Butlins is a well-known Holiday Resort in the UK and has 3 locations in Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness, they often have low-budget and great-value holidays with Shows, activities and dining included in your stay. But with Food and Dining there are several options for families to decide on, so let’s look at the options.
Where to Start
Butlins has two main choices to start with, do you provide and buy food yourself or do you opt for their dining options, including their dining package which allows you to eat at a selected dining area in a buffet style food with several options, you can as much as you want essentially for both breakfast and Dinner, however, lunch is something you would need to do.
Dining Package
If you choose the dining package it is a price, you have to pay per person including Kids, and per day, this can easily mount up over a larger family and could be more than your actual holiday, you would need to way up the price of this compared to what you would pay per day if you went the other way,. With the dining plan there two versions with essentially a cheaper version and premium, this is basically the choice and options that you can have.
If we focus on the more premium one for example, its buffet style with several stations you can visit, these can vary from Chinese, pasta, grill and selected dishes based on certain nights like Pizza, Curry, Roast etc..There’s also a kid’s station, alongside a salad bar, ice cream, and desserts, there’s also drinks dispensed for hot and cold.
In our family, we have fussy eaters and varied and to be honest, because of the choice you can actually cater to all, while using this as a parent you get that piece of mind that at least we have eaten for breakfast and dinner, for example, I fill myself up and just get a drink later on. There are designated times for these, and and certain times it can get very busy with people wanting to eat between shows or activities.
Self Catering
If you’re not going with the dining plan there are other options, in self-catering you will often have a kitchen, so bringing food with you or visiting a supermarket just for you get there could be a great option, as they’re based in towns things are close to you, there is also a mini supermarket located in the resorts so you are able to quickly top up what you need. Obviously bringing your own food or visiting a cheaper supermarket can work out a good price but your doing the work.
The Butins supermarket isn’t really expensive but do expect it to be more than the average shop as you are paying for the convenience, this saving on food though needs to be offset that you need a big accommodation because you need a kitchen etc…
Restaurants
Another option could be to eat at the various dining restaurants etc at the resort, each resort generally has the same option, The Diner, Firehouse, Papa John, and Beachcomber, these are all restaurant-style food places, but these are naturally going to be pricey as you are eating at normal style restaurant, you can also eat at the buffet places that the dining plan people eat at, however you will have to pay full price where the Dining plan people will have saved some money in comparison.
Butlins is beginning to grow there branded places, Rock and Sole is there fish and chip style takeaway while Burger King and Costa add that known comfort, these are generally the same price that you will pay around the country, Subway, chopstix etc are newer option and maybe the future will continue to add these options, which for a many is a good alternative.
Remember though you are in a Town, you can leave the resort and often find things not far, for example,e McDonalds is 30 seconds away from Minehead entrance in a car, so if you are really struggling you have this option.
Always snack and drink options around
Lastly, there are a variety of snack-style places, there’s an ice cream parlour, a mini supermarket that we already talked about, doughnuts etc in the fairground, a variety of bars that sell snacks around the pavilion and shows like centre stage, reds and Studio 36. You’re never too far from a drink or food, the B-Serve can be useful which is an app that can bring your stuff to you, and along with the new drinks package you can fill your boots as you stay.
This is up to date with what’s on offer as of writing this post, Butlins do improve and raise prices and change what’s available so check the site before you go.
