Butlin’s’ parent company Bourne Leisure says it will “robustly defend” legal action being taken by more than 200 holidaymakers in relation to problems at the operator’s Bognor Regis resort in 2011.
Legal firm Irwin Mitchell is representing more than 215 holidaymakers following a denial of liability by Bourne Leisure. Court proceedings relate to an outbreak of illness at the Bognor Regis resort between May and July 2011.
The holidaymakers are said to have cited a range of issues at the resort, including: undercooked food, flies seen on and around food, pigeons on tables, rude staff, managers ignoring requests for help and asking ill guests to leave early, sewage smells around the resort, a “cloudy” swimming pool with slime around the edges, and failure to clean communal areas.
The firm’s clients include members of the Ealing Handicapped Irish Dancers and members of Mencap Hillingdon North. Alison Hill, group leader of Mencap Hillingdon North, claims to have been told privately by a manager not to tell other guests about one of her group’s illness and asked if the group could leave early. The group of 21 members and seven volunteers visited Butlins in Bognor Regis in June 2011.
Elizabeth Tetzner, who is representing the group of holidaymakers at Irwin Mitchell, said: “All hotel and resort operators have a duty of care towards their guests. This includes maintaining standards of hygiene. Our clients have given us worrying accounts of their stays, including concerns regarding cleanliness, standards of food preparation and service as well as their treatment by staff at the staff.
“Bourne Leisure has denied liability and as such our clients have been left with no other option than to issue court proceedings as they seek justice for their ruined holidays. Gastric illness can have a devastating impact on people’s health and the effects of it cannot be underestimated.”
Butlin’s refuted the allegations and put out a statement today, which said: “We will robustly defend this speculative action rasied at the High Court in Birmingham. We operate our resorts to the highest health and safety standards and work closely with the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that our guests’ safety takes priority.
“Our standards of cleanliness and hygiene are recognised throughout the tourist industry worldwide. Such is our reputation on health issues that environmental officers from around the UK have described our policies and procedure as outstanding.”