Topic: Hi-De-Not Pontins enters administration

Holiday camp company Pontin's has been placed into administration, the accountancy firm KPMG has said. The company runs five parks, all of which will keep trading as normal, KPMG added. No redundancies have been made among Pontin's 850 staff.

In February 2009 Pontin's announced a £50m plan to redevelop its centres and create 2,000 jobs but eventually closed Blackpool Park, in Lancashire. KPMG said it was optimistic the "iconic British brand" still had a future.

'Strong business'
Pontin's chairman Graham Parr said the business was profitable but had been a victim of the credit crunch and had gone into administration because its bank had withdrawn its support. "The business is strong, it's going really well - we have 3,000 holidaymakers staying with us this weekend," he said. "But the bank has simply said it is not prepared to support our credit facilities any more. It's very annoying and the most non-sensical business situation I have ever been involved in."

Mr Parr, who has been involved with Pontin's on and off since the 1960s, said he and his partners fully intended to "get back in [to the business] and get it sorted."

BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam said the company had suffered in a very competitive market place, with operators such as Butlins and Havens more successful in taking advantage of UK holidaymakers' desire for budget getaways during the downturn.

Pontin's, known for its Bluecoats entertainers, was established in 1946 and at its height owned more than 30 parks. It was bought by Oceans Park for £46m in 2008. The five sites left are at Brean Sands, in Somerset; Camber Sands, in Sussex; Pakefield, in Suffolk; Prestatyn Sands, in Denbighshire; and Southport, in Merseyside.

'Iconic brand'
KPMG said it was in the process of appointing an experienced leisure operator to the company in order that it can "continue trading and ensure that guests' holiday expectations are met". It added that it intended to honour all reservations.


"Pontin's is an iconic British brand which forms the backdrop to thousands of treasured family holiday memories," said Jane Moriarty, joint administrator at KPMG. "It has unfortunately struggled in the current economic environment but, with some support from new management, we are optimistic that it will be part of thousands of family memories in the years to come." The administrators have set up a helpline number for customers, which will be open from Monday 15 November. It is 0844 576 8481.
Source: BBC News

Have you got a holiday booked at one of the camps?

Hmmm, it's an 'iconic brand' that has gone from 30 branches to 5 in recent years...

People have different tastes now, and I was unfortunate enough to visit a family member staying at a Pontins... It was bliddy awful. That's the reason they're in administration.

I feel sorry for the staff who are faced with losing their jobs, but as a company, I really couldn't be happier

Times have moved on, unfortunately they failed to :o

QUOTE:

Hmmm, it's an 'iconic brand' that has gone from 30 branches to 5 in recent years...

People have different tastes now, and I was unfortunate enough to visit a family member staying at a Pontins... It was bliddy awful. That's the reason they're in administration.

I feel sorry for the staff who are faced with losing their jobs, but as a company, I really couldn't be happier

My understanding is that it is being offered for sale as a going concern so that a new owner (or MBO) can reinvigorate the business and settle debts, hopefully keeping the name, at this moment nobody is going to loose there jobs.
We went a couple of Christmases ago, to a Turkey & Tinsel mid week break, adults only at Pakefield and thoroughly enjoyed it. Food (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, included) was good, entertainment including visiting acts were also good.
For what we paid, 4 days for less than £100 each, was excellent value for money. Maybe thats why they have gone bust under priced.

QUOTE:

My understanding is that it is being offered for sale as a going concern so that a new owner (or MBO) can reinvigorate the business and settle debts, hopefully keeping the name, at this moment nobody is going to loose there jobs.
We went a couple of Christmases ago, to a Turkey & Tinsel mid week break, adults only at Pakefield and thoroughly enjoyed it. Food (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, included) was good, entertainment including visiting acts were also good.
For what we paid, 4 days for less than £100 each, was excellent value for money. Maybe thats why they have gone bust under priced.

Times have moved on and it appears that others, like center parcs, have kept pace with their clients requirements. I also suspect that 'cheap' prices may be a factor and that they must have been operating on a very small margin.

By comparison, we were thinking of returning to Center Parcs for Christmas this year. 5 nights for £900 for a 2 bedroom lodge without any food seems steep to me. A 4 night break in the same accommodation in May 2010 was under £400.

You can guess where I will be this Christmas......warm at home, with all the family and trimmings enjoying the 11 days break I will have this year.

Vinny

QUOTE:

Times have moved on and it appears that others, like center parcs, have kept pace with their clients requirements. I also suspect that 'cheap' prices may be a factor and that they must have been operating on a very small margin.

By comparison, we were thinking of returning to Center Parcs for Christmas this year. 5 nights for £900 for a 2 bedroom lodge without any food seems steep to me. A 4 night break in the same accommodation in May 2010 was under £400.

You can guess where I will be this Christmas......warm at home, with all the family and trimmings enjoying the 11 days break I will have this year.

Vinny

Have been to Center Parcs a couple of times, on an overnight stay, to visit my daughter and her family who were staying there. I thought it was very expensive, considering it is self catering. Yes there are restaurants where you can have a meal, but to be honest IMO the food (which was an additional cost) was nowhere as good as what we had at Pontins.

QUOTE:

Have been to Center Parcs a couple of times, on an overnight stay, to visit my daughter and her family who were staying there. I thought it was very expensive, considering it is self catering. Yes there are restaurants where you can have a meal, but to be honest IMO the food (which was an additional cost) was nowhere as good as what we had at Pontins.

I would agree entirely regarding the food which is also expensive, plus the price of drinks. However, we tend to take our own. It is the setting that attracts us to CP's, plus the inclusive facilites. I have not been to Pontin's or Butlin's since I was a young teenager but I have fond memories of many summer holidays spent there. CP just offers something that little bit different but like you say....a tad expensive.

Vinny

QUOTE:

I would agree entirely regarding the food which is also expensive, plus the price of drinks. However, we tend to take our own. It is the setting that attracts us to CP's, plus the inclusive facilites. I have not been to Pontin's or Butlin's since I was a young teenager but I have fond memories of many summer holidays spent there. CP just offers something that little bit different but like you say....a tad expensive.

Vinny

We used to have a Butlin's in Clacton, I still have a Butlin's badge from 1968, but unfortunately it is now a housing estate.