Monthly Archives: August 2010

The #seasider tour was amazing. I’m going to try to do it twice a year – there’s still plenty of seaside to talk to. I did some great North Welsh coast trips a few years ago and I’ve had some … Continue reading →

“Blackpool is different”. This is the message coming through from all sectors. I’m fascinated by the hostility to Brighton, precocious little sister with an irritating habit of fluking it and marrying a millionaire. Hastings has more right to be angsty … Continue reading →

An early morning train drops me in Southport where Mike Swift, Director of Southport Pier Trust and Angela, my fellow-trustee from the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust are waiting. Angela has hot-footed it from Hastings, leaving at 4am and … Continue reading →

Have seen more piers in the past 48 hours than most people do in a year but now we’re busy writing a proposal for Hastings Council in the middle of the night (due at midnight!). So will have to blog … Continue reading →

Have just waved off DH, Daughter and Dog who are heading south now while I take the train cross-country towards Blackpool – top dog of seaside resorts. If Blackpool is King of them all, Scarborough must take the title of … Continue reading →

The Tour continued first thing on Monday morning with a trip to Cromer – home of crabs and candyfloss. After an age spent going round in circles trying to park I meet some colleagues by the pier in the driving … Continue reading →

In the early 14th century Great Yarmouth was the 5th most affluent place in England. Despite losing 2/3rds of its population in the Black Death, once the harbour was properly dredged in the 16th century the town boomed for four … Continue reading →

I can officially confirm that Southwold is a very pretty place. A lovely mix of old buildings, well-kept green spaces, a clean sandy beach and a very well-run pier. The built environment reminded me of a recent trip to Arundel, … Continue reading →

Here begins the Seaside Tour… Started in Hastings (ie home), by hosting a 24-hour field trip by the Asset Transfer Unit Stakeholder Forum, including visits to the pier (closed), the White Rock Baths (closed) and the Pier Shop (open!), with … Continue reading →

Starting next Thursday I’m off on a mad seaside tour. In this tiny country you’d think a circuit of Southend, Southwold, Great Yarmouth, Cromer, Scarborough, Blackpool and Southport wouldn’t be so difficult, but some of the train journeys make me … Continue reading →