Marking four decades of music, memories and that unmistakable Potters magic
There are some faces and voices that become part of the fabric of a place. At Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea, Sion Hathway is one of them.
Approaching an incredible 40 years at Potters, Sion is not just an entertainer, but one of Potters’ most loved performers. From late-night sessions in the Garden Bar to polished performances as part of Simply the Best, Sion’s journey is one woven deeply into the story of entertainment at Potters.
From coast to coast
Born in Cornwall, Sion’s early years were shaped by movement. With a father serving in the Royal Navy, the family relocated frequently during his first seven years before eventually settling in East Dereham, Norfolk.
After finishing school, the family moved again — this time to the village of Oulton in Lowestoft, a location that would quietly set the scene for what came next.
Music wasn’t part of a grand plan. In fact, entertainment wasn’t the plan at all.
“I’ve never had a singing lesson in my life,” Sion says with a smile. “I’m actually an engineer by trade.”
Armed with a diploma in Marine Telecommunications Engineering, Sion was studying at Lowestoft College when he needed a summer job. He picked up the phone, rang around — and Potters was the first place to offer him an interview. “They offered me a job as a waiter in the restaurant,” he recalls. “I started the next day.”
It was meant to be temporary. Seasonal. Sensible. It turned into a career spanning four decades.
First steps to the stage
Sion’s introduction to the spotlight came in the late 1980s as part of the ‘Starmakers’ team, as it was known, headed up by Mark Brewer. His debut performance? A Potters version of Grease where he was a T-Bird.
“I was basically there to make up the numbers,” he laughs. “Johnny Wade, Graham Adams and Mark had the proper T-Bird jackets. Me, Ronnie West and Nick Cross weren’t cool enough — we were in black trousers and bright pink T-shirts!” Sounds more like Saturday Night Fever!
It’s a story Sion tells with his trademark humour, but it also captures something important: from the very beginning, Potters was a place where opportunity came from saying yes, stepping in, and being part of the team.
A career that’s travelled the world
While Potters has always been home, Sion’s talent has taken him far beyond the Norfolk coast. Over the years, he’s been granted a couple of long sabbaticals — opportunities he describes as “very lucky” — allowing him to perform around the world.
Cruise ships, international audiences, production shows, four-piece groups and solo performances have all featured along the way. Each experience broadened his range, sharpened his craft and added new layers to what guests now enjoy back at Hopton-on-Sea.
Simply the Best, and getting better!
Today, guests will most often see Sion hosting late night sets in The Garden Bar, but his Atlas Theatre days aren’t over either. He is a key part of the current version of Simply the Best — heartwarmingly so, given it’s a production that celebrates over 40 years of entertainment at Potters.
“If I had to choose a favourite section, it would have to be Jersey Boys,” he says.
It’s a telling answer. After all, challenging vocals, tight harmonies, and big moments are where Sion thrives.
“Anything that’s challenging,” he adds, when asked about favourite songs to perform. “It doesn’t matter what genre, as long as it makes you work for it.” It’s something guests and his colleagues can attest to. Whether it’s powerhouse renditions of Nessun dorma and Barcelona, or a high-pitched tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Sion never misses a note.
That desire to stretch himself, even after decades on stage, is part of what keeps his performances fresh and why audiences continue to respond to him so warmly.
Late nights with old friends
One of the highlights for many guests is the late-night Wednesday session in the Garden Bar, where Sion regularly performs alongside fellow Potters favourite Aaron Bolton, who himself has been at Potters for 20 years, and fills the same role as Sion in Simply the Best, but at Five Lakes.
“We have a great time,” Sion says. “We’ve worked together for so long that we complement each other really well.”
No scripts. No set formula. Just two seasoned entertainers with decades of shared history, bouncing off each other and the audience.
“It’s very unpredictable,” Sion explains. “No two performances are the same. We both know the history of the place, and we’ve got decades of experience between us. It’s really just two old friends mucking about — and the audiences seem to love it.”
They certainly do.
It’s those unscripted moments — the laughs, the knowing glances, the spontaneous songs — that turn an evening into a memory.
Moments that matter most
With such a long career, Sion has countless memories. Some triumphant. Some less so, as he’s quick to admit with a laugh.
But when asked to choose his fondest moments, his answer is immediate and personal. “During one of the Christmas shows a few years back, I got to sing with my older daughters.”
It’s a reminder that behind the entertainer is a family man — and that Potters has been the backdrop not just to a career, but to life itself.
Beyond the spotlight
Away from the stage, Sion’s world is full — and busy. “I’ve got a young family again,” he explains. “It’s hectic, exhausting at times… but absolutely worth it.”
He speaks with the perspective of someone who’s been there before, raising older daughters as well. “Enjoy the time,” he says. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone.” It’s advice that resonates far beyond parenting, and perhaps mirrors his own approach to performance: be present, enjoy it, give it everything.
For those who know Sion less well, there’s one more essential detail he’s keen to share. He’s a lifelong Ipswich Town fan — brave, given he resides in Norfolk, home of The Canaries and ‘Old Farm Derby’ rivals, Norwich City.
A true Potters original
Nearly 40 years on from a first phone call looking for a summer job, Sion Hathway remains one of the most recognisable, respected and warmly received entertainers at Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea.
He’s seen the resort evolve, audiences change, shows transform — and through it all, he’s adapted, grown and continued to give guests something special. For many, a break at Potters simply wouldn’t feel the same without him.
And judging by the smiles, applause and standing ovations he still receives, Sion Hathway isn’t just part of Potters’ past — he’s very much part of its present, and its future too.
