Brighton: Repairs to Royal Albion Hotel cause traffic delays
The closure of a stretch of road in Brighton over fears a fire-damaged hotel may collapse has caused major traffic delays. Part of the A259 Kings Road is closed in both directions between the aquarium and East Street as the Royal Albion Hotel and its scaffolding are "at risk of catastrophic failure", according to an engineer report.Brighton & Hove City Council said it had asked its owners, Britannia Hotels, to make the structure safe and erect safety barriers.Frustrated residents wrote on social media that the traffic was "horrendous" and warned "don't bother going into Brighton unless you really need to".
There are significant delays along the Marine Parade near Volk's Electric Railway to Sea Life Brighton.The road closure has also impacted traffic around Old Steine Garden, West Street and St James's Street.Stagecoach South said: "Coastliner 700 and Route 17 are facing delays due to heavy congestion around Brighton city centre due to road closure on the A259."We apologise for the inconvenience caused."
The council said works will continue until next weekend.A spokesperson for the Brighton Half Marathon, which is due to take place on 2 March, said they were "aware" of the situation. They said: "We are working closely with the council and will update runners should there be any impact on the Brighton Half Marathon course route."
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Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Abandoned Pontins camp handed 'top holiday spot' prediction in major update
The abandoned Pontins holiday camp near Camber Sands, just over the Kent border, could be set for a new lease of life as discussions over its future get underway An abandoned holiday camp may soon be transformed into a new holiday destination, as discussions over its future get underway. The disused Pontins holiday camp near Camber Sands, just over the Kent border, has remained empty since its sudden closure by owner Britannia Hotels last November. The shutdown has significantly affected the local community, with residents reporting declines in employment, business activity, and visitor numbers. Once priding itself on nearly 30 locations across the UK, Pontins has now dwindled down to just two surviving resorts: Suffolk's Pakefield Holiday Village and Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-super-Mare. However, at a meeting in December, representatives from Rother District Council and Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore met with Britannia Hotels to discuss redevelopment plans. Councillor Christine Bayliss, deputy leader and cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said she felt encouraged by the meeting. "The closure of the holiday park last year was a shock to everyone, including the council, which owns the site's freehold," she said. "We've been actively seeking clarity about its future." According to Bayliss, Britannia Hotels confirmed its intention to redevelop the site into a holiday destination and expressed willingness to collaborate with local stakeholders, including the district council. 'Pontins has been a key destination for Camber, and we recognise its vital role in the local economy,' she added. 'We're optimistic about working together to restore Camber Sands as one of the region's top holiday spots.' Currently, the site is fenced off, with only security lights illuminating the empty premises. Once capable of hosting up to 3,000 guests, the holiday park also featured a Nisa Local shop, which closed in September. The Camber Sands closure coincided with the shutdown of another Pontins site in Prestatyn, Wales. However, Britannia Hotels recently confirmed that redevelopment is already underway at the Welsh location, with plans to reopen it in the near future. Pontins Holidays confirmed the closure of the locations in November 2023. Sharing a statement on social media, they said: "Important announcement. We regret to inform you that our parks in Prestatyn and Camber Sands will be closing with immediate effect. Customers whose bookings will be affected by these closures will be contacted by our team and refunded. We apologise for any inconvenience caused." Pontins holiday camps were initially the brainchild of Fred Pontin, who opened his first Pontins in a former US army base in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset in 1946. Over the years, the holiday camp magnate bought more camps, expanding his empire to 30 sites at its peak. Smaller and less expensive than Butlin's holiday camps, Pontins had Bluecoats to entertain guests as opposed to the Redcoats of its major rival. TV stars who learned their comedy trade as former Bluecoats include Bradley Walsh, Shane Richie, Bobby Davro and Lee Mack.
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
English seaside city once mocked as ‘worst place on EARTH' is now dubbed ‘California of Britain' amid £16million revamp
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ONE of the UK's most infamous seaside towns is now being dubbed the 'California of Britain' ahead of a £16million transformation. Locals have previously slammed the tourist destination for being rife with "drug gangs", leading them to feel unsafe and fearful of stabbings in their own town. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Southend-on-Sea has a divisive reputation Credit: Getty 6 Some locals have slammed the town for being the "worst place on Earth" Credit: Getty 6 On the other hand, some tourists have compared it to California Credit: Alamy Southend-on-Sea is just an hour from London, but locals have long felt that the waterside town is a far-cry from the glitz and glamour of Britain's capital. In July last year, videos emerged of thugs fighting with machetes emerged online - fuelling the perception that Southend-on-Sea had become an unsafe place to live due to "drug gangs". One terrified local even described the town as the 'worst place on Earth' on TripAdvisor. However, the town is set to undergo a £16 million transformation which officials hope will give the former tourist hot-spot a new lease on life. Ahead of the transformation, one tourist noted that the streets were remarkably clean and even compared the beach to the legendary Venice Beach in California. LGabor, the reviewer, said: "It's in the UK, but if you are there, you feel like you went to the USA. 'It is similar to Venice Beach in America and has a very nice pier with a train on it!" The biggest change set to arrive in Southend is the construction of a "green oasis" at the Marine Parade. The new attraction will feature a series of rain gardens, a large green space complete with a short stream and several canopies. Crisis club Southend SAVED from extinction after consortium completes takeover Ahead of the transformation, Labour's cabinet member for climate, environment and waste outlined her hopes for the project. Lydia Hyde said: "We're continuing to work with key partners to make sure the project protects our environment and is delivered in a cost-effective way." She also expanded on how the Marine Parade will be developed and explained the phased approach to the scheme. The cabinet member said: "This will focus on the junction at Hartington Road and Seaway, where we'll be realigning kerb lines to create a rain garden that collects and stores surface water runoff. "Phase two - the north side of Marine Parade - and phase three - the south side of Marine Parade - will follow, and we'll continue to share updates as the project progresses. "We'll be working closely with stakeholders to minimise disruption and make sure the programme doesn't impact the summer season." The remaining £14.8 million of the £16 million total has been funnelled into reviving Southend's Leigh Port - which once saw huge shipments arriving on a daily basis. Top 10 worst seaside towns in the UK Which? Travel has revealed the top 10 worst seaside towns in the UK. Southend kicks off the list, which features some of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. Which? surveyed thousands of holidaymakers for the study, before working out which places were disliked the most. The list includes: 10. Southend-on-Sea 9. Fleetwood, Lancashire 8. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk 7. Blackpool, Lancashire 6. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex 5. Skegness, Lincolnshire 4. Bognor Regis, West Sussex 3. Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset 2. Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire 1. Bangor, Gwynedd The money will be used to install a new quay wall, refurbish the quay itself and to demolish a small craft club. Also, a new surface and trade waste drainage system will be created and the downstream channel from Leigh Port's to Lower Leigh Creek will be dredged. This will increase the berth of the port, which, in turn, will ease traffic congestion, while also reducing flood risks and improving water quality. Locals hope that these changes will attract more tourists to the once-bustling town. However, despite their anger towards Southend's state of disrepair, locals are proud of where they come from. Dave Cook, 72, told The Sun Online: "It's beautiful in the winter, we're lucky to have it.' Celebrities including Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury and Michelle Keegan have also been known to frequent the town. Luxury eateries including Jamie Oliver's hit restaurant and Roslin Beach Hotel's dining hall have also received rave reviews in a boost for the town. One happy customer took to TripAdvisor to share their enthusiasm about the Roslin Beach Hotel. They wrote: "First-class restaurant, easily the best in Leigh. "I had the chef's signature tasting menu, and everything was faultless." 6 The town has several incredible amusement arcades Credit: Alamy 6 There are several historical buildings in Southend too Credit: Alamy
Telegraph
20-04-2025
- Telegraph
My mini tour of the ‘worst hotel chain in Britain' – featuring a room with a view of an overflowing skip
A line of scum clings to the tiles in the pool at Bournemouth's Royal Bath Hotel. 'They need to give this place a good jet wash,' says the lady doing breaststroke next to me, before merrily shrugging off any concerns she might have about hygiene. 'It's not the cleanest, but then I grew up swimming in canals,' she says. Good for her. I didn't, so I head back to my (£49-a-night) room for a shower. I've been trying to spend as little time as possible in here since checking in. The mismatched furniture looks like it was sourced in haste from a house clearance shop and makes me feel homesick, while the views make me want to call the Samaritans (if we can reasonably describe a rusty air conditioning unit, some broken guttering and fag ends on an enclosed flat roof as views). I can't even bring myself to make a cuppa because, for reasons I'd rather not speculate on, there's tissue in the kettle. I should be used to this by now. I've been on a mini tour of properties belonging to what consumer magazine Which? recently crowed the 'worst hotel chain in Britain'. Britannia Hotels has had the dubious distinction for 11 straight years, scoring an 'abysmal' overall customer satisfaction rating in the magazine's latest survey. Editor Rory Boland told me over email: 'With over a decade of dismal reviews, our results suggest that Britannia should be avoided at all costs.' Instead of heeding his advice, I jumped right in, starting in Buxton, where my room at Britannia's ironically named Palace Hotel (3 out of 5 on TripAdvisor) looked out across an overflowing skip, and was so cold that I didn't want to get out of bed. Next was Folkestone's Grand Burstin (2.7 out of 5 on TripAdvisor), where I found rose petals in the room – which had presumably featured in a recent low-budget dirty weekend. The scuzzy spa facilities, meanwhile, evoked verruca socks. Britannia Hotels owns more than 60 such properties across the country, many of them listed buildings in prime locations with illustrious histories. Bournemouth's sprawling Royal Bath (2.6 out of 5 on TripAdvisor), for instance, has a plum position overlooking the beach and was opened by Queen Victoria, making it the oldest hotel in the town. However, like many of its sister properties, the Royal Bath, with its curled Astroturf front lawn, has seen better days and even acknowledges as much in its literature. An almost wistful note on my bed, informing guests that 'we no longer do room servicing', feels like a tacit admission that standards have slipped. At least the staff – as they were at all the hotels I stayed at – were cheerful. Incidents at Britannia's properties frequently make the national news. In 2006, Scarborough's Grand Hotel was fined £10,000 after a guest drank tap water contaminated with dangerously high levels of bleach. In 2022, part of the Grand Burstin's façade blew off, injuring two people. In September of that year, a woman died in Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel after a wardrobe fell on her in what police described as a 'bizarre accident'. And the following July, fire ripped through Brighton's Royal Albion Hotel, gutting the historic building. The chain's sister company Pontins has fared even worse. Its owner, Britannia Jinky Jersey – part of Britannia Hotels group – was this week charged with corporate manslaughter after an air conditioning duct fell on guests at Pontins Brean Sands in Somerset. Grandmother Wendy Jones, 68, never recovered from injuries sustained during the 2019 incident and died in hospital six months later. Britannia Jinky Jersey will appear before Bristol magistrates' court next month. The Telegraph repeatedly contacted Britannia Hotels for a comment. It didn't respond, but accounts for the firm – filed late this week – revealed pre-tax profits of £31m for the group in the 12 months to March 31 2024. The accompanying directors report offered hints at the direction of travel for the chain, which may evoke feelings of déjà vu. 'The group's policy is to focus on increasing profitability via tightly controlled management of costs,' it reads. Whether the purse strings will be loose enough for a jet wash of the Royal Bath's pool remains to be seen. Cheshire-based Britannia Hotels is owned by Alex Langsam, a self-made millionaire who seldom speaks to the media. According to a Business Insider rich list, published last August, the octogenarian tycoon has amassed a fortune of £285 million through his hotel empire. Langsam was a baby when he arrived in the UK as a refugee after fleeing the Nazi takeover of his native Austria. He's since been dubbed the 'Asylum King' after receiving lucrative Home Office contracts to house asylum seekers in some of his hotels. Langsam is a non-domiciled UK resident, registered as living in Austria for tax purposes (but not for long under Labour's planned crackdown). In the absence of any comment from Britannia, and in the interest of balance, I find myself mustering a defence of the chain over a £15 three-course dinner in Oscar's Brasserie, which overlooks the Royal Bath's pretty, landscaped garden. Watching a family play over-sized chess on the lawn, pensioners slurping soup on the table next to me, I concede that there's probably nowhere else in Bournemouth where you can eat three courses for £15, let alone in such grand surroundings. You get what you pay for, of course. The first bread roll I picked to go with my pate requires hydraulic gear to prise open. And though the beef stew is tender, the accompanying carrots – simultaneously raw and overcooked – evoke memories of 1980s school dinners. My dessert looks like it would glow in the dark. Delaying my return to the room, I head to the bar for a pint, which I sip on a Chesterfield sofa under high ornate ceilings propped up by gilded columns. Staying here is like buying a high-mileage Jag in that you get yesterday's luxury at knockdown prices with the inherent risk that something will go wrong. And while the Premier Inn opposite is comparable in price and not falling apart, as far as I know there are no murals of armoured men on horseback in its bar, no sculptures of nude beauties in its garden. Under another, less careful owner (Britannia has at least invested £1m in the Royal Bath recently), the chain's properties may have been abandoned and left to ruin, or turned into flats – a fate that has befallen many other hotels across the land. More careful owners, meanwhile, would inevitably charge higher rates, putting the historic properties out of reach of ordinary working families. What's more, Britannia's tired hotels hardly feel like an aberration in the land, rather a reflection of contemporary Britain, a nation plagued by underinvestment, cost-cutting and short-termism. But Britannia is part of the problem when it could be a solution. Its tight-fistedness and blithe neglect is a missed opportunity for our struggling towns. 'We are seeing a decline in visitors choosing our coastal destinations, with the latest statistics showing a year-on-year drop of 14 per cent in domestic trips to the seaside – the largest decline seen across all destination types last year,' a spokesperson for Visit Britain tells me. 'Investment in our seaside resorts, including in quality accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets… [is] key to attracting visitors and to keeping them coming back.' A jet wash might be a good place to start.
