There’s so much to Wave about at Butlins in Bognor Regis

THE last time I visited Butlins in Bognor Regis was in the Eighties – Wham! and Duran Duran were topping the charts and I had a frizzy perm.
I remember braving the water chutes with mates and spinning on fairground rides until I felt dizzy.

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Fast-forward a few decades from my teenage years and I was back in the West Sussex seaside town, curious to see how the resort had changed.

Boy, has it. This time, I was staying for three nights at the swanky Wave Hotel with my husband Rod and two kids.

As we opened the door to our family suite we were knocked out. The bright-yellow double bedroom with balcony overlooked the sea and the futuristic bathroom had blue and green lights twinkling inside the showerhead. There was a hairdryer, mini-fridge, tea and coffee – and even an ironing board.

My kids, Ava, seven, and four-year-old Joe, loved their submarine-style bedroom. As negotiations began about who got the top bunk, TV screens at the end of each bed meant no rows over what to watch.

Butlins goes all out with live entertainment, too. Acts including Diversity, Dick and Dom and Brainiac Live all play regularly at their three UK resorts.

When we visited Bognor, the stage version of CBBC show Horrible Histories was the big draw and we had tickets to the Sunday show.

It was a chilly spring afternoon but thankfully much of the site’s entertainment is inside the Skyline Pavilion, a huge building that looks like a circus tent. Within seconds, the children had disappeared into the huge soft-play zone but our minds were set at rest by the friendly staff policing it.

After a few free rides on the indoor tots’ fairground, it was dinner time. We had opted on our break for Butlins hotel premium dining option and, for £209.25, buffet breakfast and dinner was included in the Deck restaurant.

The quality kids’ food and plentiful supply of crayons and colouring suited Ava and Joe down to the ground.

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I was impressed with the choice for grown-ups, too. There were Mexican and Chinese dishes, flame-grilled meats, fish and chips and fresh pasta. For dessert, I chose cheese and biscuits while Ava could not resist apple crumble then ice cream with sprinkles.

With the children then raring to go, we headed to Reds, a theatre perfect for families with little ones. After being welcomed inside by the cheery Redcoat entertainers, the kids watched slapstick comedy show Splat! while Rod and I relaxed with a few glasses of wine.

Next morning, we woke with only one thing on our mind – swimming. Making it to Splash Waterworld by 9.30am paid off. It was quiet so there were lots of empty changing rooms. Joe was then happy in the wave pool, while Ava had the time of her life on the Master Blaster – a raft that crashes down a chute at top speed. Once was plenty for me.

After a reasonably priced pub lunch at the resort’s Beachcomber Inn, it was on to the fairground. All rides are free so there is no limit to how many times you can go on the bumper cars, trampolines, mini-pirate boat, paratroopers, helter-skelter and merry-go-round.

By Sunday the kids could not wait for Horrible Histories fun. The actors’ comic take on Barmy Britain took in the Black Death and bloody beheadings of King Henry VIII’s wives. It had the children giggling and gasping in equal measure.

With the resort’s stylish hotels – also the Shoreline and the Ocean with spa – much has changed since my teen years.

And it is clear why families love Butlins. Once there, so many activities are free – and with kids happy, the adults relax.

I won’t leave it nearly so long before we bog off to Bognor again.

GO: BOGNOR REGIS

STAYING THERE: Butlins offer a four-night Horrible Histories break from £150 per person, based on a family of four sharing a Wave Hotel suite from April 4. Tickets to make and take sessions from £5. See . Call 0330 100 6648.