After decades of neglect, recent years have seen something of a resurgence for some UK seaside towns. From seafront revamps in Margate and Porthcawl to pier revivals in Weston and the Isle of Wight, some classic British seaside destinations are seeing significant amounts of local investment. And now another long-neglected UK seaside resort town is about to get a glow-up.
The town in question is New Brighton in the Wirral in northwest England. While it’s not quite as big or glamourous as the OG Brighton, this seaside resort and suburb was once quite the seaside destination. At the height of its fame, New Brighton apparently rivalled Blackpool as one of the region’s top seaside resorts.
The plan to revive New Brighton is called the Marine Promenade Masterplan, and it includes everything from glamming up the promenade to providing a new lido, beach park, theatre plaza, restaurants and cafes, as well as a 300-room hotel. Sounds pretty fancy, eh?
Historically, there’s always been more to New Brighton than just its resort. One of the town’s most famous attractions is the Grade II-listed Fort Perch Rock and its lighthouse, which were used in wars all the way back in the Napoleonic period.
In the years since, however, New Brighton has seen many of its key attractions taken away. The town’s tower was taken down in 1921, while the pier was dismantled in the 1970s and the pool taken away in the 1990s.
Wirral Council’s Tony Jones said about the regeneration project: ‘New Brighton has seen a lot of investment relatively recently but that is just a starting point – the town needs much more intervention to re-establish it and make the most of this fantastic place to live, work, and of course to visit.’
The planning application is currently in its third phase of consultation, which involves a public survey of the draft master plan. You can participate in that consultation process here.
Time Out’s take
More and more Brits and tourists alike are turning to UK destinations for some sea, sand and (some) sun. At Time Out, we’re experts at travelling the UK and scouring the scenic coastlines of the British Isles. Don’t know where to start? Check out our curated lists of the best seaside towns in the UK, the best spots for wild swimming and the most beautiful hidden beaches in the UK. You’re welcome!
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