South Shields in the North East was listed as the second worst seaside town in the UK but it has an amazing beach and fans have rushed to defend the resort’s quality
South Shields, a seaside town in the North of England, was once labelled as the second worst beach spot in the country.
The Telegraph newspaper’s ‘seaside gentrification index’ rated various beach resorts out of 100 based on factors such as housing, high streets, renovation and conservation. The rankings also considered how different destinations had “adapted – or not – over the past three decades”.
South Shields found itself at the bottom of the list, only ahead of Rhyl in north Wales, with a score of just 11/100. However, there are many who see South Shields in a different light.
In 2022, one of its beaches – Sandhaven – was named as one of the UK’s top 50 beaches. With its golden sands, blue sea, and the dramatic backdrop of Trow Rocks and the Leas to the south, it’s easy to see why.
The historic architecture of Tynemouth to the North adds a cinematic feel to the beach. Sandhaven Beach, which previously bagged a Blue Flag award for its cleanliness and top-notch facilities, has been receiving rave reviews on TripAdvisor.
A visitor from Birmingham gushed: “It’s a nice clean beach, kids facilities with there’s an amusements park, boat rides opposites the amusements, and Ocean Road for all your food. Can’t fault it the slightest, not even the three-hour drive up north, its well worth it.”
Another added: “I had never heard of this beach until talking to locals in a nearby pub. What a pleasant surprise! I believe this is probably the cleanest and most beautiful beach area in the UK. Miles of clean, sandy ‘proper’ beach. Everything was so well maintained, yet not too busy.”
Little Mix stars Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall, who hail from South Shields, are among its famous faces. The Telegraph also acknowledged some positives about South Shields, noting: “That’s not to say South Shields is without options of its own: the likes of Bravi, Italianish, Mambo, and cosy Davinci’s ensure the town is strong on Italian and Mediterranean comfort dining. The Grotto is a quality hotel.”
