Bedbug Infestation Ruins Family Holiday at Butlin’s Skegness Resort

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Rebecca Horgan, a mother from Lincoln, was recently horrified to find her staycation cut short due to an unwelcome infestation of bedbugs at the Butlin’s Skegness resort in Lincolnshire. Holidaying with her five-year-old son and her parents, Ms Horgan had anticipated an enjoyable break in a “gold” apartment, only to find the accommodation severely wanting in cleanliness, with her bed dramatically overrun by bedbugs.

In response to the distressing incident, a spokesperson from Butlin’s asserted that the company adheres to “strict cleaning and hygiene policies,” inclusive of measures to prevent bedbug infestations.


The family had been looking forward to their three-night seaside escape, but instead they departed early on Sunday due to the uncomfortable circumstances. Upon her first encounter with the bugs, Ms Horgan, the compliance manager, recalled stepping into bed after settling her son for the night, only to notice an adult bedbug on her white pillowcase.

With a shudder, she recollected how pulling back the duvet revealed several more bugs nestled in the sheets, ones that had been previously undetected in daylight. Not confined to the bedding, the pests had also proliferated on the bed frame and invaded her son’s suitcase.

Ms Horgan shared her distress about the situation, lamenting the lack of assistance even after she made an emergency call, seeking to be relocated. After a distressing wait, two guards arrived with bin bags, a response she found highly unsatisfactory and insufficient.

Understandably distraught and burdened by the risk of contaminating additional areas, Ms Horgan decided to forego their offer of an alternative apartment. The next two days involved her family painstakingly ensuring all washed items were cleared of any stowaways from the infested apartment. Items that couldn’t be cleaned were disposed of, including her son’s beloved dinosaur suitcase.

In a late response, Butlin’s offered to refund the cost of the apartment and food. However, they have denied refunding the price of the second apartment despite Ms. Horgan’s claims that the vacation was entirely ruined. In addition, the company has refused to compensate for the items they were forced to discard.

Facing mounting public concern associated with the bedbug issue, it’s evident that businesses and governance bodies are being confronted with inquiries. In a striking revelation, pest control company Rentokil reported a 65% increase in bedbug cases in the UK in Q2 of 2023, compared to the previous year. Such facts serve only to highlight the real and pressing issue of bedbug infestation, causing distress to hardworking families aiming to enjoy their hard-earned holidays, a situation that demands immediate and drastic action.

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Melinda Cochrane is a poet, teacher and fiction author. She is also the editor and publisher of The Inspired Heart, a collection of international writers. Melinda also runs a publishing company, Melinda Cochrane International books for aspiring writers, based out Montreal, Quebec. Her publication credits include: The art of poetic inquiry, (Backalong Books), a novella, Desperate Freedom, (Brian Wrixon Books Canada), and 2 collections of poetry; The Man Who Stole Father’s Boat, (Backalong Books), and She’s an Island Poet, Desperate Freedom was on the bestseller's list for one week, and The Man Who Stole Father’s Boat is one of hope and encouragement for all those living in the social welfare system. She’s been published in online magazines such as, (regular writer for) ‘Life as a Human’, and Shannon Grissom’s magazine.