After being dubbed “Blackpool after a neutron bomb”, the Welsh coastal town of Rhyl is undergoing a major multi-million-pound improvement scheme. The seaside resort has continued to attract visitors thanks to its long, sandy beaches but recent visitors bemoaned a “run-down” appearance and “depressing” atmosphere on TripAdvisor.
Rhyl’s rock bottom came when The Telegraph ranked it bottom of the list of the UK’s seaside towns in 2023, giving the resort a measly score of 5 out of 100 and describing it as “Costa del Dole” and “Blackpool after a neutron bomb”. Two years on, and local officials have been spurred to action to reinvigorate the area – helped out by a £20 million government scheme launched by Rishi Sunak to boost investment in “left behind” towns.
Councillors at the Denbighshire county authority have denied claims that the area ever fell upon hard times, however, instead celebrating a total £200 million pounds of investment funelled into the area over the last decade to help secure Rhyl’s “long-term” development.
Describing the town’s future as “exciting”, a spokesperson told The Mirror: “[The investment] includes over £100 million to upgrade the sea defences to protect Rhyl from coastal flooding and to safeguard the future of Rhyl as a place to live, work and visit.”
“The final part of these sea defence works are due to be completed this summer,” they added. “This has also enabled us to replace the old drift park children’s play area with a brand-new play area, which has been designed to be accessible to all.”
The council’s regeneration plans also include the construction of a new foodhall and events venue called Queen’s Market, also set to open this summer, which officials hope will “support tourism, employment and economic growth” in North Wales.
Criticisms levied at Rhyl by The Telegraph – chiefly its demolished pier, closed fundair and lack of “arts, entertainment or fun” – seem to have been addressed in the scheme, with a new indoor water park, Ninja assault course and revamped Pavilion Theatre all helping to inject life into the coastal region.
Suggestions that efforts to make the town a “desirable destination”, through the arrival of a shopping centre, museum and library in the 1980s, had fallen flat also appear to have been dispelled.
While the regeneration scheme is still underway – with big names like Premier Inn and Travelodge only arriving on Rhyl’s promenade in the last few years – the resort’s makeover has already had a tangible effect on footfall.
1.8 million holidaymakers headed to the North Wales town in 2023, up from 1.7 million in the pre-COVID years. And it could just be the beginning, according to the council, with a number of new mixed developments still in the pipeline, including “a potential hotel” and “residental, retail and leisure [projects]”.
