Boys and Girls

Ma and Pa O’Rourke never really went in for family holiday camps when us young ones were growing up.

If you were good at the Community Games you progressed to Mosney. And though I am somewhat of an athlete these days, as a child I never made the grade.  And when I say somewhat of an athlete, I mean not an athlete at all.

But somehow I felt like I knew these holiday camps through the medium of my friend tv.  Who didn’t think of Su Pollard as a good friend with zany glasses and a silly voice? And my continuous viewing of Dirty Dancing meant I could find my way around Kellerman’s camp blindfolded AND carrying a watermelon.

However, the king of camps lies near the little town of Minehead among the brave men and women proudly sporting the redcoats of Butlins. I have made up for my holiday camp devoid childhood by visiting Butlins twice in the last year and I am returning on Friday.  The music festival All Tomorrow’s Parties has been taking place in Butlins for a number of years now.  The music world has been saturated by festivals in the last few years with almost too much choice. While ATP is possibly the nicest, friendliest, fun-est festival you could go to, the hook for me is the fact it takes place in Butlins.  Not only is this a great marketing tool it offers the ideal level of comfort and kitsch value and instills a sense of community in the festival. Revellers become chalet dwelling neighbours and the organisers hold mixed-tape swaps, pub quizzes and book bingo ensuring you’ll have made new friends by the close of the weekend.

So while for three days there’ll be more leather jackets than redcoats its still Butlins. And more fun than you can shake a hipster at.