Pontins has been around for decades, giving British families the chance to enjoy a low-cost seaside break. However, it's always been rivalled by its older competitor Butlin's - and these days cheap airline holidays are a much better guarantee of sunshine than the unpredictable climate at home.
But Pontins endures - and throughout the year it holds adults-only 'weekender' events, often with a specific theme such as 80s music and culture. Simon Duke, the TV and Showbiz Editor at ChronicleLive, spent the early May Bank Holiday weekend at the Pontins in Southport, Merseyside, and reported back on his experience.
"Having seen friends jet off to the likes of Dubai, LA and Vegas in the past few weeks. I have to admit I was thinking ‘where did it all go wrong Simon?’ when I was packing my car for a Bank Holiday in Southport but, as someone who never turns their nose up at a cheap weekend away with my mates, I fired up Google Maps with an open mind and a heady mix of trepidation and excitement," he said.
