A holiday park that was once part of a chain of 30 sites and now stands as the brand’s last remaining location has been crowned the worst in the UK.
A Which? survey ranking the best and worst holiday parks across the country has placed Pontins firmly at the bottom, with its final remaining, albeit rebranded, site in Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset being given the dubious honour.
Scoring a woeful 61% rating, Which? readers awarded the brand just two stars across customer service, accommodation quality, cleanliness, and food and drink. And despite being one of the most affordable options in the rankings, averaging £38 per person per night, it still only scraped two stars for value for money.
The site is no longer called Pontins, having rebranded to Sand Bay in recent years. It is no longer a family holiday park, catering just to adults. It is not entirely clear how much it has changed since the rebrand, although it now boasts 3.6/5 on Google Reviews. One recent review reads: “Really good value. Depending on the event, an evening visit can cost just under £20, including a substantial and well-prepared self-service dinner and entertainment.”
The park is the last remaining for the brand -Credit:Rowan Griffiths/Daily Mirror
In its glory days, Pontins was renowned for lively family getaways featuring its famous Bluecoats entertainers — a launching pad for the careers of Shane Ritchie and Bobby Davro. The brand was rescued from the brink of collapse 15 years ago when it was snapped up by Britannia Hotels, a chain Which? has repeatedly labelled the UK’s worst hotel chain.
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Sand Bay Holiday Village is adults-only and appears to be actively distancing itself from the Pontins name, with no mention of the brand anywhere on its website. The park boasts a heated indoor pool, games room, live shows, and daily activities.
Another recent reviewer said: “The location is great, beach right in front of the resort, Weston only a 10 min open bus journey away”, also praising the accommodation for its cleanliness and upgraded room options.
Yet less favourable reviews tell a different story, with guests claiming “the rooms were filthy. We didn’t even have matching curtains!” and “dirty, smelly, run down! They may have changed their name, but they haven’t changed their shame.”
Prior to the closures, Pontins regularly made headlines as disgruntled customers reported grimy accommodation and poor facilities. In the now-closed Pontins Southport, guests complained of people smoking drugs and drunk parents roaming the park. A mum who visited the Brean Sands report alleged her children were left in tears after finding rubbish and dirt all over their room.
Another family, who visited Pontins Prestatyn in Wales dubbed it a “holiday from hell”. They claimed the room was yellowing from stains, the pool and restaurants were shut, and they “couldn’t even see out of the windows” due to grime.
A spokesperson for Britannia Hotels Group commented: “We are naturally disappointed by this ranking and take all guest feedback seriously as it plays an important role in helping us improve the experience we offer. While the report refers to ‘Pontins’, no Pontins holiday parks are currently open to guests. Our only holiday park currently open to the public is Sand Bay Holiday Village which is an adults-only destination.
“We recognise that some areas of the park’s accommodation reflects the site’s heritage and we are already investing in a programme of improvements to upgrade the accommodation and enhance the overall guest offering. We remain committed to providing great value, warm hospitality and enjoyable breaks for our guests.”
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At the opposite end of the rankings, Potters Resorts topped the table with its all-inclusive resorts in Norfolk and Essex, while Hoburne Holidays secured second place. Hoburne operates parks throughout the south and south west of the UK, including sites in the Cotswolds, Dorset, and Somerset.
Which? said: “This fifth-generation family business’s seven locations (in the south of England ) are all ideally situated, from a clifftop in coastal Dorset to a woodland retreat in the New Forest.”
It added: “There’s no tray jostling in sterile canteens either. Restaurants, like the lantern-adorned Pier House, with its sea-view terrace, source local, seasonal ingredients such as Brixham trout – earning the brand five stars for its food and drink. Activities make the most of each park’s unique surroundings, whether it’s guided bat walks or instructor-led kayaking on the wetlands of its Cotswolds site.”
The UK’s best and worst holiday parks
(Name of resort, overall customer score)
Waterside Holiday Group – 80%
Shorefield Holidays – 76%
Highland Holidays – 74%
Lyons Holiday Parks – 74%
Warner Coastal Villages – 73%
John Fowler Holidays – 72%
Based on a survey of 2,221 Which? Connect panel members and general public conducted in February and March 2026.