There were fears over the future of one of Britain’s most iconic holiday brands today after Pontin’s was put into administration.
In a surprise move, advisory firm KPMG was appointed administrator yesterday to the holiday company, which employs 850 staff in the UK.
No redundancies have been made and all five sites - Brean Sands in Somerset, Camber Sands, Sussex, Pakefield, Suffolk, Prestatyn Sands in Wales and Southport, Merseyside - will continue to cater for customers as normal.
KPMG said it was optimistic of finding a buyer and hoped the Pontin?s name would live on. The business was started in 1946 by Fred Pontin and at one point had 30 holiday parks.
A spokeswoman for KPMG said the company had run out of cash because bookings had fallen drastically in the past year.
Pontin?s was started when Fred Pontin opened the first Pontin?s Holiday Park in Brean Sands in 1946.
It is best known for its ?blue coats? who offer entertainment and help to holidaymakers. It organises entertainment for its guests featuring acts such as Keith Harris and Orville and Bobby Davro.
At one point, the Pontin?s empire stretched to 30 parks and in 1978 it was bought by Coral for #56 million, according to its website. The company was bought by Ocean Parks for #46 million in 2008, who closed a site in Blackpool last year.
KPMG has set up a helpline for people who have made bookings at Pontin?s: 0844 576 8481.
PA