Kids will be entertained for hours at jazzed up Butlin’s with ‘A-list’ guests and fairground rides
Butlin's has gone hi-tech and you can download an app to make sure you don't miss any activities during your stay
BEING in a seaside hotel lift that is playing the Jaws theme tune would normally be a bit unnerving.
But this was not just any hotel, it was Butlin’s in Bognor and from the moment we set foot in the Wave Hotel, we knew it would be a family hit.
Our boys instantly made friends in the hi-tech Games Port — full of PS4s, Wiis and DSs — before I had even got our room key.
Meanwhile our two-year-old daughter splashed in the fountains while my wife sipped an ice-cold smoothie from the Soho Cafe.
Everything was themed around the ocean and nowhere was this more obvious than in our room.
The kids had a separate room with bunk beds, two TVs and a “porthole” in the door making it look more like a submarine.
Our seaview balcony proved handy to get our Butlin’s bearings, as it is a rather large resort.
We found a B-Line Pass essential for the big shows to avoid a long wait.
And a few quid per day will get you a civilised queue-jumping ticket, allowing you entry 15 minutes before everyone else.
Thankfully the cheesy seaside entertainment from days gone by has long been replaced and Butlin’s has gone A-list.
Our jaws dropped as we saw the queue of fans eager to see Diversity on stage.
Seeing the 2009 Britain’s Got Talent winners was the highlight of our break as the street dance troupe put on an absolute thriller with their breathtaking stunts and incredible moves.
We also enjoyed the Michael Jackson and Robbie Williams tribute acts and the Teletubbies stage show made our daughter Emma go completely Laa-Laa.
We didn’t get to the Splash Waterworld as much as we’d expected to as James and Charlie wanted to visit the arcades at every opportunity.
Hitting the jackpot on a game was James’ holiday highlight — especially once he’d cashed in his winnings for toys and sweets.
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The traditional outdoor fairground was a welcome break from the jingle jangle of the hectic arcades in the Skyline Pavilion.
Classic rides such as the carousel, dodgems and helter skelter kept us all entertained for hours.
Visitors can also do extra activities which vary in price, such as archery and a high ropes course.
When we arrived, we downloaded the Butlin’s app to keep updated with what’s on when.
It even set calendar reminders on our phones so we didn’t miss out on any of the activities we’d planned.
We had the Premium Dining option so could use the buffet restaurants for breakfast and dinner, but found the food a bit hit and miss.
Except the unlimited self-serve ice cream.
I would highly recommend upgrading for a meal at Turner’s, which served the juiciest ribeye steak.
Every night, we strolled back to our room for a truly nice surprise — our wonderful cleaner had taken the mess we had left behind and created a nautical-themed work of art.
With that kind of service we’ll shore be back soon.
GO: Butlin's
STAYING THERE: A four-night break in a Wave Hotel room starts from £150 per person (based on four sharing) during the school holidays.
The price includes entry to shows, the fairground, Splash Waterworld and more.
See or call 0330 102 5299.