Southport pontins

niknaknoo1982

Is it really that bad? I haven't been for nearly 6 years, when my eldest was a baby. It was off season and went with my grandparents and mum who mainly wanted to stay on the site,was not much on for the kids!

I am planning our first family holiday for me,hubby and our 4 kids under 7. Southport is local enough to get to by bus as we have no transport (20 miles ish-although i'm thinking of getting a minibus) Not many options avaiable for us, i thought maybe a holiday apartment in Blackpool but there's not so much at night to do with the kids besides arcades or staying in bored!

Purely for the kids, but the reviews online are scary. Has anything changed on site and what is it like in season for little ones (7,3,2 and 1) I will be paying full price not a sun offer but for under £250 for 3 nights. I know the accomodation is not 100% but hopefully just going to be using the chalet as a base but what are the facilities like there now? the kids play area was just a play kitchen and a few other toys last time, no ball pool that i remember, and 1 bar was closed!

Thanks in advance!

chelle017

We went to Pontins Southport mid July and Easter this year. You have to expect what you pay for. We use chalet as a base they are clean but well worn out. Bath has shower over and water lasted fine....45 seconds is approx how long water runs you need to keep pushing the button on the shower to keep it going. Only complaints is the noise at night when people are walking past or letting there kids run wil along the balconies late evening/early morning. We only went as last minute having returned home from a week at Haven which turned out to be awful. Pontins we find have far better entertainment than Haven and it flows far better with no great breaks between things

BARGAINMAD101

Have also been to Pontins Southport recently and as said previously it is VERY old and run down BUT chalet clean and entertainment was quite good kids loved it and thats what matters so would defo go again if it was cheap enough. Use as a base and enjoy! Offers for next week on at the moment on grabbit page hth.:D

Tisha30

We went there 2 weeks ago with our 15month old. Whilst most of the apartment was clean, the floor was filthy so when we were in the apartment he had to play on a picnic rug I'd taken or in his travel cot. The first night is the noisiest and if you can survive that, you'll last the rest of your stay as it definitely got quieter as the week went on. Do take earplugs with you though as the fairground plays loud music until 11 at night. There is absolutely nothing for tots to do on site apart from swimming and the soft play area is for ages 4-8 only. As a result we spent everyday off site either visiting Southport itself, Liverpool and even Blackpool.There is a great beach just down the road so I hope you have lovely weather to spend your time there. If you want to get a seat for the evenings entertainment you'll have to be there before 6 and sit through the bingo sessions. The entertainment was hit and miss but the older kids seemed to enjoy it. If you want to know anything else, just let me know!

narabanekeater

just a thought could you book it if you are going to go through the daily mail offer or sun holiday offer?

Sweets

We went a couple of weeks ago. The Chalet floor was disgusting, mildew all over the bathroom, and it didn't get cleaned while we were there. You have to pay for hire of toasters, microwaves, cots, buggies etc, with quite a significant deposit. There is no airer, so it's £1.25 for 15 mins in the dryer. There is NOTHING to do for under 4s, especially boys, they aren't even allowed in the soft play. You have to pay to go on the fairground (it looks like it's free on their website, it's £2 a ticket) The sofa bed was collapsing, the dining chairs were school type chairs, there are no drawers in the bedrooms, only wardrobes with no doors and not many hangers. The PGL activities we queued for over an hour for, even though we booked slots. Our tall 6 year old was not big enough for the go-karts. They pressured the kids in to buying stuff at the evening activities, hats, glow-sticks etc Oh, and the story time and Scooby meet and greet, that's listed in the free activities online, you have to pay for them too. AND avoid the cabaret with the little ones, after the party time, I was slightly shocked when there were women dancing in Thong bikinis when my just 6 year old was sat right in front of the stage, mind you the blue coat describing the Queen of hearts as a big fat tart, with a big fat bum, in the kids bingo also shocked me.

All in all, I wasn't impressed, I would have enjoyed it more if it had been more comfortable I think, oh and if they hadn't made my son feel like he couldn't join in because we couldn't afford to buy him a hat and a glowstick

chelle017

We had a toaster and microwave in the chalet with no charge, I think its budget/classic you have to hire them but there is a cooker and grill if you don't want to pay to hire. Have to say we didn't feel preured into buying all the gimmicky things.....every night they had a stall had the front of the hall selling them and it was announced they were on sale but they were not forced on us.

niknaknoo1982

My mum booked it for me before i had the chance to check back on here, turns out they don't accept my debit card on the website, we are going for 3 nights and should have been £211 my mum got it reduced to £180!

niknaknoo1982

I'm going self catering what is in the budget chalets? should i take my own plates etc?

Tisha30

They tend to only provide you with 4 of everything (plates, cutlery, cups etc) so you'll probably want to take extras. I took my sons plastic plates etc

Only had one pot and frying pan in our apartment and the grill pan didn't fit the oven either so made cooking interesting but we only tended to have breakfast and a light snack whilst there.

Did not provide a can opener. No microwaves in budget accomodation either but I think these can be hired.

deanos

http://www.holidaywatchdog.com/15366-Merseyside-Pontins_Southport-Holiday-Review.html

Reviews look terrible !

Pontins really need to do what Butlins did a few years back, knock down the accommodation and put new chalets in and totally refurbish the entertainment areas, it was mentioned a couple of years ago they were going to do this but dont think its started ?

http://www.pontinsnews.com/pontin%E2%80%99s-reveals-plans-for-the-multi-million-investment-of-its-holiday-parks/