Calle Gerona in Benidorm, Spain is often referred to as ‘British Street’ and is home to almost all of the resort town’s most iconic nightlife spots – but one locals warns there is a ‘dark side’
A local resident in Benidorm, Spain has taken her followers on a trip down the resort town’s infamous “British Street” on a busy Friday night – and warned tourists of a “dark side” they may not be aware of.
Benidorm’s Calle Gerona is often referred to as British Street as it is home to many of the British-themed establishments tourists love to frequent, including the London Underground-themed Brit Station. It is also where all of Benidorm’s most iconic venues are, including Morgan Tavern and the Red Lion. If you’ve ever been on holiday to Benidorm, chances are you have walked down Calle Gerona.
Local resident Ana, who goes by ‘Benidorm by Ana’ on YouTube where she boasts more than 21,000 followers, is known for sharing content about the popular holiday hotspot and its surrounding areas. And in a recent video titled “The DARK side of the BRITISH Street in Benidorm!”, she showcased Calle Gerona.
Ana explained she was taking her trip along Calle Gerona at around 9pm on Friday, April 11 – at a time when it was “really, really busy” and teeming with holidaymakers in “interesting” costumes.
Ana noted how punters were still out in force despite it being “quite chilly” on that particular evening. She even managed to spot several people out in jumpers and jackets, although there were also many braving it in shorts, mini-skirts and t-shirts.
The temperatures perhaps contributed to what Ana described as a “weird atmosphere”, which turned even more ominous when three police officers on motorbikes drove past. She mentioned how their presence should deter “robberies” which can sometimes be an issue there.
Ana also noted how there were some people who seemed “not too happy”, adding to the “very, very strange vibe”. Not all of it was picked up on camera.
She explained: “We’ve seen quite a lot of groups in general, not here on the street but in the back you can hear them, discussing something or arguing between each other – maybe alcohol has something to do with it, probably. But we have heard quite a few word fights.”
This comes after holidaymakers were left in the lurch as travel titan TUI axed flights to Lanzarote when torrential downpours flooded the island. Spanish authorities declared a state of emergency in the Canary Islands following the deluge over the weekend.
The beloved tourist hotspot of Costa Teguise was severely affected, with holidaymakers sharing the aftermath on social media. Images and footage revealed swimming pool areas swamped by murky brown floodwaters and roads smothered in thick mud. And some travellers discovered their trips had been scrapped only upon reaching their airport.
A spokesperson for TUI stated: “Due to the lack of alternative accommodation on the island during the busy Easter period we unfortunately had to cancel a small number of holidays departing yesterday and today.
“Customers were able to receive a full-refund or amend to another TUI holiday with a re-booking incentive. As always, the safety of our customers and colleagues is our main priority therefore TUI resort teams are working with the local authorities to find customers currently in impacted hotels, alternative accommodation or return flights back to the UK.”