Call the Environmental Health.......! (Pontin's)

Member Name: Vortex1

Product:	Pontin's
Date:	09/07/06 (375 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: HaHaHaHaHa!!!!!

Disadvantages: Filthy, ant infested chalets, unfriendly staff and the camp is in urgent need of repair.

Ive just returned from a weekend at Southport Pontins today (9/7/06)with my partner and 4 year old son. Upon arrival you could see exactly what the place was- a total dump! We were allocated our chalet, a budget one. We got there and it absolutely stunk.The curtains were hanging off, the windows were filthy and the carpet was covered in cigarette burns and dirt. The bed settee was absolutely filthy and covered in dirt and grime. I was not prepared to stay in these conditions, so packed up my things and returned to reception with my family in tow. I offered to pay whatever it would cost to upgrade to a better chalet but was told there were none available. At this point I was seriously considering going home!!! I was given the option to move to another budget chalet which I took, and arrived there to find it odourless and SLIGHTLY cleaner. However the carpet was still filthy as was the general appearance. However, as we were only there for 2 nights we decided to make do. We got changed and went to the clubhouse for the evening. The entertainment for the children wasnt bad but there was no sign of Captain Croc or any other of the childrens characters for that matter. We returned back to the chalet and were about to settle down. The TV set buzzed loudly which made it impossible to watch it and on further, closer inspection we found that the chalet was infested with ants! They were everywhere!! In the kitchen, the kettle(!), the bedroom and the bathroom!!! Obviously this would not do! I set off back to the clubhouse and spoke to a member of staff who wasnt at all surprised by my comments! Apparerntly its perfectly normal! Can you believe it!!! He offered to come round with a spray(!) and get rid of the ants, to which I politely refused. I insisted on another chalet. He promised me someone would be round right away to sort it out so I returned to the chalet and gathered all my things together ready for a move. (It was after 11pm at this point and my child had fallen asleep.) I waited around 30 mins and no-one came. I returned to the clubhouse and spoke to another member of staff who again promised that someone would be round straight away. Again I returned to the chalet and waited. A man turned up about 15 minutes later ( its now nearly midnight!!!) and when I asked for another chalet he had to get his supervisor to OK it.We waited another 30 mins until the supervisor turned up. I explained that I wanted upgrading for all the trouble but there were no better available. He gave us the keys to another chalet half way round the camp and expected us to up and move all our stuff as well as a fast asleep 4 year old child. Bearing in mind this is about 1:30 in the morning. In the end we couldnt move at that time so we had to stay for the one night. The supervisor promised to upgrade us the following morning( Saturday) as there were a lot of people going home then. First thing the next morning I arrived at reception with my story only to be told there was no chance of an upgrade. (Whilst I was there another man came in complaining about his chalet being overrun with ants too!!) In the end they gave me two budget chalet keys and told me to go and see which one was the best!!!! Upon viewing them, they were both very tatty and dirty but there were no ants. What a bonus eh?! Also it was an upstairs chalet, whereas we had requested a ground floor. Anyway for the sake of one night we agreed that wed put up with it.

The centre in general is very run down and dirty, the toilets in the clubhouse area absolutely stink and are filthy also. A lot of machines in the arcade area award tickets as prizes. My son spent a fortune amassing these tickets but the shop was never open where you claim your prizes, so we ended up leaving with hundreds of these tickets that are absolutely worthless to us now. When I enquired avbbout the shop I was constantly fobbed off and told it will open at this and that times, but guess what? I never saw it open once.

Also I think its worth noting that on the Friday night when I was toing and froing to the clubhouse to complain about the ants, four Police cars rushed into the camp with the blue lights flashing to arrest some troublemakers that were Pontins guests. Nice quiet family holiday eh!!!!?

In general, I will never ever ever step foot on another Pontins camp in my life and advise anyone thinking of going to Southport Pontins to think again and spend their money on a Haven holiday instead! I am honestly surprised that the camp is allowed to stay open as it is that bad. I think the Environmental Health need to pay them a visit and then maybe it wont be!

Summary: Stay away at all costs!!!!