Butlins has announced plans for a new West Lakes Village at its Minehead site in Somerset. The new accommodation will provide, from spring 2015, a different option for any conference or event booked at the resort. The design provides a nod to the resort’s past, inspired by the iconic chalet concept.

Butlins in Bognor has hitherto led the brand’s assault on the conference market, with new hotels and big investment in giving the resort a major facelift over the past few years.
Now, the Minehead site, hitherto the least equipped for hosting events, is making big strides with a £16m investment.  Colour, well-being and retro nostalgia are the watchwords of a plan that will deliver 117 new chalets by the spring.  Many chalets will offer private water-edge balconies and views of the lakes. Complimentary Wi-Fi will be part of the new offer.  Butlins is using the phrase ‘corporate playground’ to describe its USP in the conference venue market. And across the three UK sites, its event spaces range from boardrooms to 5,500 capacity arenas.

National Sales Manager for Butlins Conference & Events, Simon Jones tells CN: “Butlins Conference and Events pride themselves in bringing out the best in people by putting our clients and delegates at the heart of every decision we make.

“Our new West Lake Village has been built with this ethos in mind, fusing the best of the Butlins retro past with brand new furnishings, modern appliances and complimentary Wi-Fi – as we know just how important it is that delegates can still make contact with the office. Teambuilding is also an integral element to the chalets, with communal living areas and outdoor sports and games perfect for team bonding.

“Delegates can even hire out the entire West Lakes Village exclusively as part of our exclusive hire offering, something that has proven to be really successful for us in 2014. By looking at our product through our customers eyes we can implement the changes that make a real difference, to in turn ensure they have the best possible experience whilst visiting our resorts,” Jones adds.