Exposed: Complaints of 'disgusting' conditions at Pontins Brean Sands - A Special Investigation

  • Watch ITV West Country's full investigation.


In February 2019 an air duct collapsed in the entertainment hall injuring 18 people.

As an enquiry into the incident continues ITV News West Country has since been contacted by families describing the accommodation as dirty and mouldy, while a former staff member says she feels sorry for anyone who comes to stay.

In this special report we went undercover with a team of scientists to find out just how clean the chalets actually are.

One visitor was mother of two Sam Sullivan, who saved £194 for a three-day stay for herself and her two daughters.

Sam say she arrived arrived to 'disgusting' accommodation with mould in the fridge and on the walls.

It was their only holiday of the year but Sam was so disgusted with what she found, she drove straight back home to Bristol.

Pontins have fully refunded Sam.

They have told ITV News they will investigate the specific complaints made by families who have stayed here and are looking in to the findings from our investigation.

This former staff member said she felt really sorry for families going on holiday at Pontins. Credit: ITV West Country Credit: ITV West Country

A former staff member, who's asked to have her identity protected, told ITV News the air duct collapse in February was an "accident waiting to happen".

Former a staff member said the kitchen was often flooded Credit: Viewer Video

She goes on to described conditions in the kitchen of the camp as terrible.

These are the four areas inspected by University of Bath microbiologists. Credit: ITV West Country

Microbiologists from the University of Bath ran their swabs around a chalet at Pontins as well as another well known hotel chain.

They found similar numbers of bacteria on the bedside table and the cleanliness of the toilet, but the Pontins shower curtain was considerably worse with a much bigger variety of bacteria living on it.

The scientists also tested the floors and found the lino in the Pontins chalet had a lot more bacteria than the hotel chain with carpets.

These dishes show the levels of bacteria on the Pontins shower curtain. Credit: ITV West Country

The facilities at Pontins were last assessed in 2017 when they were given a good hygiene rating by Sedgemoor Council - they will be inspected again by 2021.