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Timeline

1961

Sir Billy Butlin starts to build his new camp. 

Sir Billy Butlin had a location on his mind for his next camp and this time it's based in Minehead, Somerset. The town of Minehead was said to be not happy with the idea of a camp arriving however, they could see the benefits of one being built here. The location was in a very good location as it has a connection to the trains and via road transport, plus the boat at the pier. Minehead Town as a great deal of history and a new one was to be added.

1962

Butlins Minehead is born

Butlin's is now represented in Somerset as the new camp is opened to guests. It had its moments as Sir Billy Butlin had to find ways to sort out the flooding issues. Problem-solving had found that the solution was to build a lake, which remains today. This allowed all the water to focus in one area and for Sir Billy Butlin to start building his new camp.

1962

Regency Building is built and opened.

This wonderful building had hosted the following in Butlins Minehead, The Old Time Ballroom, Regency Coffee Bar, Rock 'n' roll Ballroom, Indoor heated pool and a games room and Butlins bingo

1962

The outside swimming pool is open

In between the Regency and Prince buildings was the outside heated swimming pool.

1962

The boating lake is introduced to Minehead. 

The large lake at the front of the Minehead camp is also shown to the customers. Stories told by Babs is that the lake was dug up and ready for water however, there was a puzzle on how to fill it. Lucky for them, there was a storm that night and the water from the sea had filled it in. The mud that was dug up from here was used to help with drainage issues.

1962

The Playhouse Theatre and shops

Adding towards the fun and what is available to the customers, the Playhouse theatre building is also opened. This had hosted the Playhouse theatre with a selection of shops. (the photo is near the location)

1962

Princes Ball Room building is open.

The second building to open in Butlins Minehead is the Princes Ball Room. This excellent building was hosting the famous Pig and Whistle bar, indoor roller skating rink, Princes Ballroom, Quiet Lounge and the camp chapel

1962

The Gaiety Building has also opened.

This excellent location would open hosting the following areas, The Gaiety Theatre, Radio Butlin, TV lounges, snooker/billiard room, shopping arcade, post office and coffee bar

1962

The main reception building is ready for the opening.

This building had the public telephones, lost property, the British Rail office and where campers could get their mail. 

1962

The funfair is also ready for the customers

The funfair was originally placed within the camp and had an inside extension to it. It was ready for the customers and fun was awaiting everyone.

1962

The Butlin's Nursery has opened

Sir Billy Butlin wanted to help make sure that all areas were covered and opened up a nursery for infants. There was plenty to do for the infants and well-trained staff.

1962

 The dining rooms

Using the same photo as before, you can see the dining rooms in the middle at the end of the pathway. Opening in 1962, the dining rooms were separated into two rooms, one for the campers in Gloucester house and the other in Kent house. The dining room was designed to be the size of 43,000 square feet, making them big enough to hold the campers and all that is needed to cook the dinners.

1962 - 1963

Windsor and Stadium Building Buildings

Two additional buildings are built and made available to the customers. The photo shown here is the Stadium Building and the other building is the Windsor Building, which shown in a photo further up. (Look at the Playhouse Theatre and shops photo, the building to the left is the Windsor building).

The Beachcomber Building: Butlins Memories state that this use to be called the Stadium Building. It was hosting the Beachcomber Bar on the ground floor and games with other facilities on the first floor.

The Windsor Building: This building hosted a quiet lounge, a children's playroom and the Windsor dining hall.

1964

Miniature Railway is added to Butlins Minehead

It was only going to a matter of time when Sir Billy Butlin was to introduce an icon to the Minehead site as we see the appearance of the miniature railway.  The first time for this wonderful train to see Minehead was based in the lake area at the rear with the sports field. Many people here would know this as the Highway Man pub in today's Butlins.

1964

Sir Billy Butlin purchases the Duchess of Hamilton and the Knowle steam trains

Both trains were placed next to or near to the Beachcomber building for all to admire and view. The trains was items that Sir Billy Butlin was pleased to have within his collection.

1964 - 1969

Butlin's Ski Slope

From research online, I am unable to give a year for when the Ski slope was placed within the camp. However, based on the building of the chalet, I would estimate it between 1964 - 1966. As I am unable to confirm this date, I choose to show you between the years. Also this shows the cable cars in operation here, so I would date it around this time frame based on what I can see.

1965

Chair Lifts have opened

The year that Minehead Butlin's would see the chair lifts or as some people like to call them, the cable cars. A person named Peter Scott wrote a book called "A History of the Butlin's Railways". Based on the information from Butlins Memories, it quotes that the cable cars in Minehead were 630 meters (690 yards). The cable cars traveled from the front of the camp to the rear, near where the supermarket is today. The old pathway remains to this very date (2020).

1967

The birth of the Monorail Train

An icon has arrived in Butlin's Minehead and it was one of two only camps to feature this. The Monorail train had arrived with a track that formed the figure eight. This track was different to the one in Skegness as it had the trace go above and under each another in the middle. The view from the monorail train at the location in the photo was amazing to see. 

1970

The Stadium is renamed with changes and the Windsor Building sees some changes. 

The stadium building: This is now renamed to the Beachcomber building. There have been some changes within this building as there is now a children's theater featured. There is also a Chinese restaurant and disco added to this location.

The Windsor Building: The Golden Grill and Holiday Fayre restaurant has been added to this building. There is also a teen club room and games room added to the building.

1971

Fire at the Playhouse Theater

This lovely building had a major problem when it was burnt down due to a fire. It's a devastating time for Butlin's Minehead as Rank works hard to fix these issues as soon as possible.

1971 - 1972

The Playhouse building is rebuilt and name the Exmoor Bar.

The building is rebuilt and now name the Exmoor Bar. Just out side is the Exmoor patio and gardens.

1974

The Duchess of Hamilton and the Knowle steam trains leave Butlins

The Hamilton Train: The national railway was happy to take this train on a twenty year loan. They fix it up and it made more trips. It must be noted that Sir Billy Butlin was the man who save this from being scraped. In 1987, the national railway had fully purchased the train from Butlins.

The Knowle Train: This moved a slightly bit closer to Butlins and settle down in the West Somerset Railway. It was given a lot of care and restored until it was returned back to the Kent and East Sussex Railway’s.

1975

The Butlins dry ski slope is removed.

The dry ski slope is removed from Butlins Minehead. This has never returned back to the camp or resort.

Monday 24th March 1975

Planning permission is submitted for the outdoor swimming pool.

Planning permission was submitted for the "screening of outdoor swimming pool". No further information is available for the plan. 

Permission was granted on Wednesday the 28th May 1975. 

Thursday 22nd April 1976

Planning permission is submitted for beach huts.

Planning permission was submitted for the "Renewal of permission for 24 beach huts". No further information is available for the plan.

Permission was granted on Monday the 14th June 1976.

1976

The first part of a two-part program has started with self-catering accommodation. 

Butlins Minehead has started to build new self catering apartments on the old sports field. These are located close to where the cable car buildings are and close to where the Ski slope was located.

1977

Radio Butlin is discontinued

A sad moment in Butlin's history is when radio Butlin is no more. Many Redcoats and staff members had featured in this area and its sad to see it no more.

1977

Miniature railway has been relocated to a new location

Butlins Minehead has started to build new self-catering apartments on the old sports field. These are located close to where the cable car buildings are and close to where the Ski slope was located.

Monday 2nd May 1977

Planning Permission for an extension

Planning permission was submitted for the "Extension between buildings for storage". No further information is available for the plan.

Permission was granted on Monday 13th June 1977

Tuesday 14th May 1978 and Friday 31st March 1978

Planning Permission for Leveling the Car parks.

Planning permission was submitted to "level the car park to avoid floods".
Further information: the idea is to use soil and level out the car park, helping to reduce the flooding. The second was the same idea of the east of the camp

Both was given permission on the Friday 16th of June 1978.

Friday 2nd March 1979

Planning Permission for the Blue Camp

Planning permission was submitted for the "erection of metal stairways to chalets". No further information is available for the plan.

Permission was granted on Friday the 27th of April 1979.

Friday 2nd March 1979

Planning Permission - New Gatehouse

Planning permission was submitted to replace the Gatehouse at the front of the camp to a new one.

Permission was granted on Friday the 27th April 1979

Friday 26th September 1980

Planning Permission - Extension to a bar

Planning permission shows that Butlins had plans to demolish a single storey building and then build an extension to a bar.
No details are shown for bar this was for.

Permission was granted on Monday the 27th October 1980.

Sunday 4th January 1981

Planning Permission - Training Centre

Planning permission was submitted to create a training centre.

Permission was granted on Friday the 13th Feb 1981.

Thursday 29th December 1983

Planning Permission - Nursery Building

Planning permission was submitted to make alterations to the existing nursery building.

Planning permission was granted on Friday the 27th January 1984.

Friday 4th November 1983

Planning Permission - Out swimming Pool Changes

Planning permission was submitted to convert the outside swimming pool. The request quotes "conversion of existing pool to new free shape pool".

Planning permission was granted on Thursday the 8th of December 1983.

Wednesday 21st December 1983

Planning Permission - Chalet Improvements

Planning permission was submitted to "refurbishment and re-roofing of chalet blocks".
Additional information: The chalets in both the red and blue camps, were to have a refurbishment within and a new roof added as an improvement plan.

Planning permission was granted on Wednesday the 18th of January 1984.

Updates due soon

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