Butlin Big Weekend 80’s - Mindhead

Butlins Big Weekends are a 3 night stay, Friday to Monday. They are themed and this one was 80's. There are 3 locations Bogonor Regis, Skegness and Mindhead, which is the largest site and the one i went to.

I choose to stay in a Gold apartment with a balcony, which was a extra cost.

As I was in Gold accommodation, I was able to check in from 3pm., instead of 4pm. As it was, I didn't get there until 4pm. Which was when the rest of the geasts could check in. If you get there before 7:30 pm, other wise you need to park up and go into guest's customer service. When you can go through the drive through to check-in which means you dont need to get out of the car. There were 2 ques with with 2 check-in stations for each que, 3 of the 4 check-in stastion were open. Guess which que i got in. Yes you got it, the one with only 1 open. The staff were very friendly and helpful. They asked our name and gave us our envelope. Which had our key cards in and a few flyers selling other breaks and a Find out What's on this weekend QR code to download the program for the weekend. They also gave a map with the location of were you get your wristbands, where they check your ID (photo ID was needed from all your party} Everyone needed a wristband to get into all the venues, on site. They asked us if we knew where we were going and give you directions of where to park and where your accommodation is located.

We were then able to park up and get into our accommodation. The car park for our accommodation was very close. This is not always the case for all accommodations. We were on the frist floor. In a 2 bed apartment, with a balcony. The accommodation was very tired looking with stains on the furniture and carpets, rust all around the shower cubicle and the balcony needed a good steam clean. The table and chairs on the balcony were in very good condition. There was no hot water in the kitchen tap and no cold water in the bathroom tap, well the bathroom tap did work, but it was very very stiff. The beds were comfortable, but im not used to sleeping in a double bed with the hubby. So home sorning in my ear alnight and being elbow in the face a few times was not good. We opted for self catering and the was a good range of kitchen equipment to do this. Enough to spend a week in the apartment comfortably for a week. There was even a washing up pack, which had a cloth, sponge, tea towel, washing up liquid and extra bags for rubbish. There was a iron, ironing board and hairdryer.

There was a TV's in both the room and the main bedroom and there was good Wi-Fi on the whole site.

Friday Entertainment

We que up at 7pm (doors open at 7:30pm) to get a seat in Centre Stage, as i was in a group of 10 and we all wanted to sit together.

was very busy all night and it took over 20 minutes every time you want to get a drink. All drinks were served inn plastic cups, not that environmental friendly.

The atmosphere was great, with lots of groups dressed up in all sorts of different outfits, some sort of resemblances 80s theme. Everyone was there to have fun, sing their heart out and dance the night away.

The Line up in there was 7:30pm DJ Pete Sheriff, 20:30 Bother Beyond, 22:00 The Fizz, 23:15 Complete Madness.

DJ Pete is very good at his job, getting the crowd engaged and he was very entertaining.

Nathan Moore form Bother Beyond was not great. Best known for being a member of boy band Brother Beyond, Nathan Moore is an English singer with over thirty years experience under his belt performing making him a finely tuned artist. Although he did try, singing songs from the 80's and trying to engage the audience.

The Fizz, what a let down. The Fizz are a British pop music group formed of three original members of Eurovision Winners Bucks Fizz. The core of the group consists of Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston. The only one that had any go in them was Jay. They did a range of 80;s hits, not theirs badly and not before slagging off, their most famous song, finished off with Making your Mind Up, which they did sing ok.

Complete Madness were the best band of the night. Complete Madness were formed in 1994 out of a band called ‘Beat The System’. They performed a good range of madness songs and kept the audience engaged throughout their performance.

The was also entertainment in Reds. 20:30 DJ Miles Tighe, 21:45 Andrew Browing, 23:00 Massaoke. There was asSlight disco inn Hotshorts and a DJ playing Inn on the Green. I didn't go to any of theses, so can't comment on how it went. There was something for everyone.

Saturday Entertainment