Pontins to get 'Disney-style' makeover

The new owner of Pontins said he plans to bring a touch of Disney-style magic to the traditional UK holiday resorts as part of a £25 million makeover.

Britannia Hotel Group, which owns the Adelphi in Liverpool and 35 other UK hotels including a site in Aberdeen, bought Pontins out of administration for a reported 20 million last month, safeguarding 850 jobs.

Britannia owner Alex Langsam said he wants to reinvent the parks as themed seaside destinations for pre-teens, although he plans to keep the famous "bluecoat" entertainers.

Langsam said Pontins' resorts - Brean Sands, Somerset; Camber Sands, Sussex, Pakefield, Suffolk; Southport, Merseyside and Prestatyn Sands, North Wales - are in "wonderful" locations, but he plans to introduce Disney-style cartoon costumes and attractions to attract new visitors.

He said: "The most important thing for me is getting some of the kiddie generation in; getting the kind of stuff kiddies like into parks on a large scale."