Butlin's unveils new retro chalets after £16m makeover

Butlin's has unveiled its pretty new-look chalets after a £16 million makeover.

The new accommodation, called West Lakes Chalet Village, is based at its Minehead holiday park. The chalets are painted in pastel shades and 117 properties sleeping four, six or eight people have been created.

If the chalets prove popular, more will be commissioned.

According to the Independent, the design echoes Sir Billy Butlin's original concept. His first camp in Skegness, which opened in 1936, had chalets in their own grounds with pretty gardens.

Butlin's said on its website: "The accommodation aims to revive the best of the resort's past, in order to unite and inspire the businesses of the future. Inspired by the iconic chalets Butlin's first became famous for, the village promises comfort and privacy for visitors in a place full of colour, well-being and retro nostalgia. A £16 million investment has been put into building and designing the 117 brand new chalets, all surrounded by beautiful lakes, colourful gardens and village greens."



The holiday company consulted Mumsnet for feedback on what families were looking for, and after the consultations decided against putting TVs in children's rooms, but the chalets do all offer free Wi-fi throughout.

Dermot King, managing director of Butlin's, told the Daily Telegraph: "We have a village library where you can borrow old-fashioned, family games such as Twister.

"That's because the research is pretty clear that mums are looking for that part of the holiday break where the family come together, rather than kids doing their own thing and parents doing their own thing."

The paper adds that the Minehead village is the first part of a £32m investment programme in 2015 by Butlin's, with a further £16m to be spent on accommodation and food over the remainder of the year.

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