It seems there are not a lot of happy campers at Pontins… the holiday park has been voted Britain’s worst.
The firm scored just 56% in a survey of visitors who were asked to rate a range of criteria including customer service, accommodation, cleanliness, facilities, activities and value for money.
Some were given just a two-star rating. One holidaymaker described their accommodation as dirty and dated, while another complained the facilities were filthy and run down. Butlins was rated above Pontins at 67% while Haven Holiday Parks and Center Parcs tied on 69%, research by Which? also found. But the big names were beaten by small and independent brands.
Top of the list is Potters Resorts on 87%. The firm has two all-inclusive resorts in Essex and Norfolk. In second place on 80% is Forest Holidays with 13 locations across the country. Which? Travel deputy editor Naomi Leach said: “With so many holiday park options to choose from it isn’t always easy to know which will be the right fit for your family.
“Our latest survey shows it’s worth looking beyond the best-known names, with smaller and independent resorts offering excellent value for money, great customer service and plenty of entertainment.” Founded in 1946 by Fred Pontin, Pontins is one of the UK’s most iconic holiday park brands. Former Bluecoats include Shane Richie and Bobby Davro.
But the camps have faced troubles in recent years. It was taken over in 2011 by Britannia – the worst-rated firm in Which?’s annual hotel chains survey for the past 11 years. Multiple sites have since closed. Last year 200 staff lost their jobs when the Prestatyn camp in North Wales shut with immediate effect.
The site in Southport, Merseyside, closed in January due to flooding. There are now only two, in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and Lowestoft, Suffolk. Britannia is owned by hotel tycoon Alex Langsam. Pontins and Butlins last night refused to comment.
Center Parcs said: “We welcome over two million guests annually and are 97% full all through the year. We are proud of our consistently high guest satisfaction scores. Each year we invest tens of millions of pounds.”
