We were delighted to be invited to the launch of the Ocean Hotel at Butlins, Bognor Regis.
The day begin with the special train for press and bloggers from London, Victoria. The journey took almost two hours but went quickly as the boys enjoyed watching the magician and chatting to red-coats Shane and Ronnie, whilst we were treated to champagne and canapies.
Butlins and holiday camps have long been considered traditional British holidays for the masses, and in recent years they have lost their lustre compared to overseas jaunts and quaint cottage by the sea. So, to be honest, I really wasn't expecting the shiny and stylish Ocean Spa Hotel. With a £20M pricetag, it definitely looked fantastic and had a fun yet stylish atmosphere. Indeed, it seems this investment is already paying off for Butlins as the hotel is heavily booked for the rest of the summer.
Front view of the Ocean Spa Hotel
The hotel is shiny, stylish and contemporary, yet designed with families and children in mind. There are lots of little extras that make everyone’s stay more memorable: the moving fish on the reception floor, the bright colour scheme and art work, and the unforgettable disco lifts.
Indeed, the lifts were an instant hit with us. The doors close, coloured lights and cheesy 70s and 80s music has us dancing up to the 4th floor every time. The boys giggled every time the door opened.
Our room also simple yet very stylish. The boys loved the fact that they had their own ‘den’ with a DVD player, coloured lights and special storage boxes under the bed for their treasures.
Main adult bedroom
Kids 'den' bedroom
The ambience of the rooms was fresh and relaxing. The bathroom had coloured lights so you could have you're very own 'mini spa', although it has to be said it was a little small for getting the children ready in the mornings.
The day of the launch continued with the official opening by the MD of Butlins and the Mayor of Bognor Regis, a fantastic buffet lunch, a weird and wonderful show in the gardens, and tours of the hotel.
Butlins MD and Mayor of Bognor Regis cut the ribbon
Redcoat Shane entertains the children
A colourful show marked the launch of the Ocean Hotel
We had a lovely time on our , the staff were all fun and friendly and the hotel was much better than our expectations. What more could we ask for :)
Check out the Butlins Website for more details on the Ocean Hotel.
