Hundreds of guests sue Butlins after falling ill

More than 200 holidaymakers are suing Butlins after allegedly contracting a gastric illness while staying at its Bognor Regis resort between May and July 2011.

The 215 complainants are being represented by law firm Irwin Mitchell, which has also been hired by 14 holidaymakers who claim to have suffered from an outbreak of gastric illnesses in 2012, as well as 23 who allegedly suffered from outbreaks in 2013.

The 215 include members of the ‘Ealing Handicapped Irish Dancers’  and members of ‘Mencap Hillingdon North’.

They claim their group holidays were ruined after they fell ill and allege that:

·          undercooked food and meals were served

·          food was left uncovered 

·         hot food was seen being mixed with existing food

·          management staff were rude, ignoring requests for help and forcing ill guests to leave early

·         lack of cleanliness in communal areas and individual rooms.

·         flies were seen on and around the food at times

·         pigeons were spotted on tables

·         there were sewage smells around parts of the resort

·         the swimming pool was cloudy with slime around the edges

Irwin Mitchell’s Elizabeth Tetzner said: "All hotel and resort operators have a duty of care towards their guests. This includes maintaining adequate standards of hygiene.

"Our clients have given us worrying accounts of their stays, including concerns regarding cleanliness, standards of food preparation and service as well as their treatment by staff at the site.

"[Butlins’ parent] Bourne Leisure Ltd has denied liability and as such our clients have been left with no other option than to issue court proceedings as they seek justice for their ruined holidays.

"We have now commenced formal legal proceedings. Unless an out of court settlement can be achieved on satisfactory terms, these clients’ claims will be determined at trial in Court.

"Gastric illness can have a devastating impact on people’s health and the effects of it cannot be underestimated. We have acted in numerous cases where our clients have been left with long term health problems."  

A spokesman for Butlins Bognor Regis said: "We will robustly defend this speculative action raised at the High Court in Birmingham. We operate our resorts to the highest health and safety standards and work closely with the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that our guests’ safety takes priority.

"Our standards of cleanliness and hygiene are recognised throughout the tourist industry world-wide. Such is our reputation on health issues that environmental officers from around the UK have described our policies and procedure as outstanding."

Among the clients that Irwin Mitchell is representing is 55-year-old Alison Hill, a group leader of Mencap Hillingdon North, who visited the resort for five days in June 2011 alongside seven other volunteers and the group’s 21 members.

 "When one of our group members became ill I complained to the resort staff, but was then seen privately by a manager who asked me not to tell other guests about the illness and also asked if the party could leave early. We were stunned," she said.

"Having to return earlier than planned caused major disruption, as day-to-day carers for some of our members were on holiday themselves and did not expect us to be returning early.

"Over two years on, we have still not been on another overnight visit as a group simply because we all do not want to go through the emotional and physical distress again. It is really worrying that other people have also suffered illness since our time there. We know all too well how falling ill can ruin your holiday"

Other clients allegedly affected by the problems include healthcare assistant Amy Denny, 24, from Northampton, who also returned home early from her break at the resort with her partner Philip and sons Bailey and Finley.

"My youngest son Bailey was only 18 months at the time and we had to take him to hospital as we were so scared about the effect that the illness had on him," she said.

"It is so upsetting that it was our first holiday together as a family and it has scarred them for life."