Six Butlin's sites once featured chairlifts among their attractions. Some met a genuine transport need, while others were primarily amusement rides. All but one were supplied by the London-based British Chairlifts Ltd, a subsidiary of British Ropeway Engineering Company Ltd. The same company also installed the original systems at Alton Towers in 1963 and Drayton Manor Park, among other locations. The exception was the Barry Island system, supplied by the Swiss company Von Roll. Operating at 600 feet per minute, or just under 7 mph, the system used an electric motor ranging from 25 HP to 65 HP, with the rating determined by the installation’s size and length. A petrol engine provided emergency backup if the power supply failed.
The company’s history dates back to the 1930s, when it was known as Breco Ropeways Engineering Co. Ltd and was based in London. Breco played a major role in demonstrating how its advanced ropeway design methods could serve a range of industries, including ski resorts and, eventually, Butlins. The company later changed its name to Breco Ropeways Ltd and continued to expand, building expertise in its field. In 2001, the Chakravarty family purchased the company. It has continued to grow and adopt new generations of design. Click the box below to learn more about this important company.
Please note that the company did not ask me to link to its website or publish this basic historical information. I have shared it in recognition of its historical connection to the Butlins chairlifts.
All of the Butlins chairlifts have now been removed. A cabin from the Filey system was preserved and is now sitting in a garden in the north of England. Some parts of the old Barry chairlift were purchased by Blackpool Pleasure Beach for use as spares on their own Von Roll system.