Holiday park job cuts 'unsurprising' says expert

A seaside historian has said it is "unsurprising" to see a big holiday park cutting jobs.

Butlin's first opened in 1936, and despite currently celebrating its 90th anniversary it only has three resorts left in Minehead in Somerset, Skegness and Bognor Regis.

And amid rising costs and a proposed tourist tax, the holiday park chain is reportedly proposing to cut 250 jobs.

Dr Kathryn Ferry, a seaside historian based in Essex, said: "Butlin's has been in business for 90 years so they obviously know how to weather these kind of storms before. The whole of the hospitality industry across the UK is feeling the pinch so it's sadly unsurprising they are looking at it [job cuts]."

"There are only three Butlin's holiday parks now where there were nine in the heyday in the 60s so things change. You have to adapt and that's just the way of the world sadly," Ferry added.

"Everyone is feeling the pinch with cost of living and inflation affecting all our pockets and Butlin's is not immune."

Ferry said Butlin's has stayed in business for 90 years because it has adapted to the changing market.

"You've got to remember in the 1980s and 1990s, cheap package holidays abroad came in and it felt like end for UK breaks," she added.

A Butlin's spokesperson said: "The UK economy remains challenging and businesses like Butlin's have been heavily impacted by the business rates hikes, on top of the jobs tax and potential holiday tax.

"As a result, there have been changes to our resort structure, which means we have had to make some job cuts."

A government spokesperson said: "We're reforming business rates to back hospitality, with a £4.3bn support package to limit bills rises, alongside capping Corporation Tax at 25%, cutting red tape and taking action on the cost of living to boost the sector.

"Meanwhile the visitor levy is about giving our mayors powers to put more money into local priorities, and it is for mayors to consider the right level for their area."

Mark Banks, Butlins superfan and collector has been going to Butlins in Minehead for years.

He says he believes he has been there hundreds of times, first as a child with his parents and later with his own children.

"When you went into Butlin's, you forgot about the outside world," Banks said.

"I remember the monorail train going past, the smell of the sea, the sun splash swimming pool, the Oasis, the beachcomber, the Wizzy World, and the Crazy Horse Saloon - the list goes on.

"Butlin's still has that meaning to me, because when I turn up, I still see that. Yes the entertainment's changed, but the layout hasn't."

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