Haven; A cheap version of Butlins?

[muffin_girl]

I dont mean cheap pricewise mind, just I got a "free" holiday 'cos my mums friend owned a caravan there (sandy bay) and throughout my 2 night stay there I couldnt help but think how much more Butlins not only had to offer but how the quality of it all was better as well, I know Haven started off as a kindof smaller caravan orientated Butlins but it seems to have gone downhill since I vistited there last with my grandparents and cousin, the indoor swimming pool was dirtier than the outside one (more dead bugs dirt and some things I dont even wanna know...) and allthough the outdoor pools were much better than Butlins (Minehead at least) (heated, 3 of them 2 of which you could actually swim in and a massive slide) and they did have a very nice mini golf course (at extra cost of course), everything inside the complex was all crowded together, you had a kids climbing area right next to the bar wich was surrounded by the arcade which allthough it was massive (to make sure they take ALL your money)
most of the arcade was wearing out, both the dance mats which i played on seemed highly unresponsive and the back panel of one kept clanking and it just seemed that even with all the money that was being made from all these machienes, they still couldnt be bother to replace broken ones.
A worse player than me (I mostly get AAA's and never get boos and was doing songs I knew i played well) would have allmost definatly failed, as they did, only experianced ppl were actually finishing the game.

and those are just basic cases of simple cleaning and replacing things. wouldnt even cost them that much. It just seems that all though butlins does seem to be taking more money of you and giving you less and less at least they have more to start with.

I know I'm just ranting really but what happened to just giving people a good holiday so they come back next year? I heard of so many people getting rid of their caravans and not coming back because of such high runing costs. soon i fear (and hope) the holiday camps will feel the effect of only having a few rich people complaing when things arnt perfect staying rather than hundreds of people who just want to have a nice holiday. (that is reasonably clean and not all broken.)

[KAF2]

Never mind Haven - *Butlins* is a cheap version of Butlins!

The Haven-Butlins dividing line is definitely becoming more and more blurred.

Yuck!

KAF

[Cel]

He's kinda right.

[muffin_girl]

yeah, sad isnt it... I just wish they cared about the customers more and money a bit less... shame that'd never happen though.

[david lythgoe]

I am afraid that the "Butlins Holiday" of the 50's & 60's have gone forever.

I can tell you that Primrose Valley (Haven-Filey) caters for 15,000 heads in the chalets and caravans but only 4,000 in its venues. The venues very rarely get drastically overcrowded so it shows that 60% of people staying at PV do not use the On-site facilities.

It shows that not even half the people who holiday today want to stay in one place, so it is not cost effective to build camps that can hold and cater for the same number.

[KAF2]

Maybe if the Haven on-site facilities were better and the venue entertainment more than just a few el-cheapo character shows, people wouldn't be FORCED to look elsewhere than the camp for things to do!

KAF

[Gorf]

Controversial opinion time. I actually like the fact that Haven and Butlin's are becoming closer all the time.
I mean OK, Butlin's is getting less as good as it was, but symmetrically, Haven is getting better. :D
And as I live near a Haven camp (Seton Sands), and can easily get to Haggerston Castle, it's party time for me! :dance:

[clivehere]

in the showbar at Haven sites, it is always overcrowded in there so you either have to get there really early in the evening and sit through the bingo, *BORING* or turn up when you want and stand up for the night!! its really bad and something needs to change about that. I havent been to butlins for yonks. but last time i went there (bognor) it was really rough apparently. the chalet was in a mess, (dust, dirt, bugs hadnt been touched for ages!!) the beds made noises and the place was a dump!! (that was in 1993 mind) but it was a right old dump. I have not yet been to a Haven site that has been as bad as that, but some of them are extremly overcrouded. When I went to Seaview (when Haven was owned by Mecca NOT Bourne) there was tons of spaces between the caravans. In recent years when I have been there, they have thrown in double the amount of caravans that were there when i used to go there. its bad and it needs to be sorted.

[Filey83-RIP]

Hi Clivehere - just to keep the record straight when you say -"When I went to Seaview (when Haven was owned by Mecca NOT Bourne) there was tons of spaces between the caravans"

- for info Haven was never owned by Mecca - Haven (Rank) bought Mecca in 1989

[Smileysal]

- for info Haven was never owned by Mecca - Haven (Rank) bought Mecca in 1989

Rank bought the Mecca Leisure Group in 1990, then they bought Parkdean Holidays in 1998.

Bourne Leisure bought Haven, Warners and Butlin's on 20th October 2000.

:) Sal

[the senor]

Rank bought the Mecca Leisure Group in 1990, then they bought Parkdean Holidays in 1998.

Bourne Leisure bought Haven, Warners and Butlin's on 20th October 2000.

:) Sal

Then they filled all the places with private owners and filled all the club rooms with arcade machines.

[keno051]

in the showbar at Haven sites, it is always overcrowded in there so you either have to get there really early in the evening and sit through the bingo, *BORING* or turn up when you want and stand up for the night!! its really bad and something needs to change about that. I havent been to butlins for yonks. but last time i went there (bognor) it was really rough apparently. the chalet was in a mess, (dust, dirt, bugs hadnt been touched for ages!!) the beds made noises and the place was a dump!! (that was in 1993 mind) but it was a right old dump. I have not yet been to a Haven site that has been as bad as that, but some of them are extremly overcrouded. When I went to Seaview (when Haven was owned by Mecca NOT Bourne) there was tons of spaces between the caravans. In recent years when I have been there, they have thrown in double the amount of caravans that were there when i used to go there. its bad and it needs to be sorted.

If possible, i think you need to take a trip back to Bognor and i am sure you will be pleasantly surprised at what the camp has to offer and the surroundings.

[Smileysal]

Then they filled all the places with private owners and filled all the club rooms with arcade machines.

lol, and at Warner's (Gunton Hall) had the Mecca Bingo Breaks, when every corridor had gaming machines that had been brought in just for those weeks lol. And the guests never seemed to go to bed. :(

[CurlyTherms]

i preferred caister when it belonged to ladbrokes and warners at least then there was at least one venue that kids were not allowed in, the Bull and Bush down by the beach gate next to the indoor swimming pool. But now the kids are allowed in everywhere. I went there last in 2002 and there were kids running about everywhere. Thats the reason we go to an adults only camp.

[Pwllheli lover]

Just got back from two weeks at wild duck haven in Norfolk and i have to say it was the best holiday of my adult life.

The funstars were fantastic and the entertainment and kids clubs were great. Ive never been all that impressed with haven before but this time we barely left the site.

The children were given certificates for winning games etc we came home with 5 in total (I even got one!) and also got given rory and bradley wristbands for going up on stage, do they have the wristbands at other sites?

Also got the kids alive certificate and pin badge, did notice that the activities that the children have to do to get this award are all ones that have to be paid for but the very nice life guards let us collect stamps just for normal swimming so we got it for free! Yay!!

[Best of British Wrestling]

Just got back from two weeks at wild duck haven in Norfolk and i have to say it was the best holiday of my adult life.

The funstars were fantastic and the entertainment and kids clubs were great. Ive never been all that impressed with haven before but this time we barely left the site.

The children were given certificates for winning games etc we came home with 5 in total (I even got one!) and also got given rory and bradley wristbands for going up on stage, do they have the wristbands at other sites?

Also got the kids alive certificate and pin badge, did notice that the activities that the children have to do to get this award are all ones that have to be paid for but the very nice life guards let us collect stamps just for normal swimming so we got it for free! Yay!!

hi,

just out of interest did you see the wrestling while you were there?

[clivehere]

ok then Filey83-RIP sorry i meant rank.. but the point is that before Bourne took over it never used to be as bad as it is now. that is why we used to go there every year. since Bourne took over, we go there aobut every 3 years. Were not going this year, we didnt go last year, (Park Resorts last year it was BRILL) but we did go to Seaview in 2008. October half term. And its got worse since the time befor when we went there in 2005 or 2006 (cant remember which year specifically) but you know what I mean.