Butlins Memories | Home | Forum |
Butlins | Pontins | Warners | Other Camps

UK Holiday Camps of the '60s and '70s Back

National Federation of Permanent Holiday Camps The National Federation of Permanent Holiday Camps was formed in the early 1930s as a trade organisation for the growing number of camps throughout Britain, Ireland and the Channel Isles. Only full board camps, or those which offered a full board option, were admitted. In the 1970s the organisation changed its name to the National Association of Holiday Centres. The number of camps fluctuated as different sites came and went. Some were closed whilst others were transformed into self catering caravan/chalet parks which excluded them from future membership. Some survived for several decades whilst others only lasted a year or two. They also ranged in size from anything between 75 and 11,000 campers. All the big companies were joined by a number of smaller operators and private family concerns. It's interesting to note that Butlins then attracted more people than all the other camps combined.

We had the idea of trying to compile a list of all the old camps but it soon became obvious that this was a major task way beyond our very limited time and resources. So we thought of narrowing it down to just show those camps which were still around in the 1960s and 70s - and even this was fraught with all kinds of complications and mysteries! We also followed the N.F.P.H.C. guidelines and only listed those camps which had full board facilities during that era. Where known we've also tried to discover which of them are still open today. Bear in mind that many of these camps have since changed dramatically and some have been converted into caravan parks without any trace of their past history.

So below is an incomplete (and maybe inaccurate) list showing most of the camps which were around in that era. We haven't included self catering camps or caravan parks and we accept no responsibility for any errors. We welcome additional information or corrections.

We've also added some image links to adverts from the 1960s - click on the camp name to access the image (where available).

County Camp Aerial Photo Information Current Status
Avon Sand Bay (Pontins)
Nr Weston super Mare
  Bought by Pontins in 1947 Sold 1999 but still open
Berkshire California-in-England
Nr Wokingham
  80 acres. Inland camp situated in a forest Closed. Some features still remain
Cornwall Kenegie Holiday Hotel
Gulval, Penzance
  15 acre hotel/chalet park Still open
Cornwall Duporth Holiday Resort
St Austell Bay
  Opened 1934 and set in 40 acres. Closed at the end of the 2006 season
Cornwall Perran Sands Holiday Centre
Perranporth
    Still open
Cornwall Pleasure Haven Holiday Camp
Newquay
  Opened 1963 with capacity of 200  
Devon Barton Hall (Pontins)
Kingskerswell, Torquay
  48 acres. Bought by Pontins in late-50s. Sold 1999 Still open. Now a children's holiday activity centre
Devon Buckleigh Place Country Club
Westward Ho!
  Small camp with a capacity of just 75.
Acquired by Pontins in 1947 and sold in 1963. It remained as a holiday centre until 1972 when it was sold to property developers.
Converted into a housing estate.
Devon Devon Coast Country Club (Ladbrokes)
Paignton
     
Devon Dolphin (Pontins)
Brixham
  Suffered major fire in 1991 Being developed for housing
Devon NALGO Holiday Centre
Croyde Bay
  Opened 1931 Still open. Now owned by UNISON
Devon Paignton Holiday Camp
Kings Ash Cross
     
Devon St Marys Bay (Pontins)
Brixham
    Now known as Riviera Bay & ran by Park Holidays.
Devon South Devon (Pontins)
Kings Ash Hill, Paignton
  Bought by Pontins 1957  
Devon Seaton (Warners)
Seaton
  Opened in the 1930s Site purchased by Tesco and camp closed in January 2009
Devon Torbay Chalet Hotel
Marldon Rd, Paignton
  17 acres. Bought by Pontins late 60/early 70s. Sold again around 1995 Still open
Devon Westward Ho! Holiday Camp
Nr Bideford
     
Dorset Chesil Beach Holiday Camp
Wyke Regis
    Still open
Dorset Osmington Bay (Pontins)
Nr Weymouth
  Pre-war camp. Bought by Pontins in 1947. Sold 1999 Still open. Now a children's holiday activity centre
Dorset Riviera (Pontins)
Bowleaze Cove
  Bought by Pontins late-50s Sold 1999 but still open
Essex Clacton (Butlin's)
Clacton on Sea
Butlin's Clacton Aerial Photo Opened 1938
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Clacton
Closed 1983 and since demolished
Essex Dovercourt Bay (Warners)
Dovercourt
  Pre-war camp located near the beach. Closed and demolished
Hants Coronation (Warners)
Hayling Island
  Renamed Lakeside in the mid-80s. Still owned & operated by Warners
Hants Northney (Warners)
Hayling Island
  First Warners camp. Opened 1931 Closed and demolished
Hants Sinah Warren (Warners)
Hayling Island
  Acquired by Warners in the early 60s Still owned & operated by Warners
Hants Southleigh (Warners)
Hayling Island
    Closed and demolished in the early 80s.
Hants Sunshine (Fresh Fields)
Hayling Island
  Sold to Warners in 1980s but sold again in mid 90s. Still open but now called Mill Rythe
Isle of Wight Bembridge Chalet Hotel
Bembridge
  20 acres. Acquired by Warners late 60s/early 70s Still owned & operated by Warners
Isle of Wight Atherfield Bay
Chale, Ventnor
  Privately owned. 50 acres Still open
Isle of Wight Brambles Chine
Freshwater
    Still open
Isle of Wight Brighstone Holiday Camp (Campers Ltd)
Brighstone
  First camp on Isle of Wight. Opened 1932 Still open
Isle of Wight Gurnard Pines Holiday Camp
Nr Cowes
  55 acres Still open
Isle of Wight Little Canada (Pontins)
Wootton Creek
  36 acres. Bought by Pontins late 1950s Still open. Now a children's holiday activity centre
Isle of Wight Norton Chalet Hotel
Yarmouth
  20 acres. Acquired by Warners late 60s/early 70s Now named Norton Grange and still owned by Warners
Isle of Wight Puckpool (Warners)
Ryde
  Merged with adjoining St Clare camp late 80s & renamed Harcourt Sands. Sold by Warners and subsequently closed in September 2006
Isle of Wight St Clare (Warners)
Ryde
  Merged with adjoining Puckpool camp late 80s & renamed Harcourt Sands. Sold by Warners and subsequently closed in September 2006
Isle of Wight Savoy Country Club
Yarmouth
  16 acres. Upmarket reputation Still open. Now owned by New Horizon Holidays
Isle of Wight Totland Chalet Hotel
Freshwater
     
Isle of Wight Whitecliff Bay
Bembridge
  Chalet hotel. 7 acres Still open
Isle of Wight Woodside (Warners)
Wootton
  30 acres. Opened 1963 Closed 1980s. Most buildings remain but derelict
Isle of Wight Yarmouth (Warners)
Yarmouth
  20 acres. Renamed Norton Grange mid-80s. Still owned & operated by Warners
Kent Beach Holiday Centre
Dymchurch
     
Kent Kingsdown Holiday Camp (Campers Ltd)
Nr Walmer
  18 acres Still open
Kent Leysdown Holiday Camp
Isle of Sheppey
  12 acres  
Kent Littlestone (Maddiesons)
New Romney
  Opened 1930s Still open under new ownership
Kent Minster Holiday Camp (Warners)
Isle of Sheppey
  Bought by Warners in the late 50s Sold 1983. Still open, now known as Irwin Park
Kent Minster Beach Holiday Camp
Isle of Sheppey
     
Kent St Margarets (Maddiesons)
Nr Dover
  Opened 1963 Still open under new ownership
Lancs Blackpool (Pontins)
Lytham St Annes
  40 acres.Formerly named Squires Gate. Bought by Pontins in 1961 Still owned & operated by Pontins
Lancs Middleton Tower (Pontins)
Nr Morecambe
  60 acres with capacity of 3000. Opened 1939 & bought by Pontins c1964 Closed 1993 but most buildings remain semi derelict
Lancs Morecambe Bay Holiday Camp
Heysham Towers
  15 acres. Capacity for 500 people  
Lincs Skegness (Butlin's)
Skegness
Butlin's Skegness Aerial Photo Opened 1936. Capacity for 8,000 people
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Skegness
Still owned and operated by Butlin's
Norfolk Caister Holiday Park (Ladbrokes)
Caister
  Full & self catering
Click here to view a selection of Caister Holiday Camp Postcards
Possibly now owned by Haven ??
Norfolk The Constitutional
Hopton
  Capacity 700 people  
Norfolk Gorleston Super Holiday Camp
Gorleston
  Capacity 400 people
Click here to view a 1948 brochure from Gorleston
Click here to see a website dedicated to the Gorleston Super Holiday Camp
 
Norfolk Golden Sands Holiday Camp
Hopton
  Opened around 1933. Privately owned Possibly closed around 1985??
Norfolk Hemsby Holiday Camp (Maddiesons)
Hemsby
  Opened 1930s & purchased by Pontins in the 1970's Closed in January 2009
Norfolk Hopton Holiday Camp
Hopton
     
Norfolk Moodys Holiday Camp
Hopton
  Capacity 225 people  
Norfolk Mundesley Holiday Centre (Campers Ltd)
Mundesley
  30 acres. Capacity for 400 people Still open. Now owned by New Horizon Holidays
Norfolk Potters Holiday Camp
Hopton
  Opened on this site 1930. Privately owned Still open
Norfolk Seacroft
Hemsby
  30 acres. Opened 1920 bought by Pontins 1970s Sold by Pontins but still open. Now owned by New Horizon Holidays
Somerset Minehead (Butlin's)
Minehead
Butlin's Minehead Aerial Photo Opened 1962. 160 acres. Capacity for 10,000 guests
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Minehead
Still owned & operated by Butlin's
Somerset St Audries Bay
West Quantoxhead
  100 acres Still open
Suffolk Corton Beach (Warners)
Corton
  30 acres Still owned & operated by Warners
Suffolk Denes Holiday Camp
Kessingland Beach
    Still open
Suffolk Gunton Hall
Nr Lowestoft
  Acquired by Warners in the 1980s Still owned & operated by Warners
Suffolk Kessingland Holiday Camp (Catchpoles)
Kessingland
  Opened 1929  
Suffolk Pakefield (Pontins)
Nr Lowestoft
  Bought by Pontins late-50s Still owned & operated by Pontins
Suffolk Rogerson Hall
Corton
  Opened 1938 Still open but now a caravan park
Sussex Bognor Regis (Butlin's)
Upper Bognor Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1JJ
Butlin's Bognor Regis Aerial Photo Opened 1960. Known as Southcoast World from 1987 to 1998.
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Bognor Regis
Still owned & operated by Butlin's
Sussex Bracklesham Bay (Pontin's)
East Bracklesham Drive, Bracklesham Bay, Nr. Chichester
  Opened 1947. Sold in the 1980s Closed 1985. Now a Housing Estate.
Sussex Bracklesham Bay (Gibsons)
Bracklesham Bay, Nr. Chichester. PO20 8JE
Bracklesham Bay (Gibsons) Aerial Photo Suffered massive fire, probably in the early 70's. Renamed South Downs Holiday Centre. Sold to Pontin's in 1984 by Godfrey Davis (who had gone into Leisure Industry in 1972), became South Downs Chalet Hotel. Still open as South Downs Holiday Village, owned by Richardson's (formerly New Horizon), catering only for the over 50s.
Sussex Broadreeds (Pontin's)
Grafton Road, Selsey-on-Sea.
  Bought from Simmons' family by Pontin’s in 1962. Seriously damaged by hurricane-force wind of October 1987. Sold 1988. Demolished and replaced with housing in the mid to late 90's.
Sussex New Beach Holiday Camp
Stoney Lane, Earnley-by-Sea, Chichester, PO20 7JP
New Beach Holiday Camp Aerial Photo Opened 1925. Owned by Lyndhurst family until sold in 1974. Now called Sussex Beach. No longer a holiday camp, but a park of leasehold holiday bungalows.
Sussex Riviera Lido Holiday Club
Nyetimber Lane, Pagham, Nr. Bognor Regis
Riviera Lido Holiday Club Aerial Photo Was open by 1938. Operated by Ideal Holidays Ltd. Appears to have become Residential Outdoor School for evacuees for duration of war. Postcards indicate was still operating up to the 1980's. Demolished and replaced with housing - Tabard Gate and surrounding roads.
Sussex St Leonards Bathing Pool Camp
Marina, St. Leonard's-on-Sea, Nr, Hastings, TN38 0AQ
St Leonards Bathing Pool Camp Aerial Photo Opened 1960 as holiday camp. Built around large 1930's built seafront swimming pool. Later renamed Hastings Holiday Centre. Closed and demolished in 1986. The last concrete seaside huts were demolished 2006.
Sussex Sussex Coast Country Club (Ladbrokes)
Middleton-on-sea
  Started as New City in 1922 on site of former Seaplane factory. Renamed Southdean (Hotel and Sports Club) by 1934. Became Sussex Coast Country Club by 1971. From private ownership was owned by Ladbrokes, later by Warner's.
See www.ukholidaycamps.co.uk which features a lot of information on this camp.
Was bought by Shearings who owned it for one season then closed it in 1995. Subsequently demolished and replaced with housing.
Yorkshire Colley's Cosy Camp
Scarborough
  Capacity 600 people  
Yorkshire Filey (Butlin's)
Filey
Butlin's Filey Aerial Photo Opened 1945. Capacity for 11,000 guests
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Filey
Closed 1983 and since demolished
Yorkshire NALGO Holiday Centre
Cayton Bay
Cayton Bay Aerial Photo Opened 1930s. Sold 1976.
Originally owned & operated by Dudley Wallis & known as Wallis' Camp, later owned by Ladbroke's before becoming Haven Warner, then Haven & finally Park Resorts.
Click here to view a Cayton Bay Crazy Club Kid Certificate from 1988.
Now owned & operated by Park Resorts.
Scotland Ayr (Butlin's)
Nr Ayr
Butlin's Ayr Aerial Photo Opened 1946. 85 acres. Capacity for 5,000 guests
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Ayr
Still open. Now a Haven caravan park (since 1999), known as Craig Tara.
Wales Pwllheli (Butlin's)
Nr Pwllheli
Butlin's Pwllheli Aerial Photo Opened 1947. 150 acres. Capacity for 8,000 guests
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Pwllheli
Still open. Now a Haven caravan park (since 1999), known as Hafan Y Mor.
Wales Barry Island (Butlin's)
Barry Island
Butlin's Barry Island Aerial Photo Opened 1966. 45 acres. Sold By Butlin's in 1986
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Barry Island
Closed 1996 and now demolished
Wales Prestatyn Holiday Camp (Tower Beach)
Prestatyn
  Opened 1939. 41 acres. Acquired by Pontins in the 70s Closed & demolished in the 80s. Land now used for housing
Isle of Man Howstrake Holiday Camp
Nr Douglas
  Pre-war camp  
Ireland Mosney (Butlin's)
Nr Dublin
  Opened 1948 but sold by Butlin's in 1982
Click here to view our section on Butlin's Mosney
Still there but now in use as an asylum camp (since 2001)
Ireland Red Island Holiday Camp
Skerries
  Situated on an island  
Jersey Plemont Bay (Pontins)
St Quen
  Pre-war camp. Bought by Pontins in 1961
Click here to view a postcard showing Plemont Bay prior to Pontins' acquisition of the site
Closed 2000 but still standing semi derelict
Jersey Portelet Bay
Portelet Bay
  First opened 1925. Bought by Pontins in 1994 Closed 2000 but still standing semi derelict

Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict     Valid CSS!