A YouTuber has compared a seaside town named one of the most dangerous in the UK to Spanish holiday resort Benidorm. In a recent video, the YouTuber, named Honest Places, gave his frank take on Ingoldmells.
He roamed the Lincolnshire town hunting for an open pub while showing his over 22,000 subscribers what it has to offer.
In the film, he wanders through Ingoldmells in search of the traits that attract holidaymakers and finds pubs available ahead of the summer season. He was reminded of Benidorm by some traditional business signs he saw along the seafront.
He declared: “If you’ve been to Benidorm or any Spanish town which caters for English people, these signs are very Benidorm-like. They’ve always got pictures of the food on it and stuff like that.”
Regrettably, he admitted to having “messed up” by visiting too early since many businesses were not yet open. He described Fantasy Island as a “hotspot” and was surprised by its substantial size, reports Lincolnshire Live.
He then pointed out another thing that reminded him of Benidorm when he saw a Chinese takeaway menu offering sausage, chips and beans for £3.80.
Walking through a caravan park, he remembered playing in places like this when he was little but said kids today “don’t get out as much anymore”.
Near the end of his video, he went to two pubs that were open. His first stop was The Jockey on Sea Lane where he had a pint of Guinness and sang some karaoke, saying the pub was “banging”.
Next, he popped over to The Ship Inn because he heard more karaoke. After enjoying another pint of Guinness, he finished his video by saying: “It’s all full of karaoke bars around here. Some people can sing and some of them can’t.
“There’s not many places open but it is what it is. The Guinness is alright. For £3.50 you can’t beat it.”
Ingoldmells is home to just 2,059 people and has a selection of holiday parks on the Lincolnshire coast.
Fantasy Island, Hardy’s Animal Farm and The Odyssey are among the most popular local attractions, bringing in millions of pounds a year altogether.
The local visitor economy is valued at between £438million and £733million, but full-time residents have reported issues with crime and antisocial behaviour.
Speaking to The Sun last year, local resident Gary Reynolds, 68, said he does “not go out in the evening” and likes to get home by 6pm or 7pm in the evening “before the trouble makers come out”.
He added that there is an observable police presence in the village, with cars “going up and down all the time” while “dealing with problems everywhere”.
He blamed “yobs” taking advantage of local drinks prices for the trouble, with pints available for £2.20 each fuelling drunken behaviour.
Elaine Stevenson, 66, said that crime also follows people home, with her daughter having returned home once to find her son-in-law “fighting with a burglar”.
Locals have claimed that Lincolnshire Police plan to “drastically reduce” the number of present Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and replace them with full-time policemen.
But John Evans, 70, a member of local crime prevention organisation Caravan Park Watch, said he would “like to know which apple tree they are going to pluck these officers”.
Lincolnshire Chief Inspector Lee St Quinton said the service plans to bolster the police presence in Ingoldmells, and use specialist information collection methods to apprehend criminals.
He said: “We are committed to keeping people safe in Ingoldmells and our Summertime Policing Plan features a number of initiatives that reflect the increased numbers of visitors to the coast.
“More officers are on duty on the coast during the summer season, bolstered by the recent national uplift. This allows us to focus on a number of initiatives that produce significant results in bringing offenders to justice.
“On Friday, we carried out drink and drug-drive vehicle stop checks at Ingoldmells, work that is vital in keeping our communities safe. Seventy-five vehicles were stopped, with the search of one vehicle resulting in cannabis being seized, and another motorist arrested for driving while over the legal limit for alcohol. These stop checks are taking place at different locations throughout the summer.
“Our Central Operations Team will also use specialist information and skills to target and disrupt as many offenders as possible, making sure that they do not cause harm to our coastal communities.
“We recognise the impact that those on drugs can have on our communities, which is why we work with our partners on Operation California, visiting local bars, pubs and nightclubs with drug itemisers that can detect even small traces of drugs in just eight seconds.
“Similarly, we will not tolerate those who carry knives and put others at risk. Our officers use knife wands and a knife arch in our busiest areas and at licensed venues, picking up any weapon that people may be carrying as they enter premises. This is a commitment we have across the coast to keep people safe.
“We also have a strong emphasis on preventing Violence Against Women and Girls, with using data to place our officers in locations to prevent offences and support those affected by that behaviour.
“We’re also focused on burglaries across the coast, with a commitment to attend all burglaries of homes. We’re also delivering crime prevention advice with a particular focus on those who own or rent caravans, as we know the impact that this crime can have on members of the public. Caravan Park Watch has run successfully for a number of years to help visitors to our coast not become victims of crime.
“There are several initiatives we are running along the coast with a particular focus on working with partners on safety along our beaches, targeting dangerous drivers and the night-time economy. We will continue to proactively tackle these issues and make the coast a safe place to live, work and visit.”
