Making a splash in Butlin's Bognor Regis' new pool

Inside, we spend most of our time in the seaside playground, which is aimed at under-fives.

While all the water is fairly warm, this shallow section is constantly a toasty 30°C, and Harry and George are entertained by the spraying jets, child-sized boats and gentle slides.

When we hear the Beach Boys’ Surfin USA blasting out, it signals the start of the wave machine, and swimmers race over to the yellow-tiled beach area to leap about in the waves to a soundtrack of water-inspired tunes.

The huge changing village is equally impressive and, thanks to a collaboration with parenting website Mumsnet, Butlin’s has homed in on the areas that make swimming with kids an endurance test for parents, and deftly smoothed out the stressful elements. The village is divided into three colour-coded zones, based on group size. We head to the area housing the largest cubicles for families of four or more. They’re the best equipped I’ve been in, boasting a long bench, changing table, safety seat to strap youngsters in and even a nappy bin. Underfloor heating stops the post-swim arctic blast and keeps the floor (and socks) relatively dry, and there are clever touches such as child-height showers and swimwear dryers. We even manage a family first – fitting everyone’s belongings into a single huge locker. Our only niggle is the solitary hook in each cubicle.

Swimming en masse for my family normally involves someone having a meltdown, but we waft out of Splash laughing and eager for more.

Anticipation for the pool has helped boost the resort’s bookings by 9% year-on-year, and Butlin’s managing director Jon Hendry-Pickup says the brief was clear. He explains: “We set out to build a pool that has something for everyone: fun, thrills and relaxation. Whatever our guests need, we wanted a pool that allowed them to enjoy it and create an experience that takes our Bognor resort to a whole new level. We are confident we have achieved that, and the unique features such as the helter skelter will, we believe, make ours the best pool in Europe.”

Despite the aquatic wonders, a trip to Butlin’s is about more than just swimming, so highlight to clients the extensive range of activities, most of which are included in the price of a break. Boredom doesn’t stand a chance as we fill our days at the outdoor fairground and watching shows. The Paddington at the Seaside show and Sleeping Beauty panto are new for 2019 at Bognor Regis, and have George and Harry enthralled.