Our seaside town has been labelled the worst in Britain - but here's why all the critics calling it 'tacky' and 'run-down' are wrong

Daily Mail​

a day ago

Proud seasiders in a coastal town which has been branded the worst in Britain have been hitting back against taunts about it being 'tacky' and 'run-down'.
A poll by consumer group Which? has put Bognor Regis in West Sussex at the bottom of 118 UK resorts when it comes to visitors' experiences.
The coastal town, first developed in the late 18th century and famed for attractions such as a Butlin's holiday camp founded in 1960, has become to some a byword for either genteel or shabby English seaside fustiness.
The late George V - great-grandfather of present King Charles - is famed to have allegedly said before dying in 1936: 'Bugger Bognor.'
That was supposed to be in response to aides suggested where he might go to recuperate, according to explanations on the town's Love Bognor Regis website.
An alternative suggestion is that he actually uttered the words in 1928 instead, when given a petition calling on him to add the word 'Regis' to the town's official title.
Bognor tends to be among England's sunniest spots, yet landed itself last in Which?'s poll of the 118 UK seaside towns - based on responses from 3,800 people.
The resort earned a paltry one-star rating in most categories, including 'Food and drink', 'Value for money' and 'Scenery'.
The West Sussex resort was described by one visitor as 'a run-down seaside town' and received a destination score of just 36 per cent.
Just ahead of Bognor was Bangor in Gwynedd – up one spot from its own bottom place result in last year's corresponding survey.
Clacton-on-Sea in Essex was also poorly received by holidaymakers - provided with only one star for its tourist attractions as well as food, drink and scenery.
Many of the UK's best-known seaside towns performed poorly in the new poll.
Skegness and Blackpool earned 54 per cent and 48 per cent destination ratings respectively, while winning only one star apiece for their scenery.
Even more 'fashionable' seaside hotspots failed to win the hearts of the British public, with artsy Margate scoring 56 per cent and upmarket Brighton 61 per cent
It was better news further north of the country, however, where Bamburgh in Northumberland retained its place as the nation's favourite coastal destination - coming top for the fifth consecutive year.
Bamburgh scored an overall destination score of 84 per cent and was awarded five stars for its seafront and scenery.
Paul Wells, who runs haberdashery firm Knit and Sew in the town centre, has described Bognor Regis as having 'a personality of its own'
One visitor declared Bamburgh a 'gem', praising its 'sandy, clean beaches'.
The town was also rewarded for its good value for money - according to Kayak.com, an average night's stay in Bamburgh costs £130.
Yet the Which? thumbs-down for Bognor has come as a disappointment to loyal locals there, who have now spoken up in the South Coast seaside town's defence.
They pointed to the 'genuine' sense of community and the quality of life which was high in the traditional seaside town.
The resort, which has a population of about 25,000, is said to be undergoing a renaissance with inward investment and building projects aimed at making it look more up-to-date.
On the seafront, the Alexandra Theatre is getting a £15million rebuild, while a Victorian shopping precinct called The Arcade is about to see an £8m revamp and a new £13m Premier Inn is being built.
The town's seafront promenade has also undergone a major facelift, including a walking area alongside Bognor's pebble and sand beach.
Jane Steventon, 52, a Bafta-winning TV producer, moved to Bognor after a career which has seen her work in London, Glasgow, Liverpool and Wales.
But when talking about Bognor, she told MailOnline: 'I love it here. It's an exciting time to be in Bognor.
There's a lot of investment and opportunity here and there's a real buzz around town and a sense of excitement about what's to come.
'There's a real sense of belonging here also, a proper community vibe.
'I really don't understand where Which? has got its figures from, because it's also popular among visitors.'
Ms Steventon, now a lecturer at Portsmouth University where she teaches screen writing and film production, added: 'Traditional seaside towns have seen new money coming into them in recent years.
'Margate and Hastings are just two examples and I think we're seeing the same interest in Bognor.'
The Butlin's holiday camp in the town has been praised for updating its traditional image, attracting not only families but also younger crowds for Big Weekender live music events at the seaside site.
One visitor said: 'It's got so much going for it. The Big Music Weekenders are brilliant and we come down with friends for those
In the new Which? survey, Bognor Regis earned a paltry one-star rating in most categories, including 'Food and drink', 'Value for money' and 'Scenery'
Supporters have insisted the coastal town can boast 'a real sense of belonging here' and 'a proper community vibe'
'I also love the shops which are quirky and not mainstream.'
Paul Wells, who runs haberdashery firm Knit and Sew in the town centre, said: 'We have so much to offer and the Which? report doesn't reflect the reality here.
'Bognor has a personality of its own as it has loads and loads of independent shops and visitors flock here to take advantage of those.
'We also have the highest recorded levels of sunshine levels in the UK which bring day trippers in their droves.'
Mr Wells, who has run his shop for 25 years, added: 'The seafront is being massively renovated at the moment, but once it's finished it will enhance the already wonderful beach and promenade area.
'It's also very friendly here and there's a good sense of community with people looking out for each other.
'It's also in a great location for jumping off into the South Downs or other coastal destinations and a lot of people stay here if they're visiting Goodwood or Pagham Harbour.'
Mr Wells described how such seaside towns had all 'suffered since Covid', while plenty of retail sales are being diverted online - but insisted: 'I think Bognor offers a unique experience.'
Bognor Regis mayor Gill Yeates (pictured), who has lived there all her life, said: 'There's a huge amount of regeneration going on in Bognor at the moment'
Alison Terry, a retired maths teacher who moved to Bognor from Tunbridge Wells in Kent 30 years ago, has since raised two children in the town alongside her husband Mike - and says the sense of community there is 'second to none'.
She said: 'The pace of life is much slower here - people are more reflective and able to contribute more to their communities. There's also so much going on here.
'My two children both learned to sail here and embraced that life and there are so many opportunities.
'It might be an old-fashioned seaside resort in many respects but it has evolved organically so new developments echo the old.
'The town centre has a unique charm that I haven't found anywhere else.'
Ms Terry added: 'More than anything, the people are very genuine and loyal to the town and its fellow citizens. I love it here.'
Bognor Regis mayor Gill Yeates, who has lived there all her life, said: 'There's a huge amount of regeneration going on in Bognor at the moment and that means there has been a lot of disruption.
'When that is complete, it will be a huge boost to the town.
Bognor mayor Gill Yeates says town centre regeneration work will be a 'huge boost to the town'
'The seafront is the jewel in the crown for us and it really is a gem but Bognor offers all this at a very affordable price. It is much cheaper here than at many places down the coast.'
Many of the projects are destined for completion by next year - and residents are hopeful the town could capitalise on existing popularity among those fans it does have, despite the Which? consumer poll backlash.
Stuart Gray, who runs Sweet Flamingo ice creams on the seafront, said: 'Resorts are dependent on the weather and Bognor gets record-breaking sunshine.
'When it's busy here, it's very busy. I don't really understand what Which? is talking about.'
THE LOWDOWN ON THE UK'S BEST AND WORST SEASIDE TOWNS
By Jo Tweedy
THE BEST
Bamburgh, Northumberland
Small but mighty, Bamburgh village, nudged up to a particularly beautiful stretch of the Northumberland coast only has around 400 residents - but, according to Which?'s latest poll the prettiest sands in the land.
The downside? It attracts more than 150,000 visitors each year because of it, with locals swamped by tourists in the summer months - and parking spaces rare as hen's teeth.
Its imposing castle is regarded as one of the world's most important Anglo-Saxon archaeological sites.
Zoopla average property price: £464,500
Beer, Devon
Another tiny village with a divine crescent of beach, this time shingle, Beer lies in Devon's East and is flanked by limestone cliffs.
Once a smuggler's haven, this fishing village's closest town is Seaton, with the South West Coast Path accessible for walkers.
Zoopla average property price: £454,000
So inspired was Noel Coward when he visited the folly village of Portmeirion that he wrote his play, Blithe Spirit, in just six days.
This Italianate village sits against a rocky headland in North Wales and is so well preserved you have to pay to get in - £20.00 for adults, £13 for children.
The beach? It's full of white sand, plus hidden caves and views out across the Dwyryd Estuary.
Zoopla average property price: £171,969
St David's, Pembrokeshire
St David's main beach, known as Whitesands Bay, is made up of fine, alabaster sand that merges into a rockier portion of coast, which reaches a crescendo at the craggy headland that is St David's Head.
Walkers love it, as do surfers. St David's is famously the UK's smallest city with a population of around 1,750 people.
Zoopla average property price: £326,108
Sidmouth, Devon
At the mouth of the River Sid, 14 miles from Exeter, Sidmouth was a fishing village until the fashion for coastal resorts grew in the Regency period from 1811 to 1820.
Edward VII checked into the Royal York Hotel in 1856, and when the Devon town was connected to a railway (no longer running) in 1874, well-heeled Victorians flocked there.
The esplanade is lined with Grade II-listed hotels, with the 240-million-year-old Jurassic Coast just beyond it.
Zoopla average property price: £489,333
AND THE WORST...
Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Bognor Regis is one of the UK's best-known bucket and spade seaside towns today - but it started life as a small fishing village.
The town's popularity soared in the late 1800s after a railway station was built in 1864 that made the seaside hotspot much more accessible.
In recent years, the resort has been known for cheap and cheerful UK breaks, with Butlins the beach's most famous place to stay.
Zoopla average property price: £356,463
Bangor, North Wales
The historic Welsh resort of Bangor took the unwanted number one spot in the Which? survey of worst seaside town in Britain back in May.
Bangor has fallen since its heyday, with historic photos showing hundreds of people gathered to watch the opening of the pier during the Victorian period in 1896.
Even as recently as 30 years ago, the area was still a beloved hub for tourists and holidaymakers, and even featured in a popular song by folk group Fiddler's Dream in 1979 named Day Trip to Bangor (Didn't We Have a Lovely Time).
Away from the beach, Bangor has the longest high street in Wales, and is also the oldest Welsh city.
Zoopla average property price: £204,661
Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
Another resort that's a shadow of its former self, Clacton-on-Sea was once one of Britain's thriving seaside towns - popular with Londoners who would flock to the Essex coastline for a day at the beach and fun on the pier.
A decline has seen the town battling spiralling unemployment, drug use and crime - with shops on the beachfront and in the town centre closed.
Zoopla average property price: £251,103
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
One travel guide described this Essex coastal resort as 'Pugnacious and brash', saying 'Unless you're after tacky arcades, flash amusement rides or sleazy nightspots, there's not much to do'.
There's no getting away from the fact it's still very popular though: Essex's largest town, with a population of some 175,500, hosts nearly three million visitors each year.
Zoopla average property price: £339,634
Fleetwood, Lancashire
Just 25 minutes from Blackpool, Fleetwood has long attracted holidaymakers with its low prices - including hotel stays that average around £73 a night - and old-school seaside charm.
And while it's fared badly in Which?'s latest poll, it is in line for a £16million upgrade, including a major overhaul of the town's iconic Art Deco Marine Hall and the local leisure centre.