Remembering Barry Island Butlins

When discussing the Butlins story, it is essential to recognise the significance of Barry Island in Wales. This is the very site where a young Billy Butlin conceived the idea of establishing his own Butlins camps, motivated by his belief that the existing business model at his accommodation was poor and that there was potential for offering more to guests. Barry Island stands out as the most important location, marking the inception of the legacy and the site of the final camp opened under Billy Butlin's direction. Launched in 1966, Butlin Barry Island would become the smallest of the camps, securing a 99-year lease on the land at Headland - Nells Point.

Construction at Butlins Barry Island began with the introduction of triple-deck chalet blocks, a first for Butlins at that time. Interestingly, when Butlins was managed by the Rank Organisation, they also built triple-decker chalet blocks, which still stand today at Butlins Skegness. The campsite was set to include all the luxuries of Butlins, such as Redcoats, a funfair, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a ballroom, the classic boating lake, tennis courts, sports fields, and many other areas, including one named the Pig and Whistle. In 1986, it was announced that Butlins would evolve into a new era known as Butlins Holiday Worlds, and Barry Island would not be part of this future. Interestingly, I have an entertainment guide that shows Barry Island was initially included in the plans, but a management decision led to its removal. The gates closed on December 31, 1986, bringing the story of Butlins in Barry Island to a close.

The history of this location continued when, on May 23, 1987, a company called Majestic Holidays purchased the old Butlins camp and began submitting its plans. Majestic Holidays aimed to tear down the camp and rebuild on the site; however, these plans were never realised as they concluded it was preferable to refurbish the camp to the standards expected at that time. The Majestic Holidays company kept using the Redcoats for entertainment until Butlins notified them that this iconic uniform belonged to them and not to Majestic. In 1991, the entertainers switched to Blue Coats and continued to provide the same services for everyone to enjoy.

Nevertheless, the previous Butlins site became a concern for repairs and began to incur significant costs for Majestic Holidays. Issues like the flat roofs and wooden paneling forced the Majestic Holiday company to issue refunds of up to 20% of the holiday due to these unsatisfactory conditions. These issues were actually highlighted in a documentary on a show titled "That's Life," specifically in an episode called "It's Barry Awful, It's Barry Hell," where the presenter remarked, "If you're heading to Barry Island this summer, send us a postcard." This situation caused a stir among many, resulting in over 8000 postcards being sent in support of Majestic Holiday Barry Island, with only 40 postcards expressing complaints. The sentiment towards the former Butlins site was overwhelmingly positive, and many customers were eager to demonstrate that the negative narratives surrounding it were unfounded, a point acknowledged by the show's presenter. The owner of Majestic Holidays took legal action against the show for damages and was awarded £500,000.

Sadly, the situation deteriorated when a storm hit Barry Island in 1996, causing considerable damage to the buildings at the former Butlins site. This incident led the Vale of Glamorgan Council to review health and safety protocols, informing the owners that if repairs were not made to enhance the site, they would have no choice but to deny the renewal of the entertainment license for the camp. By this time, the Majestic company was under the ownership of Insurebowls Ltd, which decided to shut down the campsite on November 7, 1996, with plans to reopen the following year after renovations. However, this plan never came to fruition, and the gates were closed for the final time.

In October 1997, the previous Butlins site was acquired by the Vale of Glamorgan Council for £2.25 million, which initiated the demolition of the site. They subsequently sold the property to Bovis Homes, where new residences were constructed between 2002 and 2003, preserving two original Butlins buildings and the former outdoor swimming pool. By 2005, all traces of the former Butlins camp and Majestic Holiday camp had disappeared, as the area's development transformed its appearance, leaving the legacy of Butlins Barry Island to be remembered through websites, memories, and individuals like yourself.

On September 27, 2014, the Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan Council unveiled a blue plaque in the seafront garden to commemorate the Butlins Camp and its significance in the timeline. The plaque was designed by Steuart Kingsley, funded by him and former Barry Island Redcoats, and was dedicated to the Entertainment Manager, John Wilson.