The WORST RATED Holiday Park? - Pontins Southport
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2022
- What is it like staying in a Holiday Park that's had over 2000 TERRIBLE Trip advisor reviews and is apparently the worst in the UK?. I stay at Pontins Southport Holiday Park to see what it is REALLY like! It's been in the news a lot recently.. can it really be that BAD?
Let's find out!!!
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I swear if this footage was showed to me without commentary, I would 100% say this is an urbex video of an abandoned theme park. I have seen better condition buildings in the local steelworks that's been abandoned for 20+ years!
lol you could be right
Yeh true. I thought exactly the same😂
I believe the one at Brean is even worse, it was only about three years ago that the ceiling came down in the showbar, luckily nobody was hurt
Incredible isn't it, these places should be requisitioned by the government as homeless housing or something, unbelievable people pay to holiday there!
I don't really know what to say or where to start on this Tim. I'm going to be very quick. ONLY Sub-humans would visit this cess pit or contemplate using it. I'm pretty sure you would be infected by fleas, lice or similar. Whoever OWNS this s**t-pit should be sued. YOU, Tim, have a responsibility to people to report THIS to the Health and Safety Executive, the Health Service, Department of Communicative Diseases and ENSURE it Closes Immediately and to a Solicitor and Court of Law. It is a Health Hazard!
This is heartbreaking as a single mum who struggles to make ends meet I’ve been desperate to take my little boy on his first holiday/staycation. I would be so upset if this what I was presented with after saving up to take him away, absolutely shocking!
you are so right Chole its disgusting
In someways I’m glad their is both sites like trip advisor and Chanel’s like Tim’s. Can never get how places like these still exist with the internet!!
Just goes to show Chloe, always look into places, double and triple check, make UA-cam and Google searches and read all the reviews you can find
Try park holidays or park dean, they're cheaper than butlins and havens but better than pontins
At least with the internet/UA-cam you can check things out in advance. But yes it’s horrible. Some of the chalets in the background around the football area look more presentable and could probably to renovated, but those ones we saw up close presumably the “standard” ones look disgusting, and are just fit for demolition. Really odd windows that they have a single uPvc double glazed opening unit installed in only rotten softwood frames with single. They need to invest some money even if it means cutting back on the entertainment.
I wouldn’t take my dog here let alone my family. The fact they’re letting this happen is disgusting, they should not be happening especially when it’s a holiday park.Thank you for sharing and letting other people know of their disgusting unhygienic premises
Yes agree
It’s like the apocalypse!
As someone still haunted by a trip here as a child nearly 40 years ago I thought this might give me the closure I needed but I now feel like I've just unlocked the cube from Hellraiser and unleashed a new batch of horror :) Thanks for continuing to do these so that that (hopefully) others don't have to.
I was relieved to see that the in-ground trampolines with gaps around the side where the springs are and nettles growing through seem to have gone.
Oh wow!
Stopped there 4yrs ago because my mother in law thought she would treat us to a long weekend away.
There’s basically two types of people that go, one is the chav families that have the parents getting drunk every night/day whilst their kids run riot and smash the place up and the other is the absolutely bewildered family who obviously like us didn’t read the reviews and went whilst reminiscing about it back in the early 90’s, to end up in an open style borstal/prison.
We went Friday morning and came back late sat night and trust me I’m no snob and hate wasting money but it was the wrong kind of dirty weekend away for me 😂
omg
You are a snob
hahahahahaaha so accurate though
They certainly didn't make the Guest family feel like 'Guests'
Sorry, bad joke 😩😜
Kids run riot and smash the place up,
nice one 👍🤣😂🤣😂
I'm a taxi driver in Southport. This place is actually in Ainsdale which is outskirts of Southport. The amount of trouble going on with this place is mad, police is there all the time - constant fights, stabbings, drug deals etc, that tells you what sort of "customers" goes there. Most taxi drivers ( including me) avoiding this place after 8pm. Stay away.
omg
I dont blame you at all, it's the only holiday resort I've been to in Britain where I didn't feel safe
@@bakedbeans9546 that's so sad to hear. Southport is a great place to live and people in Ainsdale, where this is, are lovely. I've lived here 15 years, 13 in Ainsdale and I love it
We went quite a few times before lockdown. The kids love the entertainment. We cleaned the chalet when we arrived on Friday evening. Took our own bedding including mattress covers. Used paper plates, cutlery and cups for the weekend as there was never enough to go round. Then last tome, after a Saturday evening of quite good entertainment, walking back to the chalet there was a big fight, police arrived, someone got glassed, there was a strong smell of weed, lots of shouting and police chasing someone, the kids were scared and wanted to go home. We packed up and left at midnight. We only live 45 mins away, so it's not too bad. We weren't the only ones who left that night, we saw other families packing too.
The gate man said at least 6 groups had left in the last hour and he didn't blame us.
The biggest problem with the cleaning is, I think, they don't pay staff enough for them to care.
My late brother in law was a taxi driver in Southport. My wife and family are from Southport.
His name was Stuart Richardson.
Mother in law still lives there but wife is with me in Leyland.
I took my son to this park about 20 years ago, and although it was a bit shabby, I was impressed by the bluecoats and other staff who facilitated the kids' activities. For example, there was quite a long wait for the climbing wall, but every child who climbed was securely fitted with the safety equipment and encouraged to climb as high as they could, none of the children were rushed off the wall. The people of Southport were very friendly, on our first evening staying there my chalet neighbours were having a birthday celebration for one of their kids and their Mum asked me, "Is your little boy allowed to play out? Can he come over and have a piece of birthday cake?" which was a lovely surprise and very much appreciated.
yes I've always said the staff and bluecoats are great
We don’t have holiday parks in the US, but this kinda seems like a fun zone for kids with a bunch of motels around it. I would just take my kid to an area like this then go back home.
I went to St Marys Bay Pontins in Devon when i was 13 and all the Bluecoats wanted to do was jump into bed with each other. All they did when i saw them was make out 😲😳🤨
That is beyond embarrassing, disgusting and disgraceful. How on earth the tourist board and the council don't force them either to refurbish it or sell it... They should get their license suspended... It looks like a Salford rundown council state....
I understand some parents can’t afford fancy holidays so these are an option for them so that they can at least take their kids somewhere.
If I owned this place I would want the families that visited to have a clean, safe and comfortable place to stay. That rot on the frames is unforgivable.
Having said that the price isn’t much different to some camping places where all you get is a patch of grass.
I wish an investor would come in and buy these places up and create something nicer for children to stay.
Good pontins Sarah
Yes but at least with a camp site you know what you're getting and you know that your tent and sleeping bag etc is clean and presumably not covered with flies and bits of god knows what and you would know your tent isn't rotting and if it was you'd obviously replace it, pontins is a 💩 hole it's that simple
@@conaningram1030 Spot on!!
Haven is quite affordable at the moment havens smaller sites holidays cost only 120 to 200 pounds
Ye it is a shame some people have to resort to this I do feel abit sorry for them
Give Britannia Hotels some credit - at least they're consistently bad.
lol
The daft thing is britannia hotels are a parent company of pontins....
@@WalkWithMeTim as a former local,the beach there is amazing, and it is really cheeky that they class it as Southport,as it is a reasonably long journey, and is really in ainsdale and no actual work has been done on the site for at least 15 years
Britannia Hotels obviously have no experience in how to look after Pontin's. They need to be given improvement notices from HSE, either that or they sell Pontin's to an experienced holiday company....
@@sambee8982 Britannia hotels sadly just don't care full stop about their hotels or holiday parks.... Hence why I won't ever stay at such places. If they improve things I would but they seemingly just don't care.
This is heartbreaking. I have so many happy memories from childhood at Pontins Southport and Pwehelli; it was never luxurious but clean and there was always plenty to do. To see it in this state of disrepair is devastating, to say the least.
3000,migrants earmarked for pontins southport,so hold on to those precious memories my friend because no holiday makers will be going ever again.
Pwllheli was Butlins camp, not Pontins. A fabulous camp before Haven (Stand and deliver!) took over. Now it's a pay, pay, and pay again camp!
@@serenarchie123 I went on the booking site and NO vacancies between now and December! Welcome to little Bagdad!
My parents took me to Southport Pointins when I was about 5 years old, so around 1985. I won a talent contest (no idea what my talent was) and was crowned Prince Pointins (true story).
I'm pleased to see my kingdom is as wonderful as I remember
How can great companies like Woolworths and Debenhams shut down yet somehow Pontins still exists?!
i know good point
Woolworths shut down in the UK? In Australia it’s thriving so I’d like to ask what was so bad about it
Rent and high business rates
@@RiceBBinka The UK arm of the company bought stock on credit and couldn't pay for it. They basically went bust.
@@RiceBBinka I follow an Australian farm and one of them said "Lukes gone to Woolies" I felt all nostalgic and happy it existed somewhere. I bought my 1st vinyl single in Woolies and even earlier as a toddlet my dad let me pick a Teddy there for my birthday. Still have him, he's 47 years old. He's ugly but still loved.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WOULD TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO A PLACE LIKE THAT. I'D RATHER STAY AT HOME THAN GO THERE WITH MY FAMILY.
They do
Msybe because its cheap and they dont know its like that when they book? Its not the families fault!
@@gaynorhamilton4571 Surely everyone would check the place out before booking. Why would any parent risk taking your family anywhere "blind"? ... It's cheap for a reason!
@@gaynorhamilton4571
It's not cheap though
its really only scabs that go there
Lived in Southport most of my life and always wondered how bad it was in Pontin's after hearing nothing but horror stories about how bad it actually is, and this confirms everything I've heard. The running joke to us Southport locals is the barbed wire perimiter fence isn't there to stop people from breaking in, it's there to stop the guests from escaping. The whole place needs to be bulldozed and levelled to the ground, it's an absolute eyesore.
That's funny you say that, I'm not even a local and that was my first thought, for starters they are actually meant to be the other way to stop trespassers climbing around and over the way they are oriented just make it easy to climb at the post and dangle and drop🤣
Why is the answer always “knock it down”, it just needs fixing up. Nice place to be in the summer.
@@willmason5774, well it seems that even Britannia thinks the answer is to knock it down, because just this week they announced it was to close with immediate effect, so obviously they're not interested in fixing it up.
@@Bahama3ay..that’s why I was commenting… “knock it down” shouldn’t be the first port of call
@@willmason5774, well obviously it is, because clearly it will cost more to refurbish it than it would to knock it down and redevelop the land that it sits on, which is quite a lot of land that would be prime real estate to a developer.
Good grief! I'm moving back to this area next month after working in Jersey for the last 6 years, and applied for a Night Manager role a few days ago at this Pontins in Southport.
I have since read the Tripadvisor reviews and was laughing in shock, although it's sad at the same time. Then I saw this video as confirmation.
Safe to say, I immediately retracted my application. How places can be allowed to operate like this is beyond me!
How can you visit these places and not wear latex gloves or something, they're absolutely horrendous! Amazing video as always Tim 👍
Lol I do was my hands
@@WalkWithMeTim you mean wash LOL
It’s absolutely shocking TIm that Pontins has gone so down Hill although I never have stayed at a Pontins site it does not inspire me with confidence to stay at one as usual Tim you do a fantastic first rate informative video 👍
@@stephenchecksfield632 if it was up to me id burn all the bad pontins downs and turn them into better camsites
@@RichyJFilms I agree with you 💯 it’s frankly disgusting how Pontins have let some of them sites go into such disgusting disrepair and lack of quality standards
The tyres were for the quad bike trail. I worked there about 25 years ago as an outdoor pursuits instructor, and helped to put those tyres out. I would love to know where the climbing and abseil tower has gone. The place is even worse than I can remember, hasn't changed much, still a dump.
omg
Stayed at the north wales pontins 2 years back, other than the windows weren’t so rotten it was exactly the same. Like a week in a 80s council flat
This actually makes me really sad... My Family used to Holiday here regularly before the standard dropped significantly and I will say that we made some fantastic memories at Pontins (and Butlins) camps. To see it like this, I don't know, just hurts to see places that made my childhood fall into almost un-inhabitability.
so sad and so many peoples memories
I think this place would feel miserable even if the accommodation was completely done up. It’s all well past it’s time and people on a budget shouldn’t have to settle for staying in somewhere that quite frankly looks more like a prison than a holiday destination.
yep
It's not prison - you don't get sent there, people volunteer, they could just not go. Looks like they are almost deserted anyway.
@@elliotoliver8679 he was saying it looks like a prison
I am surprised that some of these haven't been condemned! Another thing that concerns me is I just don't think I would feel safe staying there. There doesn't appear to be any staff or security. Whoever owns Pontins really needs to invest and upgrade. Great video.
You would think its close
It's owned by Britannia Hotels, who have the worst reputation going for poor standards of maintenance and cleanliness
oh theres security alright lmao
How do the local council health and safety dept not get involved with these disgusting parks, the company that owns Pontins ( we know who you are) and some of our seaside heritage hotels needs to be taken to task at the state of these buildings.BTW Tim you are more easily pleased than i would be.
lolo
Has a definite Chernobyl feel about the place .
Always did. Stayed there ,Grand national weekend '83 .
I think the highlight of that cosy little getaway was the entertainment ,consisting of late night drunk race goers, running along the upper landings smashing windows as they went.
Fun times ! Glad we booked early to avoid disappointment ,eh Fred.
Sounds like how that camp deteriorated since 1978 the rubbish bluecoats I think they deserve the same fate Nicola Bully had found dead in the Wyr and their horrible entertainment manager Dave Muscrath
That was insane… I would cry if I had to stay there for a night 🫣
It looks horrendous, I'd be that disgusted if I turned up there with my children I'd have to leave and find somewhere better, pontins clearly don't care about the holiday experience yet still charge people to stay at that 💩 hole
Well maybe I should tell u now ....
Yikes
@@WalkWithMeTim Tell me now?? I'm intrigued
Could have been worse - you could have been there when it was busy. I worked a weekend there a few years ago. The whole place had been booked out of season to host a music event, the idea being that enough people would turn up for this weekender to fill the chalets. As it happened the ticket sales weren't great, so the park decided to open the rest of the complex up to the public that weekend to make up the numbers. They put adverts in the local papers up and online, so that a whole family could come and have a chalet for just a few pounds. My god. You should have seen them. It looked like Jeremy Kyle's waiting room.
omg i bet
I bet those chalets are 5 star luxury compared to their homes. Imagine going on holiday to what is essentially a prison mixed with a sink estate. Wow. Wouldn't surprise me if Graham the "genius" turned up as the entertainment one night
jesus and Im gonna assume you arent talking about one of the rare "pretty people" episodes so that means not a single straight tooth on the grounds
@@WalkWithMeTim Well even the locals say avoid pontins in southport.
Bobby Ray, thanks for reading the guidelines on comments!
We visited this park in 1987 and it was bad enough back then! Our apartment was filthy with broken furniture and curtain rails in the living area. We had chipped plates and bowls. There were no light bulbs in the bedrooms, not enough bedding and one of the single beds was broken. There was much more and I had a long list which I took to the manager and asked for a different apartment. Thankfully we were moved because this was September, so plenty of room. It wasn’t great, but a definite improvement on the first one. Oh, and the barbed wire on the perimeter wall……we took a photo of the kids pretending to scale that and we’ve called the place Colditz ever since.
As a housekeeper seeing the state of this place FREAKS me OUT 😵
All these 'Pontins Holiday Parks" should be compulsory bought (well under value) and build affordable homes on them, they are an utter disgrace.
i know
You do it then
Affordable homes 😆 why would they want to do that
@@hiiiiii200 yES I KNOW, TO MUCH LIKE COMMON SENSE
Hi Tim. Cannot believe how a company as big as them have accommodation in that state. During lockdown surely they could have done a massive refurbishment. Thanks as always for the content
I know
Brittania don't give a shite..look them up
@@reddevil310 How many people from abroad come across to visit Southport😁. I went to one in Prestatyn about 25 years ago and they were poor then, so god knows what they're like now.
I can well believe it. This is Britannia Hotels, voted Britain’s worst hotel company eight years in a row.
@@reddevil310 I can't imagine anyone come from abroad to stay here
I stayed here for a weekend for a clubland event, and it looked like this but even worse as many other people had smashed up their rooms and went a bit wild. Nothing was open for food except a burger van and the shop. The event was great but very suited for old style ravers so the accommodation wouldn't have bothered anyone but I cannot believe it is still open for family's to stay at.
We’re going here for an EDM festival in 2 weeks. Doesn’t look too bad for us old style ravers. Wouldn’t want to bring the kids here
I worked there 40 years ago and if anything it was worse then! The chalets were slightly less decayed but there was even less for kids to do. It always made us staff laugh that the barbed wire fencing pointed inwards, as if it was there to keep the holidaymakers in. Shame the pool wasn't open, it was the ONLY facility it had worth having.
It looks like they are doing the bare minimum to keep the place open. It must be demoralising for the staff who work there.
I spoke with some they are seemed fine
@@WalkWithMeTim They're paid to seem fine, they're probably dying inside.
The staff (Bluecoats) have to always put on a brave smile before they do a show. The quality of those parks is atrocious compared to the ones at Butlins.
@@MoviesNGames007uk butlins is heaven on earth compared to this
I've been here a few times for a music festival, and that 'New Pontins' logo cracks me up every time - that rebrand's got to be about three decades old by now.
The 'monster truck' area used to be a go-kart track. I think it was accessible for everyone, not just Pontins visitors. There used to be a Lido down the road too but I think that's closed down now. Many of these types of parks are used by contractors working on big projects. So you'll find a Pontins with a car park full of BT Connect vans, or a Butlins full of builders and plumbers working on the Wimpey Homes development down the road. Cheap accommodation, particularly out of season.
another sad go cart track , thanks for the insight mike
I used to live in Southport, and they used to say that if you were naughty as a child, they would send you to Pontins down the road and live there. It is an awful sight and should be pulled down.
Abysmal for a holiday...PERFECT for the BANGFACE Weekender! Seeing the rundown horror again makes me feel all warm inside, shout to any 2022 Hard Crew lurking in here 😛
Yes mate, what a weekend! Pretty much straight to balter afterwards too
i remember going to a Bangface, and my friend saying "i cant believe families actually used to go on holiday here". Her face dropped when we informed her that they still do 🤣
2022 Bangface crew member reporting in! Rave New World forever! 🤘
Skimming through the comments here is hilarious as never in my life did I think people were ACTUALLY STILL booking this for their HOLIDAY!
The old folks better consider Bangface instead, they kinda missed out by staying at Pontins off-season without any Abba Gabba, no Squarepusher, and no Goreshit🤣
We’re going here for the Tidy Weekender in 2 week’s time. Not fussed about accommodation. Just want somewhere to crash after dancing hard
My OCD would go through the roof if I stayed there. Would love to ask the manager if he thinks the whole place is acceptable. The apartments looks like they’ve been standing for years left untouched just like a nuke town that can’t be entered. Thanks for another great video. You are brave going to these places.
Mine did lol
It’s like going on a run down council estate holiday
My parents brought me here 15 years ago on my first ever holiday along with my younger sister, it’s so nostalgic to see this and to recognise the complex layout. Though we had a great time because of the park mascots and swimming pool and the pure joy of a first family trip! I guess we went at a peak time :) lovely video
Pontins upper management should be made to watch your series on their parks. It might persuade them to get their act together and hire someone to perform some basic maintenance and decoration! I don't think I'd go to one of their parks if you paid me.
Loving your videos since I found your channel the other day, looking forward to the next!
As long as people keep booking it, they won't care. It will only change if people stop going.
Brittania don't give a shite...look them up
lol
thanks .. hope you subbed to ;-)
There was a piece done on them years ago from watchdog and it hasn’t changed at all
Thanks Tim. I feel ashamed of what exists in my country! It looked like something out of an apocalypse movie!! 😱
😐
That is just what I thought too!
It's very depressing to look at, I think any family would be just better having a picnic in their living room than actually paying to be there! It's shocking, I'm genuinely appalled by this mess 💁
Its only going to get worse mate.High prices.lousy uncaring Parliament,weak Judiciary etc etc..Used to be a lovely country.😾
When I went to pontins in camber, they had some Syrian refugees staying there. I felt embarrassed and ashamed they had to see that.
The Rave festivals that go on there are nuts. But we don't go for the accommodation! Not a lot of sleep at all over the weekend.
I went here a couple of months ago, the nightlife was really good but the accommodation is genuinely horrendous. The door stop in our bathroom was so rusted if you had caught ylurself you would have needed to get tenus jab. People kept saying oh what do you expect when you pay such a cheap cost but no matter how cheap somewhere is it should be at the very least clean.
OMG You'd be mortified if you paid good money and turned up to it looking like this. I expect when I go on holiday to have something better than I have at home. This accommodation looks like it needs tearing down!
I know crazy
I think it's time the board of directors had a good look at themselves. Make that decision to continue or simply give up and allow Britain's ever increasing homeless to have a roof over their head
:-)
There would be an outcry if homeless people were placed into accommodation like this, it’s beyond belief they operate this place in this condition
Im from the US and don't understand why why people from the UK call this a family vacation. It's bland, boring and absolutely depressing. I wonder what kind of place there getting away from 😮
I’m from the UK and don’t understand at all why people go on vacations here. Vacations to Spain, Turkey or Greece are really affordable nowadays and the accommodation, weather and people are so much nicer abroad.
To be fair as built in 1970 this place would have been frequented by over 3500 people. That and everything being new would certainly have improved the vibe a fair bit. Living standards were lower, foreign travel was also new, expensive and in some cases daunting (Spain was a dictatorship) Therefore a lot of people simply played it safe and went to Pontins or Butlins instead.
I’m ashamed to say that I took my family on holiday here in the late 70’s and it was shabby even then.
We went there when ie as younger. The apartment was absolutely disgusting with mould and blood dried in everywhere. They offered us an “upgrade” and it was even worse!! We never even stayed one night, left and drive back to Scotland immediately!!
omg
Craig Tara in Ayrshire is like a 5 star family resort compared to this sh*t hole. Such a pity you guys drove all the way to Southport for such a let down 😢
I'm nearly 30 and I remember going here growing up, it's turned into such a run down holiday park which is a shame to see. I have 2 boys myself and I take them on the £9.50 sun holidays to haven and parkdean holiday parks like southview in Skegness, we LOVE that holiday park and love the fact there's so much to do on site for days you don't want to go out and about. I can't believe pontins sites have all got into this state, such a shame !
i know crazy
wow! a great and informative video! I guess its harder for these kind of places to stay in business, since the craze over these types of holidays are long in the past, but would be lovely to see someone renovate this and give it a fresh look!
thanks for watching maybe hit subscribe too :-)
I think i remember staying here when I was a kid when on a weekend out on my parents! It was absolutely awful. It looks like a council estate, its ugly, unclean and there were so many druggies just pretty much living there. It should be illegal to call this a family friendly holiday park. There also wasnt enough beds, there was two single beds and a pull out couch, which were both disgusting and smelly. We didn't end up staying, and left. Absolutely abysmal.
Thanks for this video Tim. So shocked to see how bad it was before you even got inside. Looks a bit of a health hazard inside as well. The whole park needs to be demolished. As someone else said if they paid me to stay would say no thanks. Debbie
I know but I didn't pay much
So glad you have done a review here. I commented on the last pontins video saying about this place. Worst place ever. We lasted one night and were up and out for 7am the next day. I didn’t expect anything nice but no one can plan for anything this bad.
wow
Off season it will always look a bit sad. But it also lays bare the terrible state its in too. There aren't people obscuring the view. This is when they should be working through all those issues and CLEANING! Horrendous. Great video Tim.
We are here just now, leaving today, a day early, and if it wasn't for not wanting to dissapoint my children I wouldn't even have stayed a night. My husband booked through the sun newspaper and he wrongly assumed we were going to a caravan park, we quickly realised when we arrived that it was absolutely not a caravan site 😅 our apartment is absolutely abysmal but honestly seeing the one you were given I can see we were 'lucky', I understand a lot of these places are old fashioned decor and usually that wouldn't bother me but it is very clear to see that absolutely no cleaning was done here before we arrived. I always take a pack of cleaning wipes with me when we go away, I used the full pack then had to send my husband to the shop for more cleaning supplies. That sofa bed is what we have been sleeping on the past 3 nights, would have been comfier sleeping on the kitchen table. Definitely a lesson learned. We have done the sun holidays for years prior to covid and have had some gorgeous caravans, so cheap doesn't always necessarily mean that you should expect to be living in a hovel. Anyway we have used this only as a base and done lots of exploring around the nearby areas, Ainsdale and birkdale are gorgeous and a nice day trip into Liverpool and southport, will be glad of my own bed tonight 😆
We just got back today. Exactly the same situation as you with thinking it was a caravan park. Realised few days before but thought stuff it. Our room was relatively clean compared to this vid. Same we used it as a hub for 3 nights. Southport amusements and fair rides were great and blackpool on the 2nd day. Night time bar and entertainment at pontins my kids loved and the staff and bluecoats were amazing. Feel sorry for them tbh.
This is such a shame. We went to Southport Pontins every year when I was a kid (in the 80s) and it was wonderful. everything was clean and safe. how it has been neglected is terrible to see 😔
very true
Yeah, we had a family holiday at Brean Sands and it was great. Swimming pool, entertainment, bar, racing cars and boats were all in good shape. Very sad to see successive owners haven’t given a shit and let things slide.
Might have something to do with the fact it's been owned by Britannia since 2011.
I did too, but in the 90’s. We absolutely loved it as kids. Such a shame to see it like this
@@mattbuk it is mate. at least we've still got the memories 👍🏼
Wow, I'd be embarrassed and ashamed to take my children there, what a rundown mess of a place. And they dare to charge people for staying there!! I'm tempted to send an email to pontins to ask them what they're playing at.... I mean seriously even 80% of the activities are closed it's madness. I'd never take my children there they deserve better. You don't actually sleep there do you Tim?? Who knows what's on those filthy mattresses and duvets??
No I Don't lol
Brittania don't give a shite..look them up
@Harry AV Spruce You'd have lost that bet then as I don't vote for any of the muppets, they're all braindead morons
1 day the pool was closed and a other there was max cap, coz of lifeguard.
Basically paying to stay in a run down council estate with prison camp vibes and risk becoming victim of crimes whilst your at it. Cool
Wow, I worked here in 1987, it hasn't changed much. I recall they had to fix the big reservoir that fed the chalets with tap water, it was a massive tank up high. They had to remove a few dead pigeons that had drowned in the tank. The chalets certainly don't look any different. Still, first time away from home!
I have just watched a documentary about an open prison in Norway, on Bastoy Island. The island looks beautiful, the accomodation, in individual houses with other inmates, awesome! They even come with heated floors! I would rather stay there for a couple of weeks than at a Pontin's, in spite of the compulsory chores/labour on the prison island!
Love these videos, stayed at this park more than once, admittedly probably around 40 years ago and have very found memories of this camp, the Prestatyn one, Morcambe one and the camp they had in Jersey. Many happy summer holidays spent at Pontins such a shame to see how they have been let to get to the state i see them in.
The haydaz
Loving the hotel/park exploration videos, Tim! I'm not sure if the 90s count as part of Pontins' glory days or if it was already on the way out, but as a wee 'un back then, I saw Bluecoats on the telly and thought only the well-off could afford to holiday at one of these places. Quite sobering to look at it now.
Yes it's my days as 90s kid
Probably was good in its heyday before budget airlines became a thing
@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 yhink the 50's or 60's?
I was born in Southport and still have family in the area. As a child I was taken there to stay with various aunts and uncles pretty much every year on holiday. It was always a standing joke that the Pontin’s fence was designed to keep folk in, not out, and that it had a very WW2 prisoner of war camp vibe. That was the 70s. Fast-forward to the early 90s and my then-boyfriend and I, plus his sister and her husband, did a Sun £9.50 holiday deal to that very place. Suffice to say, it was seriously grim. Damp, grubby, generally falling apart. Luckily we’d opted to take our own bedding but even so we were a bit scared to touch any surface, never mind sleep on the hideously stained and lumpy mattresses. The kitchen was clean-ish, but nothing worked properly so we ate out the whole time we were there. On opening the wardrobe in the only bedroom we discovered a set of bedding that looked like someone had used it to clean up after a serious case of the runs, relatively recently. At that point we decamped to reception and complained bitterly but to no avail. We were told that the block we were in was due for renovation and, well, what did we expect for £9.50 per person for an off-season weekend? They apparently had no other units available because they were really busy. And they were. Turns out we’d booked a weekend that coincided with a national line-dancing do, so the only entertainment all weekend was cheesy heehaw music and lots of codgers dressed as cowboys and, oddly, folk in a variety of feathers, suede and general tribal finery. It was an experience to say the least 🤣
omg
I can't believe places like this actually exist in the UK. You'd think they'd get so little custom that they'd just have to close.
I know crazy
That site is about 100 meters from the beach hence the sand on the windows. About 30 years ago a storm blew half the roofs completely off. We replaced most of the swimming pool roof as it was gone. It's a very bleak place in winter. It needed bull dozing 30 years ago.
Omg
I love this bloke. I love the fact he's not dramatic and just says how it is. No need for a dramatic narrative for views!
wow thanks Tasha
I’m sure these places used to be immaculate when I was a kid. I have no memory of filth and dilapidation at all.
I’d love to see a video of night time noise levels please Tim 😬
Such a tragedy. You can tell this place is built to run on the bare minimum and for people who probably can't afford lavish vacations, they advertise as a solution but when you get there it's almost abandoned and uncared for.
I have many many fond memories of Pontins Southport, I was taken there by my grandparents frequently. I came back with my own children and was saddened by the deterioration, which clearly has continued. In fact my sister refused to stay, and left me on my own with my kids and her daughter!! I last stayed about 10 years ago - it was ok - but just ok.
And as a kid you don't notice it lol
This dump should be closed on health and safety grounds. It is a disgrace. You have been very generous in your review.
I wondered if the concrete boundary fence might date back to former use as a POW camp in WW2 but a quick Google indicated it was built in the 70s. Pretty grim!
I hope not
I went to Camber sands Pontins and it was disgusting! The room wasn't cleaned before we arrived, had makeup all over the bed, alcohol bottles across the side, old food boxes! Revolting and very poor accommodation! There were even slugs in our room, where we couldn't put anything on the floor because it was at risk of being contaminated by slugs!
omg I hate slugs
@@WalkWithMeTim I know, absolutely disgusting!
Good video Tim. I feel so sorry for those people who have to accept substandard accommodation like this.. Disgraceful how ( Pontins ) are just ripping poor families off like this. I hope they go bust!
Keep up the good work.👍
It's crazy to think it's called a holiday park
🤣 and drying their knickers! 👍
The balcony frame is the bit that always shocks me the most in these videos, health hazard clear as day
I know crazy
That bin next to the 601 apartment at 9:52 has been there so long that the sun has bleached the plastic on the side that faces it. The other side looks pretty faded, too. The condition of all the apartments exteriors is pretty abysmal. Not only the flaking paintwork but the rotting window sills and door surrounds. And they expect people to pay to stay in these places? The interiors aren't much better. Calling them, 'basic', is an understatement. Sure, the appliances work, but only just. The selective paintwork was done, presumably, to cut on the cost of paint. One place you're supposed to feel comfortable and at ease in the bedroom, but the state of the walls and the bedding itself leaves a lot to be desired.
This is such a shame. I used to go here years after year with my family as a child and have some really wonderful memories.
It's actually really sad to see Pontins now. I really want them to do well but the only possible way would be to demolish every park and start again. Then again, it does not surprise me that Britannia Hotels are incapable of renovating they're a very selfish company. Give it 10 years and Pontins will likely be in administration or just closed anyway. I think it's for the best
You might be right
I'd give it five.
Britannia are merely land banking these sites, at the first sign of anything too big to fix, it'll be Housing Estate a-gogo.
It looks disgusting Tim. I admire your willingness to check out these squalid places. I'd rather stay at home than waste my money going to Pontins.
Lol
I remember going there around 1980 when I was 7, it was brilliant and absolutely jam packed everywhere you went, it’s a shame how things turn out.
I remember staying there as a kid and my family got 2 apartments and we noticed the keys we were given would open both apartments. So as a result we left all of our valuables locked in the car.
wow
Love this series. I went to Edgehill university near South Port and some of the students used to rent the rooms at Pontins during term time 😂 said it was dire but cheap
Wow
Cant wait for this one Tim , went there about 6 years ago , I fail to see how it could get any worse , but Im sure you are going to show us 🤣🤣 ...👍
We shall see lol
We've been here twice. Last time was 2018. While the disrepair was not good, its obviously worse now than it was then. It was really really busy when we went. The grassy overgrown park with all the tyres was a BMX track when we were there, unused. Things all closed different times due to lack of staff. The fish tank and the dinosaur bit is new but everything else looks pretty much the same. While the water shooting machine is switched on and making noise, doesn't mean it works, our kids lost a few quid in there lol and when it did work, for your £1, you don't get very long. Many machines took your money and didn't then work and was difficult to get a staff member to get money back. Lacked staff and the ones who were there seemed run off their feet! We had good fun but things to do could have been run better and obviously the park, in its entirety, could have been cleaner. Could be such a great holiday venue too, such a waste!.
We went there for four days a couple of the months ago ( Me the missus and our granddaughter ) and the accommodation was like visiting a set from the Walking Dead , on the other hand the buffet meals included in the holiday were quite good ( the breakfast especially ) and the evening entertainment for the kids and the bar in general were satisfactory .
I went there in early seventies - when we arrived I remember my mother cleaning the chalet - not a great start to a "holiday". Yes , there was a sports field - they had a donkey derby, football and sports day. The Pool was as you would expect open everyday. Fish and chip shop was great - had chips in the evening before bed. I think it is a great shame - just needs a bit of money spent on it. The problems are easily resolved but seems owners are happy for it to be rundown into the ground - then sell the land.
yes a lot more money and a clean up
Hiya Tim, the random "monster truck track" actually used to be an actually pretty good bmx track (not that you could tell now). There also used to be a lot more to do like a video game room etc, the lack of investment is just sad.
that does sound good! shame it was just left
I went here. Stayed a night and went to the Premier Inn round the corner. We got 2 rooms and were both worse than that. You were lucky. We had the same problem with checking in, our kitchen stank, there were mysterious brown stains on the bed covers, layers of dust everywhere, broken kitchen appliances, graffiti on the walls, holes in the doors, noise all night. We also couldn't find the room either.
Thanks for the walk around, I live in southport but haven't been in Pontins since the 80s, I feel you did a respectful review and could've been a lot crueler. I didn't even know it was still open, thanks again.
Glad you enjoyed it Geoff , some say to nice lol
Look forward to seeing this always a good vlog from you, hope you and family are well after your jollies
thanks hazel, yes tired
Looks like they patched up the internal paintwork with silk emulsion when it should have been matt. In the bedroom, I wonder if previously it had been bunk beds? Outside, to be charitable, perhaps not bothering painting and repairing woodwork as intending replacing with new doors and upvc double glazing? They definitely need it!
Those outside tires remind me of what you put on a race track for crashing and with health and safety it was deemed too unsafe years ago and got abandoned.
Maybe
I think they need to just demolish the site really. It looks beyond help
@@handsoffmycactus2958 I agree with you there it’s absolutely a disgrace
At my current house we have Silk emulsion/Satin looks shiny in the whole house My dad said if you were to repaint it we have in the Living room with Matt/Normal paint it would be a nightmare to strip of and Take a few days longer than regular paint.
I left the Royal Marines in 2020, and that room reminds me of the transit accom you would get punted into on your first night at a new unit 😬
Great video. Only ever went or Pontins with my family when I was very young. We then went to Butlins, it’s such a shame how a park on that scale is pretty much battered and bruised. Obviously it hasn’t always been that way. Money is understandable an issue over the past few year but it’s like they are investing it in the wrong areas.
I know shame butlins in some parts is bad too
I was there last September for the Clubland Live Weekender, so realistically the standard of the accommodation was secondary, it was literally somewhere to crash for a few hours each night and shower etc but even then it was ropey. For example, given that we were at an event where the music ran until 4am, they still finished breakfast on the dot of 10:30 - leaving it on until midday would have made more sense.
Also the pool I thought was dreadful, it's literally a plain swimming pool with a couple of mini slides bolted to the side. One or 2 proper slides wouldn't go amiss. Again it wasn't an issue for us as it was a pool party with DJ's but you wouldn't be entertained for long with kids normally.
The whole place just feels like a prison camp or something, rotten handrails on the steps up to the balcony/walkway.
It feels like with some decent investment it could be a really good place but you need to flatten the areas like the go karts in the middle and create something amazing with a blank canvas. Knocking the reception block down would probably make sense as well
wow
I'm going again in 3 weeks for the tidy weekender... pray for me 😂😂
Coming from Northern Ireland, the one and only time our family stayed in a place like this was in Hemsby, Norfolk. The chalet was throughly immaculate, with beautiful, well manicured grounds and a lovely little shop for groceries etc. The staff were the epitome of professionalism and it all made for a marvellous holiday. This upload is just FRIGHTENING! 🤢🤢🤢
Ah it's great to see your vids of the holiday camps we go to regularly love how you video the chalets as well
That episode of phoenix nights and the first episode of father ted springs to mind.
Thanks for putting yourself through this so we don't have to! I bet their summer rates are still more expensive than going to Spain.
Lol ..yep
As a US native, I am fascinated with holiday parks as we don't really have it's like here. It looks like something that is a lot of fun but this is just kind of sad. Plus, it's odd to me to see that electricity is extra and you have to make your own bed? Weird. I do kind of wish we had these in the US. The closest thing we have are maybe campgrounds or resort areas.
you should visit them :-)
@@WalkWithMeTim I would love to visit the UK someday!
Well if you can get them shipped over ,they're yours for FREE,GRATIS,there's a few more whenever you're ready 😁😎
I visited this place back in 2017 for a Queen convention with my dad, I had seen all these terrible reviews online and was so nervous about it, the only issue I had with the room was that my dad snores way too loud for me to have been in one of those beds next to him so had to sleep on the sofa, but from what I saw, it didn't seem too bad, shame to see not all of it has been kept that way in the meantime. But the nostalgia that hit me as you went through the main buildings was unreal, I still remember being forced to sit on the floor of that main hall and record the quiz for the convention group.
Thanks for this video, when I first came across your channel I always hoped you'd visit here one day, it's really cool to see it all again all these years later.
you are welcome thanks for watching Oliva ;-) hope you are subscribed
@@WalkWithMeTim Oh I most definitely am, I always find your videos interesting, I would have been mad to not subscribe