Butlins Ultimate 80s Weekender – Review

By Richard Jones, September 2025

“Cowabunga!”, “Heroes in a Halfshell!” and “Turtle Power!” Just a few of the things shouted in our direction as we made our way through the pavilion to the Skyline Bar. Martin, Leigh, Jonathan and I were at Butlin’s Skegness Resort for our annual pre-Christmas Big Weekender.

As in 2024, we attended an Ultimate 80s Weekender, taking us back to the decade of decadence, shoulder pads, neon Lycra, MTV, and four anthropomorphic turtle brothers who used their ninja skills to fight evil in New York City.

“Perfect for us to recharge”

After arriving in Skeggy on Friday evening and driving through the day visitors entrance, the four of us made our way to our six-berth lodge in the Maple Walk village.

Each of these premium accommodations, built a couple of years ago, includes a master bedroom with a king-sized bed and en-suite shower room, as well as two more twin rooms, with an adjacent bathroom. They also feature a spacious living area with sofas, and a fully equipped kitchen including a full-sized fridge freezer, microwave, oven, hob, crockery and cutlery.

The decked seating area at the front is ideal for sitting out during the warmer months and, as Maple Walk is a 5-10 minute walk from the lively main resort, the lodge was perfect for us to recharge amid the weekend’s chaos.

But that’s not to say Maple Walk isn’t lively. When we arrived, the neighbours were getting their own parties started, with 80s music blaring and a few early revellers already decked out in fancy dress.

After unpacking, we made our way through the famous Butlin’s tunnel (a great spot for pics), and to The Deck restaurant to line our stomachs.

With a wok station, fish and chips, pie and mash and fresh burgers from the grill in the evening, and cereals, omelettes, pancakes and full Englishes at breakfast time, the buffets are first class.

“Greened up as turtles”

While fancy dress is not compulsory during a Big Weekender, you actually stick out if you haven’t “come out of your shell’ and made some sort of effort.

In previous years, we have donned token 80s-themed outfits on Fridays, but this year we went big, swapping Amazon-purchased shell suits for foam shells as we greened up as the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

As Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, we mingled with other characters from films, TV shows and bands, as well as those wearing ‘Frankie Says Relax’ and ‘Choose Life’ T-shirts, and bright neon accessories. Among my favourite fancy dress outfits this year were the adult-sized chickens, the WWE wrestlers, the large selection of Freddie Mercurys and the ‘off the wall’ Michael Jackson impersonator.

Entertainment-wise, there’s plenty going on during the weekend, and on the first night, we saw 80s pop icons Pat Sharp and The Fizz in Reds, and Tina Turner and Queen tribute acts on the Main Stage.

“Grooving on the dance floor”

After (nun) chucking our previous day’s outfits to one side on the Saturday morning, we made our way to The Diner for a Bottomless Brunch.

For just £38.50, guests get a two-hour slot to order a dish of their choice and drink as many pints and cocktails as their hangovers will allow.

The entertainment comes courtesy of the resident DJ, and just 20 minutes in, partygoers were stood up on the tables, grooving on the dance floor and snaking around The Diner as part of a giant conga.

“Hamburger-happy clowns”

An afternoon with the Bingo Bango team followed, as the drinks continued to flow. And if you don’t like queuing at the bar, make sure you purchase a VIP pass – it grants you access to a separate bar, as well as a free drink to start the weekend.

Following an hour in sports bar Hotshots and tea at The Deck, the four of us excitedly stumbled back to the lodge.

After appearing as turtles the previous evening, it was time to send in the clowns, with Martin, Leigh, Jonathan and I dressing up as four Ronald McDonalds.

Thanks to the afternoon alcohol, the clown make-up was by no means neat or accurate, while the wigs purchased on the Skegness seafront that morning weren’t exactly bright red, but we didn’t care one jot. The costumes went down a treat as fellow holidaymakers serenaded us with the ‘Fast Food Song’ (the “McDonald’s, McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut” one), while others queued up to have their pictures taken with us.

Following a night dressed as hamburger-happy clowns watching Sonia, Hue & Cry, Livin’ In A Box and Tony Hadley in Studio 36 and Black Lace on Centre Stage, Sunday was predictably much more sedate.

“Epic”

Topping up with a few drinks, we got to see Basil Brush Live and Unleashed and watch darts icon Wayne Mardle and his pals on the oche in the afternoon, before Erasured, Musical Youth and Go West in the evening.

‘The Home of Entertainment’ Butlin’s Skegness never fails to deliver, and this year’s Ultimate 80s Weekender was epic.

A weekend of heavy drinking dressed as fast food mascots and turtles meant there was an element of shell shock as we returned to the real world.

But that didn’t stop the four of us dreaming of ways we could top this year’s ‘radical’ and ‘bodacious’ fancy dress efforts when we inevitably return to clown around in Butlin’s next year.

Butlin’s Big Weekenders, exclusively for adults, has 70 unique three-day weekend getaways at their three resorts – Skegness, Bognor Regis and Minehead – during 2026. The breaks are dedicated to music from different decades and genres, and starting from just £43pp, every Big Weekender includes incredible headline acts, live DJ sets and tribute acts, as well as three-nights’ accommodation. Guests can also enjoy pool parties, silent discos, live comedy and Bingo Bango. Premium dining plans are available from £34.95 per person per day, with Bottomless Brunches at The Diner from £38.99pp. To find out more and to book, go to butlins.com or bigweekends.com.

Richard Jones( Writer )

While working as a TV, sport and news journalist, Rich first dipped his toe in the travel-writing pool in early 2008 when he accepted a learn-to-ski assignment in the Austrian Alps. Since then, he has travelled the globe, writing features on everywhere from Lake Garda to Las Vegas, Mexico to the Maldives and Barbados to Butlin’s. Rich’s passion is to inform and inspire readers and provide them with tips and advice on how they can make the most of their precious holidays. Over the years, he has been fortunate to stay in some of the world’s best hotels and dine in top restaurants, making him well-qualified to review food and drink, in addition to travel destinations, experiences and accessories. 

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