At Potters Resorts, entertainment isn’t just about putting on a show—it’s about creating unforgettable moments. And behind the scenes, two different but equally passionate Heads of Entertainment are driving that magic forward.
As well as sharing the same surname, Dan Jones at Five Lakes in Essex and Wes Jones at Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk are united by a common goal—ensuring guests leave our resorts with smiles, stories, and a strong desire to book their next break before they’ve even left the car park.
Dan brings the steady hand of someone who has lived and breathed Potters life since Five Lakes opened in 2022, while Wes is the new face in Norfolk, having joined in July just in time for the #SummerOfFun. Together, they’re combining a deep-rooted understanding of what Potters guests love with that spark of innovation that keeps your programme feeling fresh.
Wes Jones, Head of Entertainment at Hopton-on-Sea (left), and Dan Jones, Head of Entertainment at Five Lakes (right)From first gigs to centre stage
For Dan, it all began in the iconic red coat of Butlin’s. “It was my first ever job,” he says, “I actually went there for work experience at 16. I’d always been in amateur dramatics, so entertaining was the only thing I ever wanted to do.”
Two years later he had made it into the full show team, only for the role to change when the team was taken on tour. “After that, I opened the Isle of Wight Festival one year, did the Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor tours, then joined P&O Cruises as a singer for seven years. That’s where I met my wife—she’d been a Potters Theatre Company dancer at Hopton before we met, so I’d actually heard all about Potters long before Five Lakes was even on the map.”
When the pandemic forced performing to pause, Dan and his wife settled in Chelmsford, before a call came from a friend in early 2022 about a new resort at Five Lakes. “The interview went really well.” You could say that, Dan. Because, since then, not only has he stepped into the role of Head of Entertainment, he’s also become a Lord. We’ll come back to that.
Wes’s story has a different starting point. “I started my career at 13, helping a family friend with mobile discos and kids’ parties,” he says. By 15, he was entertaining solo, trained by PC Roadshows to work at children’s events and local functions. At 17, he took his first full-time entertainment job as a Bluecoat at Pontins in Hemsby Beach, quickly progressing through to management. “I worked in Hemsby, Blackpool and Pakefield, and in the winters I compèred and hosted Christmas events back home.”
Wes has settled in on the Norfolk coast, at Hopton-on-SeaAfter a decade with Pontins, Wes moved to Parkdean Resorts as Entertainment Manager, working at several flagship parks. Then came a big leap—overseeing entertainment, sports, leisure, and retail for Lyons Holiday Group in North Wales, managing 21 resorts. “It covered everything from show creation to uniform design,” he says. “But after two really successful years, I decided to return to the area I knew so well, and join Potters Resorts. The welcome I’ve had from both guests and team has been incredible. The professionalism, the standard—it’s honestly second to none.”
Crafting the perfect programme
Both Dan and Wes know that entertainment is a balancing act. “It’s subjective,” Wes says. “Everyone has different tastes, so we need to offer variety without diluting our product. At Potters, we’re always enhancing the entertainment while staying true to our traditions. Guest feedback is pivotal—we learn from it.”
Dan agrees. “The biggest challenge is coming up with something new. Everything feels like it’s been done somewhere before, so you’ve got to make it your own. And while we retain popular activities, you’ve got to keep it fresh.”
That freshness comes from collaboration, either with each other or their individual teams. Dan talks about the pre-show entertainment they’re developing—retro game shows on themed nights before Totally 80s (The Potters Theatre Company’s popular 2025 production), for example. “It’s about giving guests more to enjoy in the day and before the big performance. And when the team creates and runs their own ideas, it’s always better. That ownership makes it special.”
Leading from the front
For Wes, the appeal of his new role is in building on an already strong programme. “I can’t wait to help shape it, add to it, and see those smiles on faces. Creating amazing memories for our guests is why we do what we do.”
If him joining the team during the first week of #SummerOfFun wasn’t a baptism of fire, then Dan’s first weeks in the job certainly were. “I took over during final dress runs of the 2024 Christmas Show, Jemma (Hampton, Programme & Entertainment Manager) was off getting married, so I was doing programmes, managing the team, performing… it was mad! But once you settle in, you can start putting your stamp on things and I’m loving it.”
No two days ever look the same. Yes there’s checking stock for crafts, rotas, tech meetings, and so on, but then there are new ideas to brainstorm and challenges to solve, all while their talented team delivers the packed programme.
“We’ve got a strong team, but entertainment covers so much—you can do crafts in the morning, a quiz, a live set, then host a game show before the evening performance. It’s full-on,” Dan says. And as we begin to wrap up, it’s clear the lure of chatting and getting involved hasn’t left him: “You get honest feedback when you sit down with a coffee. It’s part of what makes Potters special—the personal connections. In fact, I’m shortly heading outside to check in on the walking rounders,” he says with a cheeky grin.
Dan was a regular in Potters Theatre Company’s ‘Spotlight’ showThe Potters difference
Ask either of them what makes Potters stand out, and they’ll both say “the people.”
“We have an amazing blend of skills within our team,” Wes says. “Vocalists, comedians, even magicians—and that’s before you mention the world-class Potters Theatre Company, backed by an outstanding tech crew. We’ve got experience, variety, and everyone has that drive to deliver the best.”
Dan echoes the sentiment. “It’s so personal here. You’ve got time to have real conversations with guests. We have a regular here called George who first sang with us years ago. Now, every time he visits, he’s already rehearsed a new song and asks to perform. We make time for that because seeing him light up on stage is magic.
“The PTC is just another level—I’ve never seen such a talented group. But for entertainers like me, this is the unicorn job—everyone here comes for the long-term. It’s creative, and with the freedom to make ideas happen.”
For the guests, that’s a tradition that garners magical moments and memories for our guests. “We’re not just reading names from a sheet. The team truly knows our guests and makes them feel like they belong here. That’s what they remember,” Wes says.
Away from the spotlight
When they’re not shaping the entertainment programme, both have passions beyond the stage. Wes is a live music lover, whether it’s local gigs or big festivals, and has two dogs who keep him busy. He’s an avid sports fan—F1, boxing, cricket, and football—and has a Blackburn Rovers season ticket “for his sins”. In fact, as a kid, he played cricket and football at a higher level.
At home, Wes’ dogs keep him busyDan’s young dreams, however, were perhaps a little different to his sporty counterpart. “Growing up, I wanted to be a priest—mainly because I thought you only worked Sundays and got a house thrown in.”
While ‘Father Dan Jones’ didn’t take off, ‘Lord Dan Jones’ certainly has, despite it initially being a Glade Theatre backstage joke. “I said I needed a nickname—I tried ‘King Dan’ but it didn’t stick. I went out one night as a ‘Lord’ and the guests loved it. So the team actually bought me a real lordship. The certificate’s framed in the toilet at home. On my wedding day, they made my wife a Lady—so we’re officially Lord and Lady Jones.”
Between Dan’s embedded knowledge of what makes Potters tick and Wes’s fresh perspective, your entertainment on future Potters breaks is in safe hands. As ever, it’s a tried and tested blend of tradition and innovation, personal connection and professional polish—a mix that ensures you keep coming back, year after year, for those big laughs, new experiences, little touches, and unforgettable memories.
