Continuously investing to deliver top-tier entertainment in every sense, Butlin’s has recently made significant investments in advanced audio system upgrades at its Skegness and Bognor Regis resorts.
Now far beyond the traditional “holiday camp” format, Butlin’s wanted to support its expanding entertainment offering—from Big Weekenders to conferences and events—with professional, high-end sound systems. At this point, Technical Entertainment Director Andrew Sugg consulted long-time solution partner Robin Shephard-Blandy of Illuminate Design. The result was the installation of a scalable Martin Audio Wavefront Precision WPC line array system in the Centre Stage venues at both sites, each with a capacity of over 1,200 people.
Martin Audio is no newcomer to Butlin’s. “We’ve probably been using Martin Audio systems for over 20 years,” says Sugg. The previous system in Skegness’ Centre Stage—one of four high-energy entertainment venues on site—had reached the end of its useful life. “Both upgrades were long overdue,” he adds. “Robin has worked with us for years and knows our operation and requirements inside out.”
Those requirements are wide-ranging: family entertainment, DJ-led events and live bands during Big Weekenders, on-stage interviews, and high levels of speech intelligibility for year-round events. “In short, the system needs to meet a multi-layered set of demands.”
After discussions with several manufacturers, Nigel Meddemmen from the Martin Audio Technical Sales Support team conducted site visits to Skegness and Bognor Regis, producing design options using Martin Audio DISPLAY 3 modelling software. Andrew Sugg immediately recognized the value of the technical support and development capabilities Martin Audio brought to the Butlin’s team.
However, the implementation was far from a “one-size-fits-all” approach, as the two venues are structurally very different. “Skegness has a high ceiling and a balcony, whereas Bognor Regis has a low ceiling and is a very wide space.”
The design incorporates four- and five-cabinet WPC line array hangs, four short-throw TORUS T1215 clusters in the center, CDD15s for left and right side coverage, CDD10s for delay duties, and five CDD12s providing balcony coverage at Skegness.
Low-frequency support is delivered by eight dual SXC118 cardioid subwoofer arrays. These are powered by Martin Audio iKON iK42 multi-channel amplifiers, while the remainder of the system is driven by iK81 amplifiers. “The level of coverage and control in the Skegness design was so superior to the previous system that the same approach was applied at Bognor Regis, resulting in much more even bass distribution throughout the venue.”
During the later stages of installation, Paul Connaughton and Marc Paynter from Martin Audio’s technical support team became involved, contributing to system engineering and commissioning. At Skegness, Hard Avoid was applied at the rear of the venue due to its proximity to the Skyline Pavilion. At Bognor Regis, additional sound isolation was required as the Centre Stage venue sits directly above another Butlin’s space, Reds. The system was installed in analog form but can be switched to Dante digital via a managed network switch if required.
Shephard-Blandy notes: “Having Martin Audio validate and sign off the system gave huge confidence—not only to Andrew’s team, but also to visiting artists and sound engineers.”
Andrew Sugg adds: “In day-to-day operation we don’t need to be rider-compliant, but for Big Weekender events, seeing ‘Martin Audio’ on the technical spec proves we’re a professional venue. We see this as a long-term partnership.”
The Illuminate Design team successfully installed both systems—commissioned within a very short timeframe—without closing the venues. “Managing that transition smoothly while the resorts were fully operational was genuinely impressive,” says Sugg.
He concludes: “The work delivered by Martin Audio and Illuminate Design is outstanding. Visiting artists are extremely happy; we now have a truly professional-level audio infrastructure… far beyond what would normally be expected at a Butlin’s venue.”
“We’re already planning future projects—and they will definitely be delivered with Martin Audio and Illuminate Design.”