The Blackpool Metropole Hotel - The Butlins Era story

With the new Butlins hotel scheduled to open on April 7, 1955, details were still emerging about the lease agreement that Butlins had with Metropole Hotel Ltd. In the Liverpool Daily Post, a shareholder named Mr. J. C. Oldfield raised questions to the board concerning the deal. Mr Oldfield wanted to confirm if the annual rent of £23,000 was accurate for a property valued at £500,000. The chairman, Mr F Hawtin, responded that the rental amount depended on the asset's yield and that, at this stage, the agreed-upon amount was correct for the property. Mr Oldfield also asked who held the £200,000 debenture shares and what the actual value of the furniture being sold to Butlins for £15,000 was. Mr Hawtin informed the board that the largest shareholder in the Metropole (Blackpool) Hotel Ltd was the Refuge Assurance Company and that Butlins had no ownership shares. Concerning the true value of the furniture, an 80% discount was applied when it was sold to Butlins (from the new value).

Mr. Oldfield inquired whether the £99,000 deficit would still be a concern, as he feared that the debenture interest would consume £8,000 of the £23,000, while the ordinary dividend of 3 1/2 would take £10,000, leaving only £5,000. He questioned how the £99,000 deficit could be resolved with just £5,000 remaining from the rent paid by Butlins for the hotel lease. Mr. Frank Hawtin replied that the agreement with Butlins represented the most advantageous option for both the hotel and the company. He added that if this arrangement fell through, a payment would be made to Butlins to reimburse them for the funds lent for the "grocery and gas bill". Butlins had also changed its adverts to no longer show the date of the hotel opening with the Butlins logo.

Billy Butlin made it a point to include a chapel in his hotels and camps, which is closely tied to his father's lineage, William Colborne Butlin, where many family members were part of the church. On the official opening day, Saturday, April 9, 1955, more than 500 holidaymakers and civic guests formed a congregation for a special dedication service, led by the R. Rev. W. H. Baddeley (Bishop of Blackburn), Rev. T. J. Pugh (senior chaplain to the Butlins organization and hotel Padre), and Rev. Charles Noel Wardle Harper (Vicar of Holy Trinity and Chaplain to the Mayor of Blackpool). The session was read by the Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor W. Ogden, with the choir from the Holy Trinity Church Choir. Six local former prisoners of war (from Japan during the war) were also invited to this special event at the hotel, having received a special invitation from Lt. Col. W. R. Gill of Blackpool and Rev. T. J. Pugh.

As negotiations progressed for the lease of the Metropole Hotel, Billy Butlin planned for the hotel to be open throughout the year, featuring all the offerings of Butlin's. There was considerable excitement about Butlin's control of the hotel, as it was noted that Butlin's Holiday Camps and hotels were extremely popular, with 120,000 booking requests being turned down each year (20% of applications). Butlin's promoted the new Metropole Hotel as a venue that would operate like a house party, infused with the Butlin's atmosphere, including dancing, games, entertainment, and the renowned Butlin's Redcoats. Additionally, Billy Butlin stated that the hotel would source its produce locally and that he intended to prioritise hiring local individuals.

On Saturday, May 7th, 1955, a variety show took place at the Metropole Hotel featuring the Miming act of Johnnie French (spelt in the newspaper as Ffrench but could be a typo) and Larry Knight. This event marked a significant success and heralded a new era for the Blackpool Metropole Hotel. Johnnie French and Larry Knight were also scheduled to perform their act at the Butlins AYR Camp. Additionally, the Eddie Mendoza Trio was booked for the hotel, where they would be resident for the season, showcasing their instrumental and vocal harmonies. Accompanied by pianist Martin Mullen and compere T. S. White, who previously served as the entertainment manager at Butlins AYR Camp, the entertainment lineup was truly complete.

The more I explored the Butlins Metropole Hotel, the more I appreciated its rich history, which goes back to when it was known as the Baileys Hotel. It became an important location for the Ministry and is now a part of the Butlins legacy. During my research into the year 1955, I came across instances of Butlins competitions being published in newspapers. This was interesting to see, as competitions are usually confined to the company, and their appearance in the press was certainly amazing, indicating a broader interest from the public. Below, I outline the competitions held at the Butlins Metropole Hotel and how they were featured in the newspapers, serving as a means of encouragement for the participants and resonating with the readers. The information shared is based on newspaper articles from that period, and I present them as significant elements of the Butlins story. It is a true honour to feature these on the Butlins Memorabilia section of the Blackpool Metropole website, and I convey my highest respect to all of you. (disclaimer)

The Butlin National Holiday Princess Competition (June 1955)
J. Quail, who comes from Thurnscoe, was chosen as the holiday princess while she enjoyed her stay at the new Butlins Hotel. At that time, J. Quail was working as a shorthand typist in a Barnsley solicitors' office and would celebrate her 17th birthday during her first holiday at a Butlins hotel. This impressive achievement granted J. Quail a complimentary Butlin holiday in September, where J. Quail would compete to hopefully be in the grand finals at the Butlin Reunion at the Royal Albert Hall in London in March 1956. In the finals, the first-place winner would earn £100, the second-place winner £50, and the third-place winner £25. J. Quail was featured in the South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times on Saturday, 25 June 1955 (shown below)

The Butlins Glamorous Grandmother Competition (July 1955)
At the age of sixty, Mrs L Houghton was enjoying a holiday at the Butlins Metropole Hotel in Blackpool. Originally from Burnley, she had returned to England after spending 45 years in Montreal, Canada, with her husband, Mr Houghton, who sadly passed away (date unknown). In May 1955, she relocated to England to live with her sister in Barrowford. Mrs Houghton has two sons and four grandchildren who reside in Montreal, Canada. While at the newly opened Butlins Metropole Hotel in Blackpool, she won the Butlins Glamorous Grandmother Competition, which earned her a free holiday at the Butlins Ocean Hotel in Brighton in October, where she would compete against over a hundred other grandmothers for the title of 'The Most Glamorous Grandmother of Great Britain for 1955.' The winner will receive a silver cup and £100, while the second and third places will be awarded £50 and £25, respectively. Mrs L. Houghton was featured in the Barnoldswick & Earby Times on Friday, 15 July 1955 (as shown below).

The Butlin National Holiday Princess Competition (July 1955)
Miss D. Franklin from Banbury was on vacation at the Butlins Metropole Hotel when she entered the Butlin National Holiday Princess Competition. Miss D. Franklin was noted for her rich auburn hair and brown eyes, and she worked in the offices at United Dairies (Wholesale) Ltd. During her personal time, Miss D. Franklin enjoyed working in her garden, finding gardening to be a lovely task to engage in when she had the time. This was Miss D. Franklin's first holiday at Butlins, and she thought it would be a great idea to enter the competition to see how far she could go. Miss D. Franklin achieved the runner-up position in the preliminary heat of the competition and was set to appear in the Banbury Advertiser on Wednesday, July 27, 1955, with a lovely photo (shown below).

The Butlins Glamorous Grandmother Competition (September 1955)
Mrs J. Murray from Nelson secured third place in the preliminary heat of the competition held at Butlins Metropole Hotel. Mrs Murray's husband is a builder, and they have three children and five grandchildren.

Mr William and Mrs N Little are frequent visitors to Butlins and were enjoying their holiday at the Butlins Metropole hotel in June 1957. During their visit, Mrs Little participated in and won the Butlin's Princess competition while at the hotel. Mr William Little is a partner in a well-known newsagents and general merchants. Prior to this trip, Mrs Little had little interest in entering competitions and was thrilled to have won this one for the first time. Mr and Mrs Little have been invited to spend a week at the Butlins Brighton hotel, where Mrs Little will compete in the finals of the Butlins Camp Beauty Queen competition.

As I continued my review of the 1957 research, I discovered something that was both intriguing and new to me. A program titled "Seeing Sport Table Tennis" was advertised in the TV Times on Friday, July 5, 1957, at 5 PM. Emlyn Jones and Johnny Leach, a former world champion, were featured in the program, demonstrating coaching sessions directly from the Butlin's Metropole Hotel (produced by ATV). As of December 14, 2025, I have been unable to find a video of this moment, which would be fantastic to see. If you have a link or a copy, please reach out to me using the button at the bottom of the page. More information about the program Seeing Sports can be found by clicking on these words.

In late July 1957, a 46-year-old man named Mr G. Smith won the Butlins Dart competition while vacationing at the Metropole Hotel. Mr Smith resides in Haslington and works for the United Dairies Whey Products. He was also a member of the Amalgamated Anglers Association Darts Club, which participated in the B League Crewe. Furthermore, Mr Smith was involved with the Whey Products Social Club darts team, showcasing exceptional talent in the United Dairies North Western League. This remarkable accomplishment was highlighted in the Nantwich Chronicle, featuring Mr Smith alongside a Redcoat with the Butlins cup.

In July 1857, Mrs A. Sterer was recognised as the most popular camper of the week at The Butlins Metropole for her piano playing, which entertained other guests at the hotel. Mrs Sterer, a shorthand typist, was surprised when her award was announced. On Thursday, August 1st, 1957, an article in the Stage discussed the famous Redcoat Show, featuring music by the Frank Sherry Quartet. The Redcoat Show is a popular program that many enjoy watching, which includes the modern version of Butlins. In 1957, the Redcoat entertainers included Comedian Eddie Keane, Andrew Allen, Doren Raymond, Jackie Griffiths, Susan Scott, Frank Oliver, Dave Collins, Pianist Bert Wall, and stage manager Patsy Atkinson. The Redcoat Show at the Metropole Hotel was scheduled with a special band every Monday evening.

Another holidaymaker at Butlins was Mr H. Vickers, a dance teacher from Crewe, who was enjoying his stay at the Butlins Metropole Hotel. While having a great time, he was invited to judge the Miss Blighty Cover Girl event. Butlins recognised Mr Vickers as the perfect judge for this occasion due to his expertise as a dance teacher and his role as an adjudicator for the National Carnival Associations. Additionally, he trained a couple from Manchester in dance, which helped them win the Butlins Veleta contest. The good news continued as he also triumphed in the Butlins Snooker championship and the treasure hunt. In August 1957, Mrs F. French from Banbury would secure first place in the Butlins Glamorous Grandmother contest, which included an invitation to the grand finals in October, where Mrs French would compete against 150 other grandmothers.

In August 1957, Miss T Kershaw secured first place in the National Holiday Princess competition, earning a complimentary week-long holiday at the Butlins Ocean Hotel in Brighton to participate in the semi-finals. Should Miss Kershaw succeed in the semi-finals at the Ocean Hotel, she will advance to the finals at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where the winner will receive a £200 silver rose bowl along with £100 in cash. Miss T Kershaw was a dance instructor and operated her own school in Banbury. ATV Network Production would return to the Butlins Metropole Hotel on the 16th August 1957 with their program "Seeing Sport" with Emlyn Jones and Johnny Leach showing table tennis.

I have to confess that my knowledge of the Seeing Sport program was limited until I discovered it in my research. I found it quite interesting that it would reappear on the 30th of August (Friday). This edition showcased Judo with Peter Lloyd, who would be presenting some leading "exponents" of Judo on the mat. In 1957, a comic titled Eddie Keene was promoted in the Stage to appear in the Butlins Metropole Hotel. On Friday, September 13th, 1957, Miss J Archer won the National Holiday Princess competition after a friend encouraged her to participate in the contest.

(disclaimer)

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Butlins Memorabilia website is the unofficial website for Butlins!

The research and details provided on the Butlins Memorabilia website have been thoughtfully assembled by Mark, the site's owner. It is important to emphasize that Butlins and its owners have not reached out to me or requested that this information be collected and displayed here. Butlins has a rich legacy, with its founder, Sir Billy Butlin, celebrated for his success in establishing a company that continues to offer joy and create cherished memories. The official website for Butlins is www.butlins.com. As such, the information on this site should be considered unofficial, as the Butlins Memorabilia website is a fan-oriented endeavor.

The British Newspaper Archive

The significant and noteworthy newspaper articles featured on the Butlins Memorabilia website have been sourced from a platform known as "The British Newspaper Archive." You can explore their offerings at www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. I am providing this link as a gesture of appreciation for their ongoing and professional service, with the hope that you may discover something of interest. The research conducted on Butlins has greatly benefited from extensive newspaper involvement, which has significantly enhanced the Butlins Memorabilia website.

The Butlins Memorabilia website operates as a non-commercial platform, created to provide free access for everyone to celebrate the remarkable history of Butlins and the legacy of Sir Billy Butlin. Each document features a watermark to recognize the copyright of the image, along with a direct link to the British Newspaper Archive website. I encourage you to review their terms and conditions regarding the sharing of items from their collection at this link: terms and conditions.

Newspapers that feature names

The extensive research into the history of Butlins has been achievable by utilizing archived newspapers, which can unveil a wealth of information. In this study, I discovered that there were significant moments when guests would win competitions, which garnered considerable interest in the UK during that period. After careful consideration of this additional aspect of the historical timeline, I have concluded that it would be most effective to enhance the way I present this information on the Butlins Memorabilia website. In my description of that notable event, I have chosen to modify the name format that I will present to you. For instance, using the name of the Butlins founder, the newspaper will display the full name, in this case, Billy Butlin. In my description, I will represent this as "Mr. B. Butlin".

Newspapers that feature names - request for removal or additional information

The Butlins competitions have played a crucial role in the timeline and are well-known, with many being featured in various newspapers throughout the United Kingdom. This event is significant in history as it recounts another aspect of Butlins during the time when Billy Butlin was at the helm of the company. Should any of these accounts involve a relative of yours and you are not pleased with it being included on the site, please do not hesitate to click on these words to discuss it with me. My intention is to celebrate the history, and the person mentioned is part of this narrative, and I would never want to cause any discomfort. So, please reach out if you wish to connect with me, even if you would like to add more to the story (which would be fantastic).

The National Archive website

This website showcases images obtained from research conducted on The National Archive website. I would like to emphasize that this site is dedicated to non-commercial use and is created, maintained, and overseen by me, Mark Banks. I invest my personal time into this project, which centers around a brand I hold dear, Butlins. The site is open to all visitors, and it is important to clarify that Butlins and its owners have no connection to this site or its content. Each image is accompanied by a credit and a link to its original source. The Butlins Memorabilia website is a personal endeavor that aims to preserve historical memories and, in some instances, provide educational insights into its history. You can find the terms and conditions of The National Archive by clicking on these words

Archive Website

This website features materials obtained from archive.org, which is known for its vast collection of memorabilia. It is essential to clarify that archive.org has no affiliation with this website or its creation. I would like to highlight that this site operates on a non-commercial basis, dedicated to celebrating Sir Billy Butlin, the holiday camps, the hotels, the campers, the guests, and the staff. Resources sourced from archive.org are presented here with watermarks to recognize their origin, and each item includes a direct link to their site. I invite you to explore their terms and conditions of use by clicking on these words to gain further insight into the applicable Creative Commons license.

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When I engage with any material on the website, I always check the relevant terms and conditions. It is a privilege to share resources that provide a more comprehensive view of history, as these additional documents can enhance the narrative significantly. Prior to sharing, I make sure to gather all pertinent information regarding usage rules and give credit where appropriate. As the only person dedicated to designing and uploading these details, I wish for the process to be as smooth as possible. If you believe there is an error in the newspaper clippings that needs my attention, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss the matter by clicking on these words

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The Butlins Memorabilia website was originally established as a place on the internet where people could view Mark Banks' Butlins collections. As a passionate enthusiast of the brand, Mark took the initiative to explore the extensive history that led to the website's transformation. Now, the Butlins Memorabilia site has matured into a historical education platform, demonstrating to visitors the meaningful ways in which Butlins has fostered joy and created unforgettable memories.

Are you the official Butlins Archive?
There exists only ONE official website that represents Butlins, and that is located at www.butlins.com. The Butlins Memorabilia website is NOT the official archive of Butlins, nor does it serve as the authentic historical record of this extraordinary company. Butlins and their respective parent company have no role in the development of this site and have not participated in its creation. The official source for all Butlins information is the one indicated above. This site is strictly a fan-created platform, and any material presented here should be viewed as unofficial. Butlins and their esteemed parent company have NOT reached out to me to create this site, nor have they requested me to promote them. I undertake this effort solely to demonstrate my appreciation for their remarkable name and brand.

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The Untold Stories of Butlin's
An exciting addition to the website is the section titled "Untold Stories of Butlin's," which includes a range of personal stories. These stories have been contributed by members of the Butlins Memorabilia social media groups, who have shared their individual experiences at Butlin's. It is important to understand that these stories are not sanctioned by the official company but are personal recollections from the individuals, as indicated on the page. The accounts shared reflect the magical atmosphere of Butlin's and the memorable moments it has inspired.

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Can I get in touch with you about my situation at Butlins for some help?
For any issues related to bookings, inquiries on how to use the app, or to file a complaint, it is essential to follow the official procedure by contacting Butlins directly. The Butlins Memorabilia website is not equipped to handle these matters, and no assistance can be provided through this platform. Complaints must be directed to Butlins, as they are the only ones capable of addressing them; this site lacks the direct control or involvement necessary to assist. The sole website that can provide help is the Butlin's official site, www.butlins.com. Everything you need can be found there, including their contact page, which is available on this link, and assistance with the Butlins app can be found on this link.

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Butlin's Memorabilia Website The Metropole Hotel Story The Butlins Era

Lancashire Evening Post - Wednesday 23 February 1955

Bradford Observer - Wednesday 23 February 1955

Lancashire Evening Post - Wednesday 09 March 1955

Lancashire Evening Post - Thursday 31 March 1955

Liverpool Echo - Thursday 31 March 1955

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 23 March 1955

Staffordshire Sentinel - Friday 25 March 1955

Liverpool Daily Post - Friday 01 April 1955

Birmingham Daily Post - Friday 01 April 1955

Lytham Times - Friday 15 April 1955

Fleetwood Chronicle - Thursday 07 April 1955

Skegness News - Wednesday 20 April 1955

The Stage - Thursday 12 May 1955

South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times - Saturday 25 June 1955

Barnoldswick & Earby Times - Friday 15 July 1955

Banbury Advertiser - Wednesday 27 July 1955

Nelson Leader - Friday 09 September 1955

Sunday Post - Sunday 08 January 1956

Nelson Leader - Thursday 29 March 1956

Daily Mirror - Thursday 20 December 1956

West Lothian Courier - Friday 14 June 1957

TV Times - Friday 05 July 1957

Nantwich Chronicle - Saturday 27 July 1957

Halifax Evening Courier - Monday 29 July 1957

The Stage - Thursday 01 August 1957

Crewe Chronicle - Saturday 03 August 1957

Banbury Guardian - Thursday 08 August 1957

Banbury Guardian - Thursday 15 August 1957

TV Times - Friday 16th August 1957

North Wales Weekly News - Thursday 29 August 1957

TV Times - Friday 30 August 1957

Lancaster Guardian - Friday 06 September 1957

Barrow News - Friday 13 September 1957

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Butlin's Memorabilia Website
The Metropole Hotel Story
The Butlins Era