Reviewed: Potter’s Resort, Suffolk
Say the words ‘holiday camp’ and I expect you already have a picture in your head. Say ‘holiday village’ and there aren’t quite as many connotations. Say five-star holiday village, and you start to get intrigued.
ad/press trip*
So when I was invited to review Potter’s Resort, I couldn’t help wondering what it was like today, almost 95 years after the first holiday camp on the site was built (yes, that’s before Butlins).
Set in 65 acres on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, it’s in the right place for a traditional seaside break but with the emphasis on what’s included apart from the location.
For more ideas of the best things to do in Suffolk with kids, check out my top picks
For starters, you can have up to four meals per day and there is a genuinely impressive array of activities, from bowling to a climbing wall, shooting range and entertainment every night, including big name singers.
And with 80% of visitors returning after their first visit, mostly tempted by previous guests and word-of-mouth recommendations, the family-run resort is obviously getting things right.
Potter’s Suffolk: The good
The service
Without fail, everyone at the resort was friendly and helpful. And I don’t mean the kind of friendly and helpful achieved by hours of training, they genuinely seemed to love their jobs and want to help.
The beach
I love a private beach. Potter’s may not be strictly closed to the public, as I suspect you could get along the sands from beyond the resort, but there was hardly anyone there when we ventured down.
Our room
We were in one of the furthest spots from the main building, but it was still only a five minute walk away, even with a toddler. We were also in the perfect place for the beach, just across the football pitch.
Rated as a Bungalow Plus, there was room for a cot, a very comfortable bed, a lovely bathroom, and helpful touches like a little fridge.
The pool
Not just one pool but several, all joined together. Two were shallow enough for kids, with various floats and a huge waterfall in one, while the main pool was also split for swimmers on one side and splashing around on the other.
If the sun’s shining, you can swim directly outside too. There’s even a family changing room, although only the one.
The facilities
Minnie was really too young, and we had too short a visit to try everything, but there’s a reason the resort has had 12 years of five-star status from the English tourist board.
There is masses to do on the site, and kids’ clubs from 0 to teenage, with Bouncing Boos (Boo being a panda) for the youngest ones, although this isn’t childcare so you’ll have to stay with younger ages. And most of it’s free.
The resort
Someone has thought this through. There’s parking dotted around, cars can get close enough to the accommodation but it’s still safe with kids, and you needn’t trek for ages to get anywhere.
Plus there are lovely touches like huge lavender bushes, where Minnie spotted bumblebees and Red Admiral butterflies every time we walked past.
The price
You can get four nights for £379, while prices for under-twos start from £10 for a single night. When you consider what’s included, you get a lot for your money.
Multigeneration
There were as many grandparents as grandchildren when we stayed, couples with babies, older ladies holidaying together. Think of an age mix and they had checked in – simply because there really is something for every age.
Potter’s Resort Suffolk: The not so good
The food
It certainly wasn’t terrible and was definitely plentiful, but in terms of quality I could only say it’s fine. We weren’t expecting Michelin stars, and the choice does change every day, but I’m not sure I’d want to eat it all week.
There’s no self-catering facilities either apart from the fridge and a kettle, so it’s really your only option.
The enforced jollity
Maybe it’s just me. It doesn’t matter if I’m on a cruise ship or in a holiday village, I don’t like enthusiastic commentaries through a microphone during my meal.
I really really don’t like being encouraged to join in a communal singsong. I was definitely in a minority though…
Few family-friendly services
There are cots and high chairs, but like the kids’ clubs (which parents need to supervise), you’re a bit stuck in the evenings too. If you’ve got a baby who’ll sleep happily through a show or an older child who’ll stay up a bit later on their holiday, this doesn’t apply.
If you’ve got a toddler who simply won’t sleep if there’s anything to entertain her but who isn’t really old enough to stay up and stay in her seat for a show, you’re a bit stuck in the evenings.
As with hotels, our only real solution was to sit in a darkened room. Fine for one night but for longer? There’s a reason why I barely stay in hotels any more.
Potter’s Resort Suffolk review: The verdict
Am I one of the 80%? No, I don’t think so. We had a lovely stay and the positives obviously outweigh the negatives but it’s not quite right for us, partly because of the practicality.
By comparison, somewhere like Bluestone in Wales (which I reviewed last year) has a similar range of activities and facilities but also self-catering options, plus probably works out at a similar price once you’ve included your food.
Disclosure: Our stay was courtesy of Potter’s Resort Suffolk Holiday Village. All opinions remain my own.
Images: Main and room image courtesy of Potters; all other images copyright MummyTravels
LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER
