Butlin's Memorabilia Website
After Butlins AYR

also known as Haven Craig Tara Holiday Park

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Remembering Butlins AYR 

The story of Butlins AYR commenced during World War Two, involving Billy Butlin and the Ministry. At the start of World War II, Billy Butlin was approached by the Ministry to repurpose his Butlins Skegness, Butlins Clacton, and the partially constructed Butlins Filey camp into training camps for the brave soldiers. Billy Butlin agreed as the camps were being closed down, as Butlin's, with the completion of the construction of Butlin's Filey being financed by the Ministry. With the camps now managed by the ministry, Billy Butlin was requested to help build two new camp sites, one in North Wales - Pwllheli, and another in Scotland - AYR. 

Billy Butlin sought to provide as much assistance as possible and entered into an agreement with the Ministry to help build these two camps, with the condition that they would be transferred to Butlin's at the end of the war. He would contribute to the design and supervision of both sites, which were to resemble the traditional Butlins camp sites. Billy would keep working hard to support the Ministry throughout the United Kingdom and even create the 21 Club in Europe. Butlins AYR would open for the first time as HMS Scotia and would operate under this name until 1946, when it would transition to being a Butlins.

A small interesting fact about the name HMS Scotia: Today, there is a unit called HMS Scotia based on the East Coast of Scotland. Their history shows that they adopted this name in 1960 and recruited and trained reservists from across Edinburgh, Fife and East Central Scotland. You can read more about today's HMS Scotia by clicking on these words to view their website (opens a new window)

Following the conclusion of World War II, the camps were handed back to Billy Butlin, who had already begun making repairs. In 1946, the gates reopened for the second time, showcasing the Butlins logo. Butlins AYR emerged as a major success, with many campers and staff creating unforgettable memories and moments. In 1986, Butlins AYR was chosen as one of five camps to transition into the new Butlins Holiday Worlds era, continuing the Butlins legacy. At the start of this new phase, the site was renamed AYR Holiday World. However, this name was changed within two years to its final name, Wonderwest World.

In 1999, the gates opened for the third time, revealing the logo of the sister company, Haven. That year, the Rank organisation, which owned Haven, Warner's, Oasis, and Butlins, transferred both Pwllheli and AYR to the Haven brand. The camp was rebranded as "Craig Tara Holiday Park," with nearly all Butlins-related elements removed. As of August 2025, this Haven park is no longer affiliated with Butlins due to changes in parent company ownership. Butlins is now owned by the Harris Family Trust, while Haven and Warners are under the ownership of Bourne Leisure Ltd. Today, very little of Butlins remains at this location.

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Butlins AYR Station
Chapter One - Heads of AYR Railway Station

The story of After Butlins AYR starts with the Head of AYR railway station, which was the first to close down on the former Butlins camp.

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Butlins Head of AYR Hotel
Chapter Two - The Heads of AYR Hotel

The story of the Head of AYR Hotel, which was based at the front of the Butlins AYR camp and offered an alternative break for customers not wanting the camp lifestyle, I look at what has changed over the years since it was demolished.

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Google Earth Images
Chapter Three -  When Butlins becomes Haven

With the help of Google Earth Pro, I was able to do further research on the history of Butlins AYR and show how some areas are no longer in  Haven Craig Tara Park today

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AYR Photos
Chapter Four  - Photos of After Butlins AYR

I have decided to place a preview photo of a camera as the photos in this area could cause upset. To view photos of Butlins AYR after Butlins, please click on either the photo or the button below.

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Official Website of Haven Craig Tara
Official Website of Haven's Craig Tara

Click on this image to load the official website of Haven Craig Tara Holiday Park, formerly known as Butlins AYR. Visit their website to see what is on offer and to see the former Butlins chalets (click for information about this link)

Official Website

Do you have any memories of the former Butlins AYR that you would like to share?

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Butlins Memorabilia Group (Public Setting)
A group where you can discuss any Butlins camp/resort, hotels or parks (public setting)
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Butlins Memorabilia Group (private setting)
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Butlins Barry Island Group
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Butlins Memorabilia Website Facebook Page
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Who and What is Butlin's Memorabilia Website
The Butlins Memorabilia website was originally established as a place on the internet where people could view Mark Banks' Butlins collections. As a passionate enthusiast of the brand, Mark took the initiative to explore the extensive history that led to the website's transformation. Now, the Butlins Memorabilia site has matured into a historical education platform, demonstrating to visitors the meaningful ways in which Butlins has fostered joy and created unforgettable memories.

Are you the official Butlins Archive?
There exists only ONE official website that represents Butlins and that is located at www.butlins.com. The Butlins Memorabilia website is NOT the official archive of Butlins, nor does it serve as the authentic historical record of this extraordinary company. Butlins and their respective parent company have no role in the development of this site and have not participated in its creation. The singular official source for all Butlins information is the one indicated above. This site is strictly a fan-created platform, and any material presented here should be viewed as unofficial. Butlins and their esteemed parent company have NOT reached out to me to create this site, nor have they requested me to promote them. I undertake this effort solely to demonstrate my appreciation for their remarkable name and brand.

If you want to know more about this website
If you would like to read more about this website, you are more than welcome to click on these words. This special page will show you more about this site, how my Butlins collections started, how to get in touch with Mark, Social media links, our Facebook experts and the friends of this website. 

Butlins Memorabilia Support and help
If you get stuck and need help with an area of the website, please click on these words to read about known problems and how to solve them

The Untold Stories of Butlin's
An exciting addition to the website is the section titled "Untold Stories of Butlin's," which includes a range of personal stories. These narratives have been contributed by members of the Butlins Memorabilia social media groups, who have shared their individual experiences at Butlin's. It is important to understand that these stories are not sanctioned by the official company but are personal recollections from the individuals, as indicated on the page. The accounts shared reflect the magical atmosphere of Butlin's and the memorable moments it has inspired.

Can I get in touch with you about my situation at Butlins for some help?
For any issues related to bookings, inquiries on how to use the app, or to file a complaint, it is essential to follow the official procedure by contacting Butlins directly. Unfortunately, the Butlins Memorabilia website is not equipped to handle these matters, and no assistance can be provided through this platform. Complaints must be directed to Butlins, as they are the only ones capable of addressing them; this site lacks the direct control or involvement necessary to assist. The sole website that can provide help is the Butlin's official site, www.butlins.com. Everything you need can be found there, including their contact page, which is available on this link, and assistance with the Butlins app can be found on this link.

Google adverts and policies
There is a single Google advertisement located at the top of each page. I have created a privacy policy available at this link and a cookie policy at this link, which aim to provide further clarification regarding this section of the website, with the intention of enhancing your understanding of how this operates.

Butlin's Memorabilia Sitemap - Visitor layout
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