Louis Grier, who has won the name ‘the Duke of Benidorm’ for his love of the city and regular videos explaining how life works there, has shared the one thing that would make him move back home
A Brit dubbed the “Duke of Benidorm” spending just £300 a month on bills has revealed the one reason he’d move back to the UK.
Louis Grier often hits the headlines with his tips, tricks and advice for anyone visiting the sunny destination. He moved to the party city without a penny to his name – now, though, he’s become a local celebrity.
And while the 32-year-old has vowed he will not leave the Spanish holiday spot, there’s one thing that would make him come back to ol’ Blighty for good. “Proper British home cooking is what I miss the most,” the content creator, from Kirkby.
“I miss my grandmother’s homemade scouse (stew), roast dinners and pea soup. The smell of a proper Gregg’s sausage roll is enough to make me want to fly home. I also miss people’s good manners, as British tourists can be less polite and respectful than they are at home.
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“I miss how seriously life is taken in the UK. It feels like one long holiday here, which isn’t always good for you. Of course, I miss my family a lot. If home wasn’t so easy to reach, I’d definitely have to reconsider living in Benidorm; mostly for the food.”
Louis, who left home at 16, says that while Benidorm is a “cheerful and happy” place, it has changed a lot since he moved. He said: “It’s generally a safe holiday destination.
“However, I’ve observed a concerning increase in muggings and pickpocketing targeting intoxicated British tourists. Its popularity has led to overcrowding during the summer months, too. It can be quite problematic, as the beach bars, strip and main streets are sometimes too hectic to move. And I find the ‘Brits abroad’ stereotype from locals quite annoying.
“It’s not just party culture that we’re here for – and the television show, Benidorm, cemented an image which isn’t true at all.”
Louis spends just £300 per month on bills, including groceries, compared to £700, excluding rent, when living in the UK. He eats out regularly, with three-course dinners available for less than a tenner.
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But sadly for him and the many locals and workers there, due to the rise in Brits uprooting their lives to move there, it’s starting to become quite expensive. Louis said: “The costs are escalating for housing, both purchase and rentals, which has made it quite a challenge for locals and expats.
“It’s reaching sky high amounts to rent an apartment here and estate agents are becoming quite greedy. [I fear] I’ll have nowhere to live soon. Benidorm is out-pricing locals at a fast rate and it’s quite ridiculous.
“Food and drink is also getting more expensive, but Benidorm is still one of the cheapest destinations in Europe.”
Despite Louis’ worries about how Benidorm is straying farther away from the place he moved to, he still feels grateful to call it home. He has interviewed celebrities, such as Anton Du Beke and Paul Chuckle, while advertising local businesses.