In December 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Butlins approached Star Live with a substantial construction brief driven by urgent operational need
With social distancing requirements dramatically redfucing indoor capacity, Butlins required three purpose-built entertainment venues totalling over 8,200m² across their resorts in Skegness, Minehead, and Bognor Regis.
Not only was the scope significant, but the timeline was exceptionally compressed—a direct response to pandemic pressures requiring delivery within months, not years. Our team mobilised immediately, with work commencing at Skegness on 2nd January 2021 during a national lockdown.
Despite the unprecedented operational constraints of stringent COVID-19 restrictions, workforce limitations, material shortages, and new Brexit regulations severely disrupting supply chains, we completed all three venues by mid-May 2021—an achievement that challenged conventional construction timelines even in optimal circumstances.
Applying live event expertise to construction challenges
At Star Live, our background in live event infrastructure provided valuable insights for this project. Our experience in rapidly deploying complex staging and rigging systems that support significant technical loads informed our approach to the Butlin’s Studio 36 development.
The project evolved systematically through three defined phases:
Phase 1 (January-May 2021): Initial construction of the primary structures, including enhanced HVAC systems and AV infrastructure.
Phase 2 (January-March 2022): Implementation of additional ‘bolt-on’ structures to enhance back-of-house facilities for operational requirements.
Phase 3 (2023-2024): Conversion of the venues from temporary to permanent structures, beginning with Skegness in 2023, followed by Bognor Regis and Minehead in 2024.
Technical solutions for permanent conversion
The transition from temporary to permanent structures presented specific technical requirements. We needed to upgrade the thermal and acoustic performance to meet building regulations while maintaining the structural integrity and rigging capacity essential for entertainment venues.
A key technical development was our retrofittable roof liner system. Our engineering team developed a solution using flame-retardant PVC foam sheeting with natural sheep’s wool insulation. This system effectively improved U-values for thermal performance and Rw values for acoustic isolation, while maintaining appropriate weight parameters to preserve the rigging capacity.
As both principal designer and principal contractor throughout all project phases, we provided Butlin’s with integrated project management and technical oversight. This approach facilitated efficient decision-making and consistent delivery across all three sites.
Richard Pratt, head of Capital Proposition at Butlin’s, noted: “Star Live was the right partner for this Butlin’s project; their unique mix of technical design, engineering and fabrication capabilities sitting comfortably alongside creative and commercial expertise made them an obvious choice. Their turnkey approach offers what we needed in terms of an integrated solution.”
Sustainability through structural adaptability
A significant outcome of this project has been demonstrating how adaptable construction contributes to sustainability objectives. By developing structures capable of transitioning from temporary to permanent use, we implemented a resource-efficient approach to development.
The modular design of these structures enabled incremental improvements and technical upgrades without wholesale reconstruction. This methodology reduced material waste, preserved embodied carbon, and minimised construction duration while delivering facilities that meet performance requirements.
The Studio 36 venues, named to reference the year Butlin’s was founded, now function as multi-purpose spaces accommodating 1,600 people in theatre configuration or 1,370 for dining events. Each facility includes comprehensive stage infrastructure and technical systems meeting contemporary entertainment venue standards.
Industry insights from the project
This project has yielded several observations that may benefit construction industry practice:
Early integration of design and construction expertise facilitates efficient delivery and optimised long-term outcomes.
Designing for adaptability enhances sustainability and structural resilience, challenging the conventional binary categorisation of “temporary” versus “permanent” structures.
Cross-disciplinary techniques can provide effective solutions to established construction challenges. Our experience in live events contributed methodologies not typically employed in conventional construction.
Phased implementation of permanence offers cost efficiencies and environmental benefits compared to traditional approaches.
As the construction sector addresses increasing demands for accelerated delivery and improved sustainability, Star Live’s work with Butlin’s demonstrates that the distinction between temporary and permanent structures can be effectively managed through appropriate design and planning. By incorporating adaptability from initial
conception, we have created facilities that accommodate evolving operational requirements—an increasingly valuable capability in the current built environment.
The Studio 36 project represents not only the successful delivery of entertainment venues but also an exemplar of innovation in construction methodology, demonstrating how technical approaches can transform project constraints into opportunities for improved development outcomes.
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