‘Not a shade on Camp Bastion’: Soldiers stationed at Pontins leave tongue-in-cheek TripAdvisor reviews

Military Arrive To Assist With Liverpool Mass Coronavirus Testing
Soldiers check out the dodgems at the beachside resort
Getty Images

Soldiers stationed at a Merseyside Pontins while they administer Liverpool’s coronavirus mass testing program have left hilarious reviews of the holiday resort on Tripadvisor.

About 2,000 armed forces personnel were deployed to the area earlier this month to help with the first English trial of mass screening for Covid-19, dubbed Operation Moonshot.

One ‘soldier’ claimed that “his eyes lit up” as his coach arrived at the Pontins Southport Holiday Park in Sefton to help set up testing centres for the pilot.

After helping nearly 200,000 Liverpudlians get tested, some soldiers decided to leave reviews for the Pontins site, which Trip Advisor ranks as the 22nd best hotel in Southport out of 25.

Unverified posts — later deleted —\ appear to detail soldier’s experience living in the camp, which boasts an indoor pool, mini-golf course and a go-kart track.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Ainsdale
A soldier’s eyes “lit up” as he entered the beachside resort
REUTERS

“Couldn’t afford Butlins”, one wrote on the site.

One reviewer, 'Steven George', said Pontins was not a shade on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

Calling Pontins a “palace for the mighty towering over the town of Southport” he added:“This place is first class, for a man who doesn’t like hot food this is the place to be.

"The site security is excellent, there is no getting through them, not even Deliveroo.

"There is no shop so it's an excellent place to save your money.

"Overall an impressive place to stay. Well done Pontins, you are an ever-shining light during this national emergency."

Military Arrive To Assist With Liverpool Mass Coronavirus Testing
Military had mixed reviews Pontins by Ainsdale Beach
Getty Images

Another commented: "Pontins motto is fun fun fun, which is something I wish my regiment would consider adopting, what a banging motto.

“After years of living in squalor in my barracks, Pontins was like checking into the Ritz".

The reviewer added: "Staying here has afforded some luxuries, such as the ability to cook for myself, as a man in my late twenties with my own house it is something I am not trusted to do within military accommodation. 

"I felt mischievous and naughty as I flicked on the kettle and made some tea and toast for a late afternoon snack.

"The staff are friendly, kind and chatty and will always wave as they drive around camp like The Stig of Liverpool in their golf karts."

Military Arrive To Assist With Liverpool Mass Coronavirus Testing
Members of the military arrive at Pontins by Ainsdale Beach to set up a mass Covid-19 testing facility 
Getty Images

Another said: "My eyes lit up as the coach pulled into the front gate of the famous resort."

Former soldiers praised the “Squaddie humour” as the comments were circulated on Twitter.

One wrote: “Good grief. If we had Social Media in our day. Good to see the fabulous Squaddie Humour is alive and well.”

The Liverpool mass testing has found 700 positive cases which would have not been detected otherwise, an epidemiologist has said.

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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace visited a test centre at Exhibition Centre Liverpool on Monday and said the army would assist with the programme for “as long as there is a need”.

About 2,000 soldiers have been deployed to the city for the project, which was intended to run for an initial period of 10 to 14 days.

Mr Wallace said: “The rollout’s been good, the soldiers have been welcomed, the public have come from all over the city.

“We’d like more people to come but some of that is a challenge for ourselves, about do we move or shift and go to other parts of other communities where we’re not seeing a high uptake, do we do more to publicise it?

“And I think that’s a role for both public health and local authority to do alongside, but it’s going in the right direction.”

The pilot allows everyone who lives and works in Liverpool to get a regular coronavirus test even if they do not have symptoms.

On Monday, Liverpool City Council said 119,054 residents, just under a quarter of the city’s population, had been tested.

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