07 January 2009

Pontins centre to close

Pontins parent Ocean Parcs is to close one its holiday centres this month after a review.

The company has announced that the Pontins at Hemsby on the Norfolk coast is to close, because it needs "significant investment" but bookings are falling and costs are rising.

The closure will mean the loss of up to 55 jobs.

A spokeswoman for Ocean Parcs said all holidaymakers who have already booked can transfer to another centre or have a full refund.

The remaining six centres - Pakefield (Suffolk), Southport (Lancashire), Blackpool (Lancashire), Prestatyn Sands (Wales) , Brean Sands (Somerset) and Camber Sands (Kent) - will remain open.

By Bev Fearis

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Your Comments (2)

Pontins Closure

Have to agree with Paul Neaves. For 15 years I worked for Butlins, exactly the same thing happened, never an empty bed so attitude was 'why spend money, the place is full'. When that began to change, it was too late and the camps, oops sorry -Main Centres (and hotels) began to close. What a way to operate, Billy Butlin and Fred Pontin must be turning in their graves.

By Keith Standen, Monday, January 12, 2009
Profit but no investment

Over the years Pontins have mad a shedload of profit from this site but never invested enough to ensure the survival of a great site. The lease has been allowed to run out. I hope that they will have a heavy delapidations bill

By Paul Neaves, Wednesday, January 7, 2009