Pontins, Southport

We went on holiday to pontins southport,with my older mum and my two little kids.My kids really loved it they also loved it even when they was in the apartment because it had a sofa in front of the TV and they loved going out at night ! there was so much to do and also my mum loved it to they had bingo on as well they also had a arcade,Queen Victoria and a swimming pool.yes okay the swimming pool wasn't that nice but it wasn't harmful and they have recently updated it anyway .they also had a big skate park so my little boy went on there a number of times i am going again this Easter and summer it was that good ! it is amazing that my two little kids didn't want to go they also learnt some stuff as well because there was these people dressed in animal costumes and one morning there was a breakfast with them so they really did enjoy it i hope this review has made you want to go because it is amazing there also there is a beach down the road....what more could you ask for ?!!!!

What a horrible place looks so nice on the Southport website dirty room , could smell damp the floors look like they have never been cleaned or the windows was dirty don't go horrible place the swimming pool was freezing and not been cleaned for god nos how long, the showers was not working ether the beds are dirty don't go put us off ever going to pontins ever again :/

We took a chance and booked at Pontins Southport, just to see what the 'holiday camp' experience would be like. We weren't expecting luxury or anything near a 5* holiday, BUT would have at least expected to be able to sleep and walk around inside without getting soaking wet feet!!! Having been to Butlins as a child, I though it might be a good fun cheap holiday - how I was mistaken.

I should have listened to the hint on the website 2 days before when it said the swimming pool is closed and full refunds would be given, but how do you explain to a 3 1/2 year old his holiday isn't happening.

As we drove through the gates we very nearly went straight back round the roundabout and back out. After driving around twice trying to find a spot to park we queued for about half an hour to check in - it was disorganised chaos!! The person checking us in couldn't even direct us to our chalet because the print was too small for him to see and when I asked about the half board he didn't have a clue where it was. I got the info out about the halfboard and we had missed our slot for the food and had to search around to find the place they were serving the food and just about managed to get some 'left overs' for the kids. NOT the best start to our 4 day stay.

If it wasn't a 300 mile drive home we wouldn't have stayed another minute!!!

The apartment was horrible to stay in, it stunk of a mix of paint fumes and musty dampness. Even with the heating on full it was cold and unpleasant. The floor was so wet with condensation that we had to keep our shoes on the whole time - try explaining to two small children why they can't sit on the floor to play or walk around with their shoes off. Most of the time inside we were constantly telling the kids not to put things on the floor because it was wet, so much for a relaxing break. The curtains in the bedroom and front room were twotone from the wet that was running down the windows and we had to move a bed away from the wall as it had a wet patch from the ever running windows. The so called 'sofabed' was like sleeping on concrete with the frame digging into you if you dared to move.

The only positive that I have to say about the whole thing was the food quality. We paid for halfboard and the food overall was of good quality and appeared to be mostly homemade. Just a shame that it was freezing in 'Lunars' and the food was cold from the minute it hit the plate. A family sitting next to us asked why the air conditioning was on and the lady very politely said that it wasn't the air conditioning there was a problem on the roof!! She went on to suggest that people should complain then something might get done about it if enough people say something. The bar in the food area was open only one of the 4 evenings, it would have been nice to have been able to have a drink with our evening meal other than fruit juice, tea or paint stripper (coffee) - after all we were allegedly on holiday.

In the evenings it seemed as though the amusement area turned into the local youth club, so not much fun to be had there. The entertainment in the evenings was pointless, as once we had got to our 45minute food slot and eaten the 'fun factory' (or lack of) was packed. The kids evening party entertainment didn't start until 8, which was way too late.

The soft play area was a saving grace for two children needing to let off steam, but totally out of control. There was barely any seating for adults to 'supervise' their children so how the 60+ children were all being supervised is beyond me.

It states that Pontins Southport was born in 2011, from the looks of the place I would have said 1911. I would seriously consider complaining to any of the companies that have been used to refurbish the place as they have really let you down.

The best part of our holiday was getting away from the scummy, rundown, filthy excuse of a holiday camp to Farmer Ted's, Martin Mere Wetlands centre and the Knowsley Safari Park - all of which I would recommend fully for excellent days out.

Southport pontins is a dirty hole the window on the chalets were disgusting where's the window cleaner the carpet in the arcade was filthy and half the games wasn't working properly the toilets was dirty and wouldn't flush and doors didn't lock. The swimming pool needed a good clean and the was sand on the bottom of the pool lockers didn't work and there wasn't enough space in the changing rooms. Some staff were rude and unhelpful only thing that's going for this place is the beach it's beautiful so don't book your hols here I had a lovely caravan in Cornwall with john fowlers for less than what I paid for this dirty hole they call southport pontins

This place is a disgrace & should be shut down. Having to wait 20/30 minutes mountainside in the blazing sun to get your key after travelling 5 hours is residuals with 2 kids. I WOULD NOT let my dog stay here it's that disgusting. I would rather live in my local kennels than this place. Very disappointing Pontins. I think you's really need to pull your fingers out and sort the place out or close it. Our apartment was filthy & stank of stale smoke & dampness. We left this place & ended up in Blackpool were we got a beautiful & clean b&b for the same price as we paid for this place. Overall disappointing & black (5-8th July) Dates we were supposed to stay but didn't even do 1 night it was that bad. Reminded me of a prison camp. Not the type of holiday I want for my kids. Got a caravan holiday at Merton Mere last year for the same price & it was brilliant. Nice big clean caravan so there is no excuse for the price of the holiday as whether you pay £50 or £150 you should get a nice clean holiday. Will definitely NOT be back near a Pontins site ever

if i ran pontins i would close this down before it further damaged the brand of pontins, or maybe they are all this bad.It's old yes you cant do a lot about that but there is no excuse for it being dirty to the state it was. I would be embarrased to let customers see the state of the place.I would give specifics but its everything from reception to the play areas as for my bedroom it was little short of discusting.I really feel sorry for the staff having to put up with a barage of negative feedback. To the point that half of them are now unhelpful and dont listen,I cant belive they started of as bad as they are now. DO YOURSELF A FAVIOR AND AVOID THIS DUMP.

The apartment was dismal cold and grubby.You could see daylight when the front door into apartment was shut, as we arrived when it was dark we didn't realise this and why it was so cold and draughty.The windows were full of condensation(front ones)as these were still single glazed and pools of water covered the windowsils adding to the grimness of the place even more.The cooker rings had old fat on them , so when lit the apartment stank of old stale fat.The tv was an old tiny portable,4 channels and terrible picture which was only 3/4 of the screen.

The sofa bed was very uncomfortable.One of the pillows was disgusting, it was full of horrible brown and yellow stains.

The photo of the apartment interior was nothing like the real thing.The table was wonky and the 4 chairs were those awful stacking chairs in diferent colours whcih looked awful and made the whole apartment look cold and uninviting and very depressing. The electric meter cards were very expensive to use and ran out very quickly.

We didn't venture into the swimming pool as judging by the state of the apartment the pool would be of the same standard and reading other reviews, it was.

i had a great time at pontins, southport, for the rock night, in feb, i had promblems finding the disabled toilet, which a polite, english, lady helped, they were so clean, apart from a mirror, also the bar staff well on the same night saturday were great, with smiles, the night was really enjoyable, and i would go again, my room was clean, apart from that i did not like the weay the duvets, on the bed, were use before, so bring your own which people do, great value for money, need to sort out the electric cards though! feb 2013

the rooms are dirty and have a terrible smell.

the main reception is dark, dingy and smells.

the food is terrible.

the swimming pool is unsafe, poor changing rooms, broken lockers, tiles missing from pool.

you get told to pay for electric cards that you dont need.

i wouldnt recommend Pontins at Southport to anybody.

i have been complaining about my stay for 2 months with no responce from Pontins.

These people are taking money off people then alledgedly offering a holiday., well, i might as well of bought a tent and camped out instead, dirty, filthy disgusting, i hope to god trading standards close them down, build a new holiday camp instead, room was absolutely disgusting, took nearly 24 hours for "room" to be cleaned, its a health and safety issue as well, the place is an accident waiting to happen, as for the staff, well , i will never ever stay there again nor with pontins.