View Full Version : Barry Island March 2004
barryislandfan
08-03-04, 06:29 PM
Well as I said in another post i visited Barry Island on Saturday (March 6th). I took a whole film of photos of whats left of the old camp and thought i'd put a few up on here. Only outdoor shots as I wanted to stay within the law and not tresspass!!! True Butlins fans will note the buildings dont look like traditional Butlins buildings as Majestic had them modernised in the late 80's.
Theres very little land left there now with most of the old camp including the Princess Building and all chalet lines being demolished and replaced with "executive" housing. Some of it has been landscaped for recreational use. There sadly isnt enough land left for it to ever be a holiday camp again theres just no room for accomodation!!
Spoke to some local residents who said they have been told the camp will be demolished before tha main summer season this year although the land is likely to remain closed off to the public for the time being. 2 local business people told me its probably going to be landscaped with a picnic area a road to part of the new estate and possibly a coach park!! A very nice lady who let me use her garden to take some photos said she cant wait for it to come down and too be honest I could see her point it cant be plesant living next to that!
Anyway heres a few pics, will post some more!!
great pics but not in a good way if you get me lol its sad but what can you do?? :cry:
Blinking Owl
08-03-04, 08:16 PM
Can anyone tell me why i can only see the name of the photo...and not the photos?
Thank you.
Blinking Owl
08-03-04, 08:17 PM
Can anyone tell me why i can only see the name of the photo...and not the photos?
Thank you.
barryislandfan
08-03-04, 08:19 PM
Can anyone tell me why i can only see the name of the photo...and not the photos?
Thank you.Ummm im not sure think Kerry could see them. Let me know if others cant see them.
BarryIslandBabe
08-03-04, 08:23 PM
Oh my god........ :cry:
Its terrible - I just feel so sad - those pictures are heartbreaking. :cry:
Maybe it would be best to let the old place go, I don't know. Part of me though still has that dream......
Regards,
(a distraught) Barry Island Babe xx :cry:
barryislandfan
08-03-04, 09:04 PM
Oh my god........ :cry:
Its terrible - I just feel so sad - those pictures are heartbreaking. :cry:
Maybe it would be best to let the old place go, I don't know. Part of me though still has that dream......
Regards,
(a distraught) Barry Island Babe xx :cry:I know what you mean. When I was there Saturday I just had this overwhelming feeling that it should really be knocked down as it's just so sad to see it like that. However theres still a part of me that really wants to see it buzzing again!!
some sad pics.
Only ever visited barry Island once. It was in 1980. I recall a huge building that looked out over the main entrance and just outside was a fairground. Seem to remember the chairlift taking us to the beach entrance. I was 11 years old so memory going a bit faded now of barry.
Great pics are of course in the book. Our true intent is all for your delight. the pics in the book make you smile. I have put 2 of skeggy on an earlier post but the ones of Barry are of the same style. Its a must have book
Cheers
Sharky
Great photos, thanks for posting them. Such a shame to hear that the demolition could come very soon.
I think it would be a great idea if the council had an auction of the contents before they pulled it all down. I know there's not much left inside but there are still some bits and pieces lying around - old signs, kiddies rides, furniture, decorations etc. It might just be a load of old junk but I'm sure a lot of people would like to have something as a little souvenir of the camp. I'd certainly be interested.
Glen
Pushbutton
09-03-04, 08:03 AM
The remaining buildings appear to be in quite good condition from those photos, except for the green slime which I'm sure could be removed!
Pushbutton
09-03-04, 08:07 AM
Just an idea.
Would'nt it be fantastic if just ONE OR TWO of the buildings at Barry could be saved. Maybe Bourne could even buy it, out of respect for Butlins history. Alternatively any other business could buy it.
What if that one building was then restored to it's full former glory, and re-opened for it's original use, as a stand-alone tourist attraction / Butlins working museum.
Say just the gaeity building, and perhaps the outdoor pool. I'm sure with decent marketing, including through Butlins and this site, it could become a very viable attraction in its own right.
What does everyone think?
The pics may just be taking a long time to load, if you can not see them.
Cheers
Tom
barryislandfan
09-03-04, 10:55 AM
The remaining buildings appear to be in quite good condition from those photos, except for the green slime which I'm sure could be removed!Trust me they arent!! It's not till you look up close you realise what a poor state they are in. Have you seen the pictures of inside the camp? I'd love to be able to say the buildings are in a good enough state to save but they arent im affraid.
barryislandfan
09-03-04, 10:57 AM
Great photos, thanks for posting them. Such a shame to hear that the demolition could come very soon.
I think it would be a great idea if the council had an auction of the contents before they pulled it all down. I know there's not much left inside but there are still some bits and pieces lying around - old signs, kiddies rides, furniture, decorations etc. It might just be a load of old junk but I'm sure a lot of people would like to have something as a little souvenir of the camp. I'd certainly be interested.
GlenI would be very iterested 2! They had a reclaimation sale when the camp first closed so whats left is mainly just chairs and other bits of junk but I would love some old signs and some of the rides from the indoor fair. Maybe an email to the council would be a good idea Glen!
barryislandfan
09-03-04, 11:04 AM
Just an idea.
Would'nt it be fantastic if just ONE OR TWO of the buildings at Barry could be saved. Maybe Bourne could even buy it, out of respect for Butlins history. Alternatively any other business could buy it.
What if that one building was then restored to it's full former glory, and re-opened for it's original use, as a stand-alone tourist attraction / Butlins working museum.
Say just the gaeity building, and perhaps the outdoor pool. I'm sure with decent marketing, including through Butlins and this site, it could become a very viable attraction in its own right.
What does everyone think?I think it would be fantastic as a Barry Island fan but it wouldnt work.
The council did try and open the swimming pool as a stand alone attraction in 1999 and it failed. Barry Island is a day trip resort now, theres litle or no long stay accomodation anywhere around, and the people that do come tend to just wnat the arcades, pleasure park and the beach. Also even on a hot summer weekday there are very few visitors to Barry Island its mainly a weekend and Bank Holiday place now. While this is ok for the smaller arcades and the pleasure park someone like Bourne Leisure isnt going to invest money in something that just wont get the visitors.
As much as we all love Butlins how often would any of us realistically visit a Butlins museum?? Not enough for it to be a worth while financial venture im affraid.
Pushbutton you seem to be a big Barry Island fan like me but I think we both have to accept it's going to be demolished and very soon :cry: , its best just to look back and enjoy our memories!
How it looked in 1975
Have Fun !
J-UK
BarryIslandBabe
09-03-04, 06:50 PM
I can understand your negitivity, Barry Island Fan - but I still think something could be done. As I have mentioned before it would surely only take a bit of initiative, and, not suprisingly finance, and maybe somehing could still be salvaged here. With the right marketing I reckon the Daytippers would return. :D
Much luv,
Barry Island Babe x x :D
barryislandfan
09-03-04, 09:10 PM
I can understand your negitivity, Barry Island Fan - but I still think something could be done. As I have mentioned before it would surely only take a bit of initiative, and, not suprisingly finance, and maybe somehing could still be salvaged here. With the right marketing I reckon the Daytippers would return. :D
Much luv,
Barry Island Babe x x :DI love your positive attitude but to be honest it would never be Butlins, never be a holiday camp again just bricks and mortar. Anyone who took it in would change it dramatically. Trust me as I live fairly near it would need very good marketing! Saying that your earlier ideas for Burger King etc should surley be considered :) maybe we could all get bank loans :D
BarryIslandBabe
09-03-04, 10:49 PM
To be perfectly honest, I never thought for a minute that Barry Island would be a holiday camp again - that really isn't what I've been getting at. I purely think that the buildings could be put to some use for local people and day trippers - a leisure centre, fast food outlet, a nightclub, a bar, a restaurant etc... Most of the facilities are aleady there (the indoor pool in the Regency Building for instance - not that long since it was modernised - look at the indoor pictures - wouldn't take much to get going), the rest of the buildng would be perfect as a Gym/Leisure centre, something that would be of benefit to the whole area (Jobs/Tourism etc).
Marketed and advertised correctly, that could really be a possibilty - the Regency would be ideal. The Gaiety could be turned into an entertainments centre with an amusement arcade and shops (like before)as well as the features I mentioned earlier.
The posibilities are endless. Just need that lottery win.... :wink:
Much luv,
Barry Island Babe xx :D
that pic joker posted looks like somewhere aboard , clear blue water :D
barryislandfan
11-03-04, 08:17 PM
To be perfectly honest, I never thought for a minute that Barry Island would be a holiday camp again - that really isn't what I've been getting at. I purely think that the buildings could be put to some use for local people and day trippers - a leisure centre, fast food outlet, a nightclub, a bar, a restaurant etc... Most of the facilities are aleady there (the indoor pool in the Regency Building for instance - not that long since it was modernised - look at the indoor pictures - wouldn't take much to get going), the rest of the buildng would be perfect as a Gym/Leisure centre, something that would be of benefit to the whole area (Jobs/Tourism etc).
Marketed and advertised correctly, that could really be a possibilty - the Regency would be ideal. The Gaiety could be turned into an entertainments centre with an amusement arcade and shops (like before)as well as the features I mentioned earlier.
The posibilities are endless. Just need that lottery win.... :wink:
Much luv,
Barry Island Babe xx :DI totally agree with you on the Regency building, but the last time it opened as a stand alone leisure centre (renamed The Blue Lagoon) in 1999 it failed, I think that had something to do with the fact the local council were behind it though and didnt put their hearts into it. My plan would be to re-open the indoor and outdoor pool, open the old nightclub up as a bar and turn the old Bingo Lounge at the back of the building into a restaurant with the old children's theatre upstairs becoming a gym.
As for the Gaiety, I'm affraid as sentimental as I am for the old place it really is just too large to be used for anything. As I have said before I've asked local traders and residents, and Barry Island just doesnt get the visitor turn over for any one with business sense to spend money on it and do it up. I would demolish it im affraid and use the land for a picnic area, maybe crazy golf and a small carpark for people using the leisure centre.
The Gaiety may be gone but hey we get to keep one old Butlins building and I think with the costs of running just one smaller building it would make more business sense and may just work!!
One last thing there arent enough locals to make any project there work all year round, as Barry is fairly close to Cardiff and at only ?2.00 return to Cardiff by train, the capital gets most of the locals "disposable income".
Anyway Barry Island Babe if I win the lottery i'll get my business plan together and rest assured you (as a fan of the place, like me) will be on my team :) !
BarryIslandBabe
12-03-04, 06:49 PM
Nice one!! It would be a pleasure :D
B I B xx :D
Anonymous
25-04-04, 11:17 AM
My dad worked at Barry Island in 1969 (I'm not sure for how long.) He passed away 4 years ago but when I was looking through this site I found a photo of him as a redcoat (he is front left on the 1969 staff photo) I know this is a long shot but I would love to know anyone who worked with him or remembers him in any way. His name was DEREK TEW and he was quite a charcter who loved his time at Butlins. email me at lindseytew@aol.com
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