Tiny UK seaside village with pretty beach once named among Britain's dirtiest
The number of UK beaches awarded the Brown Flag Award went up by almost 50% in the past year, but this Kentish seaside spot was the only one to buck the trend
St Mary's Bay in Kent was so infamously filthy that it was given the notorious Brown Flag Award due to the amount of bacteria in its waters, based on official Environment Agency data.
Caused by sewage, agricultural runoff and drainage issues, the negative publicity the beach subsequently received deterred visitors and impacted local tourism, with residents and business owners expressing frustration at the persistent pollution and its effect on the area's reputation.
For years, St Mary's Bay struggled with water quality issues. The Environment Agency even posted 'Do Not Swim' warnings after detecting significant levels of faecal matter in the sea during the summer of 2023.
At the time, an Environment Agency spokesman said: "[We] will continue to work with its partners to fully investigate the reasons for the decline in bathing water quality at St Mary's Bay. All agencies involved are working to identify, remove and reduce the sources of the pollution to ensure that the status of this bathing water improves.
"As part of our investigations, we are monitoring several potential sources of pollution including septic tanks, misconnections and potential sources of diffuse pollution."
Southern Water and other agencies also acknowledged the challenges, citing the complex causes and pledging to improve the situation through better monitoring and pollution source identification. Local campaigners and politicians also called for more testing and investment in water infrastructure to ensure accurate, up-to-date assessments.
Holidayparkguru.co.uk's analysis of the Environment Agency's summer water quality data identified beaches not up to cleanliness standards, with the number of Brown Flag beaches in England jumping from 13 in 2024 to 19 in 2025 — a 46% increase.
But St Mary's Bay has bucked this trend to achieve a remarkable turnaround. Over the past year, it became the only beach in the country to be upgraded from 'poor' to 'sufficient' in water quality, resulting in the removal of its Brown Flag status. This improvement is the result of sustained efforts by local authorities, environmental agencies and community groups, who worked together to clean up the beach, upgrade sewage treatment and raise public awareness about the causes of pollution.
Today, St Mary's Bay stands out as a revitalised and attractive seaside village, its long stretch of sandy and shingle beach offering a peaceful escape, while also connecting with the nearby Littlestone and Dymchurch beaches. The bay's promenade provides scenic views of the English Channel and the area's tranquil atmosphere, free from large commercial developments, preserves its traditional seaside charm.
The transformation of St Mary's Bay is a testament to the impact of community action and targeted investment. While Kent still has three beaches on the 2025 Brown Flag list — the joint highest in England alongside Somerset — St Mary's Bay is no longer among them, having successfully 'cleaned up its act'.
Robbie Lane from HolidayParkGuru.co.uk said: 'I would like to extend my sympathies to beaches in Worthing, Lyme Regis and the other newcomers who have given Brown Flag Awards for the first time.
'Commiserations also to Weston Super Mare, Blackpool and other resorts that have retained their 'awards', like a stubborn barnacle clinging onto a sewer pipe. We had hoped that we'd handing out fewer Brown Flags this year — but the numbers have surged.
'Several of the newcomers are newly designated swimming spots whilst others have gone down the pan since last year. The good news is that two-thirds of beaches in England are rated as 'excellent' for their water quality.
'Do your research this summer and you'll be saying 'wish you were here' rather than 'wish I'd worn a hazmat suit'.
'Let's give a shout out to St Mary's Bay in Kent, which is the only beach in the whole country that managed to wipe away its Brown Flag!'
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