A seaside town has been named the worst in the UK, but one mum can see past its imperfections and loves visiting with her family, likening it to Benidorm. Bridlington is home to all the classic seaside attractions: arcades, ice cream shops, crazy golf, and a small train on the seafront promenade.
But don’t let this distract you from it being named the worst seaside town in Yorkshire in one Which? Poll. According to official figures, it is also among the 10 “most dangerous places” in East Riding of Yorkshire’s 171 towns, villages and cities.
Yet, Sophie Mei Lan, reporter at the Yorkshire Post, found herself loving her visit to the seaside destination. Sophie said that “it really does have something for everyone”, and as a child and an adult, she has loved the arcades, crazy golf, and donkey derby.
She said that Bridlington feels open and safe, and unlike other seaside resorts, it’s extremely affordable with a clean promenade, lots of independent shops and a sandy beach.
Sophie added: “Bridlington may not have as much eye-catching architecture compared to the likes of Scarborough and Whitby, but it certainly does have its unique appeal, just like Benidorm.”
She does own that parts of Bridlington are run-down, but says this is easily forgivable as it’s tough to “find a northern seaside town that isn’t struggling”.
The overall crime rate in Bridlington in 2023 was 125 crimes per 1,000 people, according to CrimeRate.co.uk, which compares poorly to a UK average of 82 crimes per 1,000 people. Local businessman Eddy Haliday told YorkshireLive that the town is dying a “slow death”, saying people are rapidly leaving the town over safety fears.
Locals also point to persistent drug issues, with one insisting heroin was being sold for £5 a bag while £320,00 worth of cocaine was seized in the town earlier this year.
The town was also dubbed the “unhealthiest” with 21 takeaways all within a five-minute walk of each other and more than 30 chippies overall.
And yet Sophie’s not the only one who sees beauty in this much-maligned town. Peter Luty, 72, and his wife Linda, 74, just can’t keep away from the coastal location.
Peter, from Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire, said: “We have come for a week’s holiday. We also came in June for two weeks. It’s nice and level for [my wife’s] scooter. The beaches are also nice and clean. We both feel safe walking about.”
“You get (crime) everywhere – you even get that in our little village,” said Peter. “If we won the lottery, the first thing we would do is move here. We’d move here tomorrow.”
