How to eat cheap at Butlin’s

Choose the right week, and a Butlin’s holiday is a bargain. Sometimes £150 all in.

But, you have to factor in food when you’re there. If you’re on a tight budget and are heading to Butlin’s for holiday, here are some hacks on how to eat cheap at Butlin’s.

Choose a dining plan

Dining plans can make your initial cost more expensive, but when you’re there food for a family of four can be as little as £7 per meal. I have a whole post on budget plan vs premium plan if you’re stuck for which one to do.

What we did when we chose the dining plan is to eat a big breakfast. Then for lunch we got a pack of rolls and ham from the shop. For dinner we went to the dining hall at 4:30 pm.

Buy food before you go

Food in Butlin’s shop is hiked up. For example, a pack of Coop ham that would usually be £1 is £1.50. If you have an apartment with a fridge, stock up on things like milk, ham, cheese, butter, pasta, sauce, noodles. If you’re in a hotel, take things like instant noodles and porridge, UHT milk (there are beer fridges but they don’t keep things that cold), bread, biscuits, crisps, fruit – you get the idea. Non perishables. When you get home you’ll likely want a salad.

Head into town

In town you’ll find Gregg’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, fish and chip shops, and a Tesco. You could grab some bits from the shop or a takeaway and enjoy it on the Beach. Prices won’t be hiked up like they are in the holiday village.

Town is about a 15 minute walk away. You can also catch a little seaside train just outside of the day visitors entrance that will take you the scenic route along the seaside.

Eat a big meal at lunch

This is likely what your grandparents would do, but in Butlin’s you don’t do it for digestion issues, you do it for budgeting.

There are a few places on site offering kids meals for £1 with each paying adult.

The lunchtime buffet at Papa John’s is £13.95 for adults and £5 for kids (June 2024). We ate for £38 here, then we didn’t need dinner because we were all stuffed!

Cheap eats at Butlin’s shop

The shop also does hot food at the back, so if you want a hot lunch, you can get it. They also stock sandwich fillings and bread. It’s more expensive here, but cheaper than buying it pre-made from Costa.