Has anyone done a Butlins Music Weekend?

[grumpyhack]

Inspired by the Giants of Rock Festival Weekend at Butlins listed in new events I'm half considering a Butlins music weekend. It would be an opportunity for our Glasto Gang to have a weekend away with partners, like Mrs Grumpyhack, who don't normally do festivals in fields.

Has anyone ever done a Butlins Music Weekend? If so any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.

[kaosmark2]

Yeah, I did one a few years ago.

It was an excellent experience, I just went with one mate, so we had a twin chalet, no catering facilities (though we took a press grill to cover a couple of bacon sandwiches).

The brewery they brought in to do ale was really good. High quality, kept well, and stocks of each beer ran out Sunday afternoon - evening, so the amount was about well judged.

Not worrying about the weather was quite nice, ours was in December so obviously outside would have been quite miserable. We saw a hell of a lot of great bands though, mainly because there was less incentive/opportunity to go for a bimble.

As with most, if you get there earlier, you can avoid queues and hassle getting in.

Any particular questions? It's been a while but it'd be easier to answer specifics than sharing random thoughts.

[grumpyhack]

Does the music run through the day or are the shows mainly in the evening?

[kaosmark2]

Yeah, there's stuff on right through the afternoon. I remember things starting around 1pm. I watched a lot of great bands in the late afternoon before going for a break for food.

[t8yman]

I know people who have done them, and had a great time. We have done New Year at butlins 2 or 3 times, its fantastic - but they were family affairs.

[PastCaring]

Yeah, we thought that looked interesting, and, at 55 quid for the weekend including accommodation, a right bargain! Our problem is the distance we live from Minehead - we gotta ask ourselves whether it's still worth doing, once the cost and effort of actually getting there is factored in .....

[guypjfreak]

my sons been and said it was great fun

[5co77ie]

Is that the Hawkwind one? I'm a bit tempted by it too.

[the_hedge]

Did the 80s weekend for my brothers Stag Do. Lots of middle aged people getting very drunk and doing things they probably shouldn't have.

Didn't see any trouble though and it was a cracking weekend. If I had to describe it one word it would be....... Carnage!!

[Paul ™]

Done Bugged Out at Butlins Bognor Regis this year and last... it got a bit messy... to the point Butlins didn't want the 'ravers' back

[PastCaring]

I did go to a cheap tribute band thing at Minehead a few years back - a tribute to David Bowie, that kinda stuff - and, yes, that was messy, quite good fun, but messy. On that weekend, I seem to remember that most of the other facilities were still open, although the go-cart was definitely under wraps for winter.

[Ed209]

I know people who went to the Bangface weekend at Butlins. I don't think Butlins realised what Bangface was when they booked them. They've never been allowed back since. Apparently its really good though. Yeah they have the pool open and stuff. They also have an inter-chalet messaging system - which at the Bangface weekender ended up being used as a drug dealing system

[angelofharlem]

I go to Butlins Rock and Blues weekend in Skegness every January. Have been going for the past 6 or 7 years and its great fun. I also go to several weekends at Butlins Minehead, which is a lot closer to where I live. They have the Alternative Music Festival in the spring which often has punk bands such as the Damned, and the Giants of Rock this year which is new. Will definitely go to that one as I like both Hawkwind and Uriah Heep. I would recommend the weekends..the music usually starts in the afternoon and there are three main venues..its like a festival really but with no wories about the weather (and with a proper bed and a shower!)

[PastCaring]

Has anyone actually booked tickets for The Giants of Rock at Minehead? Been ummming and arrring about this for ages. A lot of guilty pleasures here - Hawkwind, Big Country, The Sweet. Could be excellent fun. Just not sure what sort of an atmosphere a festival of this type is likely to have (plus the tickets are no longer £55.00 quid a person!)

[Gnomicide]

I've done a couple of Hard Rock Hells in Pontins, presumably a similar sort of set up.

It was a great laugh, 7 of us in a challet. We had a kitchen so cooked our own tea a couple of times and obviously breakfast every day but you can buy cooked food from either a take away or in the restaurant (still not sure what the sausages were made of though).

The bands were on from midday till 2 in the morning with the headline acts on somewhere around 9 or 10. They had three stages so if you didn't like something you could go through to the next stage. The only things I remember people moaning about were the queues at the bar but to be honest, I didn't have a problem all weekend (the trick being to nip through to the attached pub rather than queuing in the main area).

I'd say go for it.

[viberunner]

Not to a music festival, but back when AD&D was hugely popular I did several TSR conventions at the sites. It's a great atmosphere to be in a camp like that where everyone is on the same wavelength. Imagine a music weekend would be just as awesome.

[PastCaring]

Thanks for the advice, guys! Anyone know if the prices are likely to drop if I wait until nearer the time to book?

[atomised]

Tempted by shiiine next November. Happy Mondays, inspiral carpets, the farm and plenty more of that era so far

[Paul ™]

Seen that one, tempted too

[luckysalt]

I also just saw that Shiiine one after looking on the site, they add a few more 90's acts and id be down like Shed Seven and Ash

[atomised]

They'd be great additions.. I've thought for a while that a weekender of this type would be popular

[t8yman]

I went to 90's reloaded in skegness a few weeks ago, it was brilliant. didnt see any bands though!

it was an incredible place for singletons, the phrase "shooting fish in a barrel" sprang to mind!

[charley]

Booked for Shiiine, should be a really good weekend i reckon. Reckon Ash and Sheds are a bit 'late' for this line-up although there are a couple of britpop names in there now.

Hooky is playing now too which should be good, at my age i've got to be honest and say it appeals more than a proper festival (more to do with the bands than the camping).

I've seen most of the line-up in their 'reformation' eras and they all put on a really good show as this was a pretty special era for live bands. There is a good depth to the lineup, all the way down to bands like EAT and Milltown Brothers who would mean nothing to the kids but had a similar position on mainstages at Reading & Glasto in their prime.

Highlight though is Pat Nevin DJing. My boyhood hero.

[atomised]

It's milltown brothers that really appeal to me. Thought they underachieved at the time

[dondo]

The Shiine weekender looks great and if it wasn't the same weekend as my daughter's birthday would definitely be tempted