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The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
What the Highlands and Islands can learn from English seaside towns
It was the early 2000s, I was a fresh-faced Gaelic kids TV presenter, and it was the height of summer. I was filming for a segment which saw me attempt the most ridiculous things we could think of within the parameters of our tiny budget. That filming trip had included a day at the World Worm Charming Championships where I had attempted to charm as many worms as I could out of a one-square-metre patch of ground within the allotted time frame using a variety of methods, including smacking the ground with a Gaelic dictionary and reciting poetry. Unsurprisingly, the worms remained resolutely underground. We had moved on to the World Bog Snorkelling Championships, where, clad in wet suit and snorkel, I 'swam' along a brackish ditch dug from an impressive bog. Your head had to be under at all times. There were eels. I heroically clinched last place. Much of that period of my life has merged into one ridiculous mental photo album, from which I can always pull something absolutely random in order to entertain at dinner parties. Jumping from a plane at 10,000 feet? Check. Scuba diving with sharks. Yup. Stroking an Orca's nose? Old hat, frankly. Whether it's entertaining or insufferable, I don't much care. It was a truly bonkers few years that were in no way lucrative and in reality, a heck of a lot less fun than my witty headlines suggest, so I'll take the social mileage. In Bognor Regis, surrounded by candyfloss and sandy children, I took a deep breath and flapped frantically as my feet left the pier. The goal was to be the person who 'flew' the furthest. READ MORE: Rhoda Meek: AI alone just won't wash – people must be in the pipeline I can't remember where I placed, but I can't imagine that I managed more than a metre. I do recall swimming back to the shore, a soggy, wet, feathered chicken costume hanging from me, my beak askew, wondering whether my career might not be all it was cracked up to be. I hadn't thought about Bognor for years, until I read last week that Which? Magazine had crowned Bognor the worst seaside town in England. As our summer season in Tiree kicks off in earnest next week, it made me think. I live in a tourist economy too – on the face of it, a very different kind of destination – but scratch the surface and the parallels are there. Our economy is one shaped by the weather, and by whatever the latest Instagram trend tells visitors they ought to value. It's easy to believe that popularity lasts forever. That people will always come. That holiday traditions don't change. But they do. And the English seaside resort proves it. The rise of places like Blackpool, Margate and Bognor was rooted in health fads and rail timetables. In the 18th century, doctors began prescribing sea air and salt water for everything from gout to melancholy. Resorts sprang up to meet the demand, offering genteel promenades and medicinal bathing machines. But it was the arrival of the railways in the 19th century that transformed the seaside into a mass-market destination. Blackpool became a byword for leisure and light shows. Margate filled with Londoners. Bognor got a visit from George V, giving the town its regal suffix. By the early 20th century, factory shutdowns and paid holidays meant millions of working families poured into coastal resorts. Fish and chips, donkey rides and piers weren't just entertainment – they were part of an annual ritual, as familiar as Christmas. Then it started to slip. The rise of international travel in the 1960s offered something new – sunshine you could count on. Seaside resorts across England began to decline. Visitor numbers dropped, overnight stays shrank, and local economies grew reliant on day trippers. The grand hotels were converted to flats or fell into disrepair. Places that once buzzed with summer excitement were suddenly described with words like 'tired' and 'forgotten'. Blackpool, famously, kept trying. It never lost its spirit entirely. And while it still has its social challenges – it regularly appears in the top rankings for deprivation – the visitor numbers remain extraordinary. In 2022, the town welcomed over 20 million people. That's not decline. That's persistence. It's also adaptation. Blackpool is in the middle of a £2 billion transformation. There's a new museum, a regenerated tram system, investment in housing, and a genuine attempt to make the town more than a nostalgia act. Margate has leaned fully into reinvention. The Turner Contemporary gallery opened in 2011, and the town has repositioned itself as a hub for arts and culture. The old Dreamland amusement park has been restored with public money, and the High Street is now full of independent cafes, record shops and studios. You can still get a stick of rock, but you're just as likely to get an oat milk cortado with it. Bognor hasn't had the same press, but it's not standing still. Butlin's remains a huge draw, with over 300,000 annual visitors. The town centre is getting attention, too – new theatres, hotel upgrades, and public realm improvements are all on the table. It may not be fashionable yet, but it's refusing to fade quietly. So no – the English seaside hasn't been abandoned. It's shifting. It's shedding the cliches that no longer serve it and holding tight to the ones that still bring people joy. Nostalgia might lure you in, but regeneration is what's keeping the lights on. Which brings me back to Scotland. READ MORE: Rhoda Meek: Sheep shearing season means the reply guys are in full force Here in the islands, we're not dealing with the ghosts of seaside glamour. But we are tied to a tourism economy that is vulnerable to outside forces. A cancelled ferry, a bad summer, a cost of living crisis – these things hit hard. This year, some are already reporting a slowdown. And if that's the start of a wider trend, we need to think carefully about what comes next. We should be watching what places like Bognor, Blackpool and Margate are doing. Not copying the neon or the noise – but understanding that successful places are rooted in community, not just charm. The regeneration that seems to be working is the kind that prioritises housing, education, arts and health alongside visitor numbers. It isn't about pretty bunting and well-filtered photographs. It's about identity, resilience and long-term thinking. When I took part in worm charming, bog snorkelling and flying competitions, it was purely for entertainment. 20 years later, I've realised something else. Those events might not have been glamorous nor profitable, but they mattered to the places that held them, and to the people who turned up. Someone had decided their patch of ground, however soggy, was worth celebrating. That their ditch was worth swimming. That their pier was worth leaping from. The west coast of Scotland doesn't need reinvention – but it does need realism. The weather will always be what it is. The sea will always be cold. But our strength lies in the depth of what's beneath the surface. The heart, not the costume.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK's seaside town branded 'hellhole' set for £23m overhaul to bring tourists back
A Lincolnshire town is confirmed for a multi-million pound renovation, predicted to bring in a flurry of tourists after locals declare the coastal town a 'hellhole' This seaside town previously been described as a 'vulgar hellhole' with a 'brown sea', has now confirmed plans for a £23 million investment. Skegness, in the East Lindsey District of Lincolnshire is splashing the cash in the hope of attracting tourists again. In the 19th century, Skegness was a seaside hotspot that drew visitors from all over the country. Still, in recent years, a severe lack of investment and infrastructure development has deterred new visitors. In 2023, Skegness was ranked last in Which? Magazine 's British seaside resort ranking. Visitors gave Skegness just one star for its scenery and noise levels, and two stars for its food, drink, shopping and attractions. Despite its overwhelmingly low scores in multiple categories, Skegness consistently performed well in one area. Most visitors were impressed with the parking availability. The Editor of Which? Travel, Rory Boland, said following the 2023 poll: "Clacton, Skegness, and Southend all received one star from visitors for the lack of peace and quiet, and some visitors complain that the boisterous atmosphere can tip into feeling unsafe." Rory added: "That's a shame, because what Clacton, Skegness, and Southend offer is exactly the sort of seaside break many of us want." However, he concluded with a call to action for the town, saying: "Big beaches, big entertainment, and small prices. More should be done to help them level up and become first-class holiday resorts." However, things are now set to change for this coastal town, as East Midlands Railway (EMR) has announced an impressive £23 million investment in the tramlines leading into Skegness. On April 15, Baggy Shanker, Member of Parliament for Derby South, officially unveiled the new EMR Class 170 train at an event at Derby station. These improvements and refurbishment projects are set to increase travel to Skegness on the Nottingham to Skegness via the Grantham line. The journey, which will take just under two hours, will cost merely £4.05 if booked in advance. The new and improved trains feature comfortable seats, refurbished toilets, and new flooring. Each carriage is also equipped with power sockets, USB charging sockets, and a bike storage area. The Class 170 fleet of 44 is to undergo these makeovers. The next train in the programme is scheduled to be refurbished next month. Following that, a newly renovated unit is expected to join the expanding railway network each month. Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, said: "This refurbishment is more than just a lick of paint, it's a complete transformation that puts our customers first.' Rogers continues: "We've focused on creating an environment that is comfortable and functional – and it's just the beginning. Over the next year, customers will start to see real, tangible improvements across our network."
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Major £23 million upgrade coming to Britain's seaside town
A Lincolnshire town - once labelled the 'worst' seaside hotspot in the UK - is set for a major transformation as part of a £23 million investment aimed at drawing in more tourists. Skegness, which has been described as a 'vulgar hellhole' with a 'brown sea,' ranked bottom in Which? Magazine's 2023 poll of seaside resorts in Britain. The following year, the once-popular holiday destination placed fifth in the survey which featured 120 UK seaside towns. Visitors gave Skegness just one star for its scenery and noise levels, and two stars for its food, drink, shopping and attractions. Despite its low scores in a number of categories, one area where Skegness consistently rated well was parking - an unlikely silver lining for visiting drivers. The town once thrived in the 19th century when railways first made it a popular escape for working-class families - but in recent decades, a lack of investment in tourism services and infrastructure has seen its appeal decline. However, the town's luck might be about to change, as a new rail upgrade by East Midlands Railway (EMR) is expected to bring a wave of improvements to the area. On April 15, EMR unveiled its first fully refurbished Class 170 train, part of a wider £60 million investment into its fleet, according to Lincolnshire World. These upgrades are set to enhance and increase travel to Skegness on the Nottingham to Skegness via Grantham line - a journey that takes just under two hours and can cost as little as £4.05 if booked in advance. The refurbished trains come with a range of modern features, including brand-new seating, updated flooring and refurbished toilets. Each carriage also includes a mix of 230V power sockets, Type-C and dual USB charging points, plus a dedicated bike storage area. The interiors have been redesigned to match the sleek aesthetic of EMR's upcoming Aurora trains, which are expected to enter service later this year. The Class 170 trains were formerly operated by West Midlands Railway and are now managed by the UK's leading rolling stock financier, Porterbrook. Will Rogers, managing director of EMR, called the upgrades 'just the beginning,' adding that visitors should expect to see more noticeable improvements across the network over the coming year. In addition to the new trains, the town's own railway station is receiving a £3.3 million redevelopment, due to be completed by May 25. Editor of Which? travel, Rory Boland, said following the 2023 poll: 'Clacton, Skegness, and Southend all received one star from visitors for the lack of peace and quiet, and some visitors complain that the boisterous atmosphere can tip into feeling unsafe.' 'That's a shame, because what Clacton, Skegness, and Southend offer is exactly the sort of seaside break many of us want. Big beaches, big entertainment, and small prices. More should be done to help them level up and become first-class holiday resorts.' In 2023, locals in Skegness defended their hometown , although families said a day out had rocketed in price.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Britain's 'worst' seaside town getting £23 million upgrade
A Lincolnshire town - once labelled the 'worst' seaside hotspot in the UK - is set for a major transformation as part of a £23 million investment aimed at drawing in more tourists. Skegness, which has been described as a 'vulgar hellhole' with a 'brown sea,' ranked bottom in Which? Magazine's 2023 poll of seaside resorts in Britain. The following year, the once-popular holiday destination placed fifth in the survey which featured 120 UK seaside towns. Visitors gave Skegness just one star for its scenery and noise levels, and two stars for its food, drink, shopping and attractions. Despite its low scores in a number of categories, one area where Skegness consistently rated well was parking - an unlikely silver lining for visiting drivers. The town once thrived in the 19th century when railways first made it a popular escape for working-class families - but in recent decades, a lack of investment in tourism services and infrastructure has seen its appeal decline. However, the town's luck might be about to change, as a new rail upgrade by East Midlands Railway (EMR) is expected to bring a wave of improvements to the area. On April 15, EMR unveiled its first fully refurbished Class 170 train, part of a wider £60 million investment into its fleet, according to Lincolnshire World. Visitors gave Skegness just one star for its scenery and noise levels, and two stars for its food, drink, shopping and attractions These upgrades are set to enhance and increase travel to Skegness on the Nottingham to Skegness via Grantham line - a journey that takes just under two hours and can cost as little as £4.05 if booked in advance. The refurbished trains come with a range of modern features, including brand-new seating, updated flooring and refurbished toilets. Each carriage also includes a mix of 230V power sockets, Type-C and dual USB charging points, plus a dedicated bike storage area. The interiors have been redesigned to match the sleek aesthetic of EMR's upcoming Aurora trains, which are expected to enter service later this year. The Class 170 trains were formerly operated by West Midlands Railway and are now managed by the UK's leading rolling stock financier, Porterbrook. Will Rogers, managing director of EMR, called the upgrades 'just the beginning,' adding that visitors should expect to see more noticeable improvements across the network over the coming year. In addition to the new trains, the town's own railway station is receiving a £3.3 million redevelopment, due to be completed by May 25. Editor of Which? travel, Rory Boland, said following the 2023 poll: 'Clacton, Skegness, and Southend all received one star from visitors for the lack of peace and quiet, and some visitors complain that the boisterous atmosphere can tip into feeling unsafe. 'That's a shame, because what Clacton, Skegness, and Southend offer is exactly the sort of seaside break many of us want. 'Big beaches, big entertainment, and small prices. More should be done to help them level up and become first-class holiday resorts.' In 2023, locals in Skegness defended their hometown, although families said a day out had rocketed in price.
