Looking for an inexpensive, fun break with the children?

STEVE NELSON tries a very traditional British holiday

IT was with some trepidation that we stepped gingerly into the colossal restaurant designed in the fashion of an ocean liner. Hundreds of children and their slightly unnerved parents were darting here there and everywhere, carrying food and drink to their tables.

At first glance, it looked like Bedlam. But within a couple of days we had settled into the noisy routine and quite enjoyed the Pontin's mealtime experience, even though we continued to watch anxiously as the two seven-year-old girls with us balanced their orange juice and food precariously as they traversed the liner.

Indeed, the choice and standard of meal was invariably good and occasionally excellent. How does salmon fillet with a herb butter sauce on a bed of wild rice sound? Yes, Pontin's has moved with the times but can still cater for most tastes.

Similarly, the entertainment programme at the Pakefield Centre, near Lowestoft in Suffolk, is not to be sniffed at.

In the week of our stay, we saw Seventies groups The Three Degrees and The Village People (now called The New Recruits) and a top-class illusionist, among others. Even the ubiquitous bingo, with prizes of up to £500, was captivating.

Out on the sports field, I saw many youngsters and not a few dads hanging on to every word of coaching from former Leeds United and England star Paul Reaney.

There's bags to do at this sort of centre, which has a nautical theme and offers full board, and my advice is to go with the flow to get the best out of it.

Play crazy golf, meet Captain Croc, join in games, dance, swim and try to fit in some of the dozens of other planned activities.

The Bluecoats are boundless in their enthusiasm and wonderful with children, so don't feel guilty about handing over your offspring and taking the chance to relax.

My only real criticism of this holiday centre is that the accommodation blocks are invariably drab.

We were fortunate to have a two-bedroom Club apartment, which was noticeably much nicer and newer than others on the site, featuring two bedrooms and a bathroom and set around a quite attractive lawned area.

It had been several years since we had visited Suffolk, and we were keen to venture out to some of its tourist spots.

The beach at Lowestoft, one of the best in the country, came as a pleasant surprise, and we spent an enjoyable couple of days there.

Up the coast road, we found Great Yarmouth looking past its best, but heading towards Ipswich we came across the delightful seaside village of Southwold, which has wonderful architecture and shops and is the sort of place you might consider for retirement.

Suffolk Wildlife Park is worth a visit and so too is Pleasurewood Hills, a theme park with a good range of rides for white knuckle enthusiasts, families and younger children.

At the end of an exhausting day with three children in tow, the SS Victoria Restaurant was a welcome site, as were the Bluecoats calling for the children to come and join them for a couple of hours of entertainment in the kids club.

Time for a pint... and it's eyes down.

Fact file:

The cost of a two-bedroom club apartment for a family of four on a full-board basis is about £600.

Pontin's Family Centres are at Blackpool, Brean Sands (Somerset), Prestatyn Sands (North Wales), Southport, Camber Sands (East Sussex), Wall Park (Devon), Pakefield and Hemsby (Norfolk).

To book a holiday or order a brochure, call 08705 331199.