Butlin's Beachcomber Bar, UK 1960s Tiki Art
Butlin's Beachcomber Bar, UK 1960s Cocktail Menu

Butlin's Beachcomber Bar, UK 1960s

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Product Description

In the 1960s, the tiki craze arrived at Butlin’s holiday camps in England, Wales and Scotland.

Beachcomber bars were set up in each British resort, complete with waitresses in hula skirts, fake volcanoes, rainfalls and rainbows and, of course, exotic cocktails.

There’s marvelous film footage of an evening in one of the Butlin’s Beachcomber bars on YouTube - featuring this menu and a hula competition. It certainly looks like a fun night was had by all.

Butlin’s is a quintessentially British brand, the brainchild of founder Billy Butlin.

In the 1930s, the only accommodation available to working class holidaymakers were drab guest houses. Billy came up with the idea of offering stays in pleasant accommodation with food and entertainment all on-site.

This pioneering businessman established his first holiday camp in Skegness in 1936 and between that year and 1966, ten camps were built including one in Ireland and one in the Bahamas.

He also invented the concept of a Butlin's Redcoat, a staff member who entertains families and creates a fun atmosphere.

In the 70s and 80s, competition from cheap package holidays abroad began to bite into the business. (The British weather no doubt played its part too.)

Three Butlin’s resorts remain in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness and thrive today as popular and affordable family holiday destinations.

This colorful menu is dated during the 60s, and tiki fans will note that the cocktails had a distinctly British sensibility. Prices were in shillings and pence. 

Gallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson Ultrachrome HD archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing.

Each order includes a print of the interior menu.

All printed in USA.


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