Review: Butlins Spa, Skegness
When I was asked to try out the new spa experience in Butlins, Skegness, childhood memories came flooding back: donkey rides, bingo nights and my dad asleep in a deckchair with a knotted hanky on his head. I wondered if my beauty therapist would be a budding Shane Ritchie or H from Steps? Was it possible that the Butlins of my past could shake off its reputation and deliver on restful indulgence?Butlins, which has made its name as an affordable family holiday resort with 3 UK locations in Skegness, Minehead and Bognor, has joined the spa revolution. It's added a newly refurbished pool, fitness suite, hydrotherapy pool, crystal steam room, a Zen lounge, 5 treatment rooms, a hair salon and so much more, to its Skegness resort, and at a price of just £16 for 3 hours access to the facilities, the philosophy is definitely on affordability. Once considered a somewhat naff destination for hens and the like, Butlins is now expanding its reputation so that visitors can enjoy spa services and top end treatments such as Decleor facials, manicures and pedicures, chocolate body massages and Rigenera DNA facials, without having to fork out on high end Spa experiences attached to expensive hotels and retreats.
There are three levels of accommodation at Butlins to suit every budget; Standard, Silver and Gold. En route to the gold accommodation, I had to navigate my way through the familiar kiddie accoutrements; left at the go-karts, right at the prize bingo, before finally passing 'Bob the Builders Yard' to the accommodation. I was stunned to discover that the worn 1950s chalets of old had been replaced with duck-egg blue and candy-floss pink clapperboard apartments, each set amid landscaped gardens. I later discovered that the gardens were an oasis for local wildlife - at one point baby rabbits played under my balcony. The Gold Apartments sleep up to six very comfortably and come with a good sized lounge/kitchen area, TV and DVD, perfect for a proper girly weekend.
After a good night's sleep I was ready for my day of pampering, Butlins style. To get to The Spa I had to brave the Skyline pavilion which houses a constant stream of live entertainment including puppet shows, singing and dancing acts and a redcoat version of Celebrity Wrestling, to an audience of enthusiastic kids. After wandering through the cacophony of jumping and screaming 5 to 9 year olds, I was more than ready for the rest and rlaxation of the 'Spa experience' where I could spend 3 glorious hours using the facilities, for a bargain price of only £16.
I was given a soft fluffy white robe and slippers which I took into the spacious changing room, beautifully decorated with large crystals, plants and sculptures. They say the devil is in the detail and the Butlins Spa has definitely got the ambience right - I felt like I was in St Tropez not Skegness.
My south of France fantasy continued as I walked out to the 20m pool - a curvaceous azure blue jewel, complete with its own splendid waterfall. The Spa Experience allows you to use the pool, crystal steam room, hydrotherapy pool, essence-injected sauna and the pleasure/pain combination that is the cold water 'Bucket Drench' and the 'Atlantic Storm Shower', which is like having a refreshing scented shower.
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Created: 20/07/2005 Updated: 25/07/2005
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