Freddie meets Bob at Butlins

Bev Fearis took her son, Freddie, to Butlins Bognor Regis for his birthday, and the grandparents tagged along too.

First he spotted Fireman Sam, then he shook hands with Bob the Builder, and when Mike the Knight appeared from around the corner, he whooped with excitement. And I’m not talking about Freddie, aged 4, I’m talking about Grandad, aged 74. Grandma, meanwhile, had her camera at the ready, making sure she didn’t miss any of the magical moments.

We were lucky enough to take Freddie to Disneyworld last year but felt bad that we couldn’t take along our respective parents. So, when we had the chance to try a more affordable Butlins short break, we booked two adjoining family rooms at the Wave Hotel and invited them all along.

The Wave Hotel opened in July 2012, the newest of the three new hotels at the resort. As the name suggests, the hotel looks like a cruise ship and the nautical theme is carried on inside too, with bright turquoise and yellow painted walls, sofas shaped like underwater plants and fishes on the walls. The reception is spacious, bright and contemporary to the point of being sci-fi, and leads to an even more bright and spacious sci-fi style bar. There’s also a large games room with playstations, Wii and DS games. You can even leave a deposit and borrow kindles and ipods. A baby room has a changing area, microwave to heat food or milk.

Our adjoining rooms were also bright and modern, with balconies, plenty of clever storage space, and tea and coffee making facilities (to the delight of Nanna Doreen who likes a cuppa first thing).

Freddie loved his bunk bed room, designed like a submarine cabin with an octopus peeking through a porthole window. Better still, he had a telly at the end of his bed. In all honesty, he would have been happy staying there all day, flicking through the cartoon channels, but Billy Butlin had a programme of activities lined up for us, so we prised the remote control from his little hands and ventured outside.

On arrival, the lovely Molly on reception gave us a map (essential) and a programme of events and opening times (essential too). Messy Time, Pingu’s Fun Fitness, Storytime with Billy Bear, Tots Disco, Football Coaching, Fun Fencing, I Can Cook, Puppet Castle, the choice is endless. We didn’t know quite where to start. There’s a big fairground, too, with dodgems, trampolines, merry-go rounds, all the usual attractions, and Splash Waterworld, a big indoor pool complex with slides, fountains and wave machines. The grandparents watched from the spectators’ gallery (like a sauna) as we splashed about. Freddie liked the wave pool and I loved the Master Blaster raft ride, but I can’t say the same for the Space Bowl flume – absolutely terrifying, never again.

Most attractions are free but some you have to pay for. I thought £2.50 per person for the Crazy Golf was a bit pricey, so we gave that a miss, but happily paid out £5 to go on the Go-Karts. Grandad Graham loved it too. Freddie was naturally drawn to the noise and flashing lights of the arcade games and the rows of toys and tat tempting you in at the prize stalls, but of course the grandparents were more than willing to put their hands in their pockets and spend a pound here and there. The highlight of Freddie’s stay was when he hooked a prize duck and won a plastic sword. It beat all his other birthday presents hands down. Well worth £3.

He also liked the chocolate cakes and swirly ice cream machine at the Deck Restaurant, just opposite our hotel. We were on a Premium package so eat-all-you-want buffet breakfasts and evening meals were included. The food was actually rather good, especially when you consider the number of people being catered for. For dinner, there was a massive choice, with salad and soup starters, a grill, a wok station, pastas, veggie options, fish and chips, burgers, and all of a high standard. Soft drinks, tea and coffee are included (the dispensing machines are super efficient) and alcoholic drinks are available at the bar, which was very reasonably priced (£2.90 for a large glass of decent wine). Meal times are early – 4.30pm to 6.30pm – giving you plenty of time to enjoy the night-time entertainment.

The live shows were much better than I had expected. I predict one or two of the enthusiastic Redcoats will end up in the West End, while the majority were certainly good enough to get into the finals of Britain’s Got Talent. The Jacksons show got me tapping my feet and singing along and the Jack and the Beanstalk panto got me chuckling. Freddie sat cross-legged on the floor at the front with all the other children who were happy to be staying up way past their bedtimes and booed the giant and shouted "behind you" when the ghost appeared. Grandad Smith, I noticed, dozed off, just for a few minutes, but it was hardly surprising after such a full-on day.

It was our last night and except for Freddie, who was still buzzing from his double helping of chocolate cake and ice cream, we were all exhausted. The party was only just starting at the Centre Stage and there was more entertainment to come (live music with Chris Andre – Peter’s cousin perhaps?) but the fresh sea air of Bognor Regis had taken it out of us and we were all glad to be sloping off back to the peace and quiet of the Wave Hotel. I tucked the sleepy one into his little submarine bed, confiscated the remote control, and left him dreaming of Bob the Builder – and this time I mean Freddie, not Grandad!