Butlin’s Bognor Regis launches UK’s first ‘Celebrant of Friendship’

Butlin’s in Bognor Regis is launching what it says is the UK’s first Celebrant of Friendship as part of a new campaign encouraging people to spend more quality time with their mates.

The initiative will see groups of friends take part in playful “Frien-do” ceremonies, where they can make friendship vows to one another in a Vegas-style Chapel of Friendship.

It follows new research commissioned by Butlin’s Big Weekenders, which found four in 10 UK adults, or 41%, spend extended quality time with friends less than once a year or never.

One in three, 34%, said they wished they saw their friends more often, while more than a quarter, 26%, admitted they often say “we should catch up” but never actually make plans.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults also found friends believe it takes an average of 126 group chat messages before a trip together is finally booked.

Butlin’s says the new “Frien-do” concept is designed to turn “we should” into “we do”, with groups invited to make a more formal commitment to spending time together.

The Chapel of Friendship will feature at Butlin’s Big Weekenders, with friends encouraged to swap promises to “get something in the diary” for vows to make more time for one another.

The research also suggests people are open to making friendships more of a commitment.

Nearly two thirds of those surveyed, 63%, said they would definitely or probably be interested in a new and fun way to celebrate their friendship, while 30% said they would be willing to make a marriage-like commitment to their best friend.

A third of respondents, 33%, said they laugh more on trips with friends than with a romantic partner, while 26% said they have more fun.

Chris Morley, one of the lead entertainment acts at Butlin’s Big Weekenders, will take on the role of the UK’s first Celebrant of Friendship.

He said: “I see first-hand at every Big Weekender just how much fun groups of mates have when they finally get everyone together. There’s nothing quite like switching off, having a laugh and making memories with the people who know you best.

“Taking on the role of the UK’s first Celebrant of Friendship is going to be a lot of fun. I’ll be asking mates to look each other in the eye and vow never to let another catch-up disappear into the group chat, turning ‘we should’ into ‘we do’.”

Mike Godolphin, Entertainment Director at Butlin’s, added: “Our research shows that while people want to see their friends more, actually getting plans out of the group chat and into the diary is often the biggest challenge.

“The Frien-do is our way of getting mates to stop saying ‘we should’ and make a real commitment to spending proper time together. That’s what Butlin’s Big Weekenders are all about – giving friends quality time together, with live entertainment, daytime activities and everything in one place.”

The Chapel of Friendship will open to guests at the Back to the 2000’s Butlin’s Big Weekender in Bognor Regis on 20 November.

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