutes before we left and found a nearby hotel for one night returning home the next day. The place was disgusting, rundown with rubbish everywhere. The room was much like the one you reviewed only far dirtier, with mismatched furniture and office chairs in place of dining chairs. My wife and two daughters were in tears at the thought of staying there. How anyone would want to stay there is beyond me.

It's hard to believe it's actually open. It looks truly abandoned

You're a brave man staying here! I cant believe the place is still open. The only word I have for it is grim!

The opening scenes I genuinely thought the place was abandoned and you were an urban explorer 😂

This place isn't just disgusting, it's depressing too.

Back in the 1960s this was a race track! And they had greyhound racing. They basically just paved over the track and built chalets either side. The camp opened in 1971 and hasn't changed much since.

You know you're in a classy accomodation when the TV is screwed down and has a tracker in it 😂

I also made the mistake of booking camber sands a few years back based on my teenage memories, i then read the reviews and had to book last minute somewhere else so as not to disappoint my grand daughter ! Absolutely horrified that these places are allowed to stay open and are not closed down by the local council on Health and Safety grounds at the very least !!!!

Remember when I went here as a child. Pool was shut the entire 5 days we were there. My mum didn't have a bed to sleep on cos they gave us a bed too small. Those of us who had beds, ended up sick after we got home cause they were so grim. Never again

Pontins is the only holiday you go on where you excitedly count down the days until you go home.

I have read a lot of comments on facebook from people who have booked and have had their holidays cancelled by pontins, presumably because so few people have booked. Having worked there just over thirty years ago I was going to go there and get a day pass to see what it is like now. I think I'll just not bother cleaning my flat for three months, then stick my head down the toilet instead.

What a nice surprise to see you pop up on my recommendations! Good to see you Tim, Esther x

In the early 90's my Dad's new job was so well paid that we were booking a family holiday to Florida, unfortunately disaster struck and he was made redundant a few months before we were due to go so while he found a new job my folks collected vouchers in a newspaper for a cheap Pontins holiday even though they didn't need to as we could have easily gone without a holiday but we had fond memories of Pontins Brean Sands as infants. They quickly became a distant memory when we arrived at Prestatyn Room was not ready when we arrived, no apology, waited 2 hours, finally got a chalet, no electricity, told we would have to buy a token which costs more money and not mentioned in the brochure while my Dad sorted that my mother discovered the room had not been cleaned or the bedding changed as well as a hole in the wall in the bathroom. This was the early 90's and reading reviews today it's incredible to see complaints similar to mine. I'd like to say it's Pontins management but I've had great experiences at other sites growing up but Prestatyn is being run by the most incompetent managers ever. The ONLY saving grace for my Dad was he only gave me and my sister money on the first day and I figured out one of those 10p tipping machines in the arcade had an alarm that went off when you bashed the glass, if you bashed the wooden frame with your fists the 10p's would fall into the trays and the alarm would stay quiet. Me and my sis made about £30 over the weekend doing this while my dad wondered why neither of us were pestering him for money

How they cannot even have a member of staff hoover a room before check-in blows my mind.

Fred pontin would turn in his grave to see what has become of pontin's now 😢😢😢

in the day 70s as a kid with sister and mum n dad brilliant pace, quite nostalgic looking at its tired weathered look now

to be fairly honest this would be better served as emergency accomodation than a place you'd go to for fun....

I worked there for a couple of years and lived onsight for four months in that time. Staff accommodation was known as Beriut because they were terrible places to be, this was 15 years ago. It was a run down poor excuse of a holiday park back then and it's even worse now.

The state of that apartment could be sorted in under an hour with a sponge/cloths, bottle of spray bleach and a hoover. Old fashioned looking isn't that bad, considering the price but crumbs and stains are unforgivable and easily and quickly sorted. Can't believe that huge place is ever full, considering the reviews online. Even if they just focused on keeping half tidy they might get repeat business and be able to raise prices.

Hi Tim, me and my uni mates went this week (Monday) for a laugh just to see what the place was like and if it was really that bad in person, we were booked in till this upcoming Friday. And we left today. Honestly the place is a utter shambles and how on earth it is still operating to paying costumers is an outrage

The room is such a rollercoaster of emotions. The grotty living area then into a seemingly spotless bathroom. And then you look closer at the bath and come crashing right back to reality realising that is grotty as well.

Pontins looks like a council estate. The accommodation look like council flats and the entertainment buildings just remind me of old labour clubs

I'm kind of a nostalgic old guy. I'd stay at a place like this, wander around, poke into the nooks and crannies to get an idea of how things once were. This time of the year would be ideal for me, not good weather, but also not a lot of guests.

I was there throughout the 80's 90's and 00's. The 80's were the best years with a lot of entertainment staff. They had a huge snooker hall and separate children's theatre upstairs. They had a TV channel with live Christmas morning content from remote camera teams going into peoples chalets. They had childminding services and would alert you to crying babies you had left back in the chalet, yes really. They had a huge board with 'baby crying in' on it and would post the chalet numbers up of chalets with kids crying. It has been going downhill year after year from the first year I went.

I feel like it would be impossible for the staff to maintain that place, especially given the kind of clientele they must get

I wouldn't stay there if they paid me £99 for 4 nights! It would make a great setting for a scary video game, just throw in a few zombies and you are good to go. You're a brave man Tim, not only going back to Pontins, but also telling us about your dirty fridge at home 😮 If my hubby did that he would be in so much trouble! 😀

Stayed here about a dozen years ago for a music festival. Spent the whole weekend blasted, so slumming it wasn't an issue, but it was clearly a dreary place. My favourite feature of the chalet was the big red switch on the wall which allowed you to have either the cooker on, or the shower on, but not both at the same time.

Tidy Weekender! Best weekends of my life happened here. I know you're out there!

My parents took me here a few times as a kid, this would have been between 2005-2010. I never really realised how Ropey it was as a kid and have no doubt that it’s went down hill further in the last 15 years but seeing it now just reminds me of a big council estate with all the flats and rubbish.

How upsetting to see such a decline, and poorly looked after site. Thanks for sharing mate, can’t say I’ll be rushing there on my next UK holidays 😅

Out of everything, I'm most surprised that none of the facilities were open at all. It may be early in the season, but it is past Easter and officially the 'season', but these things didn't look anywhere close to being ready to open. So, not surprised by the mess and rubbish strewn everywhere, it was probably the result of guests making their own entertainment out of sheer boredom 😁.

twice in the 70's we went to Pontins, we loved it, but I suppose that was at the height of original holiday villages, they were bustling with people, facilities were plentiful, and amenities were spot on, I was a child that was easily pleased but even so, they seemed like paradise to me, shocking to see them in the state they are today, sad to see.

Oh good lord, I’ve actually booked this place and our holiday is supposed to be end of May here… I’m now hunting for another hotel or place to go!! I’m so glad I’ve seen this video before I actually hyped the kids up for a holiday and ending up hunting for somewhere else on our first day of the holiday! I can’t even imagine letting my kids step foot in the apartment it looks so run down and dirty!!

I'm Welsh. My relatives went there back in 2008, said the rooms were very basic and a bit shabby, other than that they said it was good there. It looks like it's gotten way worse because of Britannia's neglect.

Good to do these videos to actually hold the company accountable! The state of the site still though is shocking!

When I went there, about 14 maybe 15 years ago, it really wasn't half as bad as it was there. It was nothing like that. Kids were out playing, it was clean, and we had nothing to complain about, hygiene wise. The night activities were lively, and it was very fun. My neighbours were nice for the week, and there was a lot to do.

Tim is literally awesome 👍

Hi Tim, you mentioned Holiday on the Buses, that was probably the last time this place looked clean, I am sorry but anybody that books there for a holiday must be barking mad I don't care how cheap it might be

I spent 1 night there, completely unaware what it was going to be like …. We stayed for 5 nights just opposite the road in a nice apartment but we had to move out somewhere else for 1 night. This was convenient but it was shocking, as described.

Went here about 20 years ago, sad to see it’s gone downhill as it was a great holiday for kids! 😔

Before brittania bought pontins, it was no were near like it is now. Families used to visit a particular park many times a year because of the characters of th staff who worked there. Staff, management, and owners who cared. Never had much money to spend on the parks, but they had character. Its a shame. I worked for 15yrs at one as a manager and i am thankful for the experience and people I got to meet and work with.

They treat the public with complete contempt. The fact that people still visit there amazes me. I can see a retail park replacing the "resort" in the very near future

What a miserable place, Makes me sad thinking about all the people booking a holiday there and getting all excited just to get there to that. Especially the kids, Every year when I was a kid me and my family would go to a much MUCH better condition Haven holiday park and we always loved it. So many of my best memories were made there. Don’t think the kids would remember this dump. Also love your vids man, Would love to see some more footage of the arcades if you get the chance, Would be neat to see the differences from Place to place. The arcades are always my favourite parts of going these places. Just back from a holiday park today which was pretty lackluster in the arcade department😐

It’s so sad to see this. I came to this exact Pontins every year when I was a child, and it was never like this. I’m shocked at how much this has deteriorated. It’s important to note we stayed in the club apartments, which are very different to the one you have stayed in - they’re chalets with sliding doors and much nicer inside (from memory, anyway). Sad to see a place I loved as a child so poorly looked after!

Good video as always Tim! Such a shame these places get so run down. Was good to see your comparisons from a year ago!

Looks more like an urban exploration of a recently abandoned site than a current operational hoilday park

I don’t usually comment, but this is worth a mention: I watched your ‘worst pontins in wales’ video, and I liked your channel. I then watched one of your other videos - ‘should you stay at a haven holiday park?”. This put the idea in my head to book our first ever week at Haven Riviere Sands in Cornwall. We had a lovely time on our first Haven holiday, and we will certainly think of doing it again next year! Many thanks for your engaging channel, and please keep up with the great content 👍 ++

My mum hissed and groaned at all the dirty kitchenware and stray hairs in the bedding and bathroom lol. Great video as always, Tim!

when i was younger, going to pontins was the highlight of my summers. i’ve got so many happy memories with my grandparents at these kinds of places. it’s a shame.

Honestly....I'm ashamed to admit, these worst rated videos are my guilty pleasure Tim 🤣🤣 Please keep the filth coming haha

Cool to see the old fire hose water game, those things were great

As a Canadian this is wild. Like the fact nothing is ever open is your first problem. It's like a Cleveland themed amusement park

The fact people willingly go on family holidays here makes me lose faith in this country and the population 😐

Loved this, thanks for going back to check for improvements. We're big fans of the grimy videos 😅 and always appreciate warnings of where's best to avoid 👍

I thought these things were a thing in the 1950's. I am shocked to see these places still in use lol!

I stayed at Pontins in Brixham in 1993 and it was very clean and well maintained. Now it's abandoned. A place where I had such great memories is now rubble.

Great video, as always, Tim! FYI…I purchased “On the Buses” after watching your video on Pontins last year. Very entertaining. I’m a huge fan of British comedy of all types. I am from the US but lived in London (49-50 Leinster Gardens, just north of Kensington Park) for a time, but never knew about these holiday parks. Hard to believe people still go there. The US had holiday parks long before my time but my parents told me about them. They were largely in upstate NY, and were ethnically-linked, ie. there were holiday resorts specifically catering to Greeks or catering to Jews or catering to Italians. Not the same as in the UK but definitely from the era before air travel was accessible to all.

A stain on top of the light, lipstick on the bottom of the cup and a random sock on the lawn - sounds like a short story competition or a party you are sad you missed! On one level it is depressing, yet on another level it has the allure of the ghosts of holidays past. I love the Pontins sign though, I took photos of the sign at Prestatyn in 2005. Going to get it out now!

Reminds me of the time as kids we went the butlins in barry island i got hit on the head by the contact falling off the pole of the bumper cars ,the little pedal boat things were full of water so you got wet when you sat in them and it was very run down ,it was after a storm had damaged the place and the lift broke down twice on us .we did get to see the film batterys not included on vhs .

Pontins Prestatyn closed yesterday,but maybe a bright future for Pontins is happening: R.I.P Pontins Prestatyn 1971 to 2023.

Hi Tim, love the videos . Could you on a next video ask about or look at disabled access. As a person with limited mobility going to stay elsewhere can be daunting & difficult so any help would be appreciated. Stuff like lifts, ramps, accessible rooms, chairs to sit at in hallways & entries etc.

You’re like a bodyguard Tim, you took the bullet for us!

We went there twice in the 70s (not long after Holiday on the buses was filmed) and it was great. We also went to the long gone Tower Beach camp that was also at Prestatyn and also Pontins. Its really sad they've let it go so downhill 😟

Had a family holiday there as a child in 1977 it was great back then, shocking it's become this

Worked at Pontins Sand Bay in 1988 an adult only camp. The site, venues and accommodation were in a better state and in all honesty so were the guests. Admittedly as it had an older clientele we did have quite a few take their last holidays with us, as a death or two was quite common throughout the season. That year I also worked at Butlins in Minehead a totally different type of guest who would cause damage and drunken behaviour so it was a bit more lively. I still remember holidays in which there was a sign that would indicate if a child was crying in their accommodation (the staff called them sheds) as in those days Parents would leave younger children alone, hopefully asleep by themselves. 😮 a different time 😂

This brings back a lot of memories, we used to goto music festivals there a couple of times a year and it was never that great back then. Shocked it's still going, everything about the place, and the city was just depressing, even the sea water was grey. It doesnt look like its changed much at all.

I did a few days here, it was like a uni halls meets death camp feel.

Hopefully I’ll have saved the money for a few days come September. Looks nice can’t wait…buzzin!!!

I imagine these places were from a time when cheap bundle holiday deals in Europe didn't yet exist. The question is how are they still operating today?

Always appreciate a regular reminder to never go to Pontins. Thanks Tim 👍

Helpful hint tip for everyone: if you are going anywhere places like that or etc. it's good to make sure bring a croc pot with you comes in handy if you don't trust the appliances.

Great video. pretty sure I went here as a kid. I honestly can't believe how dirty it is.

I’ve been to Pontins Pakefield a LOT of times in the past before 2018. The apartments, horrible but the entertainment improved on it. In October of 2018, they made the park for adults only (that must explain the destroyed crazy golf and activities) so we moved to Kessingland Beach and we’ve been going from there onwards. Feel very bad for you, you really deserve a reward!

Tim another great video from you. I remember going to pontins as a child. So very sad to see it in such a state. Some improvements from your last video but it still looks terrible 😢

I think this place has the same problem that nobody wants to talk about: The clients/customers. With socks, kitchen stuff, bottles all over the place you know no cleaning can fix that, or by raising the price very much. I work in a grocery store and people complain about "how messy the shelves are", but I explain them that we employees surely don't do that (throwing single-time use gloves around, leaving half-eaten kebabs, throwing frozen goods into the shelves to rot et) and they still come up with "But u r paid". Yes, for stocking the shelves, not for trash scum customers. . .

When me and my family went our key to the room that was a upstairs one was outside on the bottom floor

It's reminds me of when you see films in a post apocalyptic world & the people are walking through these completely dead & miserable places.

Tim takes one for the team once again. 😀. Looking forward to seeing this .

I stayed here a few years ago. We joked it was like a prison camp 😂😂😂

Great Video! What an eye opener! Utterly depressing and disgusting😢 Hope they have cleaned up their act! Embarrassing to say the least 😳