The Holiday Makers is an audio documentary about the holiday industry that transformed Hemsby — a seaside village in Norfolk, UK, where people come for the golden dunes and the North Sea.

At its heart is Pontins holiday camp, once the backbone of the local summer economy until its sudden closure in 2009. Through candid interviews, the story is told from the inside: the people who cooked, cleaned, served, performed, repaired and organised — and the guests who found freedom, friendship and confidence in its vibrant communal world.

You’ll hear about the behind-the-scenes graft that made “a proper holiday” possible, the rituals that turned visitors into regulars, the mischief and camaraderie of seasonal work, and the small local businesses still shaped by the summer crowds.

Made by volunteers from Hemsby and beyond and funded by Historic England, The Holiday Makers celebrates working-class history.

It arrives at a tender moment. Hemsby is facing the harsh realities of coastal erosion, with parts of the shoreline changing rapidly. The documentary holds this with care, while letting the joy, humour and pride of the place speak for itself.

Recorded in summer 2025. Narrated by Ben Randall Stone.

The Holiday Makers is a SOUNDYARD production.

With special thanks to all of the volunteers who made this documentary. Some music samples provided by Mobygratis.