Thank you for posting this video. I worked here in 1985 and remember so much of it on watching this. Sadly, I've lost all photos, but I worked in the Welsh kitchen and regency bar as a waitress for a season and a half. Best job I ever had.
Yes so sad. Thanks for sharing. I went to Pwllheli throughout the 80s and 90s as a child. We went back 12 years ago to Haven. Being a Butlins girl through and through, it was disappointing 😞 We miss you Butlins Pwllheli!
Me too. LOVED the cable cars, boating lake & mini railway- so scenic. Butlin's went rubbish once they got rid of the cable cars, boating lakes, outdoor fun pools (all the free stuff!) 😒
I worked at Butlins Pwllheli in 1962. It was a great place for the holiday-makers and for the staff. The entertainers on the Butlins circuit were very good. Dennis Lotis, Michael Holliday, Emile Ford and the Checkmates, are just some that I remember - well it was sixty years ago. We also had a group of Finnish students working with us that year. They were lovely young people. Also, Jimmy Tarbuck was the entertainment Red Coat. Knobbly knees contests and all. Happy days!
I worked there in the '70s as a luggage boy on Saturdays, then two seasons '82 & '83, wonderful times and memories. In my opinion the site should have been upgraded as Butlin's and not be turned into a chalet park😔
Went past a few days ago. Very sad but very strong and happy memories. I’m sure the old reception building is there. Welcomed many a camper in ‘64. Graham (Johnny) Eagland. Proud Red.
Such a lovely video, thankyou for sharing. Brought back many memories of Butlin's in Pwllheli, I myself went there for a holiday in 1985 & I also worked there over the Xmas/New Year period in 1996. It's still really sad that it's no longer a Butlin's, I have been to it on holiday since Haven took over but it's just not the same without the cable cars, outdoor fun pool, Gaiety Theatre, mini railway, boating lake, dining rooms (for half board) & the rows of chalet lines.
Went twice in 1979 and 1982 fantastic memories and my favourite Butlins camp, went to Haven recently and it broke my heart to see so much gone one lovely moment was seeing the platform for the miniature train still in place it brought a tear to my eye. Its still a nice relaxing place now just so much magic has sadly gone from the Butlins glorydays.
Thank you for your comment. Yes l couldn't agree with you more. In 1985 we had our first holiday at Pwllheli. (as seen in the video). It was so special & always will be. Thats because at Christmas/New year 1984 my wife was very ill. I was told they didn't expect her to live. However God blessed her & she got well again. So by spring bank holiday we had our first family holiday at Pwllheli in 1985 that l thought we would have to cancel. Like you l went myself a few years back to Havon & it broke my heart too, to see such a massive change. My wife has MS now, but thank God again she is still alive!!! KB
Thank you so much for your comment. I couldn't agree more. My wife is very disabled now with MS. So like you l am thankful that we were able to have holidays like this at Butlins & l too cherish the memories we had as a family at Butlins. I am so pleased now that l made videos like this that keep those memories alive. Thanks again KB .
We went there about 7 times in the 50s, (usually Whit week) from when I was four or so. At first, there was no indoor pool or funfair or cable car, but we had swings etc, the outdoor pool, the boating lake, roller skating and the train. As a little kid I loved the freedom to wander on my own, and stay up late. Glorious holidays.
We had the best holidays here from 1087-1991.. This brought back some fab and not so fab memories.. I remember the children's pool, Jimmy D's, the teenagers 'nightclub' and entertainments but we also were invited to the staff chalets and we hadda go through a very narrow (like a troll bridge) tunnel to reach it. My love of nwa came from the staff block 😂 (didn't last long but we were teenage girls) I had my first ever date in the indoor pool and loved every minute of it.. Shame it closed down, I always wondered about that bridge, the staff must have really hurt their backs..
Ha-ha your comment really made me laugh as I worked there for xmas/new year in 1995/6 & the walk to/from the staff sheds under that bridge really sticks in my mind- especially at night. I remember it being really slippy/icy & we'd all hold on to each other for support but 1 of my friends must have had shoes with a really naff grip cos she landed on her arse a fair few times 😂
@@perky26hughes no way, I was 13/14 at the time (roughly in 1988-90) and that tunnel and the staff chalets are stuck as the most vivid memory of the holiday. Was it really that small or am I imagining/mis thinking about it? We recently lost my mum, and at her celebration service our butlins holidays and the family we went with were mentioned a lot and there were photos in the memory book of us all on the double bike golf cart things you could hire for a few hours. I also went on the 1 rollercoaster there was over 100 times. (I loved that coaster but forget the name) Funny what stays in your mind after all these years. I hope you have tons of happy memories of your time there.
@@perky26hughes I was there then too. I lived in Woodlands but worked in the Windsor dining room so had to use the bridge. I banged my head a few times! It was very slippery that Christmas, I slipped outside the staff laundrette and fell flat on my back! I worked the 1996 summer too, such good times and happy memories.
I have so many happy memories of Pwllheli Butlins in the 80’s and 90’s. I went there several times. And while I went to the Ayr and Skegness camps, Pwllheli was always my favourite! Thanks for uploading this video!
Had some of the best Holidays ever here in 1982 & 1983. The outdoor pool, the fairground with the giant and the chairlift. Not to mention the Empire Theatre and the glue tunnel. Magical times. Went back in 1991 & 1993, I think. A little of the magic was still there then. Virtually nothing remains now at Hafan Y Mor.
thanks for the upload, i have fond memories of the Butlins from 1981, had a great time in North Wales as a youngster, like going back when i can now :)
I was at Pwllheli the night it got hit by a F1/F2 tornado in on a Monday night!!! I can't remember the exact year but I knew it was August time. I've have never forgotten how scary it was and how lucky we where. I still have a fear when we get high winds. My partner and I where in Red Camp and it was early evening on the Monday when the tornado hit....about 6-45pm ish. The day started out really sunny and my partner and I had spent a lovely afternoon visiting Pwllheli Town centre, spoiling ourselves with a cream tea. By the time we returned to the Camp at about 5pm the dark clouds had began rolling in from over the sea, and it was beginning to look a bit stormy. We where in a chalet at the top level in Red Camp about 3 blocks from the back. We where making our dinner and ironing clothes clothes, whilst watching the TV. We where getting ready for a night out at to see Stan Boardman who was in the cabaret lounge over the bridge near Blue and Yellow Camp, at the front of the park at Butlins Pwhelli. It was about 6pm and it had gone really dark and was raining heavy. The wind was picking up and starting to real howl. We where both getting a little anxious and could both sense this wasn't quite normal windy weather. We decided to forgo our dinner because by this time we where beginning to freak out. The noise of the wind was so tremendous and so loud that you couldn't help allow it to be the main focus of your thoughts. The windows, front door and roof was rattling and we both thought the roof was going to fly off at any point. We where contemplating getting out of the chalet and quickly making it to a safer place as a result. I decided to open the chalet door to see how bad it was outside and look to ensure there was no debris flying around before we made the decision to leave. The chalet door flew open in my hands and pushed me back. It took the strength of myself and my partner to close the door, but just before we finally got the door closed the tornado hit, and we saw massive corroagated roofs fly off from buildings further down from us and flap about like pieces of paper. It all happened in a split second and we knew we needed to get out of the chalet quickly. But no sooner had all this happened, and as we where scrambling around finishing getting dressed, putting on our coats etc the wind died down again to just being windy!. So we grab our coats, my bag and got out of the chalet as quickly we could. Then we started to see the devastaion as we hastly made our way over towards the bridge!!! About 4 blocks in front of our block in Red Camp a large tree had come down right on top of the top chalet. Thankfully I heard no one was in the chalet otherwise they would have been crushed. Windows where broken, wood was strewn over the walkways especially near the fairground, and some fairground rides had been damaged. It looked like the swimming pool roof was what we had seen being torn off and flapping around in the air like a sheet of paper, and the windows where broken. Let's put it this way, we didn't stop to look, just scurried along to somewhere safer. We reached the entertainment lounge where Stan Baldwin was on. We both felt shell shocked by what we had experienced. My partner got us both a brandy to help calm us down...and I hated the taste of spirits but by eck I had a couple that night! As we where sitting in the lounge, numb, we saw staff bringing in blankets at the side door near the stage and didn't give it a second thought. Then Stan Boardman came on and what where the first words from his mouth!!.....his famous catch phrase ..... the Germans had bombed Red Camp!! I can't remember any of his stage show. We just sat there not speaking. Most of those in Blue and Yellow Camp hadn't been impacted by the tornado so they where unaware of the devastation over the bridge and to Red Camp. The tornado had come in over the sea and tore through this side of the camp, where Red Camp and the staff chalets. Anyways, after the show finished we thought we better go back to the chalet to see if it had been damaged and maybe just rest. The bridge had been closed off and we where told Red Camp had been condemned and off limits. All the electricity had been turned off on this side of the camp or had gone out! Either way, had to be escorted by a fireman with a torch to collect our belongings. We hastily packed our clothes and spent the night on the floor of the entertainment lounge where Stan Boardman had done his show. All the blankets we had seen thrown in to the lounge earlier on had all been taken by this time. I did eventually manage to scrounge a blanket each for myself and my partner. Obviously, the next day we where told we had to leave the camp as it was closing. It was a bit of a shambles how this was arranged but the staff did there best in difficult ircumstances. I have a few photographs (not many) shoing some of the devastation. We had booked a trip for later in the week to visit Snowdonia, from a little cabin by the lake. We stupidly thought we would get a refund before we left the camp!.....but the cabin didnt exist anymore....just the painted concrete floor where it had once been. It was all broke up and floating in the lake. The boats you see on the lake in this video where right by this cabin, were now all lodged up in the trees. Colourful boats poking out of the tops of the trees is not something you witness every day!. Some trees near the lake had fallen like dominoes!. The most shocking to see was the staff chalets, oh my word! (you could now see them from the lake side area due to the trees missing) seemed to have received the full brunt of the F1/F2 tornado that hit Pwhelli that night. These where just carcases....no roofs, no windows or doors, just empty shells. Ruins! You could see right through from the front to the back. Debris everywhere. I do not know if any staff members had been in the chalets at the time but my god it doesn't bear thinking about. I had never seen such devastation in my life. But I am sure it must have been a horrendous experience for everyone who witnessed this or felt the tornadoes fury. Unfortunately, I think this began the demise of Pwhelli from this point. I had enjoyed many childhood holidays at Butlin Camps (Pwhelli, Bognor Regis, Minehead, Filey (the year it closed down) but Pwhelli had and will alway will be my favourite....despite my experience!. I probably wouldnt have stayed in Red Camp again though!!!!.
Thank you for your very interesting documentary on how sadly Butlins Pwellheli came to an end. I remember seeing it on TV the day after. How sad such a wonderful site came to such a terrible end. However thank you again K Brown.
Blimey, Im from north Wales and we used to visit often, just for the day..I even remember going around this time with my cousin for the day and the place stank of animal fat. It really put me off my nostalgia..I used to love this place as a child. Thanks for posting.
Was always good to go to Butlins and I think we went to this site twice. Prob late 70s v early 80s. Time flies and so many things I recall are now closed or closing but with nothing quite the same to replace them. Thanks for sharing the video memories.
Thanks for the video! I have some very happy memories of Buttlins of the family holidays. I suppose the land is worth more. Let's make a few lucky elites richer! We enter this world with nothing, we leave this world with nothing. Taking with us only the desires of our hearts.
I loved it here too what a great video . I went 1994 & 1995. To be replaced by a total caravan park . Our memories are with us as long as we live . The buggers cant build on that.
Went to Butlins Ayr all my childhood in 80s 90s and to be fair most of the camps back then we're very much the same. So this still brings back a lot of memories. I also went back when Bourne leisure took of and turned some of them into haven holidays and they have completely ruined the sites. More about money than an experience in which Billy wanted.
What an absolute shame. They allowed it to deteriorate and didnt keep it updated if they had people would have carried on going. I went in 92 the cabins were filthy. Mum spent a whole day cleaning it.
Great memories of pwelelli as a 60s child only feels like yesterday fantastic holiday days I wish I could go back just to savour it once more,living in the UK today need I say anymore how diverse it is😢😢😢
Went there 2 years on the run in the early 1950s. I can remember the tandem bikes and a large fountain where we had photos taken. Our chalet was completely different to the ones in this video.
Thanks for your comments. Yes l think in the 50s most of the chalets were more Hi De Hi type buildings. Not sure what year the flats were built. Thanks KB.
I remember. Red camp getting revamped & the area around the Regency bar ,getting a make over between seasons 1978 - 1979 . The builders & the decorators ,we’re ,still working & snagging the work ,on the opening day of the season 19 - 5 - 1979 . .Back then the camps only opened for about 4 months in the summer season & a few days at Christmas .
I was there in 1985 - my memories was the bierkeller bar smashing glasses and the cable car. The one I remember most was I lost my virginity. aged 14 lol
I worked in the Regency bar end of 1978 & all of 1979 season ,the place is just a glorified souless caravan site now .The only thing they can’t destroy is the location .Best not visited you will only spoil your good memories of the great Butlins camp it was.
We went there in 1999, the first year that Haven took over the site. Sdaly, most of the Butlins facilities were removed but the indoor swimming pool and the main entertainment venues were still there and it wasn’t bad.
Went here from 78 to 90. The chairs that went on the cables used to petrify me.99% sure that's why I'm scared of hights now. They used to stop and sway in the wind. Always remember the smell of loos as we got out of the car here . We now take our grandchildren to Bognor regies Butlins. It's not the same anymore. All the family fun has been sacked out. It's aimed more for very young children
Very happy memories of this Butlins site. I went in 1989 with my then girlfriend for a day trip to visit her friends parents who were staying there. I went back in '94 with another ex, my best mate (RIP Ian) and his partner of a good few years for a long weekend. Pauline Daniels was starring on the Saturday night ( I think it was a comedy weekend). It was a great place as a starting point for all the beautiful areas around there. Abersoch beach is amazing, it's like being on a mediterrean one on a warm sunny day. Crystal blue waters and white sand. I remember it being a hell of a long drive to get there though, lots of narrow country lanes to drive along. This was great because I had a souped up BRG Rover Metro GTa at the time, and it loved the roads!
I took my wife here a few years back, I had been twice in the 70's as a kid and once to Skegness which wasn't as good. After talking to a work colleague who had recently visited the Haven version, he told me it was NOTHING like Butlins anymore. I had to agree, it's not even a shadow of its' former self. No way to get to the beach unless you like hiking through unkempt undergrowth, which was not easy for my wife who walked with a stick back then. No train, no chairlifts no fair, no snooker rooms and now it's pay pay pay for everything!
Great video.Went there every year from 1976 till late 90’s and ended up buying a caravan on there when haven took over.It’s not the same there now as it was when it was Butlins but it’s still a great camp.
As the song goes. I don't want to change the world. Sorry , But it just did happen. Can someone like Mr. VERGIN come to the rescue. We all need a holidays, Happy memories. Regards
@@garyshethers9834 I don’t think even the second one exists. From what I can see there is a few new buildings & a multitude of caravans .The main entrance to the camp has moved ,even the main road outside the camp had been slightly re -routed & a roundabout in place . They have ruined the place ,it was a bit tacky in parts in 1979 but that’s what give it atmosphere ,it just needed a bit of tarting up & the odd lick of paint .The Regency bar in 1979 was jumping with record sales ,now it’s knocked down & all that remains is a poxy playground with ropes where it once stood .
You’re talking through your backside I am Scouser & worked at the camp in 1978 & 1979 The staff & punters came from all around the U.K. & even some from abroad . I was in a supervisory capacity at the Regency bar in 1979 ,& only 4 out a large staff including myself were born in Liverpool . None of us had a chav mentality , the punters from all parts of the U.K. ,often complimented the staff ,on making their holiday enjoyable . You are coming across here being pompous & grew up being considered too delicate to play out with the rough kids .
@@carlhamilton8531 It’s true cheaper deals ,do attract obviously. those at the bottom of the ladder of life . But that doesn’t mean to say because they have limited incomes ,or come from the rougher side of the tracks ,that they have low life chav mentality . There are chavs from every town ,village & city in the U.K. & the world ,not just rough parts of Liverpool .A lot of those staff working at Butlins Pwllheli were also students ,having a working holiday . I was born & lived in Liverpool for about 20 years before I left ,to broaden my horizons .I already had a trade ,I just took the job at Butlins to experience a holiday camp for a temporary working holiday . Most of the people I knew or came across in Liverpool only had a mildish Scouse accent ,very few had a real guttural over the top guttural Scouse accent . People not used to hearing the rough Scouse accent ,can feel intimidated & wrongly assume those processing it are all rough uncouth chavs ,due to media stereo typing . Maybe this is what you experienced & had gave you an incorrect impression of persons from Liverpool .
@@maskedavenger2578 Yes, I think that's what happened and I agree there are chavs everywhere. I actually love Liverpool and have been their many times. Got a few mates from Liverpool and Birkenhead.
Thank you for posting this video. I worked here in 1985 and remember so much of it on watching this. Sadly, I've lost all photos, but I worked in the Welsh kitchen and regency bar as a waitress for a season and a half. Best job I ever had.
Yes so sad. Thanks for sharing. I went to Pwllheli throughout the 80s and 90s as a child. We went back 12 years ago to Haven. Being a Butlins girl through and through, it was disappointing 😞 We miss you Butlins Pwllheli!
Loved this place. The free cable car ride to beach was awesome. Free boating lake. Miss it!!!
Me too. LOVED the cable cars, boating lake & mini railway- so scenic. Butlin's went rubbish once they got rid of the cable cars, boating lakes, outdoor fun pools (all the free stuff!) 😒
I worked at Butlins Pwllheli in 1962. It was a great place for the holiday-makers and for the staff. The entertainers on the Butlins circuit were very good. Dennis Lotis, Michael Holliday, Emile Ford and the Checkmates, are just some that I remember - well it was sixty years ago. We also had a group of Finnish students working with us that year. They were lovely young people. Also, Jimmy Tarbuck was the entertainment Red Coat. Knobbly knees contests and all. Happy days!
Bet it was fabulous working there in its heyday! 🤗 I love the proper old fashioned Butlin's.
Nostalgia hurts. Butlins Pwllheli was amazing. I was always in owe of my grandad (tailing) going on the rollercoaster 🥰
Aww, how sweet! Yes your grandad was very brave for doing that. (My Mum was terrified on the cable cars!) 😂
So many childhood memories here. Thanks for many a good holiday Butlins. Thanks for sharing.
Allways have memories of me and my sister riding the cable car along the coast and the boomerang rollercoaster
worked here as a chef lol couldnt boil an egg but blagged at the interview that i was a trained chef this was about 1982 great memories
Have very fond memories of Butlins Pwllheli. Had the pleasure of staying there four times (1975,78,79 and 81)
Ahhh the days when children could be children …thank you for posting this video brought back a lot of good memories for me ..👍👍
I worked there in the '70s as a luggage boy on Saturdays, then two seasons '82 & '83, wonderful times and memories. In my opinion the site should have been upgraded as Butlin's and not be turned into a chalet park😔
Went past a few days ago. Very sad but very strong and happy memories. I’m sure the old reception building is there. Welcomed many a camper in ‘64. Graham (Johnny) Eagland. Proud Red.
Such a lovely video, thankyou for sharing. Brought back many memories of Butlin's in Pwllheli, I myself went there for a holiday in 1985 & I also worked there over the Xmas/New Year period in 1996. It's still really sad that it's no longer a Butlin's, I have been to it on holiday since Haven took over but it's just not the same without the cable cars, outdoor fun pool, Gaiety Theatre, mini railway, boating lake, dining rooms (for half board) & the rows of chalet lines.
Went twice in 1979 and 1982 fantastic memories and my favourite Butlins camp, went to Haven recently and it broke my heart to see so much gone one lovely moment was seeing the platform for the miniature train still in place it brought a tear to my eye. Its still a nice relaxing place now just so much magic has sadly gone from the Butlins glorydays.
Thank you for your comment. Yes l couldn't agree with you more. In 1985 we had our first holiday at Pwllheli. (as seen in the video). It was so special & always will be. Thats because at Christmas/New year 1984 my wife was very ill. I was told they didn't expect her to live.
However God blessed her & she got well again. So by spring bank holiday we had our first family holiday at Pwllheli in 1985 that l thought we would have to cancel. Like you l went myself a few years back to Havon & it broke my heart too, to see such a massive change. My wife has MS now, but thank God again she is still alive!!! KB
Billy Butlin and all of his staff made lots of people very happy and gave them life long memories that they will cherish.
Thank you so much for your comment. I couldn't agree more. My wife is very disabled now with MS. So like you l am thankful that we were able to have holidays like this at Butlins & l too cherish the memories we had as a family at Butlins. I am so pleased now that l made videos like this that keep those memories alive. Thanks again KB .
Billy Butlin, you're wonderful. Went to Skeggy in '66 and Filey in' 67, Great!
This brought back some wonderful memories, always loved visiting the Pwllheli site, thanks for sharing 👍 😊
Brilliant video. More memories than you can shake a stick at. A more innocent time for kids. Wish mine could have experienced it.
We went there about 7 times in the 50s, (usually Whit week) from when I was four or so. At first, there was no indoor pool or funfair or cable car, but we had swings etc, the outdoor pool, the boating lake, roller skating and the train. As a little kid I loved the freedom to wander on my own, and stay up late. Glorious holidays.
We had the best holidays here from 1087-1991.. This brought back some fab and not so fab memories.. I remember the children's pool, Jimmy D's, the teenagers 'nightclub' and entertainments but we also were invited to the staff chalets and we hadda go through a very narrow (like a troll bridge) tunnel to reach it. My love of nwa came from the staff block 😂 (didn't last long but we were teenage girls) I had my first ever date in the indoor pool and loved every minute of it.. Shame it closed down, I always wondered about that bridge, the staff must have really hurt their backs..
Ha-ha your comment really made me laugh as I worked there for xmas/new year in 1995/6 & the walk to/from the staff sheds under that bridge really sticks in my mind- especially at night. I remember it being really slippy/icy & we'd all hold on to each other for support but 1 of my friends must have had shoes with a really naff grip cos she landed on her arse a fair few times 😂
@@perky26hughes no way, I was 13/14 at the time (roughly in 1988-90) and that tunnel and the staff chalets are stuck as the most vivid memory of the holiday. Was it really that small or am I imagining/mis thinking about it? We recently lost my mum, and at her celebration service our butlins holidays and the family we went with were mentioned a lot and there were photos in the memory book of us all on the double bike golf cart things you could hire for a few hours. I also went on the 1 rollercoaster there was over 100 times. (I loved that coaster but forget the name) Funny what stays in your mind after all these years. I hope you have tons of happy memories of your time there.
@@perky26hughes I was there then too. I lived in Woodlands but worked in the Windsor dining room so had to use the bridge. I banged my head a few times! It was very slippery that Christmas, I slipped outside the staff laundrette and fell flat on my back!
I worked the 1996 summer too, such good times and happy memories.
I have so many happy memories of Pwllheli Butlins in the 80’s and 90’s. I went there several times. And while I went to the Ayr and Skegness camps, Pwllheli was always my favourite! Thanks for uploading this video!
Had some of the best Holidays ever here in 1982 & 1983. The outdoor pool, the fairground with the giant and the chairlift. Not to mention the Empire Theatre and the glue tunnel. Magical times. Went back in 1991 & 1993, I think. A little of the magic was still there then. Virtually nothing remains now at Hafan Y Mor.
thanks for the upload, i have fond memories of the Butlins from 1981, had a great time in North Wales as a youngster, like going back when i can now :)
I was at Pwllheli the night it got hit by a F1/F2 tornado in on a Monday night!!! I can't remember the exact year but I knew it was August time. I've have never forgotten how scary it was and how lucky we where. I still have a fear when we get high winds. My partner and I where in Red Camp and it was early evening on the Monday when the tornado hit....about 6-45pm ish. The day started out really sunny and my partner and I had spent a lovely afternoon visiting Pwllheli Town centre, spoiling ourselves with a cream tea. By the time we returned to the Camp at about 5pm the dark clouds had began rolling in from over the sea, and it was beginning to look a bit stormy. We where in a chalet at the top level in Red Camp about 3 blocks from the back. We where making our dinner and ironing clothes clothes, whilst watching the TV. We where getting ready for a night out at to see Stan Boardman who was in the cabaret lounge over the bridge near Blue and Yellow Camp, at the front of the park at Butlins Pwhelli. It was about 6pm and it had gone really dark and was raining heavy. The wind was picking up and starting to real howl. We where both getting a little anxious and could both sense this wasn't quite normal windy weather. We decided to forgo our dinner because by this time we where beginning to freak out. The noise of the wind was so tremendous and so loud that you couldn't help allow it to be the main focus of your thoughts. The windows, front door and roof was rattling and we both thought the roof was going to fly off at any point. We where contemplating getting out of the chalet and quickly making it to a safer place as a result. I decided to open the chalet door to see how bad it was outside and look to ensure there was no debris flying around before we made the decision to leave. The chalet door flew open in my hands and pushed me back. It took the strength of myself and my partner to close the door, but just before we finally got the door closed the tornado hit, and we saw massive corroagated roofs fly off from buildings further down from us and flap about like pieces of paper. It all happened in a split second and we knew we needed to get out of the chalet quickly. But no sooner had all this happened, and as we where scrambling around finishing getting dressed, putting on our coats etc the wind died down again to just being windy!. So we grab our coats, my bag and got out of the chalet as quickly we could. Then we started to see the devastaion as we hastly made our way over towards the bridge!!! About 4 blocks in front of our block in Red Camp a large tree had come down right on top of the top chalet. Thankfully I heard no one was in the chalet otherwise they would have been crushed. Windows where broken, wood was strewn over the walkways especially near the fairground, and some fairground rides had been damaged. It looked like the swimming pool roof was what we had seen being torn off and flapping around in the air like a sheet of paper, and the windows where broken. Let's put it this way, we didn't stop to look, just scurried along to somewhere safer. We reached the entertainment lounge where Stan Baldwin was on. We both felt shell shocked by what we had experienced. My partner got us both a brandy to help calm us down...and I hated the taste of spirits but by eck I had a couple that night! As we where sitting in the lounge, numb, we saw staff bringing in blankets at the side door near the stage and didn't give it a second thought. Then Stan Boardman came on and what where the first words from his mouth!!.....his famous catch phrase ..... the Germans had bombed Red Camp!! I can't remember any of his stage show. We just sat there not speaking. Most of those in Blue and Yellow Camp hadn't been impacted by the tornado so they where unaware of the devastation over the bridge and to Red Camp. The tornado had come in over the sea and tore through this side of the camp, where Red Camp and the staff chalets. Anyways, after the show finished we thought we better go back to the chalet to see if it had been damaged and maybe just rest. The bridge had been closed off and we where told Red Camp had been condemned and off limits. All the electricity had been turned off on this side of the camp or had gone out! Either way, had to be escorted by a fireman with a torch to collect our belongings. We hastily packed our clothes and spent the night on the floor of the entertainment lounge where Stan Boardman had done his show. All the blankets we had seen thrown in to the lounge earlier on had all been taken by this time. I did eventually manage to scrounge a blanket each for myself and my partner. Obviously, the next day we where told we had to leave the camp as it was closing. It was a bit of a shambles how this was arranged but the staff did there best in difficult ircumstances. I have a few photographs (not many) shoing some of the devastation. We had booked a trip for later in the week to visit Snowdonia, from a little cabin by the lake. We stupidly thought we would get a refund before we left the camp!.....but the cabin didnt exist anymore....just the painted concrete floor where it had once been. It was all broke up and floating in the lake. The boats you see on the lake in this video where right by this cabin, were now all lodged up in the trees. Colourful boats poking out of the tops of the trees is not something you witness every day!. Some trees near the lake had fallen like dominoes!. The most shocking to see was the staff chalets, oh my word! (you could now see them from the lake side area due to the trees missing) seemed to have received the full brunt of the F1/F2 tornado that hit Pwhelli that night. These where just carcases....no roofs, no windows or doors, just empty shells. Ruins! You could see right through from the front to the back. Debris everywhere. I do not know if any staff members had been in the chalets at the time but my god it doesn't bear thinking about. I had never seen such devastation in my life. But I am sure it must have been a horrendous experience for everyone who witnessed this or felt the tornadoes fury. Unfortunately, I think this began the demise of Pwhelli from this point. I had enjoyed many childhood holidays at Butlin Camps (Pwhelli, Bognor Regis, Minehead, Filey (the year it closed down) but Pwhelli had and will alway will be my favourite....despite my experience!. I probably wouldnt have stayed in Red Camp again though!!!!.
Thank you for your very interesting documentary on how sadly Butlins Pwellheli came to an end.
I remember seeing it on TV the day after. How sad such a wonderful site came to such a terrible end. However thank you again K Brown.
Bitter sweet memories for me I was a vocalist in the band second vision in the French ballroom 85/86
Blimey, Im from north Wales and we used to visit often, just for the day..I even remember going around this time with my cousin for the day and the place stank of animal fat. It really put me off my nostalgia..I used to love this place as a child. Thanks for posting.
A magical place and fixed firmly in our hearts. Thanks for this great footage.
Was always good to go to Butlins and I think we went to this site twice. Prob late 70s v early 80s. Time flies and so many things I recall are now closed or closing but with nothing quite the same to replace them. Thanks for sharing the video memories.
Went there as kid with family in 77/78/79 3 years on run, great memories
I worked as a "chalet monster" there in the early 80s. Had a great time 😊
Thanks for the video! I have some very happy memories of Buttlins of the family holidays. I suppose the land is worth more. Let's make a few lucky elites richer! We enter this world with nothing, we leave this world with nothing. Taking with us only the desires of our hearts.
I loved it here too what a great video . I went 1994 & 1995. To be replaced by a total caravan park . Our memories are with us as long as we live . The buggers cant build on that.
Went to Butlins Ayr all my childhood in 80s 90s and to be fair most of the camps back then we're very much the same. So this still brings back a lot of memories. I also went back when Bourne leisure took of and turned some of them into haven holidays and they have completely ruined the sites. More about money than an experience in which Billy wanted.
What an absolute shame. They allowed it to deteriorate and didnt keep it updated if they had people would have carried on going. I went in 92 the cabins were filthy. Mum spent a whole day cleaning it.
Great memories of pwelelli as a 60s child only feels like yesterday fantastic holiday days I wish I could go back just to savour it once more,living in the UK today need I say anymore how diverse it is😢😢😢
Went there 2 years on the run in the early 1950s. I can remember the tandem bikes and a large fountain where we had photos taken. Our chalet was completely different to the ones in this video.
Thanks for your comments.
Yes l think in the 50s most of the chalets were more Hi De Hi type buildings. Not sure what year the flats were built.
Thanks KB.
I remember that fountain! It was still there in the 80’s when I visited with my family as a child. Happy memories!
I remember. Red camp getting revamped & the area around the Regency bar ,getting a make over between seasons 1978 - 1979 . The builders & the decorators ,we’re ,still working & snagging the work ,on the opening day of the season 19 - 5 - 1979 . .Back then the camps only opened for about 4 months in the summer season & a few days at Christmas .
Oh thanks Loved Butlins and this was my favourite camp too in the 60's and 70's!
Thanks so much for your comments. Lots of people are saying what a wonderful site this was. So sad it had to close.
My dad remembers coming here as a kid, and said it was a massive resort
It was the best place in the world.
I was made here lol. And my childhood holiday with all my dad's family.. last week in July first week of August we went every year. Best memories 💖
Went there as a family late 50’s and 60’s. Had the time of our lives!😊
Great video, thank you so much for sharing. Went here 25th Apr - 2nd May 1981 with my Secondary School, such great memories ❤
Thanks for the compliment. Yes this was a wonderful site so sad it had to close, thanks again KB.
I was there in 1985 - my memories was the bierkeller bar smashing glasses and the cable car. The one I remember most was I lost my virginity. aged 14 lol
We always went to Pwllheli when I was a child in the 60s loved it ❤❤
My mother used to work in this Butlins before many many years ago
I worked at Butlins in 87',when the army parachutist crashed into that theatre.
I worked in the Regency bar end of 1978 & all of 1979 season ,the place is just a glorified souless caravan site now .The only thing they can’t destroy is the location .Best not visited you will only spoil your good memories of the great Butlins camp it was.
Thank you for this. Brings back such fantastic memories
Went there in August 1980. Happy Days!
I was there in 1971. aged 11 I was always trying to get on the mad mouse roller coaster, hard with being small but got on a few times,
Then haven came along and turned the funfair, into a carpark. Says it all.
Great vid loved Pwllheli aswell…. Great childhood memories ❤️
We went there in 1999, the first year that Haven took over the site. Sdaly, most of the Butlins facilities were removed but the indoor swimming pool and the main entertainment venues were still there and it wasn’t bad.
Went here from 78 to 90.
The chairs that went on the cables used to petrify me.99% sure that's why I'm scared of hights now. They used to stop and sway in the wind.
Always remember the smell of loos as we got out of the car here .
We now take our grandchildren to Bognor regies Butlins.
It's not the same anymore. All the family fun has been sacked out.
It's aimed more for very young children
Very happy memories of this Butlins site.
I went in 1989 with my then girlfriend for a day trip to visit her friends parents who were staying there.
I went back in '94 with another ex, my best mate (RIP Ian) and his partner of a good few years for a long weekend. Pauline Daniels was starring on the Saturday night ( I think it was a comedy weekend). It was a great place as a starting point for all the beautiful areas around there.
Abersoch beach is amazing, it's like being on a mediterrean one on a warm sunny day. Crystal blue waters and white sand.
I remember it being a hell of a long drive to get there though, lots of narrow country lanes to drive along. This was great because I had a souped up BRG Rover Metro GTa at the time, and it loved the roads!
I took my wife here a few years back, I had been twice in the 70's as a kid and once to Skegness which wasn't as good. After talking to a work colleague who had recently visited the Haven version, he told me it was NOTHING like Butlins anymore. I had to agree, it's not even a shadow of its' former self. No way to get to the beach unless you like hiking through unkempt undergrowth, which was not easy for my wife who walked with a stick back then. No train, no chairlifts no fair, no snooker rooms and now it's pay pay pay for everything!
I loved that place👍👍
Outdoor pool looks nice
Great video.Went there every year from 1976 till late 90’s and ended up buying a caravan on there when haven took over.It’s not the same there now as it was when it was Butlins but it’s still a great camp.
The fact is it closed because YOU stopped going 😢
Yeah but it licks arse now. Not like the awl days of Butlins.
As the song goes. I don't want to change the world. Sorry , But it just did happen. Can someone like Mr. VERGIN come to the rescue. We all need a holidays, Happy memories. Regards
What did you see ? Im from ireland and remember the ferrie bring me from dublin to wales and then coach to here.
Think the gaiety building still stands.? Maybe
Yes it does in hafan y mor formally butlins Pwllheli / Starcoast world
@@garyshethers9834 I don’t think the original building still stands ,the place is just another glorified soulless caravan site now .
@@maskedavenger2578 the original burnt down in the 1970s but the one in the video is the second one
@@garyshethers9834 I don’t think even the second one exists. From what I can see there is a few new buildings & a multitude of caravans .The main entrance to the camp has moved ,even the main road outside the camp had been slightly re -routed & a roundabout in place . They have ruined the place ,it was a bit tacky in parts in 1979 but that’s what give it atmosphere ,it just needed a bit of tarting up & the odd lick of paint .The Regency bar in 1979 was jumping with record sales ,now it’s knocked down & all that remains is a poxy playground with ropes where it once stood .
@@maskedavenger2578 it still exits
For one week, we were totally happy. Or 2 weeks, if you had the cash back then?
went there in 1991 at the age of 18 and they had a sex show on in the evening, 1st time i ever experienced like that. good memories
I went there once and was once enough. Full of chavy Scousers. Not nice place, even the bar/cafe staff were rough
You’re talking through your backside I am Scouser & worked at the camp in 1978 & 1979 The staff & punters came from all around the U.K. & even some from abroad . I was in a supervisory capacity at the Regency bar in 1979 ,& only 4 out a large staff including myself were born in Liverpool . None of us had a chav mentality , the punters from all parts of the U.K. ,often complimented the staff ,on making their holiday enjoyable . You are coming across here being pompous & grew up being considered too delicate to play out with the rough kids .
@@maskedavenger2578 I'm only speaking from experience. To be fair, I did go out of season on a cheapo deal when I was a student.
@@carlhamilton8531 It’s true cheaper deals ,do attract obviously. those at the bottom of the ladder of life . But that doesn’t mean to say because they have limited incomes ,or come from the rougher side of the tracks ,that they have low life chav mentality . There are chavs from every town ,village & city in the U.K. & the world ,not just rough parts of Liverpool .A lot of those staff working at Butlins Pwllheli were also students ,having a working holiday . I was born & lived in Liverpool for about 20 years before I left ,to broaden my horizons .I already had a trade ,I just took the job at Butlins to experience a holiday camp for a temporary working holiday . Most of the people I knew or came across in Liverpool only had a mildish Scouse accent ,very few had a real guttural over the top guttural Scouse accent . People not used to hearing the rough Scouse accent ,can feel intimidated & wrongly assume those processing it are all rough uncouth chavs ,due to media stereo typing . Maybe this is what you experienced & had gave you an incorrect impression of persons from Liverpool .
@@maskedavenger2578 Yes, I think that's what happened and I agree there are chavs everywhere. I actually love Liverpool and have been their many times. Got a few mates from Liverpool and Birkenhead.
@@carlhamilton8531 Glad you have had a chance to get to know Liverpool & it’s surrounding areas better & found a few decent friends . 👍