Review Time
I enrolled both of my boys, aged 11 and 4, in Barracudas Summer Camp for the week of 19th to 23rd August, expecting an exciting and fulfilling experience based on their enticing advertisements. Unfortunately, our experience was far from what was promised.My 11-year-old was particularly disappointed as he was not given the chance to participate in many of the activities, even though he was there for the entire week. One of the biggest letdowns was that he was never allowed to do archery, despite being eager and asking multiple times. He was repeatedly told he could do it "another day" since he was booked for the whole week, but that day never came, leaving him frustrated and disappointed.I had high hopes for Barracudas, especially given that it was the most expensive camp I booked this summer. I chose three different summer camps to give my boys a variety of experiences, and Barracudas was by far the priciest at £410 for 5 days (even after the early bird discount). Given their slick marketing, well-designed website, and impressive activity list, I thought it would be the best. Unfortunately, it turned out to be just like the other two camps, which cost half as much.This experience has shown me that a higher price tag doesn’t necessarily mean a better experience. I want to warn other parents not to be misled by the fancy marketing. Barracudas may look impressive online, but our experience was underwhelming and simply not worth the money. I hope this review helps others avoid the disappointment we faced.
Both my children have been to Barracudas before (a few years ago) and really enjoyed it but this one was disappointing (Long Road, Cambridge). Lots of the activities were repeated a lot, or changed last minute from the programme, and some are not very well organised. For example ‘basketball’ was just children throwing balls into hoops but there weren’t enough balls for all the children so some just watched. ‘Craft’ was making a paper aeroplane but they were just given a piece of paper and not shown how to do it. They never got to do motorsports (the main reason for them choosing this location) because there are only two cars and for the first three days one of them wasn’t working. The activity wasn’t offered the last two days. On the first day, those who couldn’t get to do motorsports were given the option of yoga instead. They were not impressed…In addition my son and his friend (both recently turned 10) were but in a 10-14 year old group with older children and were a little intimidated. (There’s a big difference between a Year 5 Primary child and a 14 year old.) There really needs to be a 10-12 group or keep the 10 year olds with the younger group. Both boys were ‘injured’ by the older boys at various times during the week but they said staff didn’t intervene to stop it and we were surprised there were no incident forms filled out. Basically, it seems a good camp for younger children (under 10) and it is very dependent on the location of the camp you choose. Maybe the Barracudas with the really excellent reputations should train the others to bring them up to standard?
My children have attended Barracudas Chelmsford camp for over 5 years now and they've always had a great experience. There's loads of different activities on offer and the staff are always friendly and enthusiastic.I would highly recommend!
We tried Barracudas in Harpenden for the first time and we were so impressed! They are really well organised plus they have activities ranging from swimming to go carts and my daughter loved it! The staff are so lovely and friendly and I felt that they really care about the children there.
I think the range of activities are good and staff are friendly.Generally very disorganised at drop off and pick up, with no improvement throughout summer. Similar to others, camp timetable unavailable or incorrect and no reason as to why it kept happening.My children went 4-5 days each week and were told they couldn't do popular activities as they were 'there all week' and so repeatedly missed out on Motorsport and archery (main reason for signing up).Lunch was delayed for reasons (?) and when children arrived to do archery were told they were too late and had missed their chance!I flagged all of my concerns over email and the response each time was "I hope the next time it's better"?! Sadly it was not. No compensation or efforts to review policy just consistent incompetence. Really disappointed.
What can i say about this Colchester camp. The staff are A M A Z I N G. We have been using this camp for 3yrs now and come back every year for 2 weeks to break up the summer holidays because of the activities they offer and quite frankly the staff. They recognise my children from the yrs before. They are so friendly and welcoming...the employers should count their blessing they have managed to employ these people!Thanks guys...Love Molly, Maisie and Mum (Donna)
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The UK's favourite school holiday childcare provider!
Giving Children an Unforgettable Holiday Experience for 30+ Years
For over 30 years, we’ve been a market leader in running fun-filled, Ofsted-registered holiday camps for children during Easter, summer, and half-term breaks. Our mission is simple: to give every child such an amazing experience that they can’t wait to come back!
We offer a full day of fun from 8am to 6pm, giving children plenty of time to explore, play, and make memories – and giving parents peace of mind.
With over 80 activities to choose from – including swimming (at camps with pools), team building, sports, arts & crafts, plus exciting specialist options like motor sports, archery, and fencing – we’re proud to be the only provider that lets children choose their activity every single session.
Parents can rest easy knowing safety and quality are at the heart of everything we do. All our staff are enhanced DBS-checked and trained for the activities they lead, with qualified Early Years Managers on site. Our excellent staff-to-child ratios mean every child is supported, encouraged, and included.
Whether your child loves to be active, creative, or try something new, our camps are designed to inspire confidence, build friendships, and create memories that last long after the holidays are over.See more
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