Once cruelly branded the ‘Costa del Dole’, this UK seaside town is turning things round with a hefty investment from the government
A ‘left behind’ UK seaside town is slated to be completely transformed thanks to a huge regeneration. Situated in Denbighshire on North Wales’ coastline, Rhyl’s reputation has been stamped on in recent years.
In fact, in 2023, it recieved a blistering review from the Telegraph, who ranked it as one of the ‘worst’ seaside resorts in the country. The publication gave it a meagre rating of 5/100 – arguing efforts to make Rhyl a ‘desirable destination’ had been unsuccessful.
“The Ocean Beach funfair closed in 2007; A Sky Tower ride was decommissioned.; There were plans to make it a light show – it’s now a pay-and-display car park,” the review read. “No past, no arts or entertainment, no fun: gentrification is not suited to all seaside towns but Rhyl – once unfortunately dubbed the ‘Costa del Dole’ and, on one occasion, ‘Blackpool after a neutron bomb’ – is how not to do things.”
However, it appears Rhyl is ready to rebrand itself and restore its former glory thanks to £20 million facelift from the government. Back in 2023, Rishi Sunak announced a list of ‘left behind’ towns that will benefit from a £1.1 billion levelling up investment – aiming to give local councils money to secure public safety, support more housing, and regenerate failing high streets.
“Towns are the place most of us call home and where most of us go to work,” former PM Rishi Sunak said. “But politicians have always taken towns for granted and focused on cities. The result is the half-empty high streets, run-down shopping centres and anti-social behaviour that undermine many towns’ prosperity and hold back people’s opportunity – and without a new approach, these problems will only get worse. “
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Rhyl Council rejected claims the town is in a crisis – and branded its future prospects ‘exciting’. A spokesperson for the council says it committed to the ‘long-term’ development of the town, and that a staggering £200 million has been injected into the area over the past decade.
“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,” they added. “The final part of these sea defence works (in central Rhyl) are due to be completed this summer. This has also enabled us to replace the old drift park children’s play area with a brand-new play area which has been designed to be accessible to all.”
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Rhyl Council’s regeneration projects include the development of a new food hall and events facility, slated to open this summer, after being left empty. The Queen’s Market will feature 16 individual food and retail units, a double-sided bar, a large flexible events space and a large external area capable of holding events, markets or seating.
The Queen’s Market, which is said to also bring multiple new job opportunities to locals, is currently in its first phase of development. “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.”
Rhyl’s facelift in full
From the government’s £20 million levelling up fund, Rhyl has allocated £12 million to be invested in ‘improvement projects in the town centre and central promenade’. However, it didn’t go into specific detail about what this would involve.
Rhyl Council says it has also ‘significantly’ invested in leisure and entertainment facilities, including adding a new indoor water park and Ninja assault course, which added 65 new jobs to the area. Rhyl Pavilion Theatre has also undergone a £2.4 million transformation and now includes a fancy new restaurant and bar with ‘breath-taking’ views of the coast.
“The council has delivered many projects to improve green space areas for the health and well-being benefits of residents and visitors,” the spokesperson continued. “For example, the Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve has undergone a period of transformation and redevelopment, areas of the historic Rhyl Cut waterway have been improved, and the Maes Gwilym nature reserve has recently been created in Southeast Rhyl.”
The private sector has also helped boost Rhyl’s local economy and lure in more visitors. In recent years, a Premier Inn and Travelodge have both been developed on the promenade, while The White Rose Shopping Centre was recently bought at an auction for more than the guide price. Rhyl’s makeover is clearly having a positive impact when it comes to tourism. Despite more work needing to be complete, it has already witnessed an increase in visitors, welcoming a staggering 1.8 million holidaymakers in 2023 (compared to 1.7 million in pre-Covid years).
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