Some call it rough and dirty but others have come out in its defence – here’s what it’s really like to live in the UK’s worst town
A ‘rough and dirty’ town has been named as one of the UK’s most miserable places to live in Britain but, despite the slur, locals have come out in support of the area.
The Kent town has two piers which were ranked the worst in Britain according to length, age, ratings and food and drink available. But residents of the commuter town say it’s insulting and critics “don’t know what they’re talking about”.
Gravesend has two piers just a five-minute walk from each other: the Town Pier and the Royal Terrace Pier, which stretch out into the River Thames. The town, which apparently gets its grim name after the bodies of plague victims were transported from London to be buried there, has a population of around 100,000.
Reviewers said the town was “festering” with others referring to it as “rough and dirty” but locals came out in its defence saying the pier was “clean” and “pleasant” and people had no clue what Gravesend was really like.
Sue Dixon, who used to work on the Royal Terrace pier in 1975, but now works opposite in the Clarendon Hotel said the area has changed over the years.
“We used to have 13 working piers here – now I think it’s about two. We’re on the Thames, so people come here for the river and the boats.
“The Town Pier used to be a nightclub, but it’s shut down and now it has been bought by Uber. But we can’t use it at the moment. That one is far worse.”
Incredulous, she defended the Royal Terrace, telling The Sun: “How do people know it’s the worst pier? You can’t walk on it! It is used by the PLA. It’s functional – not for the public.
“Whoever said it’s the worst doesn’t know what they’re on about. They’re not from around here.”
Jason Taylor, 55, was also confused about why people hate his local pier enough to dub it Britain’s worst. “It’s not the worst I’ve ever seen. It’s not dirty. I think it’s quite pleasant,” he says. “It’s probably been voted that by people that don’t live here. It’s a nice place to sit for 5-10 minutes to enjoy the view.”
Gravesend doesn’t have a traditional sandy beach and you can’t walk along the pier but you can enjoy riverside walks and views along the waterfront. It’s also just an hour away from London making it a great place for commuters.
Meanwhile, the pier in Southend, Essex, was ranked the best as it is the longest pier in the country and boasts a fairground, theatre space and numerous food and drink options.
A close second was Llandudno Pier, the longest in Wales, which features an amusement arcade and a Ferris wheel.