The seaside town was ranked 108th out of 118 places in a Which? survey, but residents and businesses on the ground tell a very different story
Thousands descend upon New Brighton in Merseyside every year, but a survey conducted by consumer watchdog Which? nearly 12 months ago placed the seaside town amongst the bottom 20 nationwide. Almost a year later, the Liverpool Echo has spoken to locals and business owners to find out whether that assessment holds true.
Last June, the organisation polled more than 3,800 people about UK seaside destinations, rating each location across a variety of criteria. New Brighton scored particularly poorly regarding the quality of its beach, food and drink offerings and scenery.
Coming in 108th out of 118 locations, New Brighton was awarded an overall score of 52%, with Bognor Regis, Southend-on-Sea and Blackpool also faring poorly in the survey.
While the survey saw it awarded a disappointing rating for its food and drink scene, Lee Chean, who operates Love Coffee on the waterfront, insisted his experience couldn’t be more contrasting.
He said: “It is a destination venue. When it’s warm, when it’s sunny, it’s honestly bouncing down here, it’s vibrant. People from all different demographics, different areas, all come here. They all love it. It’s an old school seaside town. How many places are left like this?”
Lee could feasibly have launched his coffee shop anywhere across Merseyside, but he insisted he knew from the outset that New Brighton was the perfect location for him.
He said: “Look at it. Who else has got an office like this?” Rebecca Edwards, 43, who runs Becky’s Brekkys on Victoria Road, said: “It used to be quite quiet when I opened here nine years ago, but since Rockpoint Records and a few more pubs [opened], it’s got much busier, a lot of families visit now and we have people coming in from America.”
While the Merseyside town appears to have maintained some of its charm, numerous residents we spoke to suggested it was lagging behind regarding its evening entertainment options.
John Hodson, 87, who has lived locally for three decades, said: “I don’t think there’s enough things for younger people to do. Apart from the bowling alley, there’s only the slot machines.”
Meanwhile, Erin Mason, 25, who lives in the Wirral, said that she recalls visiting New Brighton as a youngster, but seldom comes anymore.
She said: “My parents always used to say there were loads of bars down here. There was a nightlife when they were young, they always used to come out here, whereas me and my friends would never come here for a night out. I think there’s no reason to [come here].”
Ian Reid, 61, attempted to pinpoint why the town has witnessed such a dramatic drop in its evening economy in recent years.
He said: “One problem is the changing licensing laws and habits have made it that the nightclubs that used to be here, there isn’t really a market for anymore. It became more attractive to go to Liverpool, people went out [of New Brighton] because they could stay out later, they’d go out later. We’ve got grandkids who live here and they all go to Liverpool [for a night out].
“In some respects, [New Brighton] is a town for the people. If you had the nightclubs here then it’d probably bring in people that would upset the people [living here].”
During the 1980s and 90s, New Brighton was home to some of Merseyside’s most cherished bars and nightspots, with venues such as RJ’s, The Chelsea Reach, Witches Cauldron, The Tavern and The Empress Club among the thriving late-night haunts that have since shut down permanently.
Another treasured New Brighton landmark that has vanished over the years is the New Brighton Baths, which were destroyed in February 1990 after ferocious storms prompted the council to determine that the outdoor swimming facility had been damaged “virtually to destruction”.
Despite the many changes New Brighton has undergone over the years, Ian Reid believes the seaside town still holds a certain charm for many.
He explained: “We’ve got a friend who’s just spent 40 years living away and has just moved back. Just really left London to come back here. You know, she’s been preparing it for the last 10 years, laying the roots. But she’s finally been able to retire and has come back, and she’s delighted.”
