Hi-de-No! Pontins bottom of holiday league

PONTINS has come bottom of the ‘Hi-de-Hi’ league of British holiday parks, thanks to musty smells and dirty mattresses.

At the other end of the scale, Center Parcs scored well for its accommodation, but was criticised for its high prices, which one guest said were ‘second mortgage expensive’.

A survey of 2,200 stays at holiday parks by Which? gave Pontins, which is famous for its entertainers, called Bluecoats, just 59 per cent – far less than other parks.

One guest said Pontins was a ‘dull, dingy campsite’, and others complained of cobwebs, musty smells, sticky furniture and stained mattresses. It scraped just two stars out of five for accommodation and the same rating for entertainment and children’s facilities. However, some guests said that they had an ‘amazing’ time and their trip brought back childhood memories.

Its closest rival, Butlin’s, has spent millions smartening up its complexes in Bognor, Minehead and Skegness, which has paid off. It outclassed Pontins in almost all categories and on average it was cheaper.

Butlin’s scored three or four stars in every category and was given a 71 per cent score. That put it only one behind Center Parcs, which got two stars for value for money as guests reported paying £71 per night on average with extra activities on top.

However, it got five stars for accommodation and four for cleanliness, customer service and facilities.

On price, Center Parcs was on a par with the winner, Potters, but its resorts in Norfolk and Essex are all-inclusive. It scored 88 per cent and one guest said: ‘Entertainment is fantastic, with shows that could just as easily be in the West End.’

In second place with 87 per cent was Waterside, whose parks in Dorset and Cornwall have beachfront bars and restaurants.

Pontins and Center Parcs did not respond to requests for comment.