Most places on a cold , grey January day look pretty grim to be fair. I personally think Weston is a fine town. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I can think of loads of more dismal places.
Weston is run by gangstalkers! The public here are sick and act like children cuz of trolls. Even older ppl as they go online too. Not every1 but most. Look up what gangstalking is !!!
I have been going to Weston most years since I was a kid. I still go every time I travel back from Australia where i now live and I still love it as does my family. The kids love the arcade on the Grand Pier and the donkeys on the beach. THe wider Somerset region is also wonderful.
Hey Wendall, I was born in Weston. Moved away as a toddler, moved back as an 18 year old (for another 12 years) then emigrated to Western Australia. The hospital I was born in has been demolished. The block of flats I lived in (in the town centre) also demolished. My first girlfriend died in a car crash. My parents owned a hotel there, they're both dead. Met and married my wife there, we're now divorced The business I worked for is no more. But....... A January day on Weston beach doesn't quite stack up against Rottnest island or Lucky Bay over here but I have to say mate, the second time I lived there were some of the best years of my life. I had a blast. I quite like your videos, but do me a favour, go back there on a hot summer's weekend and do another film. This one is a bit unreasonable
Weston is actually a lovely town. Unfair to judge in January. Weston has amazing restaurants, butchers and bakeries. the Weston woods with views over sand bay and the town. Then there’s marine lake and numerous parks. Overall a highly dog friendly town. I agree that the shops in the centre are a bit depressing, but that’s only the high street. There’s actually still a number of decent independent companies, like vintage clothing, chocolate shop, games shops, outdoor shops etc. I think Weston has potential to become something great again.
Weston is my home town. Anywhere in the UK is depressing in January. Considering you are based in Cornwall, where lived for five years before moving back to Weston, I can assure you, Cornwall in the winter is far more grim. The town of Weston isn't depressing, it's your attitude and determination to find fault. Come back in any month from March to October.
What an absolutely glorious place Weston Super Mare looks. The wide expanse of golden sand is wonderful, plus the magnificent buildings and pretty lights. The Winter Garden especially stands out. Looks like a perfect place for a summers holiday, where I believe they also had donkey rides too.
I dont want to come off as rude, but that promenade you are walking on is a fantastic job, cost a lot of money , its packed in the summer, there are beautiful walks all around weston , uphill bird sanctuary with a cycle route that goes all the way to brean, sandpoint and brean down are picture postcard beautiful, the pier puts on great music events, we have some fantastic pubs....just the fact that you think £40 in slot machines is "fun" in weston super mare , is a direct reflection of your mentality.
Weston is doing well compared with other well known places. There are loads of places to visit just outside of weston, but I suppose it all depends on what you're looking for in a seaside holiday.
To be fair, you can't really judge a holiday resort in January 🥺 I'm surprised the pier was open at all during winter. I live in a popular seaside town & it's pretty much the same here until the easter hols. Still enjoyed watching though as haven't been there in many many years & expect the waxworks has long since shut down.
I've lived in Weston (on and off) since 1990. Between Thailand and Weston and London, all over the World since 2001, including Bermuda. Weston's actually not a bad place to live. Actually it's a really good place to live. Apart from a couple of rough estates (which actually aren't that rough) and the High Street going the same way as every other high street in the UK, Weston has it all. Living on the hillside is pleasant, there's many well kept parks, Weston Woods, Sand Bay, Sand Point, the toll road, the main beach, Uphill, Brean Down, loads of restaurants, every supermarket and major store you can possibly need. Then there's the biggest motorcycle beach race in the UK, Weston Air Day, the beer festival, classic car rallys, motorcycle days. There's all manner of boutique shops, cafes, great pubs, fantastic fish and chip shops and so on. It's also got a direct motorway link Really it has it all. Somewhere like Appledore in North Devon would be great, but it's a bit remote. It's even quite nice in the winter. In the summer, it's super happy. Just a happy, really busy seaside town.
Weston is far from the gloomiest or most depressing seaside resort in the UK. There's so much to do and during the summer, that stretch of beach is packed. The council, whilst far from perfect, facilitates a lot of activity. The annual airshow, car shows and other events on the beach lawns. They even brought in an old oil rig. Turned the old outdoor pool (Tropicana) into various attractions. They redeveloped the whole promenade and it looks the part now. You have loads of walks nearby like Uphill, Sand Bay, etc. You have a few areas tucked away towards the headland with cafes and bars. I've never felt unsafe on the promenade in Weston. I tried Blackpool recently and it was far more impoverished. I felt unsafe there at night.
I can't believe as a Midlander you haven't spent time in good old W-S-M, it's a right of passage! 😂 For us landlocked Midlanders if we need some sea air this is one of the default places to go as it can be done easily in a day. Believe it or not a lot of money has been spent on the front to bring it up to spec'. I think a January evening is probably not the best time to take a considered view but in the Summer it's fine 😊 🤗
I lived in Weston for years and loved living there, especially when the holiday season was over. Weston seafront is very lucky, in that all the housing developments on the flood plains surrounding it, kept money coming into seafront. Other than that, I'm sure Weston would have went the way of a lot of other seaside towns
Great to read so many positive comments about Weston. I love it so do my family, the arcade on the Grand Pier, the wonderful beach and the donkey rides. The town on the hill is beautiful as is the Winter Garden Pavillion and other grand buildings. I would rather go to Weston than any Australian coastal town that is for sure, far more interesting.
I think your doing these seaside towns a huge injustice by documenting them in the winter months. I went there in the summer for a day as i was staying near there, it was lovely and vibrant with a great vibe to the place. I think youve been so harsh with your words in this video, all seaside towns in the uk are like this in the winter, especially January just after Christmas.
Went to Western Super Mare and Cornwall on a school trip from Hackney East London in the spring of 1981 and loved it. Looks like they upgraded the beach front. The winter is rubbish for all of us in the UK. Go in the spring and summer and you will enjoy it despite the economic/social challenges with face today. Just discovered your channel keep up the good work. Be lucky !
I like your video's. This was one of your worst. What do you expect from a seaside resort in January! Try visiting Skegness or Great Yarmouth in January! Even Fowey would be rather depressing in January. You can do much better and I look forward to better work from you.
I get what you’re saying but I understand Oli here as well. Fowey has loads of pubs and places to eat. Weston is like a Poundland version. I love it even though I know it’s a bit of a cackhole, even in summer.
Weston is a lovely town, it’s January not sure what you expect from any town at this time of year. Go back in the summer, the beach is beautiful and the surrounding countryside.
Loved Weston ..guess the problem was you could save up 200 quid go to Spain or spend far more on caravans hotels here. Even caravans in Cornwall this year off season we paid like 700 quid.
I still think Weston-super-Mare is a great place still. One of the better seaside towns in the UK. Summer is busy there still obviously January will be dead cold and rubbish weather
Just got into your channel. Loving it! From Kidderminster originally so love the Midlander perspectives from you but I moved to Brixham when I was 10 and have lived and worked in some of the other towns you’ve visited too including relocating twice in my life to Weston. I live on Phuket in Thailand now and watching your videos is the closest thing I’ve experienced to actually visiting my old home towns… very special for me to watch your vids and you do an amazing job and convey relevant and important info so well… thank you! 🙏❤ stay blessed and happy Christmas!🎄
I visit Weston a lot, there's plenty to do there...decent pubs, lots of entertainments and cultural stuff. Certainly more interesting than many other 'holiday places' I've been to...
I remember when Newquay was heading that way. Weston reminds me the way Blackpool and Morecambe went. The guest house customers started changing from families to elderly coach visitors then DHSS. Some towns (like Newquay) have a USP (surfing or whatever), but two streets back from the seafront Blackpool is abject poverty., weston feels like it might have gone that way too. I like weston, but last time I was there in the late afternoon it was full of smackheads like a lot of town centres. Yea, sure these people have problems, but nobody seems to be helping them, and it's not something that makes a casual visitor hang around or leave with a good impression.
You’re wrong….WSM is lovely and if you go around to the railway station.the chip shop there sells Sunday roast dinners in styrofoam….beat that for high dining..Wendall dosent like it because he thinks Cornwall is the Holy Grail…nothing compares to his beloved Kernow…and their beloved Emmets that he so loves
Weston’s a good place to visit. Town Centre bit of a dump just like Blackpool and many others. Deffo wouldn’t say it’s as bad as this chap makes out. Come back in the summer and see the town in its full summertime glory
You went in January just after Christmas when everyone is spent up and wrapped up indoors, no wonder it’s dead everywhere is in the middle of winter is. Go in July, it’s heaving with brummies 😊
Agreed. Bognor is awful. Stayed there for a week in 2019 and it was just so drab and enforced way too much. You felt like you were in a place which watched your every move, not on a holiday. Stayed for only 5 days out of 7 that I had booked and then just booked a train home on day 5. Never been happier to get back home. Weston-Super-Mare used to be my favourite. I went there a bunch of times as a child and a couple of times as an adult. The adult times weren't as good. It's not the same as what it was 20 or so years ago. Might be that the childhood sparkle you get from seeing the arcade and pier has gone or Weston might have just gotten worse over time. Personally it's both.
Wicked video Wendall. Visit Burnham on Sea as well down the road. The back streets of Weston Super Mare and Burnham on Sea I didn’t find great at all. As a Walsall chap myself we would sometimes go to Weston for a night and I carried on the tradition with my daughters. Not been for years now but not in a hurry to go back ….. Smithy
I only work in weston, and tbf it is not my favorite place but even i have to say this video doesn't do justice to the town. This past summer the beach were packed every single day and the place was full of visitors. U should really make a follow up video about weston during the summer.
back in 1966 we lived in R.A.F. Locking close to Weston ,my older brother and I use to go there every Saturday.He did once almost get caught in the sinking sand.After that we called it Weston Super Mud!!
Used to love visiting here on holiday as a kid, we couldnt afford abroad holidays then, in my later years we could and went on lavish all inclusive holidays in exotic countries - but the memories that garner the most nostalgia for me are the arcades, the smell of fish and chips in the seaside air, light up flashing swords, and really REALLY humble accomodation 😁 its really sad whats happened to this country, and how quickly it all began to crumble.
I lived here for 3 years it was a lovely place to live near the end of the seafront I walked my dogs on the seafront most evenings never witnessed any crime just people doing there evening jog, that maxi save only went up like 2 years ago near where I worked we were not impressed like a lot of towns covid effected it there were a few more decent shops in the High Street animal, Dorothy perkins the body shop but just got killed off, I also had a stall in that market yeah it is pants in there, there's a lovely wooded area, Clarence Park I loved it and locals were friendly it's not that bad, loads of activities and events all year
Thank you for the tour in Weston-Super-Mare 👍 I have never been there, but I imagine it can be much nicer there in the summer. I like these beaches and long piers, like those I have visited in Brighton and Bournemouth. I could easily see myself visting Weston-Super-Mare some time, but not in the winter. I'd say many places can be depressing and dull in the winter time, even if they shine in the summer season 😃
It is. He obviously chose just the worst bits, and went there in January. There are plenty of decent areas in WSM that this clown didn't bother to explore because they didn't fit his agenda.
@@WendallExplores Maybe you should return in the summer, you'll then find the drunken behavior you commented about Blackpool is exactly the same in Weston where half of the midlands turn up and West Brom and Wolves fans fight and Birmingham and Villa fans fight and trash pubs. North Somerset Council has invested millions in transforming the seafront over the past two decades, it's home to many large-scale events in the warmer months and draws in crowds in the hundreds of thousands. Really enjoyed watching your videos, not this one though, not where people work hard to improve and invest in an area only to be slated without a single good word to say about the place.
i dont go on holiday there, buts its been the nearest beach for me for over a decade. been down there all times of the year either to walk my dog there, visit the motorbike meets or rideout for a coffee and donut at the beach cafe. it used to be grim in the town centre. its still not great but has improved in the last 4yrs or so. theres a nice park and tennis courts at the north end of it. the beach at the south end with the dunes is actually quite nice on a sunny summer day. the main section gets heaving, along with the car parks. i miss the bleak and empty beach in winter walking my dog. go up from the beach car park along the beach to the cafe by the lido and back down the pavement. she has arthritis now. tried walking her there a couple months back and had to carry her back down the beach 😢
I have watched all your videos and ST Ives is my favourite place on the planet. But I think you're being a bit hard on Weston. I only live 30 minutes away and we pop into weston quite often. In fact we were there on Saturday the sun was out and the sea front and bars were packed .we sat outside one of the bars in the sun and had a drink and it was great .can't judge Weston on one cold winters night in January. Plus there are some great places to eat .
What a weird pessimist this guy is. Try visiting Weston in the spring or summer and it's a really lovely place. Plenty of downsides to every seaside place, especially in the middle of winter. Like every town or city in this country, some investment is required to generate some optimism and general feeling of well being. Some other external factors regarding unwanted population growth also needs addressing.
I thing is is the worst seaside resort in the uk probably not the world but back in October they has a old oil ring called the sea monster which if you went to the top would have some nice views of weston but in mid November they started to take it down I in bristol and I dont oftern go to weston because is so depressing you can't go in the sea cuz you will sink and probably end your life because the rnli will find it really hard to get to you because they will probably get stuck as well uk most depressing seaside town as well as the most dangerous in the uk
@@WendallExplores You'll need to hold your hat there. More depressing than WSM and right on the North sea. Bournemouth's the best resort out of season, university, small financial district, and what Bournemouth hasn't got Poole provides, a lot of light industry there.
The owner's of the smaller outfits have their flights booked out of the UK for the winter months . September ? probably is the cut off point . In the UK 2016 and there was a late summer the owners were tearing their hair out in frustration , they had done the "season" and were postponing booked flights as the tourists were extending because of the beautiful weather . Thanks for the education and fronting up to the GP general public for a chat , well done Wendall .
it could improve with UK warming up, its a good cheap holiday destination, needs to go more upmarket,,,,,,,people in Bristol are buying homes there; a good sign...
WSM is better in summer in fairness but you summed up the town well. In the summer you can enjoy the open top bus service to Sand Bay too which is good. A location if you get a chance to visit for a seaside town on its arse, Rhyl in North Wales. Depressing in winter, unless you fancy a trip to Harkers arcade or one of the few remaining on the front, full of yobs and some that look on drugs in the winter, summer still depressing place but at least busy as and full of Mancs and Scousers. Declined so much over the years, the beach is ok through. (sons taken over my profile here with his uploads but I still comment off it :) ). Keep up the good content, great to view.
born and breed in weston super mare, and weston for the locals is good but like any other rehab dumping ground, it affects the town, there is more to weston than the sand, pier?
I like Weston, good for a walk or to bike along the seafront with the kids. The cafe next to the pier does great food. Could do with a bit more parking come summer it gets busy. The problem with seaside resorts is HMO s . If there was better social housing in the UK then people wouldn't have to rent scruffy housing.
Trouble is with Seaside towns like villages are the councillors. Usually old men who don't want change in there vision. The places are the same as they were. When these men were young.
I live near Weston and if you go back in the summer when the weathers better and it’s busier you’ll find it’s still a dump. If you’re filming up here can I go down to your place and stay?
@@adamwilkinson6546 i could live there….its lovely..but Ollie was only on a whistle stop visit,so even if he gave you his key,youd only have time for a cup of tea and a pasty…before you were turfed out..
I love weston (and Blackpool, for that matter) the pier is amazing, you should totally go in summer to do the rides. Having said that, they are both in decline and have horrendous statistics for unemployment and poverty. You mentioned Newquay and I'd take both weston and Blackpool over Newquay. I love Cornwall but Newquay feels like someone's accidentally put Barnstaple high street (North Devon) next to a really nice beach and a posh hotel
I never get to see the sea every time I visit. All mud and no sand. I cannot see the fascination with this tacky arcade resort. Same with Brean Sands next door.
Weston is great in all seasons. The nature is amazing. The beach, Brean down, Sandbay, the history. Not sure what Wendall is after but sounds like he needs to go elsewhere please and leave Weston alone!
I lived on Bleadon Hill from late 70's to mid 80's when my employer IMI moved me there. I loved it. But I recently revisited for 3 days (Dec 2023). I looked forward to revisiting...but bloody hell it was depressing. So many places closed down, many small shops boarded up. The High St was depressing, Hughes store closed, M&S gone, pub names changed etc. But it was the people that shocked me. Dressed in cheap clothes, drab fat (single?) mums pushing prams, hoodies, ethics hanging about or accosting me for "charity donations". Ok, it's off season, but the sun won't help...just an influx of tourists to fill the streets. I felt sorry for everyone living there now. Back in the 70's/80's it was lively with great pubs, restaurants, clubs, rugby club, squash club etc. And FFS the once lovely drive in down the Locking Rd that was lined with cherry blossom trees is now a nightmare of traffic islands, fast food outlets and out of town stores ! And I stayed in the Grand Atlantic Hotel on the seafront for £37/night ! Cheap but a sign of the problem.
We're going to Newquay in the summer, so coming from the North, Weston seemed like a good halfway pit stop for us. Where would you recommend for family with kids instead as a pit stop stayover?
Have a look at walk with me Tim he did a series on visiting the worst rated hotels and seaside resorts in the UK they were good videos something you could explore
Just subscribed to your channel, absolutely brilliant. Definitely a nightmare resort, even when the sun's out it crap. Please visit Grimsby, then Cleethorpes, you won't be disappointed 😅.
No. You've obviously never been to Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear. Grim place. You need to get out and about more mate. As seaside towns go, Weston's one of the better ones, and has some very decent areas.
Australia might have nice beaches but there is nowhere near as much to do. I used to go to Weston quite a bit and the pier is good fun. Used to go for donkey rides on the beach, I remember the Tropicana swimming pool, Sealife Centre etc. I now live in Perth, Australia and the beaches are amazing but apart from getting fish and chips there's not a lot to do at the beach.
I was security for a small tv crew filming about paedo rings in Blackpool. Night filming. Nothing comes close to it for a view of day night contrast. The place is grim on a scale you could not want to imagine. Council turns a blind eye to it all.
I moved here from the south of England and I feel this is a very harsh critique. Of course, each of us are entitled to our opinion. Choosing to go late afternoon on a January day is unfair too. I have lived elsewhere and this, by far, is less depressing, there are many shops away from the town centre. I lost count how many times you said depressing!
No way does that look as depressing as you are attempting to convince us! Most coastal resorts have that vibe in the winter. Bit of a daft video really! Never been but the prom looks good to me.
Thanks for visiting! I live here and unfortunately yes, it is quite depressing, very apparent in the winter or when it’s late. The locals here don’t help, many either aren’t doing very well for themselves (one of my relatives works with helping the homeless here, it’s quite a problem) or they’re very old. The town had definitely been on a decline recently, one of the attractions recently ended up being a giant eyesore and a waste of a huge chunk of money, and the new stores opening up have been underwhelming. And as for what you said at 17:59, it actually was rated the 2nd worst seaside resort in the UK recently so you’re not far off haha
I apologise if I bad mouthed your town. It was a very quick visit and I hope you can see that it’s all a bit tongue in cheek really. To be honest I’ve been to far worse places. My channel is mainly filmed in Cornwall and WSM is an interesting comparison.
@@WendallExplores Oh that’s fine! I could see where you were coming from completely and I agree with you on many points haha. If I were you I wouldn’t visit again either.
@@WendallExplores as another person who lives in this shit hole, we agree. They have started pumping sewage into the water, so we can't even take our dog or kids down there anymore, for fear of illness.
I live in Weston super Mare and I want to say that there is nothing crumbling about Weston at all. I would suggest that it is you that is depressed and not our town.
Sorry Wendall but I’m starting to find your relentless search for misery and negativity quite a turn off. Absolutely and fully accept your findings but in my opinion you need to present a more balanced presentation. There must be some good on show in WSM?!
They want £14 a day to park here and discriminate against motorhomes so I take my motorhome elsewhere and my money gets spent there too I wonder why all the shops borded up when your not welcome to visit
I don't think it's grim, think you are being a little unfair as you are visiting in January. Many places are grim in the winter. We like visiting visiting W-S-M at all times of the year as we're down the road in Bristol. We love camping nearby in Brean, and walking up on Brean Down.
I lived here in supported living for addiction for about 8 months. It's very depressing mainly grey and raining, all the buildings are falling apart. We even had a rat problem in our house. You'd regularly see used condoms and syringes littering the streets absolutely everybody in these rehab centres/ supported living relapses and ends up on the streets of Weston it does really have a big recovery feel about the town you will bump into people who you see at AA meeting or NA meetings all the time no matter where you go usually just loitering the streets all on benefits with no hope of finding work. You can fill your entire day going to AA meetings etc it's depressing, it's basically just a cult. I'm glad I decided to leave and go home. Never been back since. But I do know that in the summer on nice days it's heaving with people from all over visiting
What do you expect on a typical January day? I lived there for 18 months and yes it has its problems like most towns after covid but it really isn't that bad.
Its been many years since I was last there.. Just a suggestion, but how about you talk to those police officers on horseback to find out why they are needed, and also maybe go into the Marstons pubs and speak to the locals to get some gossip.. Be good for your channel me thinks.. Safe journey back home eh..
Most places on a cold , grey January day look pretty grim to be fair. I personally think Weston is a fine town. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I can think of loads of more dismal places.
Weston is run by gangstalkers! The public here are sick and act like children cuz of trolls. Even older ppl as they go online too. Not every1 but most. Look up what gangstalking is !!!
Yeah very true, he was so out of order in this video, reviewing a seaside town in January! What a plank.
Me Too, much worse places.
Could take to some really awful areas in Athens,mate
I have been going to Weston most years since I was a kid. I still go every time I travel back from Australia where i now live and I still love it as does my family. The kids love the arcade on the Grand Pier and the donkeys on the beach. THe wider Somerset region is also wonderful.
Hey Wendall, I was born in Weston. Moved away as a toddler, moved back as an 18 year old (for another 12 years) then emigrated to Western Australia.
The hospital I was born in has been demolished.
The block of flats I lived in (in the town centre) also demolished.
My first girlfriend died in a car crash.
My parents owned a hotel there, they're both dead.
Met and married my wife there, we're now divorced
The business I worked for is no more.
But.......
A January day on Weston beach doesn't quite stack up against Rottnest island or Lucky Bay over here but I have to say mate, the second time I lived there were some of the best years of my life. I had a blast.
I quite like your videos, but do me a favour, go back there on a hot summer's weekend and do another film.
This one is a bit unreasonable
Weston is actually a lovely town. Unfair to judge in January. Weston has amazing restaurants, butchers and bakeries. the Weston woods with views over sand bay and the town. Then there’s marine lake and numerous parks. Overall a highly dog friendly town. I agree that the shops in the centre are a bit depressing, but that’s only the high street. There’s actually still a number of decent independent companies, like vintage clothing, chocolate shop, games shops, outdoor shops etc. I think Weston has potential to become something great again.
Weston is my home town. Anywhere in the UK is depressing in January. Considering you are based in Cornwall, where lived for five years before moving back to Weston, I can assure you, Cornwall in the winter is far more grim.
The town of Weston isn't depressing, it's your attitude and determination to find fault. Come back in any month from March to October.
What an absolutely glorious place Weston Super Mare looks.
The wide expanse of golden sand is wonderful, plus the magnificent buildings and pretty lights.
The Winter Garden especially stands out.
Looks like a perfect place for a summers holiday, where I believe they also had donkey rides too.
Its so different in the winter, it is gloomy no matter where you go in winter months, i visit in summer and there is so much to do here
It has great views and v cheap hotels...
Its SICK
A horrid place !
I've been going there for 47 years and never had a bad time
I dont want to come off as rude, but that promenade you are walking on is a fantastic job, cost a lot of money , its packed in the summer, there are beautiful walks all around weston , uphill bird sanctuary with a cycle route that goes all the way to brean, sandpoint and brean down are picture postcard beautiful, the pier puts on great music events, we have some fantastic pubs....just the fact that you think £40 in slot machines is "fun" in weston super mare , is a direct reflection of your mentality.
I'm not surprised.. the paving along the front alone is some outstanding feat. I love weston. Always have done since I was a kid.
Weston is doing well compared with other well known places.
There are loads of places to visit just outside of weston, but I suppose it all depends on what you're looking for in a seaside holiday.
To be fair, you can't really judge a holiday resort in January 🥺 I'm surprised the pier was open at all during winter. I live in a popular seaside town & it's pretty much the same here until the easter hols. Still enjoyed watching though as haven't been there in many many years & expect the waxworks has long since shut down.
I've lived in Weston (on and off) since 1990.
Between Thailand and Weston and London, all over the World since 2001, including Bermuda.
Weston's actually not a bad place to live. Actually it's a really good place to live.
Apart from a couple of rough estates (which actually aren't that rough) and the High Street going the same way as every other high street in the UK, Weston has it all.
Living on the hillside is pleasant, there's many well kept parks, Weston Woods, Sand Bay, Sand Point, the toll road, the main beach, Uphill, Brean Down, loads of restaurants, every supermarket and major store you can possibly need.
Then there's the biggest motorcycle beach race in the UK, Weston Air Day, the beer festival, classic car rallys, motorcycle days. There's all manner of boutique shops, cafes, great pubs, fantastic fish and chip shops and so on.
It's also got a direct motorway link
Really it has it all.
Somewhere like Appledore in North Devon would be great, but it's a bit remote.
It's even quite nice in the winter. In the summer, it's super happy. Just a happy, really busy seaside town.
Weston is far from the gloomiest or most depressing seaside resort in the UK. There's so much to do and during the summer, that stretch of beach is packed. The council, whilst far from perfect, facilitates a lot of activity. The annual airshow, car shows and other events on the beach lawns. They even brought in an old oil rig. Turned the old outdoor pool (Tropicana) into various attractions. They redeveloped the whole promenade and it looks the part now. You have loads of walks nearby like Uphill, Sand Bay, etc. You have a few areas tucked away towards the headland with cafes and bars.
I've never felt unsafe on the promenade in Weston. I tried Blackpool recently and it was far more impoverished. I felt unsafe there at night.
I can't believe as a Midlander you haven't spent time in good old W-S-M, it's a right of passage! 😂
For us landlocked Midlanders if we need some sea air this is one of the default places to go as it can be done easily in a day.
Believe it or not a lot of money has been spent on the front to bring it up to spec'.
I think a January evening is probably not the best time to take a considered view but in the Summer it's fine 😊
🤗
Aberdovey was always my close-by go to
I lived in Weston for years and loved living there, especially when the holiday season was over. Weston seafront is very lucky, in that all the housing developments on the flood plains surrounding it, kept money coming into seafront. Other than that, I'm sure Weston would have went the way of a lot of other seaside towns
Look up gangstalking!
Great to read so many positive comments about Weston. I love it so do my family, the arcade on the Grand Pier, the wonderful beach and the donkey rides. The town on the hill is beautiful as is the Winter Garden Pavillion and other grand buildings. I would rather go to Weston than any Australian coastal town that is for sure, far more interesting.
I think your doing these seaside towns a huge injustice by documenting them in the winter months. I went there in the summer for a day as i was staying near there, it was lovely and vibrant with a great vibe to the place. I think youve been so harsh with your words in this video, all seaside towns in the uk are like this in the winter, especially January just after Christmas.
Went to Western Super Mare and Cornwall on a school trip from Hackney East London in the spring of 1981 and loved it. Looks like they upgraded the beach front. The winter is rubbish for all of us in the UK. Go in the spring and summer and you will enjoy it despite the economic/social challenges with face today. Just discovered your channel keep up the good work. Be lucky !
I'd much rather live in Weston compared to some places in the uk, Infact its lovely hear.
I like your video's. This was one of your worst. What do you expect from a seaside resort in January!
Try visiting Skegness or Great Yarmouth in January! Even Fowey would be rather depressing in January.
You can do much better and I look forward to better work from you.
I get what you’re saying but I understand Oli here as well. Fowey has loads of pubs and places to eat. Weston is like a Poundland version. I love it even though I know it’s a bit of a cackhole, even in summer.
try visiting the greek islands in january.. everything shut
He's a clown.
Weston is a lovely town, it’s January not sure what you expect from any town at this time of year. Go back in the summer, the beach is beautiful and the surrounding countryside.
You didn’t mention that the end of the pier building was completely rebuilt a few years ago, following a major fire.
What's the point of reviewing holiday resorts on a grey dim day?!! Been to wsm in summer and it's lovely.
Not a fair video.
Loved Weston ..guess the problem was you could save up 200 quid go to Spain
or spend far more on caravans hotels here. Even caravans in Cornwall this year off season
we paid like 700 quid.
I still think Weston-super-Mare is a great place still. One of the better seaside towns in the UK. Summer is busy there still obviously January will be dead cold and rubbish weather
Just got into your channel. Loving it! From Kidderminster originally so love the Midlander perspectives from you but I moved to Brixham when I was 10 and have lived and worked in some of the other towns you’ve visited too including relocating twice in my life to Weston. I live on Phuket in Thailand now and watching your videos is the closest thing I’ve experienced to actually visiting my old home towns… very special for me to watch your vids and you do an amazing job and convey relevant and important info so well… thank you! 🙏❤ stay blessed and happy Christmas!🎄
I visit Weston a lot, there's plenty to do there...decent pubs, lots of entertainments and cultural stuff.
Certainly more interesting than many other 'holiday places' I've been to...
Gangstalking
I remember when Newquay was heading that way. Weston reminds me the way Blackpool and Morecambe went. The guest house customers started changing from families to elderly coach visitors then DHSS. Some towns (like Newquay) have a USP (surfing or whatever), but two streets back from the seafront Blackpool is abject poverty., weston feels like it might have gone that way too. I like weston, but last time I was there in the late afternoon it was full of smackheads like a lot of town centres. Yea, sure these people have problems, but nobody seems to be helping them, and it's not something that makes a casual visitor hang around or leave with a good impression.
You’re wrong….WSM is lovely and if you go around to the railway station.the chip shop there sells Sunday roast dinners in styrofoam….beat that for high dining..Wendall dosent like it because he thinks Cornwall is the Holy Grail…nothing compares to his beloved Kernow…and their beloved Emmets that he so loves
@@griswald7156 the sunday roast in stryofoam is a game changer I guess 👍
Smack heads everywhere you go these days...
Gangstalking
Weston’s a good place to visit. Town Centre bit of a dump just like Blackpool and many others. Deffo wouldn’t say it’s as bad as this chap makes out. Come back in the summer and see the town in its full summertime glory
Gangstalking
You went in January just after Christmas when everyone is spent up and wrapped up indoors, no wonder it’s dead everywhere is in the middle of winter is. Go in July, it’s heaving with brummies 😊
The place is rammed with Brummies and welsh in the summer, they fuckin love it :D
Coach loads of oldies coming down for the charity shops ,, they love um.
It may look a bit grim but it's still way better than Bognor Regis, accurately described as "the last resort"!
I’ve just booked a ticket to Bognor… ✈️
Agreed. Bognor is awful. Stayed there for a week in 2019 and it was just so drab and enforced way too much. You felt like you were in a place which watched your every move, not on a holiday. Stayed for only 5 days out of 7 that I had booked and then just booked a train home on day 5. Never been happier to get back home.
Weston-Super-Mare used to be my favourite. I went there a bunch of times as a child and a couple of times as an adult. The adult times weren't as good. It's not the same as what it was 20 or so years ago. Might be that the childhood sparkle you get from seeing the arcade and pier has gone or Weston might have just gotten worse over time. Personally it's both.
@@WendallExplores Bugger Bognor!
Wicked video Wendall. Visit Burnham on Sea as well down the road. The back streets of Weston Super Mare and Burnham on Sea I didn’t find great at all. As a Walsall chap myself we would sometimes go to Weston for a night and I carried on the tradition with my daughters. Not been for years now but not in a hurry to go back ….. Smithy
You should visit later in the year when it is busier. xx
I only work in weston, and tbf it is not my favorite place but even i have to say this video doesn't do justice to the town.
This past summer the beach were packed every single day and the place was full of visitors. U should really make a follow up video about weston during the summer.
Only people who swim here where I live in Fla in the winter are Brits and Germans lol.
back in 1966 we lived in R.A.F. Locking close to Weston ,my older brother and I use to go there every Saturday.He did once almost get caught in the sinking sand.After that we called it Weston Super Mud!!
and the chocolate sea :D
Used to love visiting here on holiday as a kid, we couldnt afford abroad holidays then, in my later years we could and went on lavish all inclusive holidays in exotic countries - but the memories that garner the most nostalgia for me are the arcades, the smell of fish and chips in the seaside air, light up flashing swords, and really REALLY humble accomodation 😁 its really sad whats happened to this country, and how quickly it all began to crumble.
Weston is rammed in the summer... You should do revisits. Also the Pier Pavilion is relatively new as there was a major fire back in 2008.
Was good , some towns and cities gone down and some have improved , seaside towns are ace in the United Kingdom
I lived here for 3 years it was a lovely place to live near the end of the seafront I walked my dogs on the seafront most evenings never witnessed any crime just people doing there evening jog, that maxi save only went up like 2 years ago near where I worked we were not impressed like a lot of towns covid effected it there were a few more decent shops in the High Street animal, Dorothy perkins the body shop but just got killed off, I also had a stall in that market yeah it is pants in there,
there's a lovely wooded area, Clarence Park I loved it and locals were friendly it's not that bad, loads of activities and events all year
Thank you for the tour in Weston-Super-Mare 👍 I have never been there, but I imagine it can be much nicer there in the summer. I like these beaches and long piers, like those I have visited in Brighton and Bournemouth. I could easily see myself visting Weston-Super-Mare some time, but not in the winter. I'd say many places can be depressing and dull in the winter time, even if they shine in the summer season 😃
I can’t imagine it gets much better in summer.. maybe I’ll go back 😬
@@WendallExplores yes, take the chance and live a little on the edge 🤣🤣
It is. He obviously chose just the worst bits, and went there in January. There are plenty of decent areas in WSM that this clown didn't bother to explore because they didn't fit his agenda.
@@WendallExplores Maybe you should return in the summer, you'll then find the drunken behavior you commented about Blackpool is exactly the same in Weston where half of the midlands turn up and West Brom and Wolves fans fight and Birmingham and Villa fans fight and trash pubs. North Somerset Council has invested millions in transforming the seafront over the past two decades, it's home to many large-scale events in the warmer months and draws in crowds in the hundreds of thousands. Really enjoyed watching your videos, not this one though, not where people work hard to improve and invest in an area only to be slated without a single good word to say about the place.
@@WendallExplores You are so negative!!
i dont go on holiday there, buts its been the nearest beach for me for over a decade. been down there all times of the year either to walk my dog there, visit the motorbike meets or rideout for a coffee and donut at the beach cafe.
it used to be grim in the town centre. its still not great but has improved in the last 4yrs or so. theres a nice park and tennis courts at the north end of it.
the beach at the south end with the dunes is actually quite nice on a sunny summer day. the main section gets heaving, along with the car parks.
i miss the bleak and empty beach in winter walking my dog. go up from the beach car park along the beach to the cafe by the lido and back down the pavement. she has arthritis now. tried walking her there a couple months back and had to carry her back down the beach 😢
It looks really nice. And I'm in California. I wish we had a seaside town that nice.
I love English weather….clouds everywhere if you’re lucky..Weston is lovely…
I have watched all your videos and ST Ives is my favourite place on the planet. But I think you're being a bit hard on Weston. I only live 30 minutes away and we pop into weston quite often. In fact we were there on Saturday the sun was out and the sea front and bars were packed .we sat outside one of the bars in the sun and had a drink and it was great .can't judge Weston on one cold winters night in January. Plus there are some great places to eat .
How many times did this bloke say depressing? Can someone send this poor man a thesaurus?
Even major seaside resorts in Italy or Spain could look grim and depressing on a January cloudy late afternoon. I can say it as an Italian.
Gangstalking
What a weird pessimist this guy is. Try visiting Weston in the spring or summer and it's a really lovely place. Plenty of downsides to every seaside place, especially in the middle of winter. Like every town or city in this country, some investment is required to generate some optimism and general feeling of well being. Some other external factors regarding unwanted population growth also needs addressing.
I thing is is the worst seaside resort in the uk probably not the world but back in October they has a old oil ring called the sea monster which if you went to the top would have some nice views of weston but in mid November they started to take it down I in bristol and I dont oftern go to weston because is so depressing you can't go in the sea cuz you will sink and probably end your life because the rnli will find it really hard to get to you because they will probably get stuck as well uk most depressing seaside town as well as the most dangerous in the uk
If you really want to get depressed try Great Yarmouth out of season.
Hold my coffee…
@@WendallExplores You'll need to hold your hat there. More depressing than WSM and right on the North sea.
Bournemouth's the best resort out of season, university, small financial district, and what Bournemouth hasn't got Poole provides, a lot of light industry there.
The owner's of the smaller outfits have their flights booked out of the UK for the winter months . September ? probably is the cut off point . In the UK 2016 and there was a late summer the owners were tearing their hair out in frustration , they had done the "season" and were postponing booked flights as the tourists were extending because of the beautiful weather . Thanks for the education and fronting up to the GP general public for a chat , well done Wendall .
I absolutely love Weston !
Honestly this place looks really nice
Seaside towns are too expensive.
It's Spain on a £50 Ryanair flight for me. 😂
There's some beautiful coastline around our Isles ❤
Smashing Video Mate, Keep up the Great work🤘
it could improve with UK warming up, its a good cheap holiday destination, needs to go more upmarket,,,,,,,people in Bristol are buying homes there; a good sign...
Not really. That would be Jaywick in Essex.
everything went to shit 2010 onwards
WSM is better in summer in fairness but you summed up the town well. In the summer you can enjoy the open top bus service to Sand Bay too which is good. A location if you get a chance to visit for a seaside town on its arse, Rhyl in North Wales. Depressing in winter, unless you fancy a trip to Harkers arcade or one of the few remaining on the front, full of yobs and some that look on drugs in the winter, summer still depressing place but at least busy as and full of Mancs and Scousers. Declined so much over the years, the beach is ok through. (sons taken over my profile here with his uploads but I still comment off it :) ). Keep up the good content, great to view.
Most of the ppl here act like 15yr olds because of trolls and online attackers! Its sick!!
Born and bread in Weston-super-Mare. Work in a fantastic busy Hotel. Weston-super-Mare is great 10 times better than Blackpool.
Being a Midlander I'd have thought you would have felt right at home in WSM as it's full of ex pat Brummies! LOL! 😄
I thought they all ended up in torbay
@@neilinnature There too. 😀
born and breed in weston super mare, and weston for the locals is good but like any other rehab dumping ground, it affects the town, there is more to weston than the sand, pier?
It’s a unfair review to be honest you went on the middle of January any where is dismal
Talk about manipulating the narrative. January. In a seaside resort. Early evening when everything is shut. Genius.
I like Weston, good for a walk or to bike along the seafront with the kids. The cafe next to the pier does great food.
Could do with a bit more parking come summer it gets busy. The problem with seaside resorts is HMO s .
If there was better social housing in the UK then people wouldn't have to rent scruffy housing.
you are right. rental housing in places like this can be pretty grim.
Trouble is with Seaside towns like villages are the councillors. Usually old men who don't want change in there vision. The places are the same as they were. When these men were young.
I live near Weston and if you go back in the summer when the weathers better and it’s busier you’ll find it’s still a dump.
If you’re filming up here can I go down to your place and stay?
WSM is really pretty…..
@@griswald7156 pretty depressing
@@adamwilkinson6546 i could live there….its lovely..but Ollie was only on a whistle stop visit,so even if he gave you his key,youd only have time for a cup of tea and a pasty…before you were turfed out..
@@griswald7156 10 minutes in his place for a pasty and a cuppa or a weekend in Weston Super Mud? I’ll take the 10 minutes please 😂
I love weston (and Blackpool, for that matter) the pier is amazing, you should totally go in summer to do the rides.
Having said that, they are both in decline and have horrendous statistics for unemployment and poverty.
You mentioned Newquay and I'd take both weston and Blackpool over Newquay. I love Cornwall but Newquay feels like someone's accidentally put Barnstaple high street (North Devon) next to a really nice beach and a posh hotel
Best time to visit WSM is during the summer months to be fair as you can get a better idea of an English seaside resort 😊😊
I never get to see the sea every time I visit. All mud and no sand. I cannot see the fascination with this tacky arcade resort. Same with Brean Sands next door.
Weston is great in all seasons. The nature is amazing. The beach, Brean down, Sandbay, the history. Not sure what Wendall is after but sounds like he needs to go elsewhere please and leave Weston alone!
I lived on Bleadon Hill from late 70's to mid 80's when my employer IMI moved me there.
I loved it.
But I recently revisited for 3 days (Dec 2023).
I looked forward to revisiting...but bloody hell it was depressing. So many places closed down, many small shops boarded up.
The High St was depressing, Hughes store closed, M&S gone, pub names changed etc.
But it was the people that shocked me. Dressed in cheap clothes, drab fat (single?) mums pushing prams, hoodies, ethics hanging about or accosting me for "charity donations".
Ok, it's off season, but the sun won't help...just an influx of tourists to fill the streets.
I felt sorry for everyone living there now. Back in the 70's/80's it was lively with great pubs, restaurants, clubs, rugby club, squash club etc.
And FFS the once lovely drive in down the Locking Rd that was lined with cherry blossom trees is now a nightmare of traffic islands, fast food outlets and out of town stores !
And I stayed in the Grand Atlantic Hotel on the seafront for £37/night ! Cheap but a sign of the problem.
Contrast Weston now with back in the 50's and 60's
th-cam.com/video/5l6wa4rSpBA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=dKDug_rvm9dwl-Lb
We're going to Newquay in the summer, so coming from the North, Weston seemed like a good halfway pit stop for us. Where would you recommend for family with kids instead as a pit stop stayover?
Have a look at walk with me Tim he did a series on visiting the worst rated hotels and seaside resorts in the UK they were good videos something you could explore
I am aware of his work 👍
Just subscribed to your channel, absolutely brilliant.
Definitely a nightmare resort, even when the sun's out it crap.
Please visit Grimsby, then Cleethorpes, you won't be disappointed 😅.
Grimsby next video 🙏
No.
You've obviously never been to Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear. Grim place. You need to get out and about more mate.
As seaside towns go, Weston's one of the better ones, and has some very decent areas.
Where’s my suitcase 🧳 ✈️
I ❤it that we're on a tiny island that needs to be expanded on the map to see it 😂😂❤
My friend came back from australia he lives in land where summer is over 40 degrees most days , he absouloutey loves the uk and the rain 😂
Australia might have nice beaches but there is nowhere near as much to do. I used to go to Weston quite a bit and the pier is good fun. Used to go for donkey rides on the beach, I remember the Tropicana swimming pool, Sealife Centre etc. I now live in Perth, Australia and the beaches are amazing but apart from getting fish and chips there's not a lot to do at the beach.
When you've seen all other sea-side resorts, then this town can be judged.. also you should visit in summer again.. 😊👌🏻👍🏻
We loved it here last summer. Wasn't grim at all, quite the opposite for tourists.
YES.
it looks okay to me. far worser places in the world imo
Weston was well known for charity shops 30 years ago .
I was security for a small tv crew filming about paedo rings in Blackpool. Night filming. Nothing comes close to it for a view of day night contrast. The place is grim on a scale you could not want to imagine. Council turns a blind eye to it all.
I will film in Blackpool at some point
Constantly excellent deep dives into the fall of a nation by Wendall.
I moved here from the south of England and I feel this is a very harsh critique. Of course, each of us are entitled to our opinion. Choosing to go late afternoon on a January day is unfair too. I have lived elsewhere and this, by far, is less depressing, there are many shops away from the town centre. I lost count how many times you said depressing!
come on what a crap time of to film most sea side towns are dead as dead in the deep winter go back in high summer on hot sunny day.
It is when I was in the hood my friend
@@WendallExplores yes not every where looks good as st Ives in the deed of winter.
No way does that look as depressing as you are attempting to convince us! Most coastal resorts have that vibe in the winter. Bit of a daft video really! Never been but the prom looks good to me.
This channel is full of daft videos
Thanks for visiting! I live here and unfortunately yes, it is quite depressing, very apparent in the winter or when it’s late. The locals here don’t help, many either aren’t doing very well for themselves (one of my relatives works with helping the homeless here, it’s quite a problem) or they’re very old. The town had definitely been on a decline recently, one of the attractions recently ended up being a giant eyesore and a waste of a huge chunk of money, and the new stores opening up have been underwhelming.
And as for what you said at 17:59, it actually was rated the 2nd worst seaside resort in the UK recently so you’re not far off haha
I apologise if I bad mouthed your town. It was a very quick visit and I hope you can see that it’s all a bit tongue in cheek really. To be honest I’ve been to far worse places. My channel is mainly filmed in Cornwall and WSM is an interesting comparison.
@@WendallExplores Oh that’s fine! I could see where you were coming from completely and I agree with you on many points haha. If I were you I wouldn’t visit again either.
@@WendallExplores as another person who lives in this shit hole, we agree. They have started pumping sewage into the water, so we can't even take our dog or kids down there anymore, for fear of illness.
I live in Weston super Mare and I want to say that there is nothing crumbling about Weston at all.
I would suggest that it is you that is depressed and not our town.
Sorry Wendall but I’m starting to find your relentless search for misery and negativity quite a turn off. Absolutely and fully accept your findings but in my opinion you need to present a more balanced presentation. There must be some good on show in WSM?!
Seems like s great place. Clean. Quiet... just needs some TLC and proper investment in both the people and the town.. shes a jewel.
They want £14 a day to park here and discriminate against motorhomes so I take my motorhome elsewhere and my money gets spent there too I wonder why all the shops borded up when your not welcome to visit
I don't think it's grim, think you are being a little unfair as you are visiting in January. Many places are grim in the winter. We like visiting visiting W-S-M at all times of the year as we're down the road in Bristol. We love camping nearby in Brean, and walking up on Brean Down.
"We will fight them in the beaches."
I lived here in supported living for addiction for about 8 months. It's very depressing mainly grey and raining, all the buildings are falling apart. We even had a rat problem in our house. You'd regularly see used condoms and syringes littering the streets absolutely everybody in these rehab centres/ supported living relapses and ends up on the streets of Weston it does really have a big recovery feel about the town you will bump into people who you see at AA meeting or NA meetings all the time no matter where you go usually just loitering the streets all on benefits with no hope of finding work. You can fill your entire day going to AA meetings etc it's depressing, it's basically just a cult. I'm glad I decided to leave and go home. Never been back since. But I do know that in the summer on nice days it's heaving with people from all over visiting
Yes
What do you expect on a typical January day? I lived there for 18 months and yes it has its problems like most towns after covid but it really isn't that bad.
Its been many years since I was last there.. Just a suggestion, but how about you talk to those police officers on horseback to find out why they are needed, and also maybe go into the Marstons pubs and speak to the locals to get some gossip.. Be good for your channel me thinks.. Safe journey back home eh..