Butlin’s is coming to North Wales to consider bringing the brand back to the region, but there’s one problem. The holiday giant left the area in the 1990s after decades at Butlin’s Pwllheli, which was sold to Haven in 1999.
Vale of Clwyd MP Dr. James Davies has been in discussions with Butlin’s about taking over the Pontin’s camp in Prestatyn, and recently met Chief Executive Officer Jon Hendry Pickup and Simon Cope, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer. They have shown great interest in the possible redevelopment of the Pontin site into a suitable, modern holiday park.
The camp was suddenly closed by Britannia Hotels last November and remains closed. Britannia has also closed Camber Sands in East Sussex and the Southport holiday park.
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Now Butlin’s bosses have accepted an invitation to the area to further explore the possibility of taking over the site. The MP will give them a tour of the site and show them what North Wales has to offer.
But there is a problem. It’s that Britannia is still not in the process of a possible sale, which means they won’t be able to get access to the actual camp as it stands.
Member of Parliament Dr. Davies said: “Since I heard about the unexpected closure of the Pontin site in Prestatyn at the end of last year, I have been working hard to ensure the site is taken over and not left empty for years. I am extremely pleased that Butlin’s are interested in the site and had a useful meeting with them this week where they accepted my offer for a visit to the area, which I hope will take place very soon.
“Butlin’s is a successful company that has been offering families holidays in Great Britain since 1936. If they were here in Prestatyn this area would undoubtedly get a huge boost. However, I must emphasize that they are only showing interest at this stage and I continue to explore all options with the UK Government and Denbighshire County Council.”
The MP said he has made repeated attempts to engage with Britannia since the unexpected closure, but has not received a satisfactory response so far.
In March, Dr. Davies, together with Sally-Ann Hart MP (Hastings and Rye) and Damien Moore MP (Southport), wrote to Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, requesting that the committee investigate the practices of Britannia Hotels Ltd, Pontins’ parent company. Speaking at a meeting of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, said she had also written to the CEO of Britannia, highlighting the importance of working with the MPs contacted them, but she has received no response at all.
Dr. Davies added: “In 2020 I raised concerns about Pontins razing their UK holiday parks and suggested the company should consider selling the sites to a company willing to invest in them. The Prestatyn site is located in a I am confident that, with a reputable company like Butlin’s at the helm, it can be brought back to life and become a vibrant holiday resort attracting visitors from far and wide to the area .”
Britannia has been asked for comment.
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