It’s hard to believe this rundown seaside town, that was recently ranked one of the worst in the UK, used to be the proud owner of a huge Billy Butlin’s resort
A once-thriving seaside town that has plummeted in the league tables used to home a huge Billy Butlin’s resort – not that you’d ever be able to tell.
Famed for its award-winning pier, golden sand beaches, and quintessential fun fair rides – Clacton-On-Sea used to be a glorious seaside resort that attracted droves of Brits from across the nation. But, earlier this year, Clacton, in Essex, came joint fourth-last with Skegness in Which?’s ranking of the UK’s best seaside towns.
It scored a measly 48 per cent – a shocking contrast to Bamburgh, who topped the tables with an impressive 86 per cent destination score. Following a survey of almost 5,000 travellers, the town was given three stars for its beaches and parking availability, but only two stars for its seafront/ pier and in the ‘peace and quiet’ category. When it comes to scenery, Clacton only took home one star.
READ MORE: UK’s newest £350m Center Parcs in pretty rural town and exactly how it will look
But back in its hey-day, before the Benidorm-boom saw Brits betray the UK coast for cheap package holidays to Spain, Clacton looked completely different. In 1936, Billy Butlin bought the West Clacton Estate, which already contained a miniature golf course and boating lake, and transformed it into the Red Coat resort we all know and love.
The resort closed due to the outbreak of war, where it was temporarily taken over by the Army. But in 1946, it reopened as a holiday camp – and went on to acquire nearby land to expand. “By the late 1950s, Butlin’s had become a national institution and to some extent, Clacton was able to bask in its reflected glory,” explained Clacton History. “The combination of Butlin’s and Clacton had become firmly established and for both their futures as family holiday venues seemed unshakeable.”
Like other Butlin’s sites, guests couldn’t get enough of the vast facilities on offer, such as cosy cabins, a huge outdoor pool, funfair rides, a ballroom dancing hall, bowling green, shops, a miniature railway, and stellar entertainment. It is said stars including the Beverley Sisters, Michael Holliday, and Jack Douglas all appeared on the camp in their younger days.
But, unable to compete with competitive flight prices to sunny Spain, and tarnished by unruly teens using the resort as a place to get drunk, Butlin’s sadly closed its doors in 1983 – the same year the Filey resort was also abandoned. According to Butlin’s Memories, the site was purchased for around £2 million by Amusement Enterprises Ltd – whounveiled ambitious plans to turn the complex into a ‘Disneyland’ style theme park.
With a new name, Atlas Park, the site re-opened in 1984 but remained largely unchanged from the Butlin’s era. The venture only lasted four months before running into financial difficulty, and the land was sold again. By 1987, everything had been demolished.
The area now serves local residents as a housing development, which is ideally located near the sea. It seems worlds away from the glory days of Butlin’s – which is still missed by swathes of locals.
Want the latest travel news and cheapest holiday deals sent straight to your inbox? Sign up to our Travel Newsletter
However, things are looking up for the town after they revealed plans to regenerate Clacton and the nearby Jaywick Sands in a huge £20 million upgrade. Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Cabinet has backed a whole host of schemes aimed at regenerating the town as part of a new Community Regeneration Partnership with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.
This includes £3 million being pumped into Clacton Leiure Centre to become a new Active Wellbeing Centre, as well as £2 million for the NHS towards building a new urgent treatment centre at Clacton Hospital. £500,000 has also been set aside for a new seafront art and community micro venue, while £500,000 will be invested to improve tired shopfronts.
Councillor Ivan Henderson, Deputy Leader of TDC and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver transformative interventions across our district. These projects will significantly improve the quality of life, access to opportunities and health and wellbeing of our residents.”
Should Butlin’s return to Clacton-on-Sea? Let us know in the comments section below