Pontins Southport, Merseyside, England
Hotel Information
Hotel Description:
Southport Beach offers breath-taking views of the coastline, while Ainsdale Beach has recently been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award. The Centre itself offers everything you need for a fun-packed family holiday, with a host of entertainment and activities for all ages. There's no end of games and supervised activities for the kids to enjoy, they can even learn circus skills! loading...
Nearby Hotels Viewed by Other Travellers
Rating: 6 / 10
Radisson Sas Liverpool Hotel
Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Distance: 7.7 km / 4.8 mi
Rating: 10 / 10
Liverpool Marriott City Centre Hotel
Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Distance: 7.7 km / 4.8 mi
Rating: 7 / 10
Crowne Plaza Liverpool Hotel
Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Distance: 7.7 km / 4.8 mi
Rating: 7 / 10
Holiday Inn Liverpool City Centre Hotel
Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Distance: 7.7 km / 4.8 mi
Pontins Southport Reviews
" filthy "
Submitted By: joescafe
hepatitis C jab is a nessesity if you book putlins southport. dirty, filthy dirty. matress was threadbare, old, and stained of which some were blood stains, the carpet was worse. the room was dated the seats and sofa bed was broken and unusable. the site is not for family's, it is for groups of bindge drinking teens which are a plenty. we arrived on good friday for 3 nights with our 2 boys, ( 1 and 3 year olds ) it was to late to go home but got the hell out of there next day. DO NOT GO!!! there must be some serious health and safty issues going on in that place
SOUTHPORT SHOULD NOT BE BURDENED WITH THIS MONSTER.
SOUTHPORT SHOULD NOT BE BURDENED WITH THIS MONSTER.
- Date of Holiday:Apr 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Awful!!! "
Submitted By: katiejs
We stayed here after booking a Sun newspaper break for myself, my husband and our daughter.
From the moment we arrived I was appalled at the attitude of staff. The staff on recpetion were extremely rude and just gave us the informtion and didn't direct us to the chalet.
We then got to our chalet which was very basic and it was grubby and the floor was dirty, luckily we had taken our own travel cot so we put our daughter in that so that she did not have to go the floor!
The bedding on the twin beds was filthy with large stains all over the, i went to customer services to complain and they brought us some more but they were just as bad. I cried that night and came home the following day as I couldn't take any more!!
From the moment we arrived I was appalled at the attitude of staff. The staff on recpetion were extremely rude and just gave us the informtion and didn't direct us to the chalet.
We then got to our chalet which was very basic and it was grubby and the floor was dirty, luckily we had taken our own travel cot so we put our daughter in that so that she did not have to go the floor!
The bedding on the twin beds was filthy with large stains all over the, i went to customer services to complain and they brought us some more but they were just as bad. I cried that night and came home the following day as I couldn't take any more!!
Advice: Liverpool was lovely. Clean and easy to find your way around.
Activities: Albert Docks had fantastic views.
- Date of Holiday:Apr 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Sun Newspaper
" PONTINS - SOUTHPORT "
Submitted By: Suzanne Louise
We upgraded to a Classic apartment after I had read reviews, I would hate to think what the Budget apartment was like!
Reception area very uninviting and dirty, wanted to go home the moment I arrived but the kids were looking forward to it and I couldn't face yet and another 5 hours on the road with 3 kids squashed in the back. The main entertainment hall was revolting. The carpet was so dirty you had trouble seeing what the original colour and pattern was. The entertainment was extremely poor. There were no acts booked and all the entertainment was done by the Bluecoats, which although they were friendly had no idea how to entertain a monkey, let alone hundreds of people. As we were there half-term week they knew it would be full of family's so should have had more for the kids to do. My 10 and 13 year old didn't know what to do with themselves other than go to the arcade which of course costs a small fortune. There was a Zip Wire which they liked but they had to queue for ages just to get a go and then had to pay £5 for the privilege. The only free activity is swimming and the pool was very cold!
It looks so dated that it needs flattening and rebuilding. The paint is peeling off of the walls and inside the apartment there was very little room for clothes so very hard to keep tidy. There was no shower curtain in my apartment so the floor got constantly wet when taking a shower. Also in one of the bedrooms there was a draft coming through one of the windows - upon investigating found that the window didn't even fit to the frame and there was a 1" gap at the top, so consequently our heating was left on day and night (which didn't cost us as the meter always said we were in credit by £1.20), other than that the apartment was ok. I have heard of much worse apartments that other guests were staying in. Although this is a cheap holiday it shouldn't mean that standards should be so low that you would never want to come back let alone recommend it it anyone else. I am no snob but I for one will never go back to Pontins and from the many reviews I have read, I am not alone. I have never appreciated my own home as much I do now.
I do not recommend anyone to book a Pontins holiday - if you have booked and are reading this (like it was for me before I went) just use it as a base and get out every day and see the sights). The area surrounding Pontins is nice and Liverpool is a must.
Reception area very uninviting and dirty, wanted to go home the moment I arrived but the kids were looking forward to it and I couldn't face yet and another 5 hours on the road with 3 kids squashed in the back. The main entertainment hall was revolting. The carpet was so dirty you had trouble seeing what the original colour and pattern was. The entertainment was extremely poor. There were no acts booked and all the entertainment was done by the Bluecoats, which although they were friendly had no idea how to entertain a monkey, let alone hundreds of people. As we were there half-term week they knew it would be full of family's so should have had more for the kids to do. My 10 and 13 year old didn't know what to do with themselves other than go to the arcade which of course costs a small fortune. There was a Zip Wire which they liked but they had to queue for ages just to get a go and then had to pay £5 for the privilege. The only free activity is swimming and the pool was very cold!
It looks so dated that it needs flattening and rebuilding. The paint is peeling off of the walls and inside the apartment there was very little room for clothes so very hard to keep tidy. There was no shower curtain in my apartment so the floor got constantly wet when taking a shower. Also in one of the bedrooms there was a draft coming through one of the windows - upon investigating found that the window didn't even fit to the frame and there was a 1" gap at the top, so consequently our heating was left on day and night (which didn't cost us as the meter always said we were in credit by £1.20), other than that the apartment was ok. I have heard of much worse apartments that other guests were staying in. Although this is a cheap holiday it shouldn't mean that standards should be so low that you would never want to come back let alone recommend it it anyone else. I am no snob but I for one will never go back to Pontins and from the many reviews I have read, I am not alone. I have never appreciated my own home as much I do now.
I do not recommend anyone to book a Pontins holiday - if you have booked and are reading this (like it was for me before I went) just use it as a base and get out every day and see the sights). The area surrounding Pontins is nice and Liverpool is a must.
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:UK Holiday in The Sun
" GOOD BUT WATCH THE FOOD "
Submitted By: lisa1976olive
I wrote a holiday review for Pontins in July this year and I gave it 10 out of 10.
I have only given it an 8 this time due to the fact that my husband got food poisoning.
Arrived at the site at about 1.30pm on the friday. Couldn't check in until 2.00pm so went for a walk around the centre. Check in was quick and easy when it got to 2.00pm. Straight in and out. Found our apartment. No problems with it. Inside or out. Aart from that there were only 3 chairs (4 of us) and 3 plates. Unpacked and went to The Queen Victoria for something to eat. Big mistake. The service was brilliant and so was the food (no problems last time we came) or so we thought. I had gammon, my husband had burger and the kids had children's meals. Went back to the apartment after eating for an early night as the kids were tired from travelling. Apart 7.00pm, my husband started feeling poorly but just put it down to being up early and all the travelling we had done.
Saturday morning came and my husband was throwing up everywhere and had really bad stomach pains. He stopped in the apartment all day and it was up to me to occupy the kids. I couldn't fault the shows though, the afternoon show was croc's school musical which my kids loved and the evening entertainment was a fancy dress halloween party.
Came back to the apartment at about 9.30pm on Saturday and my husband wasn't feeling any better.
Sunday came, my husband was feeling abit better so decided to go home while my husband felt o.k to travel. (wasn't suppose to come until monday).
All in all the apartment was o.k, the shows for the kids were good and everything else. It it hadn't been for my husband getting poorly we would have stopped.
We don,t know whether it was the burger or not that made my husband poorly but it had been the only thing that he had eaten.
This hasn't put us off though as we have booked to go back in July next year for a week. The kids love it. Only next time we will be avoiding the burgers.
I have only given it an 8 this time due to the fact that my husband got food poisoning.
Arrived at the site at about 1.30pm on the friday. Couldn't check in until 2.00pm so went for a walk around the centre. Check in was quick and easy when it got to 2.00pm. Straight in and out. Found our apartment. No problems with it. Inside or out. Aart from that there were only 3 chairs (4 of us) and 3 plates. Unpacked and went to The Queen Victoria for something to eat. Big mistake. The service was brilliant and so was the food (no problems last time we came) or so we thought. I had gammon, my husband had burger and the kids had children's meals. Went back to the apartment after eating for an early night as the kids were tired from travelling. Apart 7.00pm, my husband started feeling poorly but just put it down to being up early and all the travelling we had done.
Saturday morning came and my husband was throwing up everywhere and had really bad stomach pains. He stopped in the apartment all day and it was up to me to occupy the kids. I couldn't fault the shows though, the afternoon show was croc's school musical which my kids loved and the evening entertainment was a fancy dress halloween party.
Came back to the apartment at about 9.30pm on Saturday and my husband wasn't feeling any better.
Sunday came, my husband was feeling abit better so decided to go home while my husband felt o.k to travel. (wasn't suppose to come until monday).
All in all the apartment was o.k, the shows for the kids were good and everything else. It it hadn't been for my husband getting poorly we would have stopped.
We don,t know whether it was the burger or not that made my husband poorly but it had been the only thing that he had eaten.
This hasn't put us off though as we have booked to go back in July next year for a week. The kids love it. Only next time we will be avoiding the burgers.
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Good Experience "
Submitted By: Shelly01
We also considered cancelling after visiting these reviews the night before! Booked 4 nights as a quick last minute cheap break to keep the children (aged 5 & 6) busy over the half term. Arrived at Pontins in the rain and was greeted at the gate by a helpful security guard and a couple of cheerful blue coats. Don't be put off by the pre 4 o'clock queues to get into the budget accommodation which don't help set the scene for a stress free holiday. I would suggest wait until after 4pm, as the process of handing out keys and directions actually didn't take long at all.
Wasn't expecting the Ritz so pleasantly surprised to find our 1 bed budget apartment to be clean and perfectly adequate for a short break. After reading previous reviews, I had brought along cleaning equipment, a few extra bits from the camping box just in case! Didn't need these and all the equipment worked. An air freshener helped with any smoking smells the last tenants had left behind. This was also evident looking at the grassed area outside the apartments, it's a shame some smokers cannot be bothered to put cigarette stubs in bins.
Despite the rain, the children had a great time in the swimming pool, adventure indoor and outdoor play areas. We also took in a couple of the bluecoat shows during the day which we all enjoyed. We didn't see much of the night time entertainment but the one night we did go out was fine. The staff were always friendly and helpful and a credit to Pontins.
We chose Pontins because I not only have fond memories of this holiday park when I was a child but because it was far cheaper than any of the other holiday sites during the half term which I think are over priced and are quite agressive with their selling of extra products such as junk food and drinks, plastic tat and extra activities to ensure the children 'enjoy' themselves, which can end up quite expensive.
I would recommend this site for young families who are willing to overlook the fact it is dated and does need more money spending on it.
Wasn't expecting the Ritz so pleasantly surprised to find our 1 bed budget apartment to be clean and perfectly adequate for a short break. After reading previous reviews, I had brought along cleaning equipment, a few extra bits from the camping box just in case! Didn't need these and all the equipment worked. An air freshener helped with any smoking smells the last tenants had left behind. This was also evident looking at the grassed area outside the apartments, it's a shame some smokers cannot be bothered to put cigarette stubs in bins.
Despite the rain, the children had a great time in the swimming pool, adventure indoor and outdoor play areas. We also took in a couple of the bluecoat shows during the day which we all enjoyed. We didn't see much of the night time entertainment but the one night we did go out was fine. The staff were always friendly and helpful and a credit to Pontins.
We chose Pontins because I not only have fond memories of this holiday park when I was a child but because it was far cheaper than any of the other holiday sites during the half term which I think are over priced and are quite agressive with their selling of extra products such as junk food and drinks, plastic tat and extra activities to ensure the children 'enjoy' themselves, which can end up quite expensive.
I would recommend this site for young families who are willing to overlook the fact it is dated and does need more money spending on it.
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" you get what you pay for "
Submitted By: pounell
After reading various bad reports about Pontins at southport I was very dubious about what we would get. We went on a 'Sun' holiday and upgraded to Club. If I paid £300 the full price I would have been very disappointed. Our 'luxury' appartment was very basic and spartan, but it was warm and clean and for a cheap holiday it was what I expected basic and budget. My grandaughters aged 3 and 4 enjoyed the pool and soft play. The older children also seemed to be enjoying the various activities. Having 2 young children I cannot comment on all the facilities and activities avaiable as we did not use them. The pub food was brilliant, and very good value and the area was clean.
I was not dissapointed with my holiday I got what I paid for and we had a good time. Pontins itself could be greatly improved with a lick of paint as it is rather shabby and I must agree one of the security guards needs a course on politeness
I was not dissapointed with my holiday I got what I paid for and we had a good time. Pontins itself could be greatly improved with a lick of paint as it is rather shabby and I must agree one of the security guards needs a course on politeness
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:sun paper
" Horrible "
Submitted By: Mand7
We have always had a break (after our main holiday & before Christmas) and have often been on The Sun £9.50 breaks before. We have always been delighted with our accomodation before, so imagine our horror when w arrived at Pontins Southport. We felt as though we'd travelled back in time to the early 1950's and landed in the middle of an estate that had seen better days. The paint work is peeling, the chalets are smelly, the carpets are stained, the furniture is dirty, the equipment is sparse, the decor is bland, the beds are uncomfy, the quilts are stained (yuck!!), the stairs leading up to the chalet smells of urine, and the grafitti is shocking! Although, I have to say, the bathroom was quite nice - in a minimalist kind of way! The entertainment was no better - we endured shreaking and very poor warbling from the 'Bluecoats', who struggled their way through several hundred renditions of songs from 'High School Musical', incorporating this in to every act - A tribute to 'High School Musical', 'songs from the century' and even 'Cinderella'?? Unlike other parks that we have visited before, Pontins did not have a timetable included in the welcome packs that we could follow, so we gadn't a clue what entertainment was on and when (not a bad thing given the quality of the entertainment). All in all a very disappointing stay that will NEVER be repeated!
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Horrible "
Submitted By: Mand7
We have always had a break (after our main holiday & before Christmas) and have often been on The Sun £9.50 breaks before. We have always been delighted with our accomodation before, so imagine our horror when w arrived at Pontins Southport. We felt as though we'd travelled back in time to the early 1950's and landed in the middle of an estate that had seen better days. The paint work is peeling, the chalets are smelly, the carpets are stained, the furniture is dirty, the equipment is sparse, the decor is bland, the beds are uncomfy, the quilts are stained (yuck!!), the stairs leading up to the chalet smells of urine, and the grafitti is shocking! Although, I have to say, the bathroom was quite nice - in a minimalist kind of way! The entertainment was no better - we endured shreaking and very poor warbling from the 'Bluecoats', who struggled their way through several hundred renditions of songs from 'High School Musical', incorporating this in to every act - A tribute to 'High School Musical', 'songs from the century' and even 'Cinderella'?? Unlike other parks that we have visited before, Pontins did not have a timetable included in the welcome packs that we could follow, so we gadn't a clue what entertainment was on and when (not a bad thing given the quality of the entertainment). All in all a very disappointing stay that will NEVER be repeated!
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:The Sun
" Tired and Scruffy Southport Pontins "
Submitted By: spacroft
I have been on Sun Holidays many times, and have been quite satisfied with everything about them, so I had no qualms about booking a break at Pontins Southport. However, after I read bad reviews on this and other sites, I was reassured by Pontins that everything would be OK. Was it? I have never been so horrified at the so-called accommodation, which was so substandard, we decided to return home after about 15 minutes on the site. It was awful; front door that had seen better days, scruffy sofa bed, no carpets except in the bedroon, bases to the beds torn and tatty, rusty fridge door, open fronted and inadequate wardrobe, no nets to large windows, and therefore no privacy, inadequate noise insulation...heard TV next door, and people walking about above. The grassed amentiy area outside was a joke; poorly maintained, scruffy, worn badly etc. The whole site had an air of lack of care. We decided that we couldn't even comtemplate staying one night in the "appartment". We would have felt uncomfortable. I know we aall have different perceptions, but I cannot understand how anyone could praise Pontins at Southport. Finally, th4e stakke refunded out money without any problem, as if they had been there before many times. I know its a cheap Sun holiday, but come on, standards are standards, and none were obvious on this site
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Other-
" This holiday camp is in serious need... "
Submitted By: Mrs C Howlett
This holiday camp is in serious need of a face lift, the rooms were disgusting and we felt like we were in a pre fab from the 50's. we chose this accomadation as we wanted to visit blackpool (which was fab). We needed a holiday centre so that my daughters medical supply could be delivered for her dialysis (difficult abroad). There was no sockets in the bedroom so she spent the week on the sofa. The walls had big holes in them and the carpets had never been cleaned! The beds were uncomfortable and the whole chalet smelt damp. We spent the least amount of time possible here. The beach was gorgeous and it could offer so much more. I was relieved to leave and will never go back!! It has limited entertainment and my two daughters refused to go in the very dated pool, they said it was verruca central. I expected better from pontins. Southport has so much to offer its a shame this holiday centre is so run down.
- Date of Holiday:Jul 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" This holiday camp is in serious need... "
Submitted By: Mrs C Howlett
This holiday camp is in serious need of a face lift, the rooms were disgusting and we felt like we were in a pre fab from the 50's. we chose this accomadation as we wanted to visit blackpool (which was fab). We needed a holiday centre so that my daughters medical supply could be delivered for her dialysis (difficult abroad). There was no sockets in the bedroom so she spent the week on the sofa. The walls had big holes in them and the carpets had never been cleaned! The beds were uncomfortable and the whole chalet smelt damp. We spent the least amount of time possible here. The beach was gorgeous and it could offer so much more. I was relieved to leave and will never go back!! It has limited entertainment and my two daughters refused to go in the very dated pool, they said it was verruca central. I expected better from pontins. Southport has so much to offer its a shame this holiday centre is so run down.
- Date of Holiday:Jul 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Just returned from a week end break... "
Submitted By: brewerman
Just returned from a week end break at Pontins Southport. Never, Never again.
The chalets dated back to the sixties/seventies. The room smelt of stale fags and the carpet had so many stains on it, that it was hard to detect the original colour of the carpet. In it's favour the sheets and towels were clean even though two towels had to last each of us through the week end(not changed daily). We had an ironing board but no iron a dustpan but no brush and a lock on the bathroom door that did not work. Must have got lost at least three times, having had to park the car what felt like a mile away from the prefab/chalet/potocabin!
It was the daughters 18th birthday so we decided to pay the top wack and go club. Might as well paid for the budget because all we got different from the others was a daily paper, towels and the electric.
Trying to think of some thing posotive about the site but even the pub served rubbish beer and the entertainment was a bit sub standard. Best to visit the pub that's located just outside the site. Good food and the beer is a lot better than pontins.
Could not help but look through the windows of the other portocabins on site and to our horror some looked even worse than ours. (mould on curtains, no doors on wardrobes, etc)
Would visit Southport again but not at Pontins. Knock it down i say and build a proper site or spend money and update it.
P.S Where are the signposts. Was it me or are there no sign posts to help you find the place.
The chalets dated back to the sixties/seventies. The room smelt of stale fags and the carpet had so many stains on it, that it was hard to detect the original colour of the carpet. In it's favour the sheets and towels were clean even though two towels had to last each of us through the week end(not changed daily). We had an ironing board but no iron a dustpan but no brush and a lock on the bathroom door that did not work. Must have got lost at least three times, having had to park the car what felt like a mile away from the prefab/chalet/potocabin!
It was the daughters 18th birthday so we decided to pay the top wack and go club. Might as well paid for the budget because all we got different from the others was a daily paper, towels and the electric.
Trying to think of some thing posotive about the site but even the pub served rubbish beer and the entertainment was a bit sub standard. Best to visit the pub that's located just outside the site. Good food and the beer is a lot better than pontins.
Could not help but look through the windows of the other portocabins on site and to our horror some looked even worse than ours. (mould on curtains, no doors on wardrobes, etc)
Would visit Southport again but not at Pontins. Knock it down i say and build a proper site or spend money and update it.
P.S Where are the signposts. Was it me or are there no sign posts to help you find the place.
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" We spent the week beginning 15th Sept... "
Submitted By: Miss S Bridge
We spent the week beginning 15th Sept - 19th Sept and have nothing but good comments, me and my friend came with out two little girls who were both 2 and a half and they absolutely loved it, yeah fair enough it could do with a good clean in some areas but like i say, you get what you pay for, i paid £60 for a classic apartment which would fit 6 so for £10 each how can you complain, the chippy on the site was lovely and we had a few nice meals in the queen victoria pub. Only really spoke to one bluecoat (Bradley) who was very entertaining but we all loved the evening entertainment, especially Mr Stix, and his granny taunting ways haha
Oh and a quick hello to the lovely couple and daughter we met, whose comment is underneath mine.
Oh and a quick hello to the lovely couple and daughter we met, whose comment is underneath mine.
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Pontins
" I really don't know what some people... "
Submitted By: Mr S Martin
I really don't know what some people on here expect when they book a cheap as chips holiday to a Holiday Park that had it's heyday 30 years ago!
We had a fantastic time at Pontins, our 3 year old daughter loved every minute of it. Our chalet, while fairly basic, was spotlessly clean and adequate for the duration of our stay.
The entertainment on offer was varied and plentiful, with something different every day. The Bluecoats were friendly and helpful (a special mention to Bradley). The evening entertainment was mainly geared towards children, but that's the reason we went there in the first place!
We would definitely stay at Pontin's Southport again as it was an excellent place to go for a children's holiday. Oh, and the pool was fine too!
We had a fantastic time at Pontins, our 3 year old daughter loved every minute of it. Our chalet, while fairly basic, was spotlessly clean and adequate for the duration of our stay.
The entertainment on offer was varied and plentiful, with something different every day. The Bluecoats were friendly and helpful (a special mention to Bradley). The evening entertainment was mainly geared towards children, but that's the reason we went there in the first place!
We would definitely stay at Pontin's Southport again as it was an excellent place to go for a children's holiday. Oh, and the pool was fine too!
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
loading...
Advice: Southport is nice
Activities: the beach
Good for: Beach