POOL’S GOLD
PHILIP DEWEY HAS A SPLASHING TIME DURING A FAMILY BREAK IN BOGNOR AND BUMPS INTO TELETUBBIES, A ROCKET MAN AND A PECKISH SEAGULL
‘I’M NOT sure if I’m seeing things but Elton John just drove past on a moving piano”, I found myself saying to my wife Jess as we walked back to our hotel.
Fortunately for my optometry bill and my sanity, my eyes weren’t deceiving me.
It was a tribute act due to perform that evening, singing his rendition of I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues.
This was just one of the many attractions at Butlin’s Bognor Regis during a memorable trip for me, Jess and our 15-month-old son Evan.
Situated on the south coast, just under an hour from Brighton, the resort combines the best traditions of the British seaside holiday with more modern attractions all under one roof.
We stayed in the Shoreline Hotel and were blessed with beautiful views of the beachfront and the ocean from our balcony window.
There was loads for Evan to do in the room, with a wooden control panel for a submarine taking up one of the walls, which he loved.
In fact, there was so much to cram into our week-long break (and with an active baby – who has recently started walking – to entertain) we weren’t short of options.
We wanted to make the most of the new pool which recently opened at the park, costing a whopping £40m to build.
I must admit, the three of us had some trepidation at the prospect of battling through a busy changing room and a packed pool, but this couldn’t have been further from the truth.
The changing rooms, designed in consultation with Mumsnet, were spacious with big family cubicles which allowed us enough room to sort Evan and ourselves out.
The pool itself, which has a capacity of 950 people, was busy but there was still plenty of room to enjoy ourselves.
The highlight for Evan was the Seaside Playground, an area specifically designed for babies and children under five.
He was absolutely thrilled by the
various fountains, mini-slides and pirate ships.
I sampled many of the other attractions in the pool, including several new rides and slides – strictly for review purposes, you understand!
The adrenaline flume is the fastest slide, but the queue was anything but. A half-hour delay was due to the backlog of people waiting for the family raft ride. The ride itself was thrilling but over far too quickly considering the long wait.
Waiting times for the Stick of Rock and Racer slides were a lot shorter and the flumes were just as much fun. My favourite was the Seaside Garden Rapids, a leisurely ride which took the swimmer on an outside excursion, via several whirlpools.
As a family, we also tried the wave pool and, while we didn’t venture to the deep end because of Evan and just sat at the water’s edge, he found it hilarious and laughed his head off as the waves tickled his toes.
The new pool is money well spent, with lots to offer swimmers of all ages, as well as a lido for more conventional swimming, plus loungers and beach huts for those simply wishing to relax.
There was loads to do around the park itself with go-karting, archery,
various playgrounds, a football academy, crazy golf, fairground rides, rock climbing and more.
Jess’ favourite attraction was the Ocean Spa where she enjoyed a number of treatments and relaxed in the hydrotherapy pool, while me and Evan blew £5 in the arcade and went for a leisurely stroll along the beachfront, a two-minute walk from the resort.
There were also live shows, most of which took place in the Pavilion, including the Teletubbies, Mr Men, the Skyline Gang and more, while the larger ticketed shows included Sleeping Beauty and Paddington at the Seaside on the Centre Stage.
What was nice was the audience interaction, their appeal to adults as well as children, and that they gave the youngsters a chance to meet the characters who were regularly seen walking around the resort or posing for photographs, which could be bought at the end of your stay.
When it comes to meals, there are dozens of restaurants peppered around the resort.
We chose the Dinearound option where we received vouchers for a buffet breakfast and either a lunch or evening meal at restaurants including The Diner, Traditional Fish and Chips, The Pub and Kitchen, The Beachcomber Inn and Papa John’s.
It enabled us to enjoy jam-packed days of activities without having to worry about factoring in where to go for something to eat.
The food itself was delicious with the buffet breakfast providing a great start to the day.
The only hiccup I had was when a pesky seagull stole my steak straight from the plate at The Beachcomber Inn – but it was replaced without charge by the helpful waiter.
You’re sure to enjoy your stay at Butlin’s Bognor Regis, just as long as you keep away from greedy seagulls...