Once a popular destination for holidaymakers, Rhyl has sadly been dubbed the UK’s worst seaside town and has been at the receiving end of some very harsh reviews
A once splendid Victorian seaside town now dubbed as the UK’s worst is set for a massive £20 million comeback.
Rhyl, a Welsh town that has been a bustling tourist destination, once drew crowds year-round with its expansive sandy beach and classic seaside amusements. Rhyl boasted attractions such as a 2,115ft pier, an artificial boating lake, pleasure rides, and even a miniature railway.
However, the town’s reputation has taken a severe hit in recent times, attracting scathing reviews from visitors, with some calling it a “dump”, “depressing”, and a “disgrace”. The town’s reputation took a hit when it was ranked the UK’s worst seaside town by The Telegraph, scoring a poor 5/100.
The publication claimed that the town’s decline was due to the rise of package holidays in the 1970s, which led to a mass exodus of tourists and locals seeking sunnier climes. The closure of the iconic Victorian pier and pavilion around the same time, as well as failed attempts to revive the town’s fortunes, including a shopping centre, museum, and library, and the loss of the beachfront funfair, have all contributed to Rhyl’s woes.
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The recent permanent closure of the SeaQuarium, which drew 80,000 visitors each year, has dealt another blow to the town. A £65 million regeneration project has also faced setbacks, including storm damage to the SC2 waterpark’s roof, which has forced its closure for the year.
The Skyflyer attraction was scrapped due to storm damage, and the Queens Market redevelopment remains vacant. To add insult to injury, the Rhyl Airshow was cancelled last year due to the unavailability of the Red Arrows.
But now the town is set to receive a £20 million makeover from the Government’s £1.1 billion levelling up investment. From this fund, £12 million will be used for “improvement projects in the town centre and central promenade”. The Queen’s Market, a new food hall featuring 16 food and retail units and an events space, is also due to open this summer.
A council spokesperson revealed that over the past decade, £200 million has been invested into the area for its “long-term” development. “This includes over £100 million to upgrade the sea defences to protect Rhyl from coastal flooding and to safeguard the future of Rhyl as a place to live, work and visit,” the spokesperson said. “Future phases could include a mixture of developments to support tourism, employment and economic growth in the town, with discussions taking place about a potential hotel, in addition to potential residential, retail, and leisure uses.”
The council has also recently invested in leisure and entertainment facilities, such as a new indoor water park and Ninja assault course, which has added 65 jobs to the region. In addition, SC2 Waterpark, which was previously closed due to storm damage, could reopen in early summer, and the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre has also seen a £2.4 million makeover.
The spokesperson added: “The council has delivered many projects to improve green space areas for the health and well-being benefits of residents and visitors.”
Last year, Councillor Jason McLellan spoke to Nation Cymru with optimism: “Rhyl is definitely still a tourist destination,” he said. “If you look out the window at the front of my office, you will see the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, the 1891, which is attracting a lot of visitors there. We see the Kite Surf Cafe.
“We’ve got private-sector investment in Rhyl from a number of national chains, and we’ve got an events arena, which is used in the summer and brings people in. We are holding more and more events. Our next challenge will be the town centre and to regenerate that. With all the work that is going on there across town and private-sector investment, Rhyl has the potential to be a real top tourist destination.”