Bourne Leisure founders look to buy back Butlin’s from Blackstone

One of the founding families of Bourne Leisure is reportedly looking to buy the Butlin’s holiday parks business back from current owner Blackstone for around £300 million.

Sky News reported that a vehicle connected to the Harris family is closing in on a deal. If the business does change hands it would take the returns generated by Blackstone to over £600 million. Earlier this year it sold the real estate assets of the famous holiday resort operator for £300 million to the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

Back in 2021 Blackstone completed a deal to buy Bourne Leisure, which also includes the Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels for around £3 billion.

It was reported at the time that the Harris, Cook and Allen founding families would retain a significant minority stake.

Bourne Leisure originally acquired Butlin’s in 2000 as part of a £700 million deal with leisure conglomerate Rank

Butlin's currently has three sites: at Skegness, Minehead in Somerset and Bognor Regis.