Butlin's opens at Minehead

From the collection of

The Box
Established in 1992, the South West Film & Television Archive collection spans from 1893 to the present day containing more than 250,000 items. Formed from a variety of depositors, including broadcast news and programmes material from the Westward and TSW archive. In 2018 the archive collection transferred to The Box in Plymouth.

Butlin's opens at Minehead


Butlin's Holiday Camp at Minehead in Somerset opened its doors in 1962 and this is early film of its first vacationers. It offered all-in holiday deals for the average family and was open to day visitors. Its facilities grew to include a chairlift, steam locomotives and sport activities. Nightly entertainment proved so popular at other resorts that a purpose-built theatre, the Playhouse was established from which entertainers launched successful careers.


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