Wales Worst Seaside Town: Would YOU Holiday HERE? 🇬🇧

I have fond memories of family holidays in Rhyl as a child. It was a fun and affordable place by the sea that was accessible and much loved by millions of families, particularly from the Midlands and North West. It suffered rapid decline in the 1990's and 2000's and despite efforts of regeneration is still widely criticised as a shadow of its former self. Rhyl has fallen so hard that some tabloids have labelled it 'Costa del Dole', much to the anger of many locals. Many call it Wales' worst seaside town..

I was intrigued to rediscover this town that holds much nostalgia for me. Is it indeed as fallen as reports suggest? Would I find any hope there? Would I encounter ANY visitors on a sunny early October day and what is life like for the people that call Rhyl home? Join me as I explore Rhyl in 2024.

[G-lv]

I am seventy now. So glad I grew up in the 50s 60s & 70s.
My kids were young in the 70s & 80s.
So much damage has been done to the social fabric of the UK.
It is so sad. Wish it could be turned around.

[Michael-bkux]

total respect to the young man trying to open a venue for untapped talent, best of luck mate, fingers crossed hope things work

[SuperMrScience]

Brought up in West Wales, and the decline of Welsh towns is just heartbreaking. My home town is slowly rotting away as young people leave and the town center totally and utterly dies.

[LauraSnow-innx]

Wendell, you’re breaking my heart with all of these these shows

[pvtjohntowle]

Oh, Rhyl, dear Rhyl, by the Irish Sea,
With sands so fine and a touch of debris.
Fish and chips in hand, I stroll with pride,
Dodging the gulls, and the ebb of the tide.

From the promenade lights to the neon glow,
Where the penny slots line the arcades row.
Kisses by the pier, sly and sweet,
As the scent of salt and vinegar meet.

The pubs are lively, the pints flow fast,
Locals and tourists having a blast.
With laughter loud and voices slurred,
Bold tales are spun and rumors heard.

For Rhyl, dear Rhyl, may not be the Med,
But it’s a place where memories are bred.
Where hearts are light, and spirits high,
Under the wide, grey Welsh sky!

[pilgrimoutdoors-uk]

Tom, you're a legend - Keep on searching fella, and good luck! DEUTCH's bar is AWESOME. What a bloody great idea! I propose we should all get down there for a 'Wendall sent us' night and support him. We're bound to have comedians, poets, musicians and the like in the 100'000+ subscribers.

[andrewmacleod]

So, so sad to see Rhyl like this now😢 ...Makes me so angry and quite upset 😡😭....Used to come regularly in the late 70's and 80's (and also to Prestatyn) and it was full of friendly people, no trouble, lots of tourists arriving to enjoy the Amusement Arcades, Fairground(s), Cafes, Pubs,Fish n Chips, Markets, Obviously the beach, Gift shops etc....was a buzzing lovely lively magical place 🎉

[andywing]

The Rhyl Sun Centre shut due to leaky roof and council can’t get it fixed, closed all summer.
Aquarium closed due to council doubling rent. New indoor market gathering dust due to council incompetence.
Expensive parking everywhere. Council seem hellbent on ruining the place.
Not from Rhyl but so much could be done if council were interested. They’re not.

[magpie]

The Rhyl Sun Centre was one of my favourite places as a kid. I think the decline started with the demise of that place.

[ramalama]

I heard that the downfall began when the Government moved in recently released ex crims and PDF files due to the hotels and B&B's being empty during winter.
Those people never left. Council wave 2 ... Now it's the boaters. All a drain.

It's a shame. Used to be a fun place to visit. Best avoided now.

This place will never recover.

[peterrhysjones]

I grew up in a small village about 30 mins away from Rhyl, my childhood memories of Rhyl during the mid 60's to mid 70's were positive, the sea front was bussling with people, loads of guest houses and hotels and of course the fairground and model village next to it. It's so, so, sad to see such a decline to a once thriving town

[MsJonesey]

I'm from Bangor, was born there in the 70s. It's such a shame to see it now. Most of the shops have closed down. Its depressing 😞 😔

[Jimbo.jack]

Got to say, you do some of the best post industial seaside town footage ever, brilliant

[retalivity]

10:10 "It all (don't say knock-off, don't say knock-off, don't say knock-off....)" 😂😂

[jenstone]

That encounter with Tom was so wholesome. He seems like a lovely chap. It would be amazing if he did manage to find his birth mother through your video! 😊 Really enjoyed watching this one.

[leesmusic]

Just done a holiday to North Wales. Llandudno, Conwy are amazing and so are some of the other little coastal places. Went to Rhyl, sheesh, it was pretty bad. The coastal promenade seemed to be having a lot of work done so maybe it will look a bit better, but the town centre won’t improve

[michaeljohndennis]

Being Irish myself, I’ve been passing through Rhyl for 23 years on the train from Manchester via Chester to Holyhead on SailRail for the ferry to Dublin and from what I’ve seen from the train, not only has the Rhyl area but the whole of North Wales has been in terminal decline for no good reason and there is no excuse for it - the Welsh people deserve far better than this and the Welsh government should be totally ashamed of themselves - it’s got so bad now that even the SailRail services have become very unreliable because of post-Covid train strikes, but the problems in North Wales have existed since long before Covid and it’s not acceptable - in October 2022, I was stranded in Holyhead for 2 days because of a train strike on arrival back from Dublin, unable to return to Manchester and from chatting to the locals in Holyhead, they are not at all happy with what’s going on, in fact they are very frustrated and fed up with the situation in Wales

[tobyjackman]

Tom was a legend.
Deutch's bar looked cool too - I'm going to Llandudno next year so I might pop in.
Cheers, Wendell

[thedelbocavistashuffler]

Great work once again Wendall! Really appreciate your insights.

[StrawberrySunday]

I was on holiday there with my family about 45 years ago when I was a child. All I can remember about it was a massive paddling pool on the sea front. My mum said even back then the place was a dump.