Butlin's plans new multi-million investment at Bognor Regis resort

The holiday company plans to spend at least £3m a year for the next five years on its seafront resort in the town.

The proposed expenditure is likely to increase further if larger projects such as the already-suggested watersports centre or an improved swimming centre go ahead.

Resort director Jeremy Pardey said Butlin’s was committed to constantly improving its facilities – and to Bognor. “There are lots of things we are considering for this,” he said at the official opening of the Wave hotel and apartments.

“We are discussing the development of the resort very closely with Arun District Council but I can’t say anything publicly about them.

“But we are looking at moving forward over the next five years by spending millions of pounds a year here.

“We listen very closely to what our guests want and set about meeting that. We also have a lot of regular guests and they want innovations when they come each year.”

Community links

The development of the £25m Wave building with 29 self-catering apartments and 215 hotel rooms has occurred less than three years after the Ocean Hotel was opened.

That, in turn, followed closely behind Butlin’s first hotel – the Shoreline Hotel – whose popularity paved the way for them.

“To spend £25m on the site is quite a large investment but, as well as the lots of plans to develop even more, it’s also important we have links with the local community,” said Mr Pardey.

“Our human resources department has gone to great lengths to employ more local people among the some 55 staff in Wave.

“We also used more local contractors on this building than we did on the others.

“Butlin’s is not just about the company. It’s about the surrounding community as far as I am concerned as well as the people who come here on holiday.”

For more on the launch of the hotel see this week’s Bognor Regis Observer (Thursday, July 5, edition) out now.