An all time Hi-de-Hi?

AS BUTLIN'S TURNS 90 - HAS IT STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AS A BUDGET-FRIENDLY FAMILY BREAK? LAUREN TAYLOR FINDS OUT MORE

- LAUREN TAYLOR

"THERE are four pirate hats," my five-year-old daughter offers enthusiastically, as I'm fumbling various numbers into a lock in an attempt to free ropes attached to bars trapping us in a small room.

We're inside one of the four escape rooms at the indoor Playxperience at Butlin's, Bognor Regis, each with a different theme, this one being stories of mysterious pirates and a search for hidden treasure - perfect for children, but (embarrassingly) difficult for adults. Her grandparents and I are just as stumped.

We have an hour, and with clues to crack, boxes to unlock and pieces of maps to put together, there's a real air of magic for children, and an opportunity for beyond-the-everyday bonding for families. It’s great fun and we eventually make it out.

My visit to Butlin’s comes on the historic holiday company’s 90-year anniversary. The original site, Skegness in Lincolnshire, dates back to 1936, and while many have come and gone (at one point in the 1960s there were 10), Bognor, Minehead, and Skegness remain.

Butlin’s is perhaps best known for its “Redcoat” staff and putting on stage shows. This year sees the introduction of some new ones - Maximum Pro Wrestling, Jack and The Beanstalk pantomime and Peppa’s Pig-Nic Party - which my daughter Seren gives the rave review of “good” for, while my dad is grateful to get out of there. Peppa Pig isn’t for everyone.

The headline acts, in a large arena, feel more like a high-end production than I had expected. We settle in to watch The Animal Guyz do an entertaining educational stage show, Animals and Mythical Beasts, featuring life-size animatronic and puppet animals.