Review: Butlin’s Astonishing Family Science Weekend September 2016 – Reviewed by Chopsy Baby
Astonishing, interesting and entertaining are three words I have never used to describe science in my life. Not, that is, until we went to Butlin’s in Minehead for a special Family Science Weekend. Hopefully, my children will now never equate double chemistry, physics and biology with dreary, boring and detention after a weekend in which clever, brilliant people brought science alive for a new generation of wide-eyed and totally engaged youngsters.
So what’s it really like staying at a Butlin’s resort? There are three Butlin’s resorts all in the UK. We went to Minehead, a beautiful location set on the West Somerset coastline. It has easy transport links for cars and is well serviced by public transport. The familiar Skyline Pavilion is a landmark that can be spotted on the coastline, even from some miles away.
Family breaks are exactly that. Butlin’s booking policies list specific terms and conditions to ensure that the right people are coming to the right breaks at the right time. You will never accidentally wander into a stag and hen weekend because the computer will always say no. Lead guests must be on the electoral role and checks on this are made. Security on resort is tight and safety is usually excellent. The resort is clean, very well organised though occasionally rules can be very rigid.
The great thing about a Butlin’s weekend is that there is plenty of activities for all ages and they are mostly inclusive. There is no need to pay out extra unless you really want to. Occasionally it can be more tricky if you have a child in the birth to five years bracket and one in the five to nine years. Interests and needs are different and compromise necessary when children can be tired and fractious.
What’s the accommodation at Butlin’s really like? Last year, to great fanfare, the resort unveiled a new series of chalets at Minehead. Don’t be fooled by the word chalets, for these modern apartments are lavish affairs in a village setting with lakes, landscaping and everything you could possibly need.
We stayed in West Lakes Village, Gloucester 22. Boasting a modern kitchen, bathroom, patio doors onto a green and bedrooms you would wish at home, this is nothing like the rows of basic accommodation to be found elsewhere on site. It is mind blowingly luxurious and absolutely perfect for a week’s stay.
It is of course expensive. But, if you are after that one holiday blow out per year it’s perfect. All year around. Housekeeping, complimentary toiletries and towels are included. We couldn’t find fault during our stay at all. Perhaps if nit picking, there was no chalk for our blackboard planner. I’m sure some would have found its way quickly had it been raised to guest services.
This outstanding accommodation does create a rather two-tiered holiday system at the resort. It’s a world away from the basic Surfers Point rooms which are functional, usually clean, yet tired. The Bathroom Door Handle Incident of 2014 which took place in one of these rooms has finally reached ‘funny story’ status. That is now the panic of how to raise the alarm from the toilet has alleviated somewhat. However, even these basic rooms come into their own if you are looking for a last minute bargain get away and would prefer to pay your pennies into extra activities rather than accommodation.
Plantation Quay has also undergone redevelopment recently. The Gold accommodation looks nothing like its previous prison block design with outer metal staircases. They are now enticing holiday apartments with fresh colours and new play areas.
Astonishing Family Science Weekend – Our Favourite Bits
There were so many science activities on this weekend, it was impossible to fit in everything we wanted to do. The range of activities was excellent, so too the calibre of companies in attendance. This is event planning at its absolute finest.
Aardman Model Making – £5 per person
Will, a model maker from Aardman Animations in Bristol, ran a brilliant hour-long workshop guiding people of all ages through the steps to create a Shaun the Sheep. It was absolutely fascinating watching the character come alive as we made each component and connected them with cocktail sticks. This was the only activity we paid for and it was worth every penny.
Animate It! Live Show – Free
This clever show took the audience through the basics of stop-frame animation. During the performance, everyone helped to create a showcase of techniques which was edited together and shown at the end. You can watch this here: https://youtu.be/mj_5DV4pZAQ
Bletchley Park – Free
A very clever man from Bletchley Park, set a series of puzzles for us to decipher in order to work out the code to open a safe. Very intellectually challenging first thing on a Sunday morning and a clear reminder why I went down a humanities route rather than maths/science. We were also lucky enough to see an original Enigma machine. A fabulous opportunity to take part in a really interesting challenge.
www.bletchleypark.org.uk
Brainiac Live! – Free
I’ve reviewed a lot of shows over the last ten years. Brainiac Live! is definitely one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. If you are phonophobic like me, the sight of gas filled balloon, flames and oil drums for explosions are enough to have you hiding under your chair. But the Brainiac style of science – basically slapstick, explosions and general tomfoolery – will have you laughing until you cry, holding your breath and clamping hands over ears. The section on mondegreens was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on stage and will never hear Orff’s Oh Fortuna in quite the same way again. Be Good For Peace Monkey’s Sake!
www.brainiaclive.com
Samsam Bubbleman – Free
Samsam Bubbleman is a Bubbleologist. What’s that? A person who creates the most amazing effects and shapes with bubbles. It’s so much more impressive than it sounds. Giant hearts filled the Skyline, shapes twisted and twirled through the air. It was mesmerising and beautiful.
www.bubbleinc.co.uk
Microsoft Make Your First Computer Game – Free
I’m still not quite sure what happened during this session. But my six-year-old coded a what I call doodah to get it to do something clever. The session was led by smart people from Microsoft. The activity was to use a drag and drop coding editor on a tablet to create a basic game with a micro:bit. After an initially frustrating start, a patient six year old with the session leader explained clearly how to get the program to work. We were able to create a rock, paper, scissors game when the micro:bit was given a shake.
www.microbit.co.uk/create-code
Pin Hole Camera Workshop – Free
There were several interesting science activities run by The Royal Institution’s L’Oreal Young Scientist Centre. We managed to squeeze in a pin hole camera workshop. During the session we learned about the science of the cameras and went out to take photos with them.
www.rigb.org
Fun Science Slime Making Workshop – Free
I was very impressed that a session with children of all ages making slime didn’t create any mess at all. With paint, glitter, PVA glue and a chemical thing, children made a tub of stretchy slime to take home. We ended up with two perfect tubs of glow-in-the-dark stretchy slime, decorated with glitter and smelling of chocolate. So much fun.
www.fun-science.org.uk
Computer Through The Ages – Free
This drop-in activity dominated much of the weekend’s spare time with its collection of computers from the 70s-90s housed in an inflatable in the Skyline. Adults got to relieve their youth with original computers such as Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Atari, BBC Computer and Amstrad to name a few. Children quickly learned the frustrations of trying to play a Sega Megadrive or original Nintendo game with three lives and no saves.
www.computinghistory.org.uk
The only downside for the entire weekend was that it was so soon into a new academic year. At a time when families are re-implementing school routines, homework and getting back to the grind after a long leisurely summer, it’s quite hard to suddenly down tools and go to Butlin’s three weeks into term. As a school age aimed family break, this would be much better in February, March or April.
Science Weekend was at Butlin’s Minehead Friday 16 September – Monday 19 September 2016
Accommodation £675
Premium Dining for three £152.25
Three B Line Fast Passes term time rate £39
Science Weekend Legacy
The Butlin’s Science Weekend captured all our imaginations in ways I never expected. Just six hours into the Saturday, I was asked to book Science Weekend next year before I left. And returning home resulted in a £20 spend on modelling clay for the nine-year-old to make stop-frame animation and £40 on science kit and chemicals for the six-year-old to create experiments.
As Butlin’s ‘frequent flyers’ a short journey away in Bristol, we are very familiar with their short breaks jam packed with swimming, football and archery. OK those and the sneaky more leisurely week-long term time breaks at times of the year we might get away with not being fined. We even had the best Christmas ever in 2015 when Ocean Drive threw copious bottles of wine our way and Father Christmas dropped presents off in Pacific Wharf. But none have been as fun as Science Weekend which managed to ignite an interest, no, a passion in science I never imagined possible.
How to get the most from your Butlin’s break:
You can pay for your holiday in instalments at your convenience
Look out for voucher codes. Frequently there are extra discount codes with up to £40 off internet prices
If you fancy a last minute get away keep an eye on internet prices. They do fluctuate and can drop significantly if close to the break start date
If you aren’t fussy, Standard rooms and apartments are fine but watch out because sometimes Silver can actually be cheaper depending on occupancy numbers
If you are a three-person family it may cost no extra to invite a friend or relative too. Much of the accommodation is based on a four-person occupancy, so three-person families can end up paying for four people. If you can’t get the deal you want have you tried booking two, two person rooms? It could be cheaper than booking a room for four.
If you come regularly you are automatically given Premiere Club status. Silver and Gold members can get vouchers on resort to spend on activities and in gift shops
If you are getting to Butlin’s early, pack swimming things separately and go for a swim. If you come by coach or public transport there is a place you can leave luggage until your accommodation is ready
Make the first thing you do at the resort to book activities. Popular ones go quickly on peak breaks so book straight away
Check the What’s On Guide carefully. Many activities are free but will need booking. You don’t want to be the one who gets the head tilt from everyone at the activity privately thinking – should have read the guide!
The swimming pool is always really busy in the mornings with the exception of mornings when it’s time to leave. Try swimming during lunchtime or late in the afternoons
If being in the front row of shows is important to you, get a B Line pass. It allows you into venues early as well as queue jumping at the swimming pool
For more information or to book, visit: www.butlins.com