Butlin's Bognor Regis

**There is a lot of history here if you wish to bypass this and go to the Bognor Menu, click on these words**

1932 - Before the Butlin's Holiday Camps
Butlin's history in Bognor Regis predates the opening of Butlin's Skegness Holiday Camp. Butlin's name first appeared in 1932 when he opened Butlin's Recreation Shelter. The shelter would offer the same magic as you would find amusements, Dodgems cars, and many more fun activities to do. It was in 1933 that he extended his name to Bognor Regis with the opening of Butlin's Zoo.

1958 - Plans for Bognor Regis Butlins
With the holiday camp division doing extremely well, William (Billy) Butlin MBE wanted to expand his camps and put Bognor Regis on his map. However, when it came time to apply for planning permission, there was so much opposition that it seemed an unlikely location. However, luck was on his side as in 1958 Bognor Regis Town Council had plans to redevelop the Western End area. The only problem the council had was that Billy Butlin's Arcade and attractions were in the way.

1959 - Keeping a close eye on the development
William (Billy) Butlin knew this was his chance to negotiate with the council about the options available to him. Eventually, a deal was struck, and Billy Butlin was delighted to sign it. One site, formerly known as Brookland, is a 39-acre site. Permission was granted to build the next Butlin's on a 99-year lease at a rate of £12,000 per annum. Butlin's Zoo and Leisure Centre was closed as Billy Butlin wanted to concentrate on his new West Sussex project. He wanted it to be the best and would move to Bognor Regis to oversee its development. His wife Nora would be by his side as the challenges of the site presented themselves to the builders. Major Frank Bond would also come to the site to help with its development.

1960 - Butlin's Bognor Regis
On the 2nd July 1960, at a cost of £2.5 million pounds, the gates of the former Brooklands site would open to reveal the famous Butlins logo. The bookings were coming in fast as more than 3,000 people were expected to visit on the day of the opening. The new Butlin's holiday camp was a huge success, with over 30,000 people expected to visit in the first season. Local residents were also offered the chance to use the camp by joining the Bognor Regis Winter Social Club. This would cost two guineas (£1.10) and give them access to the campers' areas (not the chalets or dining rooms).

Butlin's Southcoast World
In a major change in the late 1980s, the then owners of Butlins (The Rank Organisation) had plans to redevelop the camps. This included many closures, with only five camps remaining to open their gates with the Butlins logo. Bognor Regis was one of the chosen sites that would continue to tell the story. Renamed Butlins Southcoast World, the Rank organisation would invest £16.5 million into the site to upgrade it and introduce new areas including a brand new swimming pool.

1999 - Butlin's Southcoast World era comes and Butlin's Resorts era begins
Another major investment plan had begun in 1999 when the Rank organisation made a bold move to change the face of Butlin's from a camp to a resort. With Pwllheli and AYR now transferred to the sister company (Haven will no longer be the same company as Butlins from 2023), the legendary Butlin's name would survive with the last three remaining sites, Skegness, Minehead and Bognor Regis. A pavilion would be installed at all three remaining sites, with the outdoor pools removed. The Butlin's hotel division was also sold, leaving only these three to continue their history.

There has been a huge investment in accommodation and the entertainment has been reduced to three main new clubs. These are called the Reds, Centre Stage and the Skyline Pavilion. The gates would once again open to represent a different era of Butlin's, as a new era had begun on the last three remaining businesses to represent the Butlin's name.

2000 - Butlin's has a new owner with the hotel division returning
Butlins Bognor Regis would continue to serve its customers under the new ownership of Bourne Leisure Limited. The resorts would see the return of adult weekends and increased investment. In 2005, the Shoreline Hotel would open on the campsite, with 160 rooms overlooking the sea. Further investment would see another hotel open within the resort in 2009, named after a former Brighton hotel, The Ocean Hotel. A third hotel, the Wave Hotel, was to open on the site in 2012. There were plans for two more hotels, but these have now been canceled.

New Swimming pool
The former swimming pool, which had been built by the previous owners of Butlins (The Rank Organisation), was to be demolished for the construction of a brand new swimming pool at a cost of £40 million. Unfortunately, the former staff two-story chalets have been demolished to make way for the new swimming pool. The original plan was to turn the former swimming pool site into a grassed area, but the situation with Covid changed these plans to introduce another entertainment venue called Studio 36, where it remains today.

2022 - Butlins has a new owner
Butlin's Bognor Regis continues to represent the Butlins name as the new owners, the Harris family, continue to look after the site well. This year was the first time that Bognor Regis said goodbye to Pwllheli and AYR as a sister company, as Butlin's is no longer associated with Bourne Leisure Limited.