Ayr | Barry Island | Bognor Regis | Clacton | Filey | Minehead | Mosney | Pwllheli | Skegness
Any additional information or corrections will be most welcome
| Name of Building or Attraction | Original Features | Changes between 1947 and 1986 | Changes during the "Wonderwest World" rebuild in 1988/89 | Changes during the Haven rebuild in 1998/99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Regency
(built 1940s) |
Dining Room, Quiet Lounge, Bar & Games Room. | Dining room & Quiet Lounge removed. Old Time Ballroom, Continental Bar, Pig & Whistle Bar, Coffee Bar, Grill restaurant & Billiards all added | Renamed the 'Parade Building' with Shopping Centre, Chemist, 'Chuckles' Fun Pub & 'Gatsbys' Bar | Still there. Now used as Reception and the 'Bonga Wonga Beach Club. |
|
Shopping Centre
(built 1940s) |
Main Reception, camp offices, assorted shops & Quiet Lounge. | Reception moved to new Gaiety Building in 1960s. Large shopping centre adde with hairdressing salon, Photo shop, amusements and Radio Butlin. | Building demolished and replaced by new 'Piazza' food court. | 'Piazza' still there, see below. |
|
Dining Halls
(built 1940s) |
Dining Rooms, Games room, Snack Bar and Tea Lounge. | New 'Grosvenor' restaurant added along with TV lounges, Table Tennis rooms, launderette, Junior clubhouse & sports centre | Renamed the 'Bruce Building' with new 'Showboat' cabaret bar. 'Boulevard' section also added with 'Captains Table' restaurant, Craft Shop & 'Jokers Wild' | Still there. Now houses the 'Turnberry Gardens Restaurant' and 'Dixie's Cabaret Lounge' |
|
Windsor
(built 1940s) |
Windsor Ballroom & Theatre with Lounge and Coffee Bar | Demolished 1963/64 to make room for new Stuart Building | n/a | n/a |
|
Outdoor Pool
(built 1940s) |
Traditional Butlins outdoor pool with fountains either end | No major changes | No major changes but pool eventually closed & demolished in the 1990s. | Area now grassed over |
|
Heads of Ayr Hotel
(built 1940s) |
Luxury hotel situated at the front of the camp next to the main road | Closed & demolished in the 1970s | n/a | Site now used for touring caravans and tents |
|
Nursery
(built 1940s (?) later replaced by newer building 1960s?) |
Nursery, baby sitting, nappy washing, child patrol services also Quiet Lounge & Whist Room | Children's Theatre added | No major changes | Still there and now used for the 'Paws & Tiger' kids club |
|
Boating Lake
(built 1940s) |
Boating Lake | No major changes | No major changes | Still there but out of use |
|
West Camp Chalets
(built 1940s) |
Full board chalets | Later renamed 'White Camp'. Chalets rebuilt/added during the 1960s/70s | Chalets refurbished | All demolished and area now used for caravans |
|
East Camp Chalets
(built 1940s) |
Full board chalets | Later renamed 'Blue Camp'. Large-scale chalet replacement during the 1960s/70s | Some chalets demolished and replaced with new apartments. Rest refurbished | Newer 1980s apartments still there, rest of camp demolished |
|
Main Line Railway Station
(originally opened 1906, closed to passengers 1930. Reopened 1947 ) |
British Rail station with regular direct trains from Ayr and Kilmarnock | Closed end of 1968 season | n/a | n/a |
|
Indoor Pool
(built 195?) |
Traditional Butlin indoor pool with underwater viewing windows | Betting Shop added | No major changes but pool later demolished in the 1990s. | Area now occupied by new amusement arcade building |
|
Miniature Railway
(built 1956) |
Passenger carrying train running from the camp chapel to the beach gate | Track extended 1978 to new station next to amusement park building | Closed & removed | Area now occupied by caravans |
|
Chairlift
(built 1959) |
Butlins first chairlift ran for 500 yards from the centre of the camp up the hill towards the hotel. | No major changes except for new cabins in the 1960s | No major changes | Closed & removed |
|
Gaiety/Reception
(built 196?) |
Main Reception, Gaiety Theatre, Disco, Shops, Snooker Room, Darts, supermarket, post office, games rooms, camp offices | Renamed 'Burns Building'. Gaiety Theatre moves to old Bingo Theatre and replaced by 'Empire Theatre' | Empire Theatre becomes 'Roxy' Cinema | Building demolished |
|
Stuart
(built 1964) |
Beachcomber Bar, Quiet Lounge, Coffee Bars, Stuart Ballroom, Bar, Cafe & Amusement arcades | Built new in 1964 | Renamed 'Galaxy Building'. Ballroom becomes 'Harlequins' & Beachcomber closes to become 'Sweeney Todd's'. New 'Moonrakers' bar added | Building demolished. Site now used for caravans |
|
Steam Locos
(arrived 1964) |
Two full-size steam locos on static display next to the main road at front of camp. 'Duchess of Sutherland' (built 1938) & 'Martello' (built 1875) | Both left winter 1970/71 | n/a | n/a |
|
Bingo Theatre
(built 19??) |
Large Bingo Theatre with Whist Room, Newsagents & Shoe Shop | Renamed 'Arran Building'. Bingo removed and replaced by new Gaiety Theatre. Also contained 'Arran' restaurant, Tartan Gift Shop, newsagents, Hair Salon, Betting Shop & Solarium | No major changes | Building demolished. Site now used for caravans |
|
The Piazza
(built 1989) |
Large fast food court | n/a | New in 1989. Built on site of old Shopping Centre building | Still there. Now houses the 'Atlantic Showbar' and restaurants |
|
Indoor Pool
(built 1989) |
New indoor subtropical water world | n/a | New in 1989 and known as 'Wondersplash'. Built next to the old indoor pool | Still there. |
