There is perhaps a faint glimmer of possibility Butlin’s Brass Band Championships could return in 2024 following news that the parent resort band has been purchased by the Harris Family Trust for £300million.

The event was last held in January this year following the cancellation of the 2021 Championships due to Covid-19. However, it was revealed that due to “scheduling issues” there would be no festival in 2023, although organizers were “working together to secure a date for 2024”.

However, no news has since been made public on progress due to the extended sale of the business, which The Guardian newspaper first highlighted in December 2021.

resurrected

Originally relaunched in 2003 with a link to the former CISWO Minors Championships, Butlin’s Championships quickly became hugely popular, offering generous prizes to competing bands as well as additional musical and entertainment attractions for those staying at its resort. of Skegness.

In total it paid out over £600,000 in prize money over the next 18 years, although the competition began to struggle to retain interest due to the early January date – with the last event in 2022 taking place the second weekend of the year.

The 2022 event attracted 29 groups.

Last chapter

This is the latest ownership chapter in the company’s history – one that was founded in 1936 in Skegness by Billy Butlin, and at its peak included eight UK-based resorts as well as hotels in the Bahamas and in Spain.

In the 1970s it was sold to entertainment conglomerate Rank who in turn sold it to Bourne Leisure in 2000. This group was sold in a £3 billion deal to a consortium comprising the American private equity group Blackstone and Harris, Cook and Allen. families in January 2021.

The new deal does not include Butlin’s property assets which were sold earlier this year to the UK’s largest private pension fund, the Universities Superannuation Scheme, for £300million.

We are delighted to reaffirm our love for Butlin’s and once again be the new owners of this great brand.Paul Harris

Investment projects

A report on the new sale appeared in The Guardian newspaper, where Paul Harris, on behalf of Harris Family Trusts, said: “We are delighted to reaffirm our love for Butlin’s and to once again be the new owners of this great Mark.”

He added: “We look forward to working alongside Butlin’s management team as they strive to execute their strategic plan for the business and help them accelerate their capital plans for provide Butlin’s customers with an even better vacation experience.”

Whether or not this will include a return for the Brass Band Festival has not been revealed, although in a separate response Lionel Assant, European head of private equity at Blackstone, said: “Butlin’s is in a strong position to pull benefited from the continued growth of the staycation market, and I have no doubt that it will continue to thrive.”

4BR has attempted to contact the company for further comment.