logo
We live in UK's poshest seaside town but it's like Magaluf mayhem this weekend – boozy louts bonk in the sea

We live in UK's poshest seaside town but it's like Magaluf mayhem this weekend – boozy louts bonk in the sea

The Sun11-07-2025
SUNBURNT music lovers high on drugs stagger out of the beachfront venue gnawing on bars of soap nicked from loos en route to the snaking taxi queue, which usually descends into a mass brawl.
Meanwhile inebriated men and women brazenly relieve themselves in the doorways of multi-million pound homes.
25
25
25
25
This is SandFest, held in the ultra exclusive beach resort of Sandbanks in Dorset, home to the likes of Harry and Jamie Redknapp, where the streets are lined with mega mansions worth up to £30million.
Gated driveways boast gleaming Porches, Range Rovers and Bentleys, while superyachts bob on the glistening blue sea.
It is famously one of the most expensive and prestigious places to live in Britain, but this weekend frustrated residents say their genteel neighbourhood resembles Magaluf, the notorious Spanish party resort known for its cheap package holidays and shocking drunken chaos.
More than 10,000 people are due to descend for a series of rowdy events - first a polo party called SandPolo, followed by SandFest, a music concert described as a "boutique beach festival" where headline acts have included Idris Elba, Rudimental and Tinie Tempah.
This Sunday house DJ Sonny Fodera tops the bill, alongside Katy B, Danny Howard and Saffron Stone, along with DJ sets from Elderbrook and Alex Mills.
Jennifer Krzyzanowska, 25, runs Shacks By The Shore, a popular snack bar doing a brisk trade on the edge of the sandy beach, but her team are already preparing for the worst.
'It's always horrendous,' she told The Sun when we visited this week. 'People are so out of it, I've seen guys coming out of there eating bars of blue soap.
'Every year when the venue empties, big fights break out because the taxi queue is so long, and people dive into the sea to cool off.
'There's all kinds going on in the water - they're having sex in there and using it as a toilet.
'The whole thing is a health hazard, but no-one is thinking about their health when they've been drinking in the baking hot sun all day.
We live in UK's 'Monte Carlo', it used to be millionaire's playground but now it's ruined by 80mph boy racers
'Another problem on a warm weekend is the beach will be absolutely rammed because the site takes up so much space.
"I know some local businesses have to bring in extra security.'
Jennifer's colleague Sophia Harwood, 20, added: 'It's basically just a massive all-day drinking session, it gets ugly. A lot of people don't like it.'
The tiny town is often referred to as Britain's answer to Monte Carlo - with property prices soaring three times higher than the national average.
But many locals feel shut out of the events, where VIP tickets go for £1,200.
Charlyn Dean, 41, has a stunning four bedroom property in a prime location which rents out at £10,000 a week during the peak summer months.
But leading us through to her immaculate back garden, she points to her blighted view.
'As you can see, our garden is right behind the main stage and it gets unbelievably loud," she said.
'The whole place is packed out, heavily intoxicated people are falling into hedges, and it can take over an hour to get out of the house.
'It's frustrating to say the least.'
'It doesn't feel safe'
25
25
25
25
Equally frustrated by the chaos are retired couple Margaret and Bill Sharp, both 80.
They are the proud owners of a charming beachfront apartment with sweeping views of Poole Harbour and the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast, but have resorted to extreme measures to protect their home this year.
They have invested in their own bright yellow police cones to cordon off their driveway.
Margaret explained: 'If we don't put the cones out people use our driveway for a party - they hang around drinking and dancing on their way out of the festival.
'They double park and it doesn't feel safe for us - there is no way an ambulance or fire engine could get down here if there was an emergency. It's dangerous.'
When we visited Sandbanks a vast swathe of the beach was cordoned off by high metal fences in preparation for the three days of festivities, squashing frustrated holiday makers closer together in the remaining space.
Meanwhile the rows of highly-prized beach huts on the idyllic peninsula have their coveted sea views obliterated for two weeks by enormous marquees and rows of portaloos, which locals say can cause quite the stench.
Another issue is traffic. With only one narrow road leading on to the luxury peninsula from nearby Poole, the festivals create tailbacks for miles, and the only car park is rammed by 8am.
With traffic at a standstill, ticket holders have been known to simply abandon their cars across residents' driveways and even in the middle of the roundabout.
Kite surfer Chris Weedon, who lives with his wife Angela in a towering four storey house overlooking the beach, said of the event: 'It's so depressing.
'When the festival is on we're just resigned to not going out, because if we do we can't get home again.
'Late at night when the road is clear they roar down here on motorbikes, doing wheelies at 60mph. Someone is going to die.'
He added: 'The litter is just dire, people dump their bottles and cans and I usually spend an hour in the morning filling three sacks of rubbish from outside my house."
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
Local resident Dave Watts, 55, told us: "The parking is total chaos.
"There's only one car park here but it's completely full by seven or eight in the morning when there's an event on, which means locals can't just come and enjoy the beach on one of the nicest weekends of the year.'
He said anti-social behaviour is also rife, adding: "I've caught women squatting in my doorway - it's not just the men who feel they can urinate wherever they please."
In previous years it was reported that some horrified parents felt forced to leave the beach after a DJ unleashed a torrent of foul language.
Families were bombarded with swear words from the rowdy festival as they tried to enjoy a peaceful afternoon on the sand.
Mum-of-two Katie Fowler, 39, told us: 'It gets rowdy. We certainly won't be coming down here with the kids.
'Because the event takes up a big chunk of the beach, everyone else gets squeezed together.'
'It's like Magaluf'
25
25
25
Peter and Nina Martin, both 72, spend £3,000 a year renting a picture-perfect blue and white beach hut at Sandbanks, and usually visit every day throughout the summer.
But Peter sighed: 'We won't come near the place when these events are happening, we can't.
'These kids behave like they're in Magaluf or somewhere like that.
'There's too much fighting going on, and they pitch tents to sleep on the beach after the festival, even though camping is not allowed, and just dump their tents in the morning.
'It's annoying. This is a beautiful sandy beach and some days it can feel like the Caribbean here, but right now it looks like an ugly industrial estate.
'We've paid a lot of money for a sea view but all you can see from here is fences, tents and toilets.'
Christine Jeandren, 62, is also furious that her sea view is entirely obliterated for two whole weeks while organisers prepare for and dismantle the events.
She explained: 'The whole thing is ridiculous and locals don't want it, it's hell.
'All I can see is portaloos and there is no getting away from the smell of those toilets in this heat.
'There are masses of youngsters everywhere and their behaviour is awful. I've caught teenagers smoking weed in the bushes, that stinks too.
'If I want to go in the sea we have to walk all the way around the fenced-off area, and you can hear the music blaring half an hour away.
'Sandbanks is just not set up for events this big. I don't understand why they don't move it further away to Bournemouth.
'We've been trying to get rid of it for 18 years.
'It usually takes us 15 minutes to get here on the bus from Poole but when this event is on it can take a couple of hours, the whole thing is gridlocked.
'Basically it's carnage.'
25
25
25
25
25
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New Edinburgh music venues land share of £14m cash pot
New Edinburgh music venues land share of £14m cash pot

The Herald Scotland

time26 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

New Edinburgh music venues land share of £14m cash pot

The Wolfson Foundation has agreed to support the creation of a new National Centre for Music and concert hall at the former Royal High School, one of the city's most prominent landmarks, on Calton Hill. It will also be funding Edinburgh's first purpose-built concert hall for a century, which is earmarked for a site behind a Royal Bank of Scotland building in the New Town. Read more: The two projects, which have both been in the planning for more than decade, will get a share of £14m worth of grants announced by a UK-wide charity. And it is hoped they will be able to secure further support as the projects progress in the next few years. The Dunard Centre will be Edinburgh's first purpose-built concert hall for more than a century. (Image: David Chipperfield Architects) Both projects are being largely bankrolled by Scotland's biggest arts philanthropist, Carol Colburn Grigor. Her Dunard Fund has committed at least £45m to the £69m National Centre for [[Music]] project. It recently secured a pledge of up to £5m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £2.85m from a separate charitable trust set up by the late British philanthropist Julia Rausing. A new National Centre for Music will be created on Edinburgh's Calton Hill under plans to transform the former Royal High School building. (Image: Supplied) The Dunard Centre, which is expected to cost more than £115m to build, has secured £80m of private support, including £35m from Ms Grigor's charity, as well as £25m from the Scottish and UK governments, and the city council. The Wolfson Foundation plans to spend more than £200m across the UK over the next five years, across arts, science, health and heritage projects. The Dunard Centre concert hall will be created in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town. (Image: Supplied) The National Centre for Music project, which has been awarded an initial £500,000 from the foundation, will see three indoor performance spaces created inside the A-listed building. The grounds of the complex, which is due to open in 2027, will become home to the first public gardens in the city since the creation of Princes Street Gardens more than 200 years ago. The Dunard Centre project, which has been allocated an initial £100,000 by the foundation, will see a 1000-capacity concert hall built off St Andrew Square, next to the new St James Quarter complex, by 2029. The new venue, which is expected to showcase all forms of music, will become a new home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and will be used by the Edinburgh International Festival each August. A spokesperson for the National Centre for Music said: 'This grant will help protect and save the heritage of one of the most remarkable A listed buildings in Edinburgh. 'Our project will create a home for the National Centre for Music which will offer a range of ways for people who live, work and visit the city to come together to engage with the built and social heritage, and Scottish music heritage. 'The National Centre for Music is a newly created charity which will nurture and celebrate the richness of Scotland's music making – across all genres and all levels. It will become an iconic destination – where artists come to deepen their practice, make new work and connect with others, and where audiences come to expand their passions and have uplifting experiences. 'The former Royal High School will provide an inspiring setting in which to learn, make and share music. With a flexible main hall, a suite of practice rooms and a recording studio, it will provide significant new facilities for Scotland's musicians – from top professionals to those just starting their musical learning. 'The National Centre for Music will be a city centre venue for diverse musical communities, participants and audiences. A public engagement programme is being developed that will include creative learning, heritage interpretation, and community-led activity shaped by ongoing consultation. 'Particular attention is being given to reaching groups who are often underrepresented in culture and heritage, including young people, people living in local communities of socioeconomic deprivation, and people with additional support needs." A spokesperson for the Dunard Centre said: 'This generous funding will be instrumental in supporting our ambitious vision to create a new, world-class concert hall in the heart of Edinburgh, catering for 21st century audiences and artists. 'With a mission to create an inclusive, accessible hub, the venue will be 'a hall for all', offering opportunities for people of all ages and stages to learn, participate, create and engage with the arts, as well as opening up a new, free-to-access public space. 'This inaugural grant marks the first step in our relationship with the Wolfson Foundation. 'With a shared commitment to promoting and supporting excellence, we look forward to developing our relationship as plans for Edinburgh's first concert hall in 100 years progress.' Other projects being funded in Scotland include the Angus arts centre Hospitalfield, which has secured £150,000 for a restoration of its building and a new collections study centre. Earlier this year, Wolfson Foundation chief executive Paul Ramsbottom said the charity was aware of a 'crucial need' for capital infrastructure funding for projects across the UK. He said: 'There are few other similar sources of funding and yet organisations need to keep investing in their physical infrastructure. 'A majority of our funding in the next five years will therefore be allocated for infrastructure: refurbishment, equipment and new build.'

Trouble for fan favourite Love Island couple as villa girl gets flirty with returning bombshell
Trouble for fan favourite Love Island couple as villa girl gets flirty with returning bombshell

The Sun

time26 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Trouble for fan favourite Love Island couple as villa girl gets flirty with returning bombshell

LOVE Island's Yas Pettet and Jamie Rhodes look like they may be in trouble – as she flirts heavily with returning hunk, Blu Chegini. Blu originally only lasted three days in the villa, but made a shocking return on Wednesday's episode by returning alongside Megan Forte Clarke. 6 6 6 The two quickly whisked Conor Phillips and Angel Swift off on dates, but on tonight's episode it seems that Blu's attention has turned to Yas, and she seems more than happy with the attention. In tonight's episode, Yas – who is currently coupled up with Jamie – engages in flirty banter with Blu when he pulls her for a chat. Soon their talk switches to their shared romantic tension, with Yas telling them: 'I was interested to meet you because I feel like you are a good looking boy and we're kind of similar in a sense. You have this sexual energy and so do I.' 'I like it when you stick it on,' he responds. 'You can stick on me for sure.' He later offers to give Yas a 'little tour' of his mum's sex shop in Marbella – talking through the kinds of toys that are sold there. The chat does not go unnoticed by Jamie, who finds himself trying not to rise to the bait. Shakira comes to his aid, urging him not to read into it… but is he right to be worried? Yasmin seems to have her own troubles emerging as the saga between her, Harry and Helena continues. While Harry appeared to choose Helena by closing things off between them, it seems he still holds a candle for Shakira. Laying her feelings out for him, Shakira tells Harry: 'I still felt very strongly towards you… Watch moment Love Island's Harrison takes savage swipe at villa couple and says there's 'no chance' they will win "I just don't think that I really dealt with the situation how I should have dealt with it and maybe haven't processed things properly, and you and Helena being exclusive may have resurfaced things.' Trying to see if she's ok, Harry later tells her: 'I know it looks like I've moved on very quickly but I don't want you to ever think that it was one sided, you'll probably disagree, but I felt it and like I say I haven't processed it and have tried to just get on with things.' Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2. 6 6 6

In pictures: Queen Camilla attends 142nd Sandringham Flower Show
In pictures: Queen Camilla attends 142nd Sandringham Flower Show

BBC News

time26 minutes ago

  • BBC News

In pictures: Queen Camilla attends 142nd Sandringham Flower Show

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were among the 14,500 visitors that attended Sandringham Flower Show as it celebrated its 142nd year. The flower show, which is held at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, will be paused next year to make way for the six-day Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) touring flower show in 2026 and and the flower show's chairman, Graham Browne, said the event on Wednesday had a lovely atmosphere. He said: "The mood of the whole of the show is good, everyone is happy, the weather is good, the King is in a really good frame of mind. "We were talking about vegetables and flowers and the weather and things that are happening" The king and queen visited the event on Wednesday, but last year's event saw no royal visitor for the first time in 30 years. Creative freedom Hillary Fay-Mellor, a professional garden designer who has created a display at the flower show, said she enjoyed "the freedom to be creative" at the show. She said: "There's a very lovely atmosphere at Sandringham Flower Show. Everyone helps each other, the whole team they genuinely want each other to do well... it's a bit like going to a festival except you have to work hard."There's always been a flower show here, so it's a real tradition for the village... it will just be a different vibe because RHS shows are bigger. "They are much more expensive to get accepted... and you have to be very specific with your brief." The Sandringham Flower Show said all profits from each show were donated to local charities and since 1977 the committee has donated more than £825, Thomas has been involved in designing her first show garden for the Sandringham Flower Show. She said: "This is the first time I have done a show garden at Sandringham, it might be the last with the amount of rain we have had to contend with. "It's a climate change garden so it's based on producing a sustainable garden through periods of climate change... it's plants that will sustain those conditions and also a low carbon footprint garden." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store