Our home has been dubbed WORST seaside town in Britain – tourists call it ‘Costa Del Dole’ but here’s the real truth
LOCALS living in “Britain’s worst seaside town” dubbed “Costa Del Dole” have revealed what it’s really like.
The shuttered high street and general decline of the once thriving resort, Rhyl in Wale, has seen the area branded “Blackpool after a neutron bomb”.
The Telegraph rated Rhyl as the UK’s worst seaside town in 2023 and promises to make it a “desirable destination” hadn’t been delivered.
But, despite some youngsters slamming the lack of amenities, a large cohort of residents were proud of the town.
They boasted of the “golden sandy beach” and family friendly tourist attractions.
Some even thought their town was “the best place in the world to live” and a “great place for locals”.
Amongst a community Facebook group, a host of various activities, workshops and craft stalls are regularly advertised.
One user said: “Rhyl is a lovely place… with a lovely beach.”
Another penned: “It’s good for the family and we recommend it to others.”
Someone else wrote: “Rhyl has a lovely golden sandy beach, that stretches all along the prom.
“There is an underground car park by the clock tower, one by pavilion theatre and one by the Marsdens pub.”
A fourth commented: “Lovely spot – arcades, sandy beaches, little funfair.
“Lots to do with the family – clean and tidy – easy parking. Welsh seaside fun.”
However, some youngsters weren’t as impressed at options available in the area.
Student Megan Johnson said “so many attractions and shops are either shut or empty” in the summer.
This comes as locals welcome a £20 million makeover from the government’s £1.1 billion levelling up investment of “left behind” towns.
Rhyl is now set to return to its former glory with the cash influx and £12million being poured directly into “improvement projects in the town centre and central promenade”.
Rhyl Council previously denied claims the area was becoming a ghost town and focused on the incoming funds.
A council spokesperson said over the past decade a whopping £200 million has been invested into the area for its “long-term” development.
“This 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,” they added.
The Queen’s Market, a new food hall and events facility, is also set to open this summer.
The market will have 16 food and retail units, a double-sided bar, an events space, and space for hosting events, markets, or as additional seating.
They added: “Future phases could include a mixture of developments to support tourism, employment and economic growth in the town, with discussions taking place about a potential hotel, in addition to potential residential, retail, and leisure uses.”
The council has also invested in leisure and entertainment facilities, such as a new indoor water park and Ninja assault course, which has already contributed 65 new jobs to the region.
The town’s SeaQuarium shut in 2023 and the SC2 waterpark closed for months after storm damage – but it is set to return this year.
The popular attraction previously closed after its roof was damaged during a storm.
But now, the £15million water park could reopen in “early summer”, DLL revealed.
Rhyl Pavilion Theatre has also seen a £2.4 million revamp, which boasts a new restaurant and bar with stunning coastal views.
The spokesperson added: “The council has delivered many projects to improve green space areas for the health and well-being benefits of residents and visitors.”
The private sector has played a significant role in boosting the local economy – with developments like a Premier Inn and Travelodge on the promenade and The White Rose Shopping Centre selling for above its guide price.
Rhyl also saw a tourism boom with an impressive 1.8 million visitors in 2023 – which was up from 1.7 million in pre-Covid years.
Full table of the best UK seaside towns
The full table created by Which? of the UK's best seaside towns and their overall customer scores.
- Bamburgh, Northumberland – 86%
- Portmeirion, Gwynedd, Wales – 83%
- St Andrews, Fife, Scotland – 82%
- Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear – 81%
- St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 80%
- Dartmouth, Devon – 79%
- Rye, East Sussex – 79%
- Southwold, Suffolk – 79%
- Llandudno, Conwy, Wales – 78%
- Swanage, Dorset – 78%
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk – 77%
- Crail, Fife, Scotland – 77%
- Lyme Regis, Dorset – 77%
- Whitby, North Yorkshire – 77%
- Blakeney, Norfolk – 76%
- Criccieth, Gwynedd, Wales – 76%
- Portstewart, Co. Londonderry/Derry, NI – 76%
- Sidmouth, Devon – 76%
- Bally Castle, County Antrim, NI – 75%
- Frinton-on-Sea, Essex – 75%
- Nairn, Highlands, Scotland – 75%
- Sheringham, Norfolk – 75%
- St Mawes, Cornwall – 75%
- Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales – 74%
- Beaumaris, Anglesey, Wales – 74%
- Bude, Cornwall – 74%
- Conwy, Conwy, Wales – 74%
- Deal, Kent – 74%
- Lytham St Annes, Lancashire – 74%
- North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland – 74%
- Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire – 74%
- Amble, Northumberland – 73%
- Beer, Devon – 73%
- Cromer, Norfolk – 73%
- Dungeness, Kent – 73%
- Falmouth, Cornwall – 73%
- Lymington, Hampshire – 73%
- Lynmouth, Devon – 73%
- Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 73%
- Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear – 73%
- Fowey, Cornwall – 72%
- Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland – 72%
- Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire – 72%
- Weymouth, Dorset – 72%
- Aberdovey, Gwynedd, Wales – 71%
- Broadstairs, Kent – 71%
- Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland – 71%
- Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland – 71%
- Seahouses, Northumberland – 71%
- Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland – 71%
- Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland – 71%
- Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk – 71%
- Exmouth, Devon – 70%
- Filey, North Yorkshire – 70%
- Mevagissey, Cornwall – 70%
- Looe, Cornwall – 69%
- Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales – 69%
- Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 69%
- Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland – 69%
- Ventnor, Isle of Wight – 69%
- Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland – 68%
- Budleigh Salterton, Devon – 68%
- Clevedon, Somerset – 68%
- Whitstable, Kent – 68%
- Easbourne, East Sussex – 67%
- Grand-over-Sands, Cumbria – 67%
- Shanklin, Isle of Wight – 67%
- Southsea, Hampshire – 67%
- St ives, Cornwall – 67%
- Teignmouth, Devon – 67%
- Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales – 66%
- Brixham, Devon – 66%
- Portrush, County Antrim, NI – 66%
- West Bay, Devon – 66%
- Dunbar, East Lothian – 65%
- Felixstowe, Suffolk – 65%
- Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland – 65%
- Appledore, Devon – 64%
- Bournemouth, Dorset – 64%
- Padstow, Cornwall – 64%
- Plymouth, Devon – 64%
- Salcombe, Devon – 64%
- Abersoch, Gwynedd, Wales – 63%
- Brighton, East Sussex – 63%
- Hunstanton, Norfolk – 63%
- Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales – 63%
- Torquay, Devon – 63%
- Poole, Dorset – 62%
- Scarborough, North Yorkshire – 62%
- Worthing, West Sussex – 62%
- Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales – 61%
- Folkestone, Kent – 61%
- Porthcawl, Bridgend, Wales – 61%
- Swansea, Swansea, Wales – 61%
- Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire – 60%
- Minehead, Somerset – 60%
- Penzance, Cornwall – 60%
- Barry Island, Glamorgan, Wales – 59%
- Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire – 59%
- Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Wales – 58%
- Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset – 58%
- Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland – 57%
- Dawlish, Devon – 57%
- Morecambe, Lancashire – 57%
- New Brighton, Merseyside – 57%
- Newquay, Cornwall – 57%
- Seaton, Devon – 57%
- Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 56%
- Herne Bay, Kent – 56%
- Ramsgate, Kent – 56%
- Ilfracombe, Devon – 55%
- Littlehampton, West Sussex – 55%
- Southport, Merseyside – 55%
- Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire – 54%
- Lowestoft, Suffolk – 54%
- Margate, Kent – 53%
- Southend-on-Sea, Essex – 53%
- Fleetwood, Lancashire – 51%
- Great Yarmouth, Norfolk – 51%
- Blackpool, Lancashire – 49%
- Clacton-on-Sea, Essex – 48%
- Skegness, Lincolnshire – 48%
- Bognor Regis, West Sussex – 47%
- Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset – 47%
- Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire – 46%
- Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales – 42%