'I went to find Benidorm's roughest pubs but things took dramatic turn'

Daily Record

4 days ago

Wendall found himself in the crosshairs of a group of street tricksters running the infamous "potato men" scam in the bustling Spanish resort.
A YouTuber on a quest to reveal the truth about Benidorm's notorious nightlife was attacked whilst venturing into its "roughest pubs".
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Wendall found himself in the crosshairs of a group of street tricksters running the infamous "potato men" scam in the bustling Spanish resort.
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The con involves swindlers hiding a pea under one of three hollowed-out potatoes and fooling inebriated tourists into placing bets, with a planted accomplice seemingly winning big to lure others in. When Wendall attempted to film the scam for his video titled 'Throat Punched On Benidorm's Roughest Pub Crawl', things quickly escalated, culminating in one of the group grabbing him by the throat.
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As soon as Wendall's camera came into sight, the scammers aggressively demanded he leave. "I'm just filming an interesting thing," he maintained, asking, "What's the problem with me filming?" However, their aggression only increased, reports the Daily Star.
After the attack, Wendall expressed his disbelief: "He punched me in the throat, just for filming the street."
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Deciding it was best to lay low, Wendall retreated into what he humorously referred to as "some of Benidorm's roughest pubs".
During these escapades, he encountered numerous rowdy, often shirtless Brits enjoying stag and hen parties or indulging in extended stays at this popular holiday destination.
Most of the party-goers he met were having a great time, with many seen enjoying pints at Uncle Ron's bar where a pint of lager is only €1, roughly 90p. The landlord of Uncle Ron 's claims to serve the cheapest pint in Benidorm, which could well be the most affordable beverage in Western Europe.
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The proprietor acknowledges that whilst the bargain-basement pint operates as a loss-leader, it draws punters who frequently end up purchasing food alongside their beverage, guaranteeing he still makes money on the ale, "just not terribly much."
Beyond the hectic main thoroughfare, though, numerous Benidorm drinking establishments are battling to survive. Several have closed their doors permanently.
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Wendall discovered one such abandoned boozer that had been converted into a temporary shelter for rough sleepers. Wendall decided to conclude his pub crawl at the resort's most notorious establishment.
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"Pretty much everybody I spoke to as I went around said the Red Lion's the roughest pub," he observed.
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"It hasn't got a good reputation."
Nevertheless, Wendall seemed to have a cracking time, even getting recruited by the bloke outside to help lure customers with the offer of a free shot. Despite its fearsome reputation, Benidorm's hardest pub provided a remarkably subdued experience.
"If there's going to be a brawl on the strip," he admitted, "it's normally outside there," but he also remarked "it's the centre of the Benidorm strip really. So what do you expect?".
Certainly, for an early evening drink, this establishment is worlds apart from the dodgy business of watching the potato vendors conduct their operations.