I Visit EVERY Pontins In The UK - I Was SHOCKED! 

What has been your experience at Pontins?

Pontins is a disgrace. People who can only afford a little still should be given clean accommodation. Is that too much to ask. As for most of the parks I’d say it’s potentially dangerous. Should be closed down.

Always wanted to visit Chernobyl but obviously due to recent events in Ukraine it will be hard to do so. However, it seems I could just go to Pontins and have the same experience

Pontins seriously need to do a reality check and despatch their CEO on an *Undercover Boss* to really understand what mess they are flogging to families who have to save their hard honest earned cash to give their family a holiday, in the middle of an economic crisis. I hope Pontins watch this great exposé video! Well done Tim. 👍🏾

Being cheap to stay at should never mean it's acceptable to have unhygienic, dirty, damaged or unsafe accommodation. I've stayed in plenty of cheap hotels/b&b's that were much better than this. There should always be standards regardless of price or location. Hopefully people stop going to Pontins. Turn them all into housing for the homeless. People can still go to Haven or Butlins.

I feel so sorry for people who turn up for their holiday and this is what they end up with. I can imagine there are a lot of disappointed kids walked in there and taken right back out again. For the price you are not going to expect much but you would at least expect the place to be clean and well maintained. Why are these places not better regulated? There are some serious health and safety issues in those parks. Thank you for taking the time to showcase the hell that awaits visitors to Pontins, many will read the reviews and ignore them so at least if they come on RU-vid they can see for themselves how bad it really is.

Going to one of these nightmarish dumps is tantamount to self-harm. Taking kids there is basically child abuse... They need to be condemned, bulldozed and forgotten.

It's absolutely shocking these parks are allowed to operate like this. Is there no industry standards 🤔

I agree, the places are disgraceful and I feel sorry for those who can't afford anything else. There should be a standard set that is acceptable, especially when it comes to hygiene and safety. Yes, the room is mostly just to sleep, but at the very least it should be clean and welcoming.

The vibe I get is of a place that was once very popular but has closed and since fallen into disrepair. Someone then came along and opened them back up for business without any sort of refurb first. I'm surprised these places actually passed a heath and safety inspection especially the accommodation. Why anyone would go on holiday to any Potins site is a mystery to me.

Pontins is a British company operating holiday parks in the UK, founded in 1946 by Fred Pontin. Since 2011, it has been owned by Britannia Hotels. (and waiting to sell land to property developers possibly)

I've been thinking about what it looks like and the state of everything, big gates and wired walls, chairs and duvets lying around... It looks like a refugee centre. Not a holiday park. That's what it reminds me of.

Makes you realize why the British hotel industry is on its knees at the moment! If that's how they are going to run it they deserve to go bust. Not just Pontins but all the other dreadful hotels you have reviewed! The whole industry needs a major shake-up! Time for a huge Health and hygiene policy overhaul would help!!!!!

I'll never get over the wee stain mattress and having to buy your own electricity also laughed at Tim pointing out the knickers drying outside on the chair 😂 thank you for suffering for your viewers Tim 👏

OK where to start. 26 years ago I first visited Brean sands on a football tour and I can tell you this place was brilliant, accommodations were good, go karts were good, the crazy golf was brand new and swimming pool was brand new and the park was out of this world with the first zip wire any child had seen before, it was big, all the facilities were open. Fantastic experience when I was a child. We came here loads of time 3 football football tournaments and many times for new year etc. 2002 was the last time for a long time, we came again in 2015 and this year, they haven't updated anything and that's the big problem. This place and many more I think could do so well if they up the price slightly and up the maintenance. I can't see why they can't compete with butlins because its got the size. I know butlins is way more expensive but surely pontins can meet somewhere in the middle. Just abit of cleaning and painting will make a difference. All the site are in great position. Pontins I think need new owners with big ambitions to turn this once a great place to go.

Great work Tim exposing these health & safety hazards, would the MDs pay for their families to stay in these places I think not

Honestly Tim, it’s an absolute travesty what’s happened to Pontins and to a certain extent Butlins. I’m 55 in 88 I worked at Minehead (Butlins) and Pontins in Weston Super Mare (that was an adult only site). They were a joy to spend time in, as a worker or as a holidaymaker. My childhood memories of Butlins Filey are still somewhere in the recesses of my mind/memories. So for an old fogey like me it’s hard to watch these videos, heartbreaking but I know what to expect. The days of knobbly knees or Miss Butlins contests are over now, what we are left with are husks of what once were places of joy and happy memory makers. Red or blue coats were our celebrities for the week, sorry I could go on but I’m in mourning for a past that’s gone. RIP the great British Holiday Camp ☹️

Some of these things may be false advertising. If they say they have go-karts, but they've clearly not operated them for years, then they're not following the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (for example, false or deceptive messages or leaving out important information; they say they have go-karts, but they don't tell you they're permanently out of order-that's a clear violation). They should be reported to Trading Standards. Health and Safety Executive might also want to pay them a visit or two.

When you look at Pontins and the Britannia Hotels you have reviewed, is it any wonder that people prefer to go overseas for a holiday? From your videos elsewhere I'd say that standards outside of the UK are infinitely higher. And why hasn't anyone sued Pontins for advertising things that, when you arrive, are closed? I suppose they could argue that in their literature they say those things are there, but not that they are open.

These places should be condemned. Absolute disgrace.

I see Pontins are offering the quintessentially British experience of decline, dilapidation, and disappointment. The sense of a crushing depression pervades every shot, filtered through the only on-site activity option of day-time drinking with dead-eyed dinosaurs

All Pontins resorts are a public health hazard. I have personally responded to calls at their parks that we completely avoidable had the parks been safe for the public. The problem is that Pontins is owned by Britannia Hotels…. Never, ever stay in someone that is owned or opened by Britannia Hotels.

I remember fondly my childhood summer holidays in Camber Sands (1980’s). The site as a kid then was a joy, people seemed to have respect for the place, the arcades and the entertainment areas were my favourite. The apartments were nice and it felt like a safe and importantly fun place to stay. It’s both shocking and sad watching this. I’m assuming these will be eventually run down to the point of actual collapse and be sold for property / housing developers. Thanks for the update 😢

It's tragic how much these places look like 1970s council estates.

Canadian here and the whole concept of UK style "Holiday Camps" is foreign to me (no such thing here) so your videos about those places is fascinating to me. Some of the camp accommodations you showed honestly looked like long abandoned cheap road side motels in areas where tourism died in the early 80's. I'd be curious to see a proper well maintained still operating camp.

Its so sad to see pontins holiday parks like tht ,as they were so popular and all the go back in the day with huge crowds year after year ,,great vid 🎥🎞️

I’m from Florida, I’ve never heard of “Pontins” before, all I can say is how is this allowed to be open? These places look like they need to be condemned, plowed under, and burn the remains.

Going to Pontins Pakefield in October, I've been several times now and it's always been really good I have to say never had a problem with any of the chalets or facilities 👍🏻

I've never really understood why they don't charge a cheap rate for a month during off season...the place won't be vacant and the property will be used rather than left for months on end.... because as you can see, people aren't attracted at the current prices.

Pontins need to play to their strengths and advertise Rough it style holidays for those with an anti luxury attitude. They should offer a weekly prizes for the person photographing the most problems on the camp and completing the best worded letter of complaint. If you can find any open facilities you can call in to pick up electronic phone points which can be traded for a discount on your next visit.

Why not just make these places into 50s/60s/70s retro holiday camps where people can stay & experience nostalgia for real & go back in time & enjoy a holiday like our parents/grandparents had. Nostalgia is a big market & i for one would book to an authentic retro holiday camp as it would be like back to the future. There are so many things you could do with these places if one second of thought went into them.

Wow, I totally agree with you....its so sad really because you think back in the day these were the places people found friendship and holiday community's, it's a shame

Bloody hell, a total disgrace and shocking that the local councils have not shut the places down!! Close the lot down!!!

I've grown up skateboarding here in North Wales, when I was a teen we would've definitely found our way into that abandoned skate park, we did have something similar in an old Lonsdale factory and they had to have a security guard live across the road to deal with the constant break-ins, there had been numerous injuries and even a death. Skateboarders will skate anything, anywhere.

Tim, I've just caught up with your Great Yarmouth live vid and it reminded me so much of Parkgate, Wirral/Cheshire. Extraordinary place as I believe it was fertilizers draining into the River Dee that caused the estuary to grass and silt to build up irreversibly. Still a fascinating and lovely little place to visit for the restaurants, fish and chips, ice cream and seafood shops. Also amazing views of Wales on the other side of the estuary 🤗💕

I really don't mind the retro feel of an old holiday camp. It can be quite nostalgic. However. There is absolutely no need for it to be dirty and run down. There is absolutely no way I would want to visit a Pontins again. Not even a day pass. I don't know how much they charge to stay these days, but I think they should start paying people to visit, with paint and paint brushes and of course, lots of cleaning equipment. I am surprised any of these camps are allowed to stay open. They look like a serious health risk to me. What a shame the owners don't care.

Fantastic review on all 4 Pontins camps. When I was extremely young, I did stay at Pontins Breansands and Prestatyn. It looks like not much has changed since the late 70s and early 80s. Southport. 0:55, Way was the flag at half-mast? 2:15 80s Car Aeriel. 3:00, what type of hospital? Liking the shaver plug over the toilet, shave while 1 or 2. 7:10, You was most definitely not in Rio (Duran Duran, 1982). Prestatyn. 9:55, My PC monitor is bigger. 12:20 Security. 12:35 Are you going to have Tea or Coffee with your fish and chips? 13:50 Beach Comber restaurant, going to have a think about that. Camber Sands. 15:45, LEC use to be big name in the 80s, no wonder people are sick after staying and cooking on dirty pans. 17:20, Vintage boiler, 1 hour to heat up.21:10, the entire pontin's is overgrowing. Breansands. 24:30, I was going to say that Pontins knew you was visiting, as you had the best of the worse. 25:15, more 80s car aeriel. 25:52, jigsaw puzzle.

The saddest thing is that in the 70s these were truly magical places for kids and adults alike.

Aw Pontins Brixham ( now a housing estate ) was awful , the pool smelled of raw sewage , nothing worked or was clean , the security guards made it feel like a prison . Dreadful holiday. We went back to camping ! 😆

As has been written elsewhere I cannot believe any of these places has passed a health and safety inspection. This level of squalor and filth surely deserves to be condemned and the owners could have no complaints. How any business could have the nerve to charge people money for these crumbling health hazards is beyond me.

I remember when I was at camber sands when I was younger and I don't know if u ever noticed but right at the back or side of the park there used to be these massive trees covering even older chalets were it seemed to be occupied by workers

No experience of Pontins other than seeing brochure pics, had no idea it was this dire, they are like some severely run down depressed council estates. Compelling videos though... The Hotel Inspector would have a field day if she was sent there. 🤣🤣

Fred Pontin on his TV ads always used to say "book early". Don't think that applies anymore.

We used to swim at the Hemsby location every day after school 20 years ago and it was a lovely place. Now it’s left abandoned and desolate. Me and a friend were given permission to go in and do some photography of the abandoned site and it is just sad to see it in such a state. They refused for years to sell the land too so the site was an awful blemish on what is quite a nice little village

I saw of all the videos individually as you posted them. Southport in particular needs tearing down. It's an absolute disgrace that anyone on any budget should have to put up with those facilities. All these parks must be failing so many health and safety rules and it's mind-boggling how they have not been shut down.

Being Australian, I have no experience of holiday parks. I don't get it. And I have to say, watching your reviews of Pontins, I would NEVER risk it. These places look hazardous to one's health. Although, to be fair, I did like the look of the dinosaur park - once the skips full of trash are passed!

My parents used to work at the Southport Pontins in the arcade in the early 2000s. I do have some absolutely fond memories of there, but maybe thats just because when I was there the staff/entertainers did know us and so I guess we had a bit more 'unrestricted' fun which other normal guests wouldn't have been allowed. (Backstage access to meet some of the special guests they had, being able to go into some places without parents where parents were needed, mainly the indoor kids play area and stuff) My mum worked on the prize counter and so whenever I was feeling a little tired, I was always able to just go into the stock room at the back, which would back onto my dads office area with a little door that was between the two, perfect to reach in and plug my DS charger so I could play on that for a bit or leave it to charge. Must have been around 2007/8 when they brought the fairground rides in (Just the Waltzer and Bumper Cars) and at this point, my dad had moved over to security so we used to get wristbands that gave us unlimited goes on them That back area with the tires, I have a vague memory of it and I don't think anything ever was there back then, just it wasn't overgrown like it is now Eventually they did leave before the Britannia takeover and we never went back aside from one time to go see some old family friends who we'd met while they worked there, must have been like 2013/14 or something and yeah was significantly worse than we remembered

I didn’t know you could film in prison what was you in for Tim? 😂.

Britannia Hotels should be ashamed of themselves, they have owned Pontins since 2011 and by the looks of it they have not pumped much money into those holiday parks that are just falling apart, I bet Fred Pontin is turning in his grave!!! Well put together Tim.

I was initially thinking "give it a chance, go when it's busy" but I don't think it'll make much difference. To be honest, I'd probably leave the place feeling depressed. How are these not closed down

hi tim great video as always. just wondering is this a collaboration video from all your previous videos? i thought i recognised some of the intro clips. cheers

Since 2011 Pontins has been owned by Britannia Hotels. I don't think it's a coincidence that both are underfunded and run down.

The barbed wire is still there but they took the watch towers down in the 90s after too many holiday makers were shot trying to escape.

I watch these holiday park videos and somewhere in me wonders who stays in these accommodations? For the most part entertainment seems like the main driving force keeping these things open, yet some of those things are lacking as well.

The Daily Mail has a report today ( 28/8 ) for the Best Vs Worst UK hotel chain between top ranked Premier Inn and bottom rated Britannia, it didn't take long for them to discover why the latter always gets slated.

My parents have made comments before about how great Pontins Camber Sands was when they went back in the 70s but if they went to any of the ones you showed in this video they would very quickly change their minds. Britannia Hotels still has the money to fix up these holiday resorts, they need a huge overhaul, it looks like the parks have given up on doing any maintenance since they went into administrative receivership back in 2010. When the looming recession hits, I have a strong feeling that all of the Pontin's in the UK will close down.

Hi, I was a blucoat 1983 until 1987, things were different then, well kept parks, great entertainment, visiting cabarets, but before they all closed they were just left to rot!!! Such a shame, but thank you for your honesty....

I will forever stick to Haven, it's always clean and worth the money. I'm glad I saw your videos because I was contemplating Pontins at one point 😶.

Great video mate and what a set of cajones you got for visiting all of those Pontins. Ive heard that Butlins routinely jokes to troublesome kids on stage "If you dont behave then Im sending you to Pontins" The audience cracks up laughing

If you sell mega cheap holidays (Sun £10) you are going to attract the sort of person that urinates on the beds and damages the furniture and fittings. You can't then sell the same accommodation at a higher rate later, which is what is happening with Pontins. The whole lot is only fit for demolition now.

This is like exploring abandoned places - minus the "abandoned" part.

This looks like something from the fall of the USSR. I can’t believe they are charging people for this. I’ve stayed in many so called third world countries and it looked like a palace compared to this. What a shame. I hope they improve

Loved your review. Just came over your channel not that long ago and must say I'm really enjoying the content! Take care!

I still don’t understand how Pontins can stay in business or why people keep visiting them…. I seriously don’t get it

I worked at the Southport Pontins in the early 90's, it was bad then, but doesn't look like it's been touched since. It might be a better idea to buy a tent, much cheaper, cleaner and more fun

A friend of mine was at Brean Sands a couple of weeks ago with her family. She was horrified at the state of the place. She complained but it fell on deaf ears. She's trying to get a refund but doubt she will. How do they get away with this? They're quick enough to take your money but should be prosecuted under the Trade Description Act 2011!

Although there are a lot of issues with the accommodation and the facilities there is something quintessentially British about these holiday parks that still makes them loved by many. Hopefully the British holiday park will live on forever, but looking at the condition of them they will not remain standing for very much longer. Great video and very well edited.

I think with the state of the cleanliness of the apartments, maybe someone should call in environmental health. Absolutely disgusting that they can get away with this, just seems like a case of having no respect for people. And the guy who said”it’s somewhere to lay your head says it all really, it’s a very bad attitude to have.

Funny on the Southport fencing, the barbed wire is angled in. This gives the appearance that actually the fence is there to keep people in, rather than out.

I cannot believe that people go any where near these places and the fact that they are prepared to pay to stay there is incredible! They are semi derelict and filthy and how the health authorities allow them to stay open is amazing.

Been to Southport & Breen sands pontins. Swimming pool & arcades, entertainment & nisa is pretty much all that's open. Accommodation is basic but the price is super cheap. If you dont mind roughing it, pontins is ok. The sites are always right next to the beach. But be prepared, most things are shut and look like they've been shut for years. Cheap and almost cheerful. Kids love it tho. Would return.

What has happened? I'm not even that old and I remember when English coastal resorts were amazing places to go on holiday. It's a real shame they have gone so far downhill. Problem being now they are at the point where people don't want to use them so unless something changes they are doomed to failure. Very sad indeed.

A great vlog Tim showing all your visits consolidated in the one vlog. Very interesting to see how each fared and you have to base it on your experience when you visited each site. Interestingly I went for a walk along the beach and sand dunes at Ainsdale a few weeks ago when it was extremely hot. I got a good view into Pontin's Southport from the dunes and it appeared to be only occupied to about 25% capacity in peak season based on the number of cars on site in the evening. Your findings of the condition of the site may go a long way to explaining this 😥.

I'm not a fussy person when it comes to accommodation but even I have my standards, I'd expect the rooms to be clean at least 😟

Blimey what a shock. . . I used to Holiday at Camber Sands in the mid 70s and it was totally different. Many happy memories that holidays should give you are etched in my mind but now the brand has turned into a nightmare for new guests. I work as a Housekeeper at Potters in Hopton so I naturally compare holiday accommodation but I don't think I'll bother in this case. Thanks for sharing 🙂.

I love going to Pontins Camber Sands never had a bad experience apparenly Breans getting closed for a few years for renovations

You missed one mate 😂 sandbay in kewstoke but honestly don’t worry about going there lol! Great vid 👍

100% agree absolute disgrace owners should be ashamed and managers be sacked

Hi Tim!...did you know that HOLIDAY ON THE BUSES was filmed on location at pontins Prestatyn in 1973 ?

Unbelievable! I used to take my children to holiday camps, have never seen anything like this. Environmental health should inspect these as a matter of urgency.

We booked two nights at prestatyn, walked in the "accommodation" looked round and got online to find a B&B instead. Absolutely grotty

You are doing a great service on your channel. Exposing these sub standard holiday camps and hotels . Unbelievable what they think is acceptable! Keep up the good work mate 👍

Tim, I love Cambersands. But have not been back since 2017. Send your frootage to each council where the parks are.

Brean Sands is to be taken over by EDF to provide accommodation for workers on the new nuclear reactor. I would imagine a lot of money will be spent on it. If it is returned to being a holiday camp, when they are finished, it will be in a much better state.

I went to Pontins in Pakefield…. Absolutely shocking !! Terribly dilapidated accommodation and you guessed it…. Chairs outside every chalet!!

Hadn’t realised Pontins had been bought out by Brittania - says it all! Can’t imagine booking, turning up and that was my holiday. Such a waste for so many families

U missed one pontius sand bay Weston-super-Mare holaday village that one aparntley is very nice u should check that one out

Went to one in North Wales as a kid in the 70s - Prestatyn I think. It was OK. I would rather have been in the Isle of Man, but Mum didn't want to go there that year. I had a room with two beds and the mattress so thin I put two of them together.

Knickers on the chair really sums up the type of clientele that "Pontins" rely on... those who do not care.

The car park has netball courts lined out as years ago (like 2003/04) I went to a netball competition long weekend the. The accommodation then was so appalling that our coach got us our money back because it was so disgusting and the ‘healthy catering’ they had for a load of semi pro athletes during a competition was fatty beef burgers with the promised veggie options was the plastic cheese from the cheese burgers shoved into a bun on its own… Our coach went out and bought us food and other coaches did the same to the point that on the second day we took over catering! Still won the competition though! Looks like it hasn’t been touched since I was there then and it was awful then!

I've never been to Pontins, and I've no intention to go either. After seeing your video I can't complain about Britannia Hotels anymore. That was shocking. Great video Tim.

Watching these videos I always get the feeling that security might come and stop you from urban exploring this derelict site... Then I remember you've actually paid for this. Honestly makes me so sad that these places are like this. No support from the owners and I'm certain very low morale amongst all the staff.

They must keep the heating off in the rooms over the winter. Hence the rust and mold.

You are a brave man staying at these Pontins😅 I know it’s a budget holiday and most can’t afford anything else but basic cleaning is not to much to ask regardless of what you pay Honestly tome they were shut down because they aren’t going to improve anytime soon I think the only way you can improve these videos is by doing a video the next morning after you have slept there 🤣

Hi Tim. I think you are right on the best one out the four. I was thinking what happened to Pointing it use to be one of the best besides Butlins. Now I wouldn't even take my grand children there or myself if you know what I mean.

It might be interesting to go there in the high season and witness what people are actually doing in these places. Maybe they just go to the seaside or on trips every day?

We've just been to Shorefield Holiday park in Ringwood (Forest edge with free access to Oakdene) and it was lovely, clean and a great price 😀👍

It reminds me of Colditz ... you'd be absolutely gutted if you turned up there for a week 😕

absolutely shocking of Pontins! I don't know how they stil get away with this! As a child we had many happy holidays in Pontins, yes they were basic but they were clean & perfectly adequate for a week or so. there used to be fantastic children's & adult entertainment & all the camp amenities were open. Pontins needs a total revamp if it's going to survive much longer x

Hi Tim, OMG, you are braver than I am if you actually stayed in any of those supposedly resorts, what those places need is a load of bulldozers mind you think they are past saving. Worst of all they are still charging people for it with everything closed or example are they waiting on a child to get hurt badly in the broken skate place. Absolute shambles shame on them 👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎