Start and build up your collection of Butlin's Minehead Postcards with eBay, here is some suggestions
The structure featured on this part of the Butlins Memorabilia website is referred to as the Regency Building. In 2024, the building will remain 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 top floor.
1967 Entertainment Guide
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 higher level of the building, we'll see that the map includes this description.
Regency Building Upstairs
includes a Heated Indoor Pool, Bingo Lounge, and Coffee Bar.
1967 Entertainment Guide
The entertainment guide from 1967 indicates that the coffee bar is open at specific times during the day and closes at 1 am. I was surprised by this because I didn't expect a coffee bar to stay open that late.
1974 Entertainment Guide
Still known as the Regency Building, the 1974 shows some small changes to the layout within.
Regency Building Upstairs
includes - Heated indoor pool, Coffee lounge, Lyons Maid Ice Cream Bar, Whist Lounge, Lounge Bar, Old Time Ballroom.
1974 Entertainment Guide
From this scan, we can see that the indoor pool (heated) is being shown with the times of opening. For those who are unable to see it clearly, it states:
"Indoor Pool (Heated) is situated in Regency Building. Times of opening 10.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00p.m. to 8.00.pm.daily
1977 Entertainment Guide
The upstairs remained unchanged in 1975 and 1976, offering the same as before. However, in 1977, the entertainment guide reveals that the Old Time Ballroom is no longer in the Regency building. It's now the Regency Ballroom and is still located upstairs.
1984 Entertainment Guide
Changes came to the Regency building in 1984 when a new club was introduced to Butlins Minehead. called Busby's disco. It was advertised in the guides as "Busby's: Visit the fabulous new over 18's only discotheque - where you can dance and drink to the early hours (limited entry)"
It would open at 10.30 p.m and featured DJs such as Neil Parkes and would open to until 2.30 a.m.
1986
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.
1987 Entertainment Guide
The main pool is set to undergo changes and become a fun pool. The 1987 brochure shows us the information about this new pool and all that it's going to offer to the customers.
1987 Brochure from Mark's Collection
The 1987 Butlins Holiday Worlds and Hotels brochure featured a unique section showcasing the Sunsplash swimming pool. Through a spread of two pages, the photo exudes a sense of warmth and nostalgia, evoking many cherished memories for me.
1987 Brochure from Mark's Collection
Butlins Somerwest World's main pages feature the location of the flumes, with the Iconic Monorail train passing by and showcasing its beauty, as the yellow, blue, and red flumes add to the picturesque scene.
1988 Entertainment guide showing the Sunsplash building
A significant change occurred at Butlins Minehead as the name Regency was replaced by Sunsplash Club, symbolizing the arrival of a new swimming pool during the Somerwest World era.
Sunsplash Building upstairs
includes - Coffee Bar and Health Bar, Gymnasium, Busby's Disco, Wessex Rooms
1989 Brochure from Mark's Collection
The sunsplash photos are altered later in the 1989 brochure to showcase different viewpoints.p
Butlin's Holiday Worlds Entertainment Guide
Following a major renovation, the heated indoor pool has been revamped into the Sunsplash pool, offering a new and exciting experience for guests. The pool now boasts rapids and three slides: the yellow slide for a gentle ride, the blue slide for a sudden plunge, and the black hole slide, painted red on the outside, with two dips during the descent.
Bubsy was closed and replaced with a new adults-only snooker hall called Green Baize. As you entered, there was an old escalator that was behind a locked door.
From Marks 1994 Butlins Brochure
The 1994 Butlins brochure shows the funfair at the front with the Sunsplash flume stair way and slides.
From Marks 1994 Butlins Brochure
Showing the Sunsplash swimming pool in the 1994 Brochure.
From Marks 1997 Butlins Brochure
In the 1997 brochure, Butlins was advertising that there is now a new inter-active flume ride.
Butlins become resorts - copyright to Butlins
For the first time in the history of the Regency Building, it would no longer be a place that offered alternative entertainment to customers. As part of the major changes made in 1999 by the owners at the time, The Rank Organisation, Butlins was to be transformed from a camp into a resort with the former Regency building not being a part of the plan. Sunplash swimming pool was closed down however, the Green Baize and seating area was revamped into a gym for some time.
Marks Personal Photo - 2014
Evidence of the old format of Butlins remained in place as shown on this door as the Green Baize was changed into a new Lazer tag.
Marks Personal Photo - 2016
New doors and a new design are applied to the Lazer tag entrance as the building remains not used a great deal.
Marks Personal Photo - 2021
Lazer tag is removed as the wood is painted over as the next door changes into the art studio.
Marks Personal Photo - 2022
By 2022 the old Green Baize doors were closed again as they remained unused for the guests of Butlins. The doors were replaced with these where you could only see the stairs leading up to the former club and snooker club.
This image is copyrighted to Butlins, I do not own this. Click on it to see more.
In 2023, for the first time in over twenty years, plans are underway to bring the Regency back into use for the entertainment of guests. The plans include the removal of the Crazy Horse Saloon, the Sunsplash swimming pool and the Green Baize.
The building will be transformed into the new Butlins Playxperience. To find out more, click on the logo to see what's happening in Bognor Regis as the first Butlin's opens its doors to guests.
A rich history as a building of wonder and to think that Sunsplash had been closed for 23 years with the Crazy Horse Saloon next door. It's great to see it being used once again to entertain us all.
Char Memory - "Counting the spots on the flooring hahaha"
Ryan's memory - "You could smell the pool as you walked in."
Sadie's memory - "Being excited about getting my own yellow bag"
Neil's Memory - "Running up the stairs, then walking down to those changing rooms and then dipping feet in the foot shower was my thoughts and action every time."
Dean's Memory - "Thinking I’m off to crazy horse saloon next for a shandy with my parents"
Bev's Memory - "Wondering how busy the day was going to be" (Former Life Guard)
Claire's Memory - "My brother and stepfather both ripping their swim shorts trying to jump into the lazy river part and the current taking them away"
Traci Memory - "Wondering how many Sunsplash bags I'll sell"
Amanda's Memory - "The smell of the pool"
