Latest news with #Filey
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Not bat interesting! Seaside town that inspired Dracula is the most BORING in the UK, poll finds
Whitby may have a historic abbey, be steeped in history and boast connections with literary greats Bram Stoker and Lewis Carroll. But according to a national survey the seaside town which inspired Dracula is just not exciting enough. Both Whitby and its sister resort of Filey have both been branded among the most boring in the country. The pollsters blamed a lack of glitzy attractions such as casinos, water parks, and other all weather entertainment venues for the poor scores. But when the Daily Mail visited both resorts, they spoke to visitors who fiercely disagreed. The survey shocked all five members of the Vardy family - Emma, Janet, Paul, Karl, and five-year-old Arthur who had just enjoyed a fantastic day out at Whitby Abbey. Janet said: 'Arthur loves it. He likes the rides he likes the beach there is lots to do and so much history. 'We stayed in the Royal Hotel and it could not have been better. The room is lovely and there is karaoke at night. 'There are cafes, shops - and a few arcades. There are lots of eating plus. There are tour buses to go on and a lot of them were covered.' Nodding in agreement, Emma added. 'There is never any trouble. Everyone is always friendly. 'Arthur likes to wander around and look at all the old street names like Love Lane and Henrietta Street. 'We like the old fashioned pubs. You do not come here for the night life. You come here because the place has got character.' Father of two John Brayshaw, 52, from Leeds said: 'We come at least three times a year and stay over and have done since the kids were little. 'There is plenty to do here. It is nice and quiet and no rubbish. 'What is a place like Whitby supposed to do? Flatten the North York Moors and build a bowling alley? We love the architecture, the cafes - and the chip butties.' His daughter Amber, 15, said: 'If things like that here it would not be the same and we would not come. It is family orientated.' Ice cream seller Tony Cervone, 61, has been trading in Whitby 20 years and has a passion for Dracula. He said: 'It is true there is nowhere to shelter in the rain. But you can always go to a restaurant or cafe. 'If you want a casino you can go to Scarborough. You come here for the history, a nice ride on the boat and spot for dolphins. 'There is always Dracula as well. A lot of people think he is buried in St Mary's Church yard.' Eric Beaumont, from Pickering, preferred Whitby to Scarborough but said the main problem with the town was not lack of attractions but parking. He is a fan of vintage machinery, such as tractor engines and old fairground rides and reckons both Whitby and Scarborough has plenty of those attractions. He said: 'I am only here for the steam traction rally. We have given up coming to Whitby because you can never get parked or you have to park so far away it takes all day. 'It is not that Whitby is tired. It is a good place and more or less on our doorstep. But you can never get parked so we don't usually bother coming.' Justine Osborn, 32, was on her annual pilgrimage from Durham with daughter Ellie, 14. Justine said: 'I can't believe it. We absolutely love Whitby. 'We come back every year even though we possibly do the same things. We would still be doing those same things even if it was raining. 'We love the hustle and bustle. It is just such a nice place and always busy. We could never think of it as boring. 'There is so much to do here whether it is raining or not. Fred Fleming, 61, and wife Pat, 55, had travelled from Belfast. He said: 'We are not bothered about a bit of rain. It rains every day in Belfast anyway. 'We have coming here for years and love it. The place does not need water parks and casinos. It is family orientated and there is so much history here. Accompanying them on their regular holiday, were Fred Fleming, 33, and Fred Fleming jnr, aged five. Fred snr said: 'No way is it boring. 'I find that a real shocker. Fred jnr loves the beach, the fish and chips, and the amusement arcades. 'Then there is all the historic churches, the shops and local colour to keep us entertained.' Visitors to Filey seafront were also outraged by the survey's findings. 'I love Filey. We have come ever since we were little kids,' said Ebony Frankland, from Nottinghamshire. 'I cannot think of anywhere else we went to as children. It is so dog friendly too. So I am surprised. 'A lot of people come here with their dogs or kids. So they can go into the amusements and that is all they need. 'Filey is a little coastal town and people love it because it is so quiet. There is not the space or infrastructure here for casinos or water parks so it would not mark sense.' Stephanie Louis, 38, was taking son Miles, aged seven, to Filey where she has been coming since she was a child. She said: 'I like that it is off the beaten track and not too touristy. It is unspoiled. I came here as a child and it still looks more or less the same as it did then. 'How many other places can say that? Asked by his mother what he thinks of Filey, Louis chirped up: 'I think it's great. I think I am gong to stay here and live here. I would not get bored.' Derek and Sylvia Thulborn, aged 85 and 81, were also enjoying Filey and ironically were heading to Whitby for the next stage of their holiday. They both preferred the traditional charm of Filey and Whitby to the brasher vibe of resorts like Scarborough. Derek said: 'We went to Scarborough yesterday and found it a little bit mad. We have only been in Filey three hours and we love it. 'Scarborough has lost its charm with everyone walking up and down with a glass of beer in their hand. 'The young nowadays do like a lot of action and excitement but we are more old fashioned and more your Downton Abbey sort of person. 'People expect too much these days. I am a Heartbeat fan too so I have love the whole area.' Sylvia added: 'Filey has a lovely beach and we like strolling along the prom or wandering through the nice gardens. 'It is our kind of place and so is Whitby where we are going next.' Sian Allsop, 27, from Worksop, was having a meal at a seafront cafe with twins Harper and Willow, aged six, and four year old Jack. Sian said: 'Filey as a nice as it is. You can go to Scarborough if you want to go to a casino. The beach is clean here and that is all we need.' They were accompanied by Megan Allsop-Wood, 30, and her little girls Marne, two, and Aria, four. Megan, from Durham, said it was family tradition, adding: 'We have come here for years. Our parents came here as kids too - and so did their parents.'
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Builder perseveres after Filey homes plan refused three times
A builder has put forward plans for five new houses, despite having three previous applications and an appeal Sawdon wants to build four three-bedroom terraced homes and a bungalow on the site at 12 Carlton Road in previous scheme, which was refused last spring, proposed seven dwellings, which Filey Town Council said would have resulted in "poor amenity for the residents".The project would also see the demolition of a builder's yard and electrical depot, which currently occupy the site. No date has been set for a decision to be made on the fresh proposal. Newly submitted plans for the development near Filey town centre state the "spacious terraced houses" would have "adequate external space and modern grouping design".The application also states the buildings would be constructed of brick "to reflect the locale".Last year, planning officers expressed concerns about a proposed large area for car parking, which they said would "create an environment dominated by vehicles".According to the updated proposal, all 12 parking spaces would be located on-site "so there would be no increase in existing or current traffic movements".The Highway Authority has already reviewed the updated scheme and has recommended "the existing access track be tarmacked, as with the proposed parking area, to provide a clear and suitable access route to the site".According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service a condition has also been proposed, stating that none of the properties can be occupied "until the related parking facilities have been constructed in accordance with the details approved".The proposal is currently pending consideration by North Yorkshire Council. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Remembering Yorkshire's Caribbean WW2 volunteers
A plaque above a door on a building in a North Yorkshire seaside resort is the only memorial to thousands of men from the Caribbean who came to Filey during World War Two. The recruits were there train at RAF Hunmanby Moor, a former Butlin's holiday camp which had been requisitioned by the government. "Caribbean people wanted to serve the mother country," said RAF veteran Douglas is the director of Forgotten Generations, which highlights the service of British African and Caribbean people."Initially there was a problem that they wanted to serve but because of the colour of their skin they weren't allowed to join the armed forces."So the colour bar was reduced, taken away, and then they were allowed to join." It is estimated that about 6,000 men came to the UK from Britain's Caribbean colonies to serve in the RAF. Among them were two of Glenn Parsons' uncles."One was Gilmour Westcarr and the other Edwin Samuals. They were both in their early 20s and both trained here at Filey and were dispersed off to other camps."They didn't have to come but they were proud to do so and proud to give service to the motherland, as it was then."Mr Parsons said what was so "interesting and vital" about the story of Hunmanby Moor is that it was pre-Windrush - the era when large numbers of West Indians emigrated to Britain to fill post-war labour shortages."The perception is that black people only came to this country after World War Two to help in the rebuilding of the economy."But what is not said is that thousands came over here in the war and helped win that war and were instrumental in turning the tide in favour of Britain and its allies." Mr Campbell said the first contingent of Caribbean troops, numbering 2,000, came in the summer of 1944, followed by a second group later that year."A lot of them would have been really excited because it was an adventure."Some of those people heard the King's call for them to serve the country but some didn't, they just had a mate who said 'do you want to come along'."About 4,000 of the recruits were sent to Hunmanby Moor for their initial would be 80 years before any memorial to them was erected to mark their service in Filey. Mr Parsons was one of those involved in ensuring they were remembered and said a handful of elderly, surviving veterans were able to attend the installation in said they remembered coming to a place by the sea and believing it would be like the Caribbean."They were in for a nasty shock. The sea was so cold they never went back in again."He said conditions for the men used to much warmer temperatures were not ideal."They were stationed in what was a Butlin's holiday camp, half-built at the time and commandeered, they were in huts heated by one pipe and unfortunately disease and illness ran rife."He said two men died at the camp and "conditions were pretty bleak".Of those who became air crew nearly a third were killed in action, according to the of those who survived would return to Britain as part of the Windrush to the camp, it was returned to Billy Butlin and its original with its own railway station, the camp was one of the largest owned by Butlin with accommodation for up to 11,000 would close in 1983 and the buildings, some of which had once been home to thousands of Caribbean volunteers, were gradually demolished. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
Six static caravans approved for Primrose Valley Holiday Park
Six new static caravans have been approved for a North Yorkshire holiday park despite residents' Leisure has been granted full planning permission from North Yorkshire Council for the caravans at its Primrose Valley site in caravans will be located within the existing park, between two existing groups of static homes. More than 60 objectors raised concerns about the impact on wildlife, the loss of lake views and the "already insufficient facilities for holiday makers". Filey Town Council also refused to support the application because of the "loss of amenity and green space" for residents, as well as "increased traffic and insufficient parking provision". According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, each new caravan pitch will have two car parking spaces and the development includes decking, associated access, landscaping, and infrastructure works.A report prepared by the council stated the proposal was visually proportionate to the existing caravan said the planned units were "low-level structures and inoffensive" that would be well-integrated into the officers said they did not consider there would be an undue un-neighbourly concluded that while the comments made by the town council and caravan owners at the park were noted, the majority of issues raised concern about the management of the park, not particularly this proposal. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- The Sun
Inside abandoned UK Butlin's resort now transformed into £25m holiday village with poolside sauna, arcades & playground
A ONCE-thriving Butlin's resort has been transformed into a £25million coastal holiday village with pools, saunas, an arcade, and spa. Billy Butlin's Filey campsite was once a haven for thousands of post-war Brits hoping for some beachside R&R. 9 9 Nestled between Scarborough and Bridlington in North Yorkshire, Filey pulled in more than 150,000 guests every year. Holidaymakers enjoyed swimming, sunbathing, dancing and amusement arcades at the seaside resort. In the evening, if they hadn't retired to their simple, yet homely chalets, they were treated to entertainment laid out by the famous Red Coats. The Butlin's campsite was so popular that it had its own branch and station on the north east railway - which is still open to this day. Despite its popularity, it was no match for the boom in affordable trips to Spain in the 1970s, and bosses closed it down in 1983. By 2001, it resembled a ghost town with the shells of abandoned cabins and drained swimming pools filled with rubbish. Richard Bailey, a former staff member at Filey, paid the site a visit that year and shared his findings on social media. "I was walking my dog along the beach towards Primrose Valley when I went in search of the remains of the old Butlin's holiday camp whereas an 18 year-old-art student I had worked in the summer holidays of 1968," he wrote. "There was still plenty of evidence of what had once been a holiday camp, including the chalets, fountains and remains of the outdoor and indoor pools." But now there's almost no trace of the original staycation provider at the redeveloped site, which is now called The Bay. The luxury complex has been described as a 'purpose-built holiday village on the clifftops. The first beach house was built in 2012 and in 2021 The Bay expanded to include a new 'Meadows development'. There are around 500 properties on the site, many are rented out by private owners. According to its website: "The developers paid great attention to the look and feel of The Bay, including boules courts, courtyards, grassed areas all around the development to make it a lovely setting. "Gardens are not enclosed partly to make it easier for our gardeners but also makes it a lovely communal holiday village." At the centre of the village is a 20 metre pool with a baby pool and sauna and steam rooms. There's also a gym for those who want to get the blood pumping. The Bay has a beauty room for holidaymakers looking for a bit of pampering, There's a pub on site, which serves food ad drink all day and in a slight nod to Butlins: a family entertainment centre with an arcade. There's even a purpose-built shop selling all the necessities and souvenirs. For kids under the age of 12, there's an adventure playground. Despite its luxurious feel, Filey Bay prides itself on being perfect for those on a budget. For a two-night stay in June, a two-bedroom apartment will cost £380. On the same dates, guests can also stay at the Sea Urchins beach house, which has king-size bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen for £464 . At the other end of the scale, a massive four-bedroom house with a sea view will cost £1,160.28 for two nights in June. 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
