Butlins, Minehead Review

Overall Rating

I have recently returned from a week long break at Butlins Minehead with my family (2 adults, 2 children aged 4 & 11). I have to say I was relieved to get back home and will not be returning any time soon.

On arrival, we checked in without a hitch, and were directed to our silver apartment. It took us a good 10 minutes to walk there...it wasn't worth the wait. The accommodation was small, smelt of stale smoke and the kitchen area was dirty. The windows looked as though a small push would have had them out and the carpets were filthy. Not a great start but we made the best of it. I should mention at this point if you want any sort of lie in....forget it. The local sea gulls make their prescence felt at around 4.30am and they are LOUD!! They are all around the apartments...not helped by some idiots who keep feeding them...thanks!

We went to our restaurant for our evening meal, and the only thing I can compare it to is a school canteen. The staff while helpful, spoke little English which made it a little difficult to get what you actually wanted and the place was packed, we had to wait for a table. The food was edible but for what we paid...not great either.

The skyline pavilion was our next stop. If you have unlimited funds for your children it's great. The shows are fantastic for the children but all the shops/arcades selling sweets/drinks.extras are extortionate and it cost us a bomb. The rides at the fairground are free and apart from an obnoxious worker on the dodgems who didn't seem to enjoy his job at all it was great. (apparently you will be banned for the week if they catch you bumping into anyone???? surely that's the point?)
The go-carts and bumper boats were great fun...but again expensive, the splashworld pool was brilliant and we all enjoyed it.

The evening entertainment was great, but if you actually want to sit down you need to be there and in the queue for about 5.30-6.00pm or you have no chance of getting a table. The price of drinks is also a bit steep. The toilets and most of the communal areas were clean and well looked after we couldn't fault them and the red coats are fantastic.

I would say if you have loads of spending money and are not too bothered by the standard of accommodation and food then go for it. For the same price we could have gone abroad for 2 weeks, and to be honest that's what we'll do next year. :(