Favourite Butlins Building

[BarryIslandBabe]

:) Does anyone else have a favourite Butlins Building?? I confess to being a little biased (obviously) but for me it has to be the PRINCES BUILDING Barry Island. It had everything - Games Room, Ballroom, Bar, Cafeteria, Dining Room, Beaver/913 Rooms, Amusements - it had it all, and I wept when it bit the dust. :cry:

Just for the record, I also holidayed at Filey and Pwhelli Butlins, and I do hold them in high regard, but Barry Island is in my heart!! :D

Luv 'n' stuff, Julie x

[Pushbutton]

I'm not really sure, but I reckon mine would probably be the big long sweet shop at Minehead, (I think it had a "Rothmans" canopy at the front and was next to one of the monorail stations)

[SNILTUB]

My favourite building was the old Gaeity Building which was in the centre of the camp at Pwhelli. It was a great building and contained bars, shops, restaurant, two theatres and ballroom not to mention the 'Mirrorglade' any one remember that? If you made your way to the Gaeity Building at night you could spend your entire evening there doing a variety of things.
Unfortunately there was the fire of 1971 which destroyed the building completely. Ah yes I remember it well!

[Tannoy]

OK Sniltub - I went to Pwhelli in the late 60's but too young to remember the old Gaiety building. I just remember HATING the new Gaiety building when I went in the 70's as it was so cheap and nasty looking with that white sign on the blue cladding and the boring colourless theatre interior. (Compared of course to the Regency/Beachcomber/Princes/Stuart interiors elsewhere and other Gaiety theatres with cloth ceilings, knights on horseback etc).
So what was the Mirrorglade?

[SNILTUB]

Very difficult to describe Tannoy, but I will try:-
The Gaiety Building was on both sides of the main roadway through the middle of the camp and you used to walk through the middle of the building.If you go to the main Butlins memories site and go onto Pwllheli and then Assorted Images there is a picture of the building it is the first picture in the tenth row down, you will see the road going under where it says South Camp Straight On. There is also a Map of Pwllheli in 1971 which shows the position of the building and lists what it contained, ballroom etc. I know you have probably seen these many times but it might help you understand what I am trying to describe if you take a look at them.
If you walked along the road, under the building, from where the photo was taken about halfway through on the right hand side was the Mirrorglade. Basically it was like looking into a shop window, but the sides and the back were made out of mirrors, there was a scene in front of the mirrors made of logs and leaves and rocks (all artificial of course) something like a chunk of a Beachcomber Bar, and of course this was reflected in the mirrors and so it seemed like it went on forever. Sorry if this is not a very good description but it was one of those things which as I said I find difficult to describe.
Does anyone else remember it, and if so can you give a better description?
There did used to be postcards of it and as far as I know it was unique to Pwllheli, I never saw one at any of the other camps I visited.

[Tannoy]

Thanks for that description Sniltub - I'll be looking out for a postcard now you've mentioned it. Sounds like the sort of touch I liked about 'old' Butlins, something just there for decoration or interest, like the knights on horseback, giants in the fair, castle-style entrances, plaster rocks, grottos, plastic foliage etc etc etc.
I remember in the fair at Pwhelli (early 70's) there was a compartment near the Princess Margaret Rose entrance containing mechanically-operated instruments with music playing, something like those animated fairground organs. But it was built into the side of a building rather than a freestanding unit. This was unique to Butlins Pwhelli in my experience. I can remember looking in through the window and watching the instruments operating. There were many instruments but I can only remember there was a vertical drum and a tambourine (which shook) and I also remember that most of them didn't work properly. I can remember only one of the tunes which was called something like 'only a shanty in old shanty town'. Anyone recall this feature?

[Dewgel]

You can't forget the good ol' Everydays supermarkets. Hehe joke.
My favourite would have to be Centre Stage or Skyline. I will post reasons later.

[gabbo]

For me there are two era's Filey as a camper in the 70's and Minehead in the early 90's as an employee. For Filey it has tp be the Vianesse ballroom with the Gietey a claose second.

With Minehead it had to be Busby's nightclub before it became the green baize, purley for all the great nights i had in there.
Then again there is the Beachcombers in both places....i could be here all night.

[stig]

At Skeggy it was a toss up between the Tower Building and the Gaiety Theatre, though I have a soft spot for the Giant golf tee -not strictly a building, but it was one of the first things I spotted as a Butlin's Virgin in 1980.

Stig

[barryislandfan]

:) Does anyone else have a favourite Butlins Building?? I confess to being a little biased (obviously) but for me it has to be the PRINCES BUILDING Barry Island. It had everything - Games Room, Ballroom, Bar, Cafeteria, Dining Room, Beaver/913 Rooms, Amusements - it had it all, and I wept when it bit the dust. :cry:

Just for the record, I also holidayed at Filey and Pwhelli Butlins, and I do hold them in high regard, but Barry Island is in my heart!! :D

Luv 'n' stuff, Julie xHave to agree with you the Prince's at Barry Island ws great. I loved the indoor fair as a child. I remember the little popcorn shop "Poppers" the plastic soldier models, the snooker tables, bowling even a TV area always set to BBC1. A large multi purpose butlins building.

It had a great smell about it too that I still remember to this day. Majestic may have changed the outside but it was still "Butlins" on the inside. I too was gutted to hear it was now all gone, but what great memories.

[barryislandfan]

:) Does anyone else have a favourite Butlins Building?? I confess to being a little biased (obviously) but for me it has to be the PRINCES BUILDING Barry Island. It had everything - Games Room, Ballroom, Bar, Cafeteria, Dining Room, Beaver/913 Rooms, Amusements - it had it all, and I wept when it bit the dust. :cry:

Just for the record, I also holidayed at Filey and Pwhelli Butlins, and I do hold them in high regard, but Barry Island is in my heart!! :D

Luv 'n' stuff, Julie xHave to agree with you the Prince's at Barry Island ws great. I loved the indoor fair as a child. I remember the little popcorn shop "Poppers" the plastic soldier models, the snooker tables, bowling even a TV area always set to BBC1. A large multi purpose butlins building.

It had a great smell about it too that I still remember to this day. Majestic may have changed the outside but it was still "Butlins" on the inside. I too was gutted to hear it was now all gone, but what great memories.

[BarryIslandBabe]

:D You are so right about the smell of the old place - it lives with me still.... You coulda blindfolded me anytime, and I would have known where I was. :D

Regards,

Julie (aka Barry Island Babe) xx

[stevo]

For me it has to be the Beachcomber at Filey. I used to go and watch the Cyclorama when I was a barrow boy and this stnds out in my mind more than any other place.

[Butlinsbadge]

Gaiety at Skegness with the two big Knights either side of the stage Fantastic.

[Rainbow]

one of my fav buildings when i worked at skeggy, was the gaiety theatre, i didnt get to work in it very often, but when i did it had a good atmostphere. had some good end of season ents.parties there. i also liked the junior showplace, not because it was an attractive building, but for the atmostohere inside when it was full of excited children.

[BarryIslandBabe]

I hope no-one minds me bringing this old thread of mine back to the top of the list - its purely for the benefit of our new members who may have missed it!!

Where was YOUR favourite Butlins Building? Filey, Bonor, Minehead, Skeggy, or elsewhere - let us know!!

Mnay thanks,

Julie (Barry isdland Babe) xx :D

[fatbeermonster]

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
well in the years i was at minehead i had lots of fav buildings but the two most in my memory are the sunsplash where i started as a lifeguard when we used to have a lockin on a thursday night with the dancers from the midnight caberet and a young unknown comic called Shane Ritchie.
also the ledgendary lifeguard parties with vinnys punch and scrumpy cider.
also malones not the best venue in the world but me johnny diesel craig and a show we made up one afternoon in the welly called Malones house party.
never did transfer to the crazy horse when they closed malones .

[Anonymous]

it had /has to be the STUART BALLROOM in Ayr as well as the Beachcomber,the ballroom for the Friday night "ta ta the noo" the Beachcomber,just because it was the Beachcomber!
a sad camper :( AYR 1963 until present!!
Marie

[BarryIslandBabe]

Just thought I would bring this (my) thread back to the top (yet again) for the benefit of anyone who may have missed it!!

Hope no-one minds!!! :D


Julie (Barry Island Babe) xx

[billybusdriver]

The massive dinning halls at Filey, the atmosphere was intoxicating.

[skegred]

lts got to be the GAIETY Theatre Skegness for me also,in the 6 seasons l worked there l must have worked the Stage lighting for over 1000 shows(even more when we had peek weeks with 3 shows a night),that was the Hi-De-Hi days when we Redcoats had such a variety of duties to do,l'd be doing my Redcoat duties morning ,afternoon and then Ballroom duties after the shows,long days, long hours but l wouldnt have missed it for the world.

The GAIETY was such a wonderful theatre,it was a 2000seater,with seating on a slope and every one could see the stage,not forgetting the two Knights on horses,and the signs Sir Billy had put up on the auditorium walls:-"The Largest Air Conditioned Theatre ln Europe".
The reason for that was it had about 10 double doors each side the auditorium and when opened it was,but as Rainbow says the atmosphere was great,such wonderful parties,and l remember trying to dance on the revolving stage,and with difficulty after a few drinks.

Use to enjoy chatting and having a laugh with the campers as we showed them to their seats them to their seats,or a sing-song,then backstage to work the show,such Happy Memories. Skegred
Thank you Sir Billy

[wearecity]

I reckon I spent most of my time in the York Building at Bognor, either in the arcade playing the fruit machines or the arcade machines, in the fair which I still class as part of the building as half of it was inside. Or playing snooker or table tennis.

Other fond building memories I have are The Princess Building, love the arcade upstairs in their as well and also the chequered floor part that I mention in another thread. Also The Regency Building I will never forget the way you could see the people in the indoor pool through the glass.

[sozy]

My favourite at Pwllheli apart from all the arcades,the gaiety arcade, the one on the left on the way over the bridge, the one in the green camp amusement building,and davey jones locker the arcade in red camp next to the regency ballroom, would have to be the french bar.but i loved them all really its hard to choose.when you write your favourite you start to think about all the other buildings i even loved the supermarkets at Pwllheli and thats saying a lot as i hate going to the supermarkets at home :lol:

[Karen]

I'm with Marie,it has to be the Stuart Ballroom in Ayr.Roaming around there in the early 80's looking for talent was great :wink:

[billygirl]

Had to think long and hard about this one. Think I'm gonna go for the Regency at Barry simply for the happy memories I've got of dancing in a shocking pink dress in Busby's nightclub!
Will think on other fave places.

[Captain Peacock]

The old theatre Minehead for me. Saw a few shows there in the early 90's before they closed it. had a few backstage parties with the Reds too!!!

But also one night I got called while on duty as Guest Services Manager at about 1.30am as the stage doors had been left slightly open... had too climb up into the back stage area, close and secure the doors in the dark (as I didn't have aclue where any of the lights were) make my way across the stage, tripping on all the rigging etc... and up through the seating all in the dark and out through the Ents office............ strange how your eye's play tricks when your somewhere in the pitch black.

When I shut the back door to the ents office and started down the stairs it dawned on me that the door at the bottom might be locked and I didn't have a key... could've been a long night stuck in a dark stairwell!!

Fortunately not it had one of those push bar openers on it!! Phew!

Great memories even though I was scared sh*tless!

fatbeermonster... no doubt you've been in there at night too??

[gaietybarryboy]

lts got to be the GAIETY Theatre Skegness for me also,in the 6 seasons l worked there l must have worked the Stage lighting for over 1000 shows(even more when we had peek weeks with 3 shows a night),Skegred, was your lighting board FOH or backstage?

[skegred]

Hi GBB,the lighting board was backstage in the Gaiety at Skegness,(stage left from the audience point of view),about 10ft high off the stage with my back to the stage,apart from the house lights and house tabs l didnt get lighting cues,l had to open and close the tabs as well most of the time,if l didnt have an immediate lighting cue(the winch for the tabs was also on the lighting board,hand operated).

l used to write my own lighting plots,that wonderful Entertainments Manager Mr "M"(Frank Mansell)used to leave me to light the Redcoat shows, talent shows etc,and the Revues l made the plots up at rehearsals with the producer and l worked from those,and did my own DBO's and colour changes on change of music or word cue from stage, also appearing in one or two Redcoat shows when l had no cues.

Of course when we had Sunday night Variety with top stars, the artists usualy had their own lighting plots.

When we had West End musicals at the theatre, Oklahoma,Paint Your Wagon, Guys and Dolls,Desert Song etc,lots of extra lighting would come and then l had to work with lighting cues from the Stage managers corner
very profesional,couldnt do it any other way.

l dont know what year the lighting board was moved out front,l did call on a day visit in the 80s and thought what a good idea it was,as one could see what your lighting effects were like,much better idea,sorry to go on DBB but l get carried away with theatre and Butlins,
skegred Andy

[gaietybarryboy]

Thanks skegred! The reason I asked is that I'm sure there was a FOH box about a 1/3 of the way up in Barry Gaiety so wondered if that was lighting or sound board. Probably lighting by the sound of it.

Out of interest, what type of board did you use, and which type of light was more widely used, fresnels or profile sports? I take it you didn't have parcans in those days? Did you have any follow spots / did you have to operate them yourself?

[bobrik25]

i must admit the gaiety theatre at skeggy was a very impressive building and must have been just about everybody's favourite.
but as a kid i think mine was the one that housed the scalextric tracks(the junior showplace i think)

[The Golden Grill]

Bognor Regis's Regency Building was pure class. Whoever designed that ceiling deserved a very big cheque.

[bobrik25]

i also used to like the main reception building at skeggy,before they ruined it by putting the soft play area in it,it looked very plush ,and at the other end the merry england bar,(i think that is what it was called) ,jaks is there now

[skegred]

GBB,
The lighting board l operated was a Strand Grand Master,there is as l've previously mentioned to Timmo a photo on "Skeggie Pics back in time"thread of the board.
When a new lighting board(Desk and Dimmer) was moved "half way up" the auditorium,(2000seater)at Skegness it was open, not boxed in, taking up 2 rows of 6 seats,over one of the Entrance /Exit stairways,perfect to see the stage.

The Butlin/Gaiety Theatre had a large projection room.with 2 strand sunspot spotlights/Limes,fan operated to keep the jellys cool.
They were "LIMES" they used to have two pencil type copper covered carbons touching in them to make a beautiful, bright, white light,l think they were later converted to bulbs,lamps.(have you seen a carbon spotlight?)
l have operated them with carbons,l'm sure Rainbow said she operated one as part of her duties,(could be wrong).
also in this projector room were 2 Projectors,one working to show the weekly camp films, l think main films were shown to the Navy in the war when Butlins was HMS Royal Arthur

From what l can remember the spot lamps were ,pattern 123,223,23,264 some with barn doors.
The last lighting board l operated before l retired was a Strand Gemini,but l think thats out of date now isnt it,hoping thats answered one or two of your questions,great to know you're interested in Lighting,l'm afraid l'd be out of my depth now in this modern lighting in theatre,but please to know you have that all in front of you,Regards GBB,
Skegred Andy

[nattyjane]

I haven't really got a favourite Butlin Building ~ but an early memory I have is the Nursery building at Skegness. From probably my very first Butlin holiday at age 4. I have always remembered Humpty Dupmty sitting on the wall outside since I was a child and it wasn't until I went back to Skegness in 2001 with my son that I reallised where the memory came from. Even though I holidayed at Skeggy at least 3 or 4 more times as a child I was too old for the nursery.

[gaietybarryboy]

Thanks skegred, very interesting. The last board I operated was a Strand 200 ( http://www.stranduk.co.uk/education/product_list.php?category_id=2#p64313 ), not too technical, at Bridgend Recreation Centre for an Eisteddod in March. My work experience in May will be in the Swansea Grand Theatre so hopefully that will help too.

[billybusdriver]

What was the comical looking building at Filey, it was like a teepee, all conical shaped, it always made me smile.

[Rainbow]

l'm sure Rainbow said she operated one as part of her duties,(could be wrong).


i operated a follow spot once, it was during a weekend break, think it was a 70's weekend. it was up in broadways in a bit attatched to dj box. was exstremly hot and i found it very stress full. thank god the person operating the other follow spot was a professional, they talked me through it on the head set. i wouldnt have liked to do it on a regular basis.

[skegred]

GBB,l've been backstage in about 40 theatres, mainly touring,(four of them on lighting)and Butlins /Gaiety, Skegness is as good ,better than a lot l've been in,why oh why they decided to demolish it l do not know.(l do really)

The Grand Theatre Swansea you are doing your work experience in May is one lovely theatre,that was one of our dates we did when l was a touring StageManager .(long ago)
Stan Stennett was the Welsh comedian with the show,l think he has something to do with the Grand Theatre even today.
Just a bit of useless information
skegred Andy

[Jintygirl]

This is a fascinating thread, although I've held out on posting because I'm so unsure as to the answer! Of the buildings I've been in, I can't decide between the York Building and Regency Building at Bognor. Of the buildings I've never been, I have a fascination with both the North/Empire and South/Gaiety/Princes Theatres at Filey. And I'd love to have visited the Parliament Bar, though I can't work out where at Filey it was - or how long it lasted - I don't believe it was still there when Filey was closed, was it?

[BarryIslandBabe]

Just thought I would bring my thread back to the top, for anyone who has just joined the site!!

many thanks,

Julie (Barry Island Babe) xxx

[StayGold]

oh its just SO sad , I could CRY !!!

I remember one night , escaping , aged 12 ! from our chalet , dressed in night clothes with our tracksuits or jeans over the top ! back up to the fast food bar , to buy chips !! then sneaking them back downstairs without being seen !! . Happy days !! never forgotten.

[StayGold]

That was Barry Island !! I forgot to mention ! BARRY ISLAND !! - wonderful camp, never forgotten !!.XX

[SweetDenzy]

OK so no one has mentioned buildings at Clacton so I will.
1. The indoor pool building, i can still smell the clorine (sorry not sure of spelling.
2 Gaiety Theatre building foyer, i can stil smell the hot dogs and the hot doughnuts.
3. THe long sweetshop near the crazy horse saloon. Can still smell the crazy horse saloon.
So there you are, I offer no apologies but can anyone remember those buildings.

[Rach]

<3333 Centre Stage.

[Redcoat Jase]

The Skyline has to be my favourite 'building', if you can call it a building, at Butlins!

[SweetDenzy]

sorry to be an old square but I have not been to butlins since they had a skyline. They had plaza last time I went to Bognor in 1995

[Redcoat Jase]

:o

[Redcoat Jase]

There is a Building i hate at Skegness - And that's the Ingoldmells Hotel Building! - I think they used to have the indoor play area in there but i don't know what it is now! - I think it needs to be demolished because it looks sooo old fashioned and tacky! :?

[Rainbow]

i dont think there is anything wrong with the building at skeggy, it has the amusments in it, the funfair office. billy's indoor play areas. its also where the new spa is and jaks. i dont really think its tacky looking, slightly old maybe, but there is no harm in that.

[kkbtb]

i have to say that my favourite building would be the junior showplace at skegness.

the junior showplace and the wizzy kids made my holiday when i was little, i was so gutted when i returned and they weren't there anymore.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Rainbow]

the j.s.p was my favourite place to work in, good job really as i was in there most nights.

[Redcoat Jase]

I thought that the spa was in that Glass building behind the Hotel thing! :? - Rainbow if you're a Redcoat? Do you do the same thing all the time? Like if you work in reds you stay there all the time and dont get to work in Centre Stage?

[Rainbow]

dont know about know, but when i was a read we did many different things, could have been in the enchanted castle one night then broadways the next.

the spa building is at the back but they are connected. there was a door, fire exit i think that lead in to the fair building.

[Redcoat Jase]

Cool! :D - No i think that the Hotel Building is very outdated considering all the other buildings look quite good inside!

[BarryIslandBabe]

Maybe I should start another thread 'Worst Building'.... or maybe not!!!


BIB xxxx

[SweetDenzy]

OK so I have not been to Butlins for a few years, don't think I want to now, from what I have read it not really butlins anymore. :lol:

[Redcoat Jase]

Of Course it's Butlins! Just a little bit 'toned down' now!

[Karen & Julie]

We have to agree with Marie and karen definitely the Stuart Ballroom and The Beachcomber at Ayr. The feeling you got when you walked across those bridges to the late night disco was fantastic, the atmosphere was incredible and so was the talent. Can't believe they knocked the whole building down, don't think we could bear to go back and see the gaping hole it must have left.