Outrage in UK coastal town after being ranked among the worst in the country

The “shabby” seaside spot managed to score just 36% in a recent approval rating.

A storm of frustration has swept through a UK coastal city after it was controversially ranked the second worst seaside destination in the country.

Which?, the UK’s consumer watchdog, surveyed over 3,800 beachgoers about their recent trips to Britain’s coasts, rating everything from the quality of the beach and scenery to the food, drink, accommodation, attractions, and overall value for money.

Photo © Rossographer (cc-by-sa/2.0)

When the results came in, two Welsh destinations made it into the top five, alongside Bamburgh in Northumberland, which claimed the number one position for the fifth year in a row.

Portmeirion in Gwynedd, famous for its charming Italian-style architecture, achieved a glowing 79% satisfaction score from visitors, reports WalesOnline.

Equally appealing was St Davids in Pembrokeshire, the smallest city in Britain, which tied with Portmeirion at the top of the list, also securing a 79% approval rating.

At the other end of the table was Bognor Regis, which has long been known as one of the sunniest spots in mainland Britain. It received just 36% and only managed to pick up a single star in most categories.

One visitor described it as “a run-down seaside town”. Bangor in Gwynedd only narrowly avoided being named the “worst seaside town in the UK” this year, with a score of 38% and criticism over its “shabby” look.

Photo © David Stowell (cc-by-sa/2.0)

However, this was still a slight improvement on last year’s performance. Despite the criticism, some locals pointed out Bangor’s “beautiful views over the Menai Straits” and its role as a gateway to North Wales and Anglesey.

While it doesn’t have a sandy beach, Bangor does boast a Victorian pier that has barely changed since it was opened by Lord Penrhyn back in 1896.

News of Bangor’s low position in the Which? rankings was met with disappointment by WalesOnline reporter and local resident Branwen Jones.

She criticised the findings, noting the inaccuracy of calling Bangor a “town” when it is in fact a city, and questioned the negative opinions held by some.

Branwen defended Bangor with pride, saying: “You can keep your sandy beaches and your fancy hotels because Bangor has so much more than that.”

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