Celebrating Butlin's History with Butlins Memorabilia Website

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The Regency Building -Downstairs history

The structure featured on this part of the Butlins Memorabilia website is referred to as the Regency Building. In 2024, the building remains intact and will be included in the Playxperience at Butlins Minehead, as indicated on the Butlins map above. Further down, you will find information about the history of the ground floor, including details about the former Crazy Horse Saloon Club, which was a personal favorite of mine when my family and I went during the Holiday World era of Butlins.

1967 Entertainment Guide

How it all started...The Regency Building

Using my 1967 entertainment guide, we began our research and discovered that the building was originally called the Regency Building. It features an indoor swimming pool and clubs for campers to enjoy during their stay at Butlins. As we focus on the lower level of the building, we'll see that the map includes this description.

Regency Building Downstairs
includes Old Time Ballroom, Regency Coffee Bar, Regency Bar, and Neptune Bar.

The photo is from Mark's postcards (click here)

Photo showing the Regency Bar at Butlins Minehead.

General information about certain areas of the downstairs of the Regency Bar

The Regency Building (down stairs) had these planned for the campers during their stay

Dancing instruction (Old Time),

Old Time Dancing,

Panel Game with the Redcoats,

Old Time Dancing - with Reg Howard,

Dancing instruction (Modern),

Dancing instruction for children (9 to under 14 years),

The Ray Douglas Trio,

Darts Tournament (for the lads - this is how its shown in the guide),

Darts Tournament (for the lasses - this is how its shown in the guide),

Movie Mime - Panel games with the Redcoats,

Photos from Mark Banks Postcard Collections

The Old Tyme Ballroom

Old Time Ballroom and Regency Building

1974 Entertainment Guide

Still known as the Regency Building, the 1974 shows some small changes to the layout within.

Regency Building Downstairs
includes - Regency Coffee Bar, Regency Show Bar, Sundae Bar and Griddle Bar

1974 Entertainment Guide

Changes in the 1974 Entertainment guide

Changes from the 1967 guide include the removal of the Old Time Ballroom, the rebranding of the Regency bar to the Regency Showbar, the repurposing of the Regency Ballroom, and the addition of the Regency Candy Box.

The Regency Building (down stairs) had these planned for the campers during their stay in 1974

Dancing instruction - Old time - Modern - Latin,

The New Regency Show bar entertainment high spot (shown further below),

The New Regency Ball Room with Roy Bolt Duo (shown further below),

Old Time and Sequence Dancing with Sally Bolt,

Regency Cabaret Bar,

Meet the Matron,

Professional Wrestling (Regency Cabaret Bar),

The Happy Smile Contest,

Gracious Lady,

Glamorous Grandmother Contest,

Butlins Staff Personality Girl - 1974,

The Butlin over 35's National Amateur Veleta Trophy,

Those you have learned,

Darby and Joan,

The Good Old Days,

Miss Black Label contents,

The Late show,

Hers to the next time.

1974 Entertainment Guide

From this scan, you can see that the important areas are the top right with "The New Regency Showbar" and further down with "Dancing" in the new Regency Ballroom.

Photo credit: From Mark Banks postcard collections

A postcard showing you a photo of the Regency Show Bar

1975 Entertainment Guide

Checking out the specifics from 1975, 1976, and 1977, not many alterations were done to the lower level of the Regency building.

1975, 1976 & 1977 Entertainment Guide

Changes in the 1975, 1976 & 1977 Entertainment guide

In 1975 and 1976, there were slight changes to the layout of "the where page" while keeping the information consistent. The 1977 edition introduced a new design, but the details shown in the scan remained very similar.

1977 has additional information on the "Entertainment Information" where it states]

"Dancing - Strict Tempo, Modern, Old Time and Sequence dancing takes place in the Regency Ballroom. Variety Dancing in the Princes Ballroom Every Night"

The Regency Building (down stairs) had these planned for the campers during their stay

Cash Bingo (1975 1976 & 1977),

Old Time, Sequence and Modern Dancing (1975 & 1977),

Eyes Down - Cash Bingo (1975),

Regency Strict Tempo Ballroom (1975),

Junior Lovely and Her Escort - a "Smartest Twosome" (1975),

Meet the Matron (1975 & 1976),

The £2900 National Holiday Princess Competition (1975),

Kellys Eye - Cash Bingo (1975 & 1977),

Latin - Old Time - Modern (1975),

Dancing Time (1975 & 1977),

Gracious Lady (1975, 1976 & 1977),

Regency Cabaret Bar (1975),

Lucky for some - cash bingo (1975 1976 & 1977),

Professional Wrestling (1975),

Those you have learned (1975, 1976 & 1977),

We dont know what to call it but its fun (1975),

Two little ducks - cash bingo (1975, 1976 & 1977),

Take your partners - Sequence and old time dancing (1976 & 1977)

The Late Show (1976),

Free & Easy (1976 & 1977),

Whist Drive (1975, 1976 & 1977),

Cabaret (1976),

Dancing instruction for beginners (1976),

Butlins Star Trail (1976),

Sequence and Old Time Dancing (1976),

Miss Beautiful Hair (1976),

The £2900 Glamorous Grandmother of great Britain Contest (1976),

The Amazing Fogel (1976),

Doctors Orders - Cash Bingo (1976),

Life begins at forty with Jack Reed (1976 & 1977),

Dance competition - The Butlins over 35 National amateur Veleta Trophy (1976 & 1977),

Party Piece (1976),

Sports Brain of Butlins (1976),

Recorded Music for dancing or listening (1977),

Equal Chance Cash Bingo (1977),

Tarzan and Jane Competition (1977),

Miss 913 (1977),

Mr 913 (1977),

Nice & Easy (1977),

Silver Jubilee Couple (1977),

Dancing Time (1977),

Come to the Cabaret (1977),

This is your wife (1977),

General Dancing (1977),

Dancing Instruction (1977),

Mother and child (1977),

Vernons Pools Pop Vocal Contest (1977),

Time for the old time (1977),

Here's to the next time (1977),

1982 Entertainment Guide

Changes in the 1982 Entertainment guide

The map has stayed pretty consistent even with the Sundae and Grill bar gone. It's interesting to see the "Regency Cafeteria" and the "Regency Gift Shop" now on there. The guide mentions that Cash Bingo has been relocated to the Pig & Whistle, and the afternoon session is now at the Regency Lounge Bar.

The Regency Building (down stairs) had these planned for the campers during their stay

Disco Date and Dancing to Rouge,

Cadbury's Mother and Child Competition,

Bisto Kids,

Putting your best foot forward,

Chesswood Supercook Quiz,

Cash Bingo Tickets,

Sequence and old time dancing ,

Butlins Holiday Princess of Great Britain competition,

Embassy Whist Drive,

Sequence and Old Time dancing instruction,

Sequence Dancing,

Your Early evening family disco and dancing,

£3500 Miss Lovely Legs of Great Britain,

Supercook Quiz,

Whishbone Pop Vocal Contest,

£6050 Clamorous Grandmother of Great Britain contest,

Anita Sauter Competition,

Those you have learned,

Rouge,

Darby and Joan,

Carnival Night Farewell Fling,

Guniness Showtime,

Snowball Waltz,

Take a look at the major change to "Where to go" above. The Regency Cafeteria, Regency Gift Shop, and Candy Box are now featured.

Here's a look at the Regency Bar being set up for Cash Bingo, along with the scheduled start times.

Credit to this image is from this YouTube video clip

Take a look at this screenshot of the Regency Lounge Bar taken from a YouTube video (link attached below the image).

1986

Butlins Holiday Worlds

Butlins experienced major changes as the owners made large investments in the beloved brand. They reduced the number of camps to five, and Butlins Minehead was renamed Butlin's Somerwest World. The camps were completely revamped to fit into Butlins' new era.

1988 Entertainment guide showing the Sunsplash building

The Sunsplash Building

A significant change occurred at Butlins Minehead as the name Regency was replaced by Sunsplash, symbolizing the arrival of a new swimming pool during the Somerwest World era.

Sunsplash Building Downstairs
includes - Wessex Bar, Candy Box, Sands Coffee Bar, Novelty Shop and the BBC TV Lounge.

1990 Entertainment guide showing the Wessex building

The Wessex Building

The building was renamed to the Wessex Building in 1990 on the entertainment guides and maps.

Wessex Building Downstairs
includes - Wessex Bar, Wessex Lounge, Wessex Coffee Bar, Snazaroo Fancy Dress Hire, Burger Bar, Wessex Mini Market.

1992 - credit for this image

Minnesosa Fats

A new pool hall was also introduced along side the outside stage.

1992 - credit for this image

Outside Stage and Fatmans Bar

A new outdoor stage was constructed to give customers another option for daytime entertainment at the new bar, Fatmans. There's also a seating area where you can relax and enjoy the performances or simply listen to the music

1992 - credit for this image

Sundance

The Wessex Bar underwent a transformation when it was rebranded as Sundance, complete with a sun logo borrowed from the Holiday Worlds logo. Although the interior of the club remained similar to the Wessex Room, the exterior of the building saw a significant change, as seen in the photo .

From Marks 1993 Butlins Brochure

This small photo is found on page 28 in the 1993 Butlins brochure. It's showing the Fatman outside bar, which was next to the outside stage.

The Crazy Horse Saloon Logo

The WessexBuilding

Sundance didn't stay at Butlins Minehead for long, as the club was turned into the Crazy Horse Saloon in the early 90s. This place was all about the Wild West, with Western-themed decor and entertainment day and night.