Pontins Southport

2 readers found this review helpful

After reading the reviews on here we were very reluctant to go yet after the initial chaos to get parked up and get the room keys we pleasantly surprised by what we found. The room was clean and had no smells. A little maintenance wouldn't go a miss but safe and clean enough for adults and children to stay in.
The Queen Vic leaves a little to be desired speed wise and whilst you won't get fine dining you will get fed well but at times may have to wait for a litle while.
Bluecoats were all friendly and the activities went down well with the kids.
Pool does need a good overhaul (very little in the way of changing facilities) but the kids love it and Splash World is only ten minutes away for a better level of fun.
These breaks are what you make of them.
We made ours fun and so can you!

2 readers found this review helpful

Booked a 4 day break with the sun holidays. Having been on severeal Sun Holidays before - they have all been top class. THIS WAS A DISGRACE.
Myself & Wife with 3 children aged, 13, 11 & 2 arrived at the Prisoner of War camp at shortly after 4pm to join the long check in queue (which is normal) and collect chalet (cell) keys.
Made our way to the block! Concrete staircase unsafe for anyone to climb and balconies deadly. Opened our cell door to find what used to be a carpet on the floor, the remains are still there in places. One dirty sofa bed, 2 rooms containing 2 single metal beds with very tired ripped linen - sat on them all and not one was anywhere near possible to sleep on. 3 plastic school type chairs for 5 of us to sit round the very small 70's table. Bathroom with bath and shower - very dirty and tired and water that needed to be pumped to the shower every 10-12 seconds. Kitchen - DO NOT EVEN GO IN THERE, ITS NOT SAFE.
Went to see duty manager - very helpful (only positive i can find). Asked if we could upgrade, he said they were full but even if he could upgrade us all it meant is that we would get a microwave.
Did not need to explain too much - he seemed used to the process. Asked for refund in full so we could look for alternative accommodation which was not a problem and refunded in full on the spot. Had to sign a full and final settlement disclaimer though.
Asked if they had wifi so we could look for somewhere online but they had not got wifi. He pointed us in the direction of a Premier Inn in Sounthport Centre and i am so grateful he did as the hotel was perfect and staff excellent.
AVOID PONTINS SOUTHPORT - WHATEVER IT COSTS
ALSO RATING IS ONLY 1 BECAUSE YOU CANNOT ENTER ZERO

4 readers found this review helpful

After reading all these reviews I was really worried about going.
Yes the place needs a lick of paint but so what, that is really not a good reason to have a horrible time is it?
We stayed in budget and our only complaint was the stained carpet. Other than that it was what you would expect, it was clean but basic.
I was here for Oct half term and really had a good time.
Yes there were chavs, myself and my partner laughed as I said I had never seen so many people in Grey tracksuit bottoms and that must now be the fashion!
But the entertainment was good, those blucoats put in an awful lot of hard work with what they do and they do it well.
I would definitely go again, a place that needs updating slightly is not enough to make me have a horrible time!

6 readers found this review helpful

We have just got back from our holiday at Pontins Southport today & all i can say is that its a dump!! Fair enough, i didn't pay the price that half term would have cost me (thank god!) but the place is a health hazard!
As soon as we arrived i was bursting & needed to use the loo's near the 'Fun Factory' & OMG, if only the internet had
smell-avision, it would singe yor nosehairs!!
The place was jam packed & we had to wait for the bluecoats to allocate our rooms. While we were waiting, a gentleman told me to check our beds when we got our rooms. I stupidly asked why & he told me he was warned at Ainsdale Train station from previous guests that Pontins had a flea infestation!
I laughed it off & thanked the man for letting me know what we were letting ourselves in for.
When we were waiting for our room, the bluecoat said that there was no upgrades or you could'nt change your room as they were fully booked. I thought to myself that the place can't be that bad if its full -surely not?
We made our way to the room & my husband said that it was like stepping into a time warp & he was waiting for Sid James & Barbara Windsor to jump out & say hi!
The 6 of us arrived at our room & there was an oxygen tank in the room & there was no travel cot for our 10 month old son.
the furniture was pretty basic, but practical. The sofa bed, which was our bed for 4 long restless nights sank if you sat on it! When we slept on it, it was'nt any better.The pillows were made of pieces of cut up duvet, folded in half & put in a pillowcase.
We decided to go out to eat at The Queen Vic as we were starving for travelling for 5 hours. It was really busy, but not enough seating for the guests. The food was reasonably priced, especially the kids meals. We had a high chair for our son & it was in a disgusting state - it looked like it had't been washed since it was first used! It had all splashes & stains all over it & the straps were brown, they should have been white & the clip had congealed food in it. I wiped the chair down as best as i could with baby wipes.
After dinner we attempted to go to see a show & could not get a seat for love nor money so the girls wanted to try out the Funfair. At £2.00 a pop per person was pretty steep.
The next day, we had a good look round at the facilities & i must say, they were limited & not impressive so we went to Splash world in Southport & had a fantastic time.
We tried out the H2o centre & the smell of Chlorine was overpowering. The changing rooms was very small, the floor was permanently wet & the changing room curtains were covered in black & white mould. I found it a challenge to get me & 4 kids changed! The pool was large & had 2 separate pools. The baby pool floor was creased in places & kids kept on tripping over it as it moved & was not stuck down properly. I went under water 2 times & my eyes were bloodshot from the amount of chlorine in the pool. I had to get out.
We did manage to see a show & i must say that the bluecoats do work hard & are probably paid a pittance for their dedication.
The staff in the Queen Vic are very rude & unhelpful. All we wanted was a clean table!!
Outside our room was a large hole in the ceiling & we found out that it was ARB (asbestos ) & the room walls were made out of that too. The reason why i know this is that my husband works in the Asbestos removal industry. We have forwarded pictures to the HSE as this is an imminent danger to any guests staying there.
I could go on & tell you more, but i won't. I will let you decide for yoursleves, if you dare to go there. Dont say you've not been warned!!

3 readers found this review helpful

After readin all the reviews on here i really did think twice about goin but can i say thank god i went,me and my kids had a really great time and didnt want 2 come home,the chalet was clean,no sign of mould and the entertainment was spot on,the blue coats work really hard,im just glad i took no notice of the things people wrote on here,go with an open mind and see 4 yrselfs.

3 readers found this review helpful

Arrived 25/10/10 and queued for check in which is normal and was not a problem.
Friendly staff dealt with the issuing of paperwork and keys etc, also mentioning that they were fully booked and no alternative accomodation was available under any circumstances. Thought the reviews were all wrong up to the point that we entered the budget accomodation.
Smelly, dirty, mouldy carpets and vomit stained beds are what greeted us, along with a fridge that didn't close properly. I wouldn't let my dog stay in a room like that.
After dealing with my now crying 4yr old daughter I walked back to reception to check out, and was served by the same friendly staff member who had checked me in. At this point I was immediately offered the option of an alternative chalet, where these had suddenly appeared from who know's, but as I had already looked into several other grotty chalets on my way back to reception I declined. I was then asked to fill out a complaint form on the off chance that the duty manager might snaction a refund. Although I did this and was given my money back I find it hard to believe that nobody asked to see the chalet or even questioned what I was saying, probably because they know I wasn't lying.
This should not be allowed to happen and the helpful staff should not be put in the position of having to deal with many disgusted customers.
Pontin's, either demolish the site and start again or deal with the issues please.

4 readers found this review helpful

we went for 4 days and was so glad when time to come home the sleeping quarters were disgusting mould on walls and carpets,dirty beds were disgusting given duvet covers for sheets,floors need new carpets.you couldnt get food only certain times then it was awfull,slow service arogant staff,had to pay for rides outside which wasnt always working,blue coats were ok except they dont listen to their co workers especially 1 called nigel who is arogant when approached about a matter.the place was awfull and would never return unless knocked down and rebuild.

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2 readers found this review helpful

Arrived Friday 8th October left sat 9th. Would have left sooner but couldnt face the two hour drive home. The place stank of cigarette smoke, had not been cleaned in what looked like months. Must have been about 50 tab ends still strewn about the front door. Peeling paint to front, no carpets in lounge area just rubberised matting that hasnt seen a mop for god knows how long. Nothing but four plastic school type chairs to sit on and a dodgy sofa bed.
Glad I hadnt paid a great deal for the weekend break (sun holiday) but seriously this place needs pulling down.!

3 readers found this review helpful

Do not come we came monday 11th oct got in to the room smelled of wee food in cooker the bathroom didnt look like it was cleaned not good for kids ive got 2half year old and 11mths old not good for kids at all the staff are so rude the nite we got here we went to get some food had to wait 2hours the shops and food was so pricy £5 a pint we left wasnt good you have to pay for every thing didnt get anything in with the price avoid avoid avoid avoid ?????????????? the only good thing was we got free electric my sister had to pay £12 per unit stupied and still no hot water !!!!!!!!!! nothing looks like it on the site id rather stay in a b&b if you book make sure you have cleaning stuff and loads of money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or go to a travel inn (southports nice thats all what was good about the break!!! ) pontins is not even in southport its a train away or 20mins on bus not good when you dont drive and have two kids

4 readers found this review helpful

We arrived on Monday 11th October and 5pm and left at 7pm after trying several chalets - it was vile and I mean vile, dried in vomit on carpet floor, stains on carpet in living area, mould in sofa bed and curtains, DISGUSTING would never ever have let my children spend even one night here, we weren't the only ones leaving that day - it was awful, one member of staff was really rude but after the day they had obviously had it was understandable !"!!!!! Please do yourself a favour and DO NOT visit - ruined our holiday we had to travel four hours to get there and four hours home on the same day with 6 children - one of whom has disabilities - we did not take the decision lightly to leave. I am 14 and i've been going to Pontin's for over 12 years in Blackpool and that was run down but this Pontin's in Southport was UNBELIEVEABLE so i do advise u NOT to go hear.