'Delightful' but lesser-known village is the perfect spot for a UK seaside break
A cold pint on a summer day is one of life's greatest pleasures — and apparently so is a trip to its namesake.
In a recent survey of 4,000 Which? members, the consumer champion crowned Beer, Devon, as one of the UK's top seaside towns, only beaten to the top spot by popular Northumbrian resort, Bamburgh.
This lesser-known spot, just west of Seaton on the Jurassic Coast, was given an 80% destination score by voters, landing it second place on the list ahead of Portmeirion, St David's and Sidmouth.
Visitors gave Beer five stars for scenery, along with four stars for both value for money and peace and quiet. Its beach and seafront were less highly-rated with three stars each, but 42 of the 52 who'd been there said they were satisfied with the location and would recommend it.
It seems Tripadvisor reviewers agree too: David D called beer a 'delightful quaint village', while Keith J urged people to 'raise a glass to Beer,' adding: 'Charming village, great local food, lovely people. It's a great place to stay for a relaxing holiday. Highly recommended.'
Fancy trying Beer for your next UK seaside trip? Here's a taste of what to expect.
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Bamburgh Beer Portmeirion Saint David's Sidmouth Tynemouth Dungeness Tenby Aldeburgh Wells-Next-The-Sea
Source: TripAdvisor
The main draw of this picturesque village – mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 – is its beach, which is a pebbled bay surrounded by limestone cliffs and dotted with old-school deckchairs.
Although it doesn't boast the golden sands of nearby Seaton, Beer Beach comes with its own unique set of attractions.
Get a feel for its history as a smuggler's haven with a tour of Beer Quarry Caves or head out on a boat trip with a local fisherman — or, if you'd rather stay on land, sample their wares at one of the stalls selling fresh seafood and various other refreshments.
For those that prefer a more chilled out break, you can hire a beach hut and before taking a picnic up to Jubilee Gardens for incredible views along the coast. Alternatively, more adventurous types can see the sights via the South West Coast Path (on foot or by bicycle).
There are a number of independent shops, restaurants and pubs to enjoy too, with visitors pinpointing Gina's, Smuggler's Kitchen, Barrel of Beer and The Anchor as particular highlights.
Don't forget to check out Pecorama, a popular tourist attraction featuring model railways and award-winning gardens located on the hillside just above Beer.
And if you don't mind venturing a few miles outside the village, the likes of Crealy Theme Park & Resort and the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary are sure to keep the whole family entertained.
Accommodation in Beer is mainly made up of guest houses and holiday rentals, with the likes of Bay View and The Dolphin Hotel coming in at just over £100 per night. More Trending
Beer Head Holiday Park is a great alternative option though, with a six-berth caravan available from £425 a week and camping for as little as £30 per tent per night.
By car, it takes about four hours to drive from London to Beer.
The nearest railway station to the village is Axminster, around 9 miles (14 km) away on the Exeter to Waterloo line. One-way tickets from London are priced from £15.30 according to Trainline, with the journey taking around three hours.
There's then a bus link from the train station to Beer – which also provides easy access to nearby towns and villages like Seaton and Branscombe – but if you'd prefer to take a taxi, it'll cost roughly £20.
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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: The sneaky tactics used by pushy restaurant staff on Greek holiday island to rip off Brits
British tourists are being ripped off on the Greek island of Rhodes by a series of covert tactics used by pushy restaurant and bar staff, a MailOnline investigation has revealed. Our reporter travelled to the holiday hotspot this week and visited some of its most popular venues in the heart of its bustling old town. The town's historic cobbled streets and famous squares are lined with an endless number of restaurants and bars, but holidaymakers blasted 'scammer' establishments for taking their hard-earned cash. Speaking to MailOnline outside these restaurants, Brits warned of how sneaky 'tricks' used by a number of venues left them paying more than €40 for a cocktail and more than €20 for a beer. TripAdvisor and Google to find out what methods were being used to rip off customers. MailOnline found the following 'tricks' were being used to fleece tourists: Restaurants and bars with bad TripAdvisor scores simply changes their names to confuse tourists Staff would lie about the cheapest and smallest drinks options, claiming the smallest sizes were a 1L glass or a 'fishbowl' Diners are told a restaurant's card machines don't work and are frogmarched to the ATM to get cash out Rip-off waiters use secret signals to communicate with each other while serving Brits drinks Tourists were not given bills and receipts were rarely itemised, in many cases written entirely in Greek Pushy staff bring out alcohol despite customers saying they did not want anything to drink George Bar, located opposite the clock tower in the Old Town, has a low Google review rating of 1.6 stars - not exactly an good advert for holidaymakers looking for a nice drink. But to avoid any bad press from its less than impressive online presence, owners seemingly have thought on their feet and changed the name completely. Signs are obscured by parasols and the few that can be seen have the words 'Velvet Sports and Cocktail Bar' emblazoned on them. According to scathing Google reviews, the venue is constantly changing its name. When our reporter visited, she was greeted with a warm invite, eager to sit her down in the otherwise empty pub. And when she requested to see a menu, she was handed one filled with images of 'boots of beer' but with no prices displayed. But while there were options listed including a 500ml Guinness and a 300ml local Mythos, she was told the 'smallest' beer available on draught was a whopping 1L boot. To give venues the benefit of the doubt, we asked to clarify prices prior to placing orders. Justifying the €10 price for a 1L boot, the server said 'that is a normal price, it's just because of the size'. When later asking to pay, our reporter was told the card machine does not work and was asked to pay by cash. When the reporter said she does not have cash, she was made to wait nearly 20 minutes to finally be signalled over to pay. While one could assume this was a genuine one-off issue, online reviews indicate that it is a running ruse to get tourists to pay in cash. And it seems the tactic isn't reserved to just one spot. Further in the main square sits rooftop restaurant and bar Polloniatissa. Several of its workers stand around in the square persuading customers to come in, some even attracting unassuming couples by offering to take a picture of them, before then guilt-tripping them into dining at their venue. When our reporter visited, she was taken up to the rooftop, and provided with a drinks and food menu upon request. Here, the menu did for a change, have prices displayed. A small cocktail would cost €10, a medium €20, and a large €46. And when asked for clarification on sizes, the waiter, in a refreshing wave of honestly answered 'small is like a glass, medium is like three cocktails and large is massive'. This sounded promising. But Brit tourists just outside had told us of how cocktail prices and sizes were kept secret before a huge fishbowl was slapped on the table with a €46 bill following after. While they had stuck to the agreed small €10 cocktail when our reporter's bill came, the waiter had charged an extra €8 for tzatiki and bread which was not disclosed as an additional cost, when offered with the order of a chicken souvlaki. The waiter insisted the bread and dip had been served 'as a starter'. And in a similar instance to Velvet, or George Bar, whichever you could say their official name is, the reporter was again told the card machine was 'giving problems'. The waiter then turned away and began serving other customers without any explanation of what to do next. After 10 minutes of waiting, when the reporter again asked to pay, she was told the machine was still not working and was instructed to go down to the square and go to an ATM if 'that is easier'. Down in the small square, there are four ATMS, one on each corner - a sign that would suggest it is a trick utilised by a number of the restaurants. Google and Tripadvisor reviews would support this assertion. When our reporter refused and said she would wait to pay by card, another 15 minutes went by at which point she complained to another staff member. He immediately began ranting about his colleague, saying 'I honestly cannot tell you, I cannot tell you why he has not done it'. When she explained she was told the card machine did not work, he replied 'yes it does not, can you go to an ATM?' The worker then told a colleague: 'Why don't you take her to the ATM?' A few seconds later the disgruntled employee told us the machine did now miraculously work and takes the payment. Just a two-minute walk down from Hippocrates Square, where Polloniatissa sits, a man is using a flock of exotic birds to entice people to the 'Old Town Restaurant'. Or is it now called the 'Eat Lovers Taverna'? Or the 'Small Boat'? The restaurant, after a low 1.2 star review, is seemingly embarking on a never-ending rebrand project. Whichever it is, there is not a single clear sign on the building, which is complete with a rooftop terrace and striking pink and blue lights. It is done, it seems, so customers have no idea where they are dining, and so cannot search up its poor reviews. When our reporter visited and asked to sit on the rooftop for drinks, she was told it was 'not possible' and could only be seated upstairs if dining. Instead, she was offered an outdoor seat. The waiter came over to take her order but she requested to see a drinks menu first. The menu listed a Mythos 500ml for €7 and a 1L for €12. The waiter convinced the reporter a 1L 'will be nice' as it 'comes in a boot'. At the end when the reporter was ready to go, she was called to the till and billed the correct €12 amount. No faulty card machine tricks, no overcharging. However, the following day when the reporter returned to test out what happens when you do not request to see prices, the results were very different. Waiters were excited to see a returning customer - something which seemed to indicate it was a rare instance - and led her up to the rooftop. She was asked what she would like without being offered a menu, and the reporter asked for a 'standard' strawberry daiquiri and a chicken gyros. After a few minutes of waiting, she was incorrectly brought to the table an Aperol spritz. When she clarified this is not what she had ordered, it was taken away and replaced with the correct drink. A minor inconvenience. However, after around half an hour of waiting, a dish was brought to her table. It had originally been taken to the neighbouring table, who had confirmed it was not what they ordered. They then brought the dish to the reporter and offered she ate it. She said she ordered a chicken gyros and the waiter responded by suggesting she took it anyway, adding it was a 'beef and chicken' gyros. She said she does not eat beef and the plate was taken away. After another long wait the correct dish finally arrived. After finally being ready for the bill after a meal that took a lot longer than anticipated, the waiter said 'I will bring you a limoncello or a vodka'. When the reporter refused and asked instead for the bill, the pushy waiter continued to try and convince her. After another 'no thank you', the waiter disappeared and returned with, instead of a bill, two shots of prosecco in hand and placed them in front of the reporter. The reporter had to continually stated she had not ordered this and did not want it, with the waiter asking 'why?' and adding that it was not vodka but just some prosecco. Finally admitting defeat, the waiter turned around and left. After walking off he was seen using a secret signal to staff downstairs to kill the extra drinks - they had clearly been planning to put it on the bill. Still waiting for the bill, she asked another waiter, who requested she headed downstairs to pay. Approaching the till, she was asked to pay €35, with no explanation of costs. Asking for a breakdown, she was told the 'medium' cocktail was €15, apparently 'a discount' from the actual €20 cost, and the 'chicken souvlaki' was €20. After explaining the dish was a gyros and not a souvlaki, the cost was brought down by €5. Opposite 'Eat Lovers Taverna' in what is known as the Jewish Martyrs Square, sits 'Rendez-Vous'. Here, MailOnline sat down for a 'seafood souvlaki' and requested a Coke with it to drink. The menu had prices listed but did not have a specific listing for 'Coca-Cola' or soft drinks. Though, there was one line which listed 'refreshments, small 330ml €5 and large 1 liter €10'. Having not seen this by the time the waiter came by, the reporter asked how large a 'large Coke' was. She was told it was the size of two cans, and assumed that would come to around a pint. ADVERTISEMENT What arrived was a colossal 1L glass filled with heavily diluted Coke which was too flat to drink. During her time at the bar, a couple came in and asked the waiter about the disposable vapes displayed near the counter. The waiter told them that the vapes were priced at €15 each, to which the man was taken aback and asked 'for one?' The waiter then asked them whether they were from the UK and said it is 'cheaper there', to which the couple responded that the same vape would cost €5 in the UK. Back over by the Old Town's clocktower, next door to Velvet Sports and Cocktail Bar, sits Lithos Bar. Again, there is very little signage to show the name of the bar. You could think it has something to do with the 1.5 star TripAdvisor reviews. As you walk in, there is a tiny sign reading 'Lithos Bar' that you may be able to spot if lucky. Our reporter was welcomed and again provided with menus upon request. And in a recurring trend among a number of the restaurants, while the food menu had prices stuck on, the drinks menus consisted of just pictures of large fishbowls. There is absolutely no indication of size or price. When ordering, the man asked about what flavours the reporter liked to recommend the correct cocktail, but again left out any mention of price or size. When our reporter asked how big the cocktails were he signalled that they were large like in the pictures. ADVERTISEMENT We then asked if there were any smaller options and he confirmed he could 'sort something', and when asked about the price was told it would be €10. We ordered a tzatiki to go with our drink and asked if the bread was included, which the waiter agreed there would be. It was then a surprise when the cocktail arrived in a large fishbowl not different to those in the images. When exclaiming 'I'd asked for a small cocktail', the reporter was told 'that is the smallest we have', with the waiter laughing at our reaction. In a sigh of relief however, the bar did stick to the original price agreed upon and only charged €10 for the fishbowl. This was somewhat confusing as other British tourists told of having paid more than €20 for the same sized cocktail at the same bar. As MailOnline attempted to locate 'The Gate', yet another apparent 'rip-off' restaurant with on average one and two star reviews, there seemed to have been a mistake. Only a restaurant named Castello stood in its place. Again, it is only through old reviews that holidaymakers are able to figure out that the restaurant and building is the same, and has just been rebranded in an attempt to confuse tourists. Here, in yet another case, the drinks menu had nothing but colourful pictures of fruits and descriptions of the fancy cocktails and 'slush puppies' on offer, but no indication of the prices or sizing. When our reporter ordered a Greek salad and some sparkling water, a small bottle of sparking water was brought out promptly. ADVERTISEMENT The rather reasonable portion of salad came to only €8.50, which was clearly stated on the menu. But the €5 charged for a sparkling water came as a shock. When the reporter questioned the price she was told 'that is the price' and then asked if she would like to provide a tip. 'They're scammers. Scammers.' Speaking to British tourists in the cobblestoned streets of Rhodes Old Town, many expressed their shared frustration over the 'rip-offs' and 'scams'. One couple told MailOnline: 'There's a lot of rip-offs around here let me tell you. 'We just got this one beer and a water from the shop, €12. How is that €12? 'And they always try to say "oh it's cheaper, it's cheaper if you give me cash". 'There's so many like that. I was trying to buy a bag and the woman said €20 but if you give it in cash I'll give it for €10. 'They're scammers. 'And bar this one place on the right, everywhere the gyros sound like its coming out of microwaves. 'The one back there, we literally heard it come out the microwave, it went "PING". 'And they do that boot thing. You can get a 1L one, or 2L ones. 'You know actually, we got two daiquiris around there right, it cost us like €60. '€60 for two daiquiris. It came out in the massive bowls. 'And some of the bars they charged like €8 for a 1L boot, some of them charge like €16. 'Actually one of them charged €16 for half a litre, an even smaller one.' ADVERTISEMENT Another couple told of a similar incident, pointing towards Polloniatissa. Katherine Lombard and Kyle Watson, both of the Isle of Man said: 'We had two drinks there that cost us €60. 'It was a cocktail and a boot of beer. It was like €66 euros or something. 'The boot was €20 and the cocktail was €46. I'd only seen it the day after. 'They bring out the big fishbowl which isn't what we asked for, we just thought it's a cocktail and a large beer. 'Other than that we have kind of managed to avoid it. As soon as someone asks us to come in we sort of think to ourselves "no". And the 'tourist traps' and pushy tactics seem to be no secret, with one couple telling us they were aware of it 'before' they arrived and had been careful not to get caught out. Charlotte and Ryan Squibb, from Colchester said: 'We haven't been caught out by any of them because I knew about it before we came. 'They apparently say it's cheap food but then they get you in and end up giving you huge drinks which are like ten euros a go. 'So we haven't gone near them, we know all about it.' Meanwhile, Mark and Ethan Williams, 38 and 18, from Exeter, had just arrived on a big family holiday and had already been subject to the extortionate prices. Mark said: 'We just got charged €150 for one round of drinks for nine people. 'They said it was €6 a pint before we went in but obviously when you go to pay you can't really argue. ADVERTISEMENT 'They get you with the boots, they brought out big 1L ones. 'And the cocktails were like €25 each and they're massive. 'We probably should have known. We're here for two weeks and only got here two days ago. 'It just means we'll be more wary going forward.' Another couple, who did not wish to be named, told of their frustrations with the prices. They said: 'There was a place just down there we went the other night was really expensive but not good food. 'The prices were on the menu but it was €40 for one gyros between two, a glass of wine - which was €12, a water and some pitta. 'For that price as well you expect it to be somewhere high-end. But it wasn't.'
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: The sneaky tactics used by pushy bar and restaurant staff on Greek holiday island to rip off Brit holidaymakers
British tourists are being ripped off on the Greek island of Rhodes by a series of covert tactics used by pushy restaurant and bar staff, a MailOnline investigation has revealed. Our reporter travelled to the holiday hotspot this week and visited some of its most popular venues in the heart of its bustling old town. The town's historic cobbled streets and famous squares are lined with an endless number of restaurants and bars, but holidaymakers blasted 'scammer' establishments for taking their hard-earned cash. Speaking to MailOnline outside these restaurants, Brits warned of how sneaky 'tricks' used by a number of venues left them paying more than €40 for a cocktail and more than €20 for a beer. To investigate, MailOnline visited six of the worst-rated restaurants and bars on TripAdvisor and Google to find out what methods were being used to rip off customers. MailOnline found the following 'tricks' were being used to fleece tourists: Restaurants had menus WITHOUT prices or sizes displayed Restaurants and bars with bad TripAdvisor scores simply changes their names to confuse tourists Staff would lie about the cheapest and smallest drinks options, claiming the smallest sizes were a 1L glass or a 'fishbowl' Diners are told a restaurant's card machines don't work and are frogmarched to the ATM to get cash out Rip-off waiters use secret signals to communicate with each other while serving Brits drinks Tourists were not given bills and receipts were rarely itemised, in many cases written entirely in Greek Pushy staff bring out alcohol despite customers saying they did not want anything to drink George Bar, located opposite the clock tower in the Old Town, has a low Google review rating of 1.6 stars - not exactly an good advert for holidaymakers looking for a nice drink. But to avoid any bad press from its less than impressive online presence, owners seemingly have thought on their feet and changed the name completely. Signs are obscured by parasols and the few that can be seen have the words 'Velvet Sports and Cocktail Bar' emblazoned on them. According to scathing Google reviews, the venue is constantly changing its name. When our reporter visited, she was greeted with a warm invite, eager to sit her down in the otherwise empty pub. And when she requested to see a menu, she was handed one filled with images of 'boots of beer' but with no prices displayed. But while there were options listed including a 500ml Guinness and a 300ml local Mythos, she was told the 'smallest' beer available on draught was a whopping 1L boot. To give venues the benefit of the doubt, we asked to clarify prices prior to placing orders. Justifying the €10 price for a 1L boot, the server said 'that is a normal price, it's just because of the size'. When later asking to pay, our reporter was told the card machine does not work and was asked to pay by cash. When the reporter said she does not have cash, she was made to wait nearly 20 minutes to finally be signalled over to pay. While one could assume this was a genuine one-off issue, online reviews indicate that it is a running ruse to get tourists to pay in cash. And it seems the tactic isn't reserved to just one spot. Further in the main square sits rooftop restaurant and bar Polloniatissa. Several of its workers stand around in the square persuading customers to come in, some even attracting unassuming couples by offering to take a picture of them, before then guilt-tripping them into dining at their venue. When our reporter visited, she was taken up to the rooftop, and provided with a drinks and food menu upon request. A worker at Polloniatissa who, when the reporter tells him she has waited half an hour to pay, asks if she can 'go to an ATM?' Here, the menu did for a change, have prices displayed. A small cocktail would cost €10, a medium €20, and a large €46. And when asked for clarification on sizes, the waiter, in a refreshing wave of honestly answered 'small is like a glass, medium is like three cocktails and large is massive'. This sounded promising. But Brit tourists just outside had told us of how cocktail prices and sizes were kept secret before a huge fishbowl was slapped on the table with a €46 bill following after. While they had stuck to the agreed small €10 cocktail when our reporter's bill came, the waiter had charged an extra €8 for tzatiki and bread which was not disclosed as an additional cost, when offered with the order of a chicken souvlaki. The waiter insisted the bread and dip had been served 'as a starter'. And in a similar instance to Velvet, or George Bar, whichever you could say their official name is, the reporter was again told the card machine was 'giving problems'. The waiter then turned away and began serving other customers without any explanation of what to do next. After 10 minutes of waiting, when the reporter again asked to pay, she was told the machine was still not working and was instructed to go down to the square and go to an ATM if 'that is easier'. Down in the small square, there are four ATMS, one on each corner - a sign that would suggest it is a trick utilised by a number of the restaurants. Google and Tripadvisor reviews would support this assertion. When our reporter refused and said she would wait to pay by card, another 15 minutes went by at which point she complained to another staff member. He immediately began ranting about his colleague, saying 'I honestly cannot tell you, I cannot tell you why he has not done it'. When she explained she was told the card machine did not work, he replied 'yes it does not, can you go to an ATM?' The worker then told a colleague: 'Why don't you take her to the ATM?' A few seconds later the disgruntled employee told us the machine did now miraculously work and takes the payment. Just a two-minute walk down from Hippocrates Square, where Polloniatissa sits, a man is using a flock of exotic birds to entice people to the 'Old Town Restaurant'. Or is it now called the 'Eat Lovers Taverna'? Or the 'Small Boat'? The restaurant, after a low 1.2 star review, is seemingly embarking on a never-ending rebrand project. Whichever it is, there is not a single clear sign on the building, which is complete with a rooftop terrace and striking pink and blue lights. It is done, it seems, so customers have no idea where they are dining, and so cannot search up its poor reviews. When our reporter visited and asked to sit on the rooftop for drinks, she was told it was 'not possible' and could only be seated upstairs if dining. Instead, she was offered an outdoor seat. The waiter came over to take her order but she requested to see a drinks menu first. The menu listed a Mythos 500ml for €7 and a 1L for €12. The waiter convinced the reporter a 1L 'will be nice' as it 'comes in a boot'. At the end when the reporter was ready to go, she was called to the till and billed the correct €12 amount. No faulty card machine tricks, no overcharging. However, the following day when the reporter returned to test out what happens when you do not request to see prices, the results were very different. Waiters were excited to see a returning customer - something which seemed to indicate it was a rare instance - and led her up to the rooftop. She was asked what she would like without being offered a menu, and the reporter asked for a 'standard' strawberry daiquiri and a chicken gyros. After a few minutes of waiting, she was incorrectly brought to the table an Aperol spritz. When she clarified this is not what she had ordered, it was taken away and replaced with the correct drink. A minor inconvenience. However, after around half an hour of waiting, a dish was brought to her table. It had originally been taken to the neighbouring table, who had confirmed it was not what they ordered. They then brought the dish to the reporter and offered she ate it. She said she ordered a chicken gyros and the waiter responded by suggesting she took it anyway, adding it was a 'beef and chicken' gyros. She said she does not eat beef and the plate was taken away. After another long wait the correct dish finally arrived. After finally being ready for the bill after a meal that took a lot longer than anticipated, the waiter said 'I will bring you a limoncello or a vodka'. When the reporter refused and asked instead for the bill, the pushy waiter continued to try and convince her. After another 'no thank you', the waiter disappeared and returned with, instead of a bill, two shots of prosecco in hand and placed them in front of the reporter. The reporter had to continually stated she had not ordered this and did not want it, with the waiter asking 'why?' and adding that it was not vodka but just some prosecco. Finally admitting defeat, the waiter turned around and left. After walking off he was seen using a secret signal to staff downstairs to kill the extra drinks - they had clearly been planning to put it on the bill. Still waiting for the bill, she asked another waiter, who requested she headed downstairs to pay. Approaching the till, she was asked to pay €35, with no explanation of costs. Asking for a breakdown, she was told the 'medium' cocktail was €15, apparently 'a discount' from the actual €20 cost, and the 'chicken souvlaki' was €20. After explaining the dish was a gyros and not a souvlaki, the cost was brought down by €5. Opposite 'Eat Lovers Taverna' in what is known as the Jewish Martyrs Square, sits 'Rendez-Vous'. Here, MailOnline sat down for a 'seafood souvlaki' and requested a Coke with it to drink. The menu had prices listed but did not have a specific listing for 'Coca-Cola' or soft drinks. Though, there was one line which listed 'refreshments, small 330ml €5 and large 1 liter €10'. Having not seen this by the time the waiter came by, the reporter asked how large a 'large Coke' was. She was told it was the size of two cans, and assumed that would come to around a pint. What arrived was a colossal 1L glass filled with heavily diluted Coke which was too flat to drink. During her time at the bar, a couple came in and asked the waiter about the disposable vapes displayed near the counter. The waiter told them that the vapes were priced at €15 each, to which the man was taken aback and asked 'for one?' The waiter then asked them whether they were from the UK and said it is 'cheaper there', to which the couple responded that the same vape would cost €5 in the UK. Back over by the Old Town's clocktower, next door to Velvet Sports and Cocktail Bar, sits Lithos Bar. Again, there is very little signage to show the name of the bar. You could think it has something to do with the 1.5 star TripAdvisor reviews. As you walk in, there is a tiny sign reading 'Lithos Bar' that you may be able to spot if lucky. Our reporter was welcomed and again provided with menus upon request. And in a recurring trend among a number of the restaurants, while the food menu had prices stuck on, the drinks menus consisted of just pictures of large fishbowls. There is absolutely no indication of size or price. When ordering, the man asked about what flavours the reporter liked to recommend the correct cocktail, but again left out any mention of price or size. When our reporter asked how big the cocktails were he signalled that they were large like in the pictures. We then asked if there were any smaller options and he confirmed he could 'sort something', and when asked about the price was told it would be €10. We ordered a tzatiki to go with our drink and asked if the bread was included, which the waiter agreed there would be. It was then a surprise when the cocktail arrived in a large fishbowl not different to those in the images. When exclaiming 'I'd asked for a small cocktail', the reporter was told 'that is the smallest we have', with the waiter laughing at our reaction. In a sigh of relief however, the bar did stick to the original price agreed upon and only charged €10 for the fishbowl. This was somewhat confusing as other British tourists told of having paid more than €20 for the same sized cocktail at the same bar. As MailOnline attempted to locate 'The Gate', yet another apparent 'rip-off' restaurant with on average one and two star reviews, there seemed to have been a mistake. Only a restaurant named Castello stood in its place. Again, it is only through old reviews that holidaymakers are able to figure out that the restaurant and building is the same, and has just been rebranded in an attempt to confuse tourists. Here, in yet another case, the drinks menu had nothing but colourful pictures of fruits and descriptions of the fancy cocktails and 'slush puppies' on offer, but no indication of the prices or sizing. When our reporter ordered a Greek salad and some sparkling water, a small bottle of sparking water was brought out promptly. The rather reasonable portion of salad came to only €8.50, which was clearly stated on the menu. But the €5 charged for a sparkling water came as a shock. When the reporter questioned the price she was told 'that is the price' and then asked if she would like to provide a tip. 'They're scammers. Scammers.' Speaking to British tourists in the cobblestoned streets of Rhodes Old Town, many expressed their shared frustration over the 'rip-offs' and 'scams'. One couple told MailOnline: 'There's a lot of rip-offs around here let me tell you. 'We just got this one beer and a water from the shop, €12. How is that €12? 'And they always try to say "oh it's cheaper, it's cheaper if you give me cash". 'There's so many like that. I was trying to buy a bag and the woman said €20 but if you give it in cash I'll give it for €10. 'They're scammers. 'And bar this one place on the right, everywhere the gyros sound like its coming out of microwaves. 'The one back there, we literally heard it come out the microwave, it went "PING". 'And they do that boot thing. You can get a 1L one, or 2L ones. 'You know actually, we got two daiquiris around there right, it cost us like €60. '€60 for two daiquiris. It came out in the massive bowls. 'And some of the bars they charged like €8 for a 1L boot, some of them charge like €16. 'Actually one of them charged €16 for half a litre, an even smaller one.' Another couple told of a similar incident, pointing towards Polloniatissa. Katherine Lombard and Kyle Watson, both of the Isle of Man said: 'We had two drinks there that cost us €60. 'It was a cocktail and a boot of beer. It was like €66 euros or something. 'The boot was €20 and the cocktail was €46. I'd only seen it the day after. 'They bring out the big fishbowl which isn't what we asked for, we just thought it's a cocktail and a large beer. 'Other than that we have kind of managed to avoid it. As soon as someone asks us to come in we sort of think to ourselves "no". And the 'tourist traps' and pushy tactics seem to be no secret, with one couple telling us they were aware of it 'before' they arrived and had been careful not to get caught out. Charlotte and Ryan Squibb, from Colchester said: 'We haven't been caught out by any of them because I knew about it before we came. 'They apparently say it's cheap food but then they get you in and end up giving you huge drinks which are like ten euros a go. 'So we haven't gone near them, we know all about it.' Meanwhile, Mark and Ethan Williams, 38 and 18, from Exeter, had just arrived on a big family holiday and had already been subject to the extortionate prices. Mark said: 'We just got charged €150 for one round of drinks for nine people. 'They said it was €6 a pint before we went in but obviously when you go to pay you can't really argue. 'They get you with the boots, they brought out big 1L ones. 'And the cocktails were like €25 each and they're massive. 'We probably should have known. We're here for two weeks and only got here two days ago. 'It just means we'll be more wary going forward.' Another couple, who did not wish to be named, told of their frustrations with the prices. They said: 'There was a place just down there we went the other night was really expensive but not good food. 'The prices were on the menu but it was €40 for one gyros between two, a glass of wine - which was €12, a water and some pitta.
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Scotland's worst seaside resort' revealed as locals blast ‘ghost town' full of empty shops that's ‘only getting worse'
'People would come from everywhere to shop here or go to the beach. There's nothing to come for now' RESIDENTS of 'Scotland's worst seaside town' say life there is like "living in a ghost town Armageddon". Ayr, on Scotland's picturesque west coast, was voted the country's worst town by the sea and 10th worst across the UK. Advertisement 7 Ayr has been voted Scotland's 'worst seaside town' Credit: John Kirkby 7 Locals blasted the 'ghost town' full of empty shops Credit: John Kirkby 7 The rating came despite a soft sand beach with striking views over to Arran Credit: Alamy Despite striking views over to Arran, Ailsa Craig and beyond and a soft sandy beach that stretches for miles, Ayr was given a measly three stars for scenery, peace and quiet. The survey quizzed more than 3,800 Which? members asking them to rate their experiences at various coastal towns across the UK. Advertisement Despite its scenic location, good rail links, and being a prime spot for birdwatching and fishing from the harbour, Ayr came out the worst rated in Scotland. And surprisingly, the people who call Ayr home, say they find it hard to disagree. Life-long Ayr residents say the once-booming seaside town's fortunes have dwindled dramatically over the last few decades. Best pals Margaret Whyte, 61 and Mary Higgins, 57, say the town centre is at the heart of Ayr's failing fortunes. Margaret said: "It's like a ghost town, like Armageddon. So many shops lie empty, the place is run down. I'm not one bit surprised it's been voted the worst in Scotland. It probably is." Advertisement Top 20 Seaside Towns According to Which? Bamburgh Beer Portmeirion St David's Sidmouth Tynemouth Dungeness Tenby Aldeburgh Wells-Next-The-Sea Whitby Lynmouth Nairn Saint Andrews St Mawes Swanage Broadstairs Bude Lyme Regis Robin Hood's Bay Mary added: "It's terrible. It's depressing when you think of how Ayr used to be. People would come from everywhere to shop here or go to the beach. There's nothing to come for now." With a mere two stars given to Ayr for its tourist attractions, it's easy to see where they're coming from. Despite this, the town attracts thousands of visitors every year when it hosts the famous International Ayr Show with approximately 240,000 people visiting over the weekend. But people in Ayr say lack of year-round investment in the town centre means aside from Ayr Show weekend, no one has any reason to come to town. 7 .John and Margaret Green say Ayr is "not what it used to be" Credit: John Kirkby Advertisement John Green, 65, said: "Ayr's not what it used to be. There's nothing here, especially the main street. There's too many empty shops, but that's not unique to Ayr, it's the same everywhere." Margaret Green, 64, said: "When you compare Ayr to the likes of Hamilton which is a similar kind of place, it's quite different. Hamilton is still great with lots going on but Ayr just seems to get worse and worse. The beach is lovely, but the town centre lets it down." Elizabeth Blane, 59, was visiting from Australia and says she sees the heavy decline of her home town whenever she visits. 7 Elizabeth Blane says the town has "gone downhill" over the years Credit: John Kirkby She said: "I'm from Ayr but I've lived in Australia for 17 years and I'm back just now for a visit and I can see some big changes. It's gone downhill over the years. Advertisement "The amount of shops that are closed now. There's nothing but charity shops. It's sad because it used to be a great wee town." But it's not all doom and gloom. There are worse places, say some. 7 Carole Hunter says there are too many empty units Credit: John Kirkby Carole Hunter, 61, said: "I don't think Ayr is the worst because the beach is there and it's beautiful, but the town centre makes it seem like the worst in Scotland. "Considering it's the borough town for Ayrshire, basically the capital, the town centre should not be so bad. It's awful, especially when you compare it to Troon and Prestwick which have lovely high streets. All Ayr seems to have is abandoned buildings." Advertisement Married couple Bobby and Eileen Kelly say they still come through to Ayr from their home in neighbouring town Newmilns, for one very specific reason. 7 Bobby and Aileen Kelly reckon there should be more investment into the town Credit: John Kirkby Bobby, 70, said: "We are from Newmilns and we used to come through to Ayr for the shops but there's barely anything here now. We still come for Slaters. But having said that there's worse places. Ayr is not as bad as some." Eileen Kelly, 71, said: "What's happening to Ayr now is there is a huge divide between the people who have money and the people who have none. "There doesn't seem to be a lot invested in the town either." Advertisement In the Which? survey each town was scored out of 100, based on criteria like the quality of the beaches, scenery, food and drink, accommodation, tourist attractions and value for money. Results were also based on visitor overall satisfaction and how likely they would be to recommend the place as a holiday destination. While Ayr fared the worst, Nairn in the Highlands, near Inverness, came out on top in Scotland and 13th in the UK. This scenic sandy beach in a remote location is a popular spot for families. Dolphins are often spotted along the coastline and there are plenty of coastal paths in either direction. Advertisement The survey gave it five stars for its scenery and peace and quiet, four stars for its beach, seafront and parking. But it gained only three stars for its tourist attractions. St Andrews beach, near the East Neuk of Fife, followed behind Nairn in 14th place across the UK. The university town scored 76% for its stunning two-miles of sandy beach. Bottom 20 Seaside Towns According to Which? Ilfracombe Littlehampton Mablethorpe Ramsgate Skegness Fishguard Barton-on-Sea Cleethorpes Lowestoft New Brighton Ayr Great Yarmouth Weston-super-Mare Blackpool Burnham-on-Sea Fleetwood Southend-on-Sea Clacton-on-Sea Bangor Bognor Regis The town also received five stars for its food and drink, tourist attractions and scenery, four stars for its beach, seafront, accommodation and shopping. Advertisement Parking and value for money scored low, however, with just two stars each. Bamburgh in Northumberland, England, topped the UK-wide list with an impressive score of 84%. It received five stars for its beach, seafront, scenery and peace and quiet. Other top five locations included Beer, Portmeirion, Saint David's and Sidmouth all scoring in the 80s and high 70s. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel said: 'While you may have your own favourite destination, as well as the top spots in Devon and Wales, our survey shows there are still plenty of beautiful hidden gems across the UK to explore. Advertisement 'Some seaside resorts offer better value for money than others, so it is worth looking at surrounding areas of popular spots if you are looking for a cheaper overnight stay.'
