Design Discovery: John Hinde’s 1960s-70s postcards of Butlin’s holiday resorts

Butlin’s Barry Island, The Main Arcade

The aesthetic of 1960s and 1970s design is some of my favourite - the colours, typography, shapes and overall kitsch-factor are like sugar to my eyes.

In particular, I love to study the look of manufactured leisure and wealth (on this note, I also recommend the newly published book Hotels of Pyongyang). So when I stumbled on these photographs by John Hinde (and his photography studio), I couldn’t tell if I was looking at documentation or Jeff Wall artworks.

John Hinde took these photographs with the intention that they be printed as promotional postcards for Butlin’s holiday camp chains and UK tourism at large. The resulting series of staged photographs are set-like and cinematic. Everyone is poised just so and occupied in an activity; a tableau vivant of middle class leisure.

I read these photographs like essays, every detail has a story to tell and I wonder where the people in the photographs are now or whose job it was to style the resort fixtures.

Here, I’m sharing a few photos from The Photographers’ Gallery (where you can also buy prints of Hinde’s photographs if you have a few spare thousand pounds). And you can also view Hinde’s series on Circus life here and see the book Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight: The John Hinde Butlin's Photographs (which has an intro by artist Martin Parr).

Butlin’s Clacton-On-Sea, The Outdoor Swimming Pool

Butlin’s Ayr, A Quiet Lounge

Butlin’s Ayr, A Corner of the Children’s Playroom

Butlin’s Pwllheli, Train and Panorama

Butlin’s Monsey, The Indoor Heated Pool

Butlin’s Bognor Regis, The Regency Ballroom

Butlin’s Filey, A Billiard Room

Butlin’s Ayr, Lounge Bar and Indoor Heated Pool (Ground Level)

Butlin’s Barry Island, The Reception Hall

Butlin’s Bognor Regis, Lounge Adjoining Heated Indoor Pool

Butlin’s Minehead, Monorail Over Outdoor Swimming Pool

Butlin’s Filey, A Corner of the Fun Fair

Butlin’s Filey, The French Bar

Butlin’s Filey, The Reception Hall

Butlin’s Minehead, The Regency Show Bar

Butlin’s Skgness, The Children’s Playroom, Infant’s Centre

Butlin’s Minehead, Self-Catering Flatlets

Butlin’s Filey, A Quiet Lounge

Butlinland Skegness, Night Scene