Wave Hotel: Butlins waves goodbye to the hi-de-h

The brainchild of Billy Butlin, these resorts were set up 76 years ago with the tag line that the working man should be able to have "one week’s holiday for one week’s pay". On the back of the 1938 Holiday Pay Act, which gave blue-collar workers their first paid breaks, the concept quickly caught on and in its heyday there were 10 resorts across Britain and Ireland (and one in the Bahamas) filled with family huts, knotted handkerchiefs on heads and organised fun. But as holiday companies took the all-inclusive idea to the Costas in the Eighties, with the guarantee of sunshine, Billy’s baby hit the buffers. Today, just three resorts remain – Minehead, Skegness and Bognor Regis.

Swallowed up by Bourne Leisure in 2000, the resorts have been quietly bringing themselves into the 21st century, at a cost of £125million. including the Wave, the newest of three new hotels on the Bognor Regis Resort.



Butlins offer several levels of accommodation, ranging from the basic Silver Apartments in the older buildings to the higher-end Ocean Hotel and the Wave There can be a huge difference between the cheapest rooms – £300 for a family of four for a three-night break, without food – and the most expensive, £1,330 including all meals.

It is the all-inclusive aspect that is so appealing, the idea that you don’t have to think and frantically plan for how to entertain your little darlings. Most costs are known and most of the thinking has been done for you. Much like a cruise, in fact. All-inclusive resorts like this will never replace the sort of holidays that are considered more middle class, involving quaint b&bs, secluded locations, grand country house hotels, idyllic scenery, cultural trails and adventurous activities. But they can sit quite comfortably together, though.

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