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The Irish Sun
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Victorian seaside town with historic cliff railway & oldest pier in Wales gets set for £60million makeover
A VICTORIAN seaside town is set to undergo a significant makeover that could further boost its tourism. The Welsh town, which features a cliff railway and the country's oldest pier, will see its historic promenade upgraded as part of the work. 5 Aberystwyth is set to undergo a significant revamp, including work to its historic promenade Credit: Getty 5 Work is currently being carried out on the seaside town's promenade, which dates back to the Victorian era Credit: Getty With a population of around 15,000, this seaside resort is thought to date back as far as the Mesolithic Age. In 1865, Aberystwyth opened the Royal Pier, the first of its kind in Wales. Though much shorter after decades of storms, the original structure still stands and is home to an ice-cream shop, a pub, a snooker hall, a restaurant, an amusement arcade centre, and also a nightclub. The town's historic promenade has also faced wear and tear over the years due to its close proximity to the Irish Sea. Read More On Seaside Towns And now the Prom is set to undergo a development to turn it into a "more vibrant, accessible, and attractive space for residents and visitors alike", according to The project involves improvements to the public space, including upgraded street lighting, enhanced footpaths, and new street furniture to "refresh and modernise the promenade". "These upgrades will create a welcoming and safe environment, making the promenade an inviting space to enjoy year-round," the council said. These improvements, together with a redevelopment of the town's historic Old College, are funded by a £10.8 million influx from the UK Government. Most read in News Travel They are hoped to "breathe new life into an area rich in cultural heritage". The Promenade project is set to stimulate new investment, "creating opportunities and boosting confidence in the town", building on Aberystwyth's "rightful place as an attractor destination". Inside little-known seaside spot right next to the country's most iconic sites Councillor Alun Williams, Deputy Leader of Ceredigion County Council spoke about the ongoing work. "This is a transformative programme of works for Aberystwyth," he said. "Combined, we are seeing over £60 million of investment into the town. "The new promenade will greatly improve links with other attractions like the Castle Grounds and the revitalised Old College. "It will offer more space for active travel and healthier lifestyles as well as adding to the all-round beauty of the seafront. 'Downtrodden' English ghost town where locals feel 'left behind' being turned into 'vibrant' shopping hub in £9m revamp By Nicole Cherruault A "DOWNTRODDEN" English ghost town is being turned into a "vibrant" shopping hub in a £9million revamp. The town in northern Manchester set to totally transform as the More than 600 people were consulted over renovation plans in Eccles, Salford and work has now started on demolishing the town's shopping centre, which was suffering from falling visitors numbers. Following the demolition stage, a development partner will be appointed to bring new life to what residents described as a "downtrodden" town, reports The objective, the council said, is to create a "vibrant" and a "fit for purpose" centre for people to enjoy. Attracting more independent retailers, and new bars and cafes are among the council's top priorities. And just three miles from Salford Quays and Manchester city centre, the redevelopment project looks set to transform the area into a buzzing place for young professionals and business owners. This comes as locals despaired over the ailing town, saying they felt it had been "left behind" and it was in desperate need of some "drastic" improvements. The council stressed that the demolition work will be a long process, with the initial phase due only to be completed by the end of the year. However, Councillor Mike McCusker reassured locals that despite the renovations, the town centre "remains open for business", stressing that the works only affect a few areas. He said: 'Whilst we work on the town centre of the future, today's town centre remains open for business,' said Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford council. 'I want to stress that this demolition work only affects certain parts of the town centre. 'The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work.' Meanwhile, Councillor McCusker, who represents the Eccles ward, shared his enthusiasm for the project, in particular for its focus on the local community. In a statement, he spoke of his "excitement" for the times ahead in materialising their vision for a brighter, more dynamic Eccles. He said 'Through our purchase of the shopping centre, we were able to put the future of the town centre in the hands of the council and the community. 'It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work, to deliver the vision we have developed with the community. 'The demolition work will take some time, but there are exciting times ahead for Eccles as we work to bring this vision to life.' "The consequent increased footfall will then naturally lead to business growth. "It's good to see some of the improvements already in place, like the new lighting around the war memorial at Castle Point.' The overall project is anticipated to conclude this summer. According to The walkway leads to the town's "best vantage point" at the end of north beach's promenade, atop the 430 feet that is And if that incline sounds too much, especially on a hot summer's day which have been known to peak as high as the high 20s in Aberystwyth, don't worry. The town's famous funicular Cliff Railway operates from April to October, leading to the world's largest Camera Obscura, which includes a cafe and gift shop. It was first opened in 1896 as a means of transporting people between the arcades and restaurant located at the foot of the hill to the park on top. Adults can still enjoy a return trip for just £7 per person, while children pay £6. And as well as enjoying this panoramic view, visitors can also take in the town's vibrant history. You can travel through the centuries from , an Iron Age hillfort to a 1850s monument, erected as a memorial to the first Duke of Wellington. 5 The town's funicular railway offers stunning views of the Welsh coast Credit: Getty 5 The town features a castle and the Old University, which was first constructed as a hotel in 1865 Credit: Getty The ruins of , originally an English castle built to keep the Welsh out in the 13th century, are also worth a visit. This structure dates back to the same era as the nearby Flint, Rhuddlan, and Builth Wells' castles. is worth a visit, as is the neighbouring , home to historic books as well as the smallest book in the world. And in a town where even the local college dates back to 1865, when it was first erected as a luxury hotel, you won't be short of history to lap up. But it's not just ancient attractions in this town, you can also enjoy the town's beaches, with the South Beach offering a long golden strand compared to the North's shingle. However, don't rule out the latter for a fun family day out as donkey rides are available during the warmer months. And there's no shortage of accommodation, with seafront options including , and , or the , with rates starting from just £ 60 per night. There is also a wide variety of gastro pubs and restaurants in the area, including many tapas bars. Aberystwyth is located in Mid Wales, less than a three hour drive from both Birmingham and Cardiff, and is home to Hollywood star Taron Egerton. If you're looking for other Welsh towns to visit, another seaside town is also 5 The Royal Pier in Aberystwyth is the oldest pier in Wales Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
The medieval English seaside town overlooked by its famous neighbours with seal colonies and fantastic restaurant scene
Steeped in rich history, the town was one of the five historic Cinque Ports LOAF ABOUT The medieval English seaside town overlooked by its famous neighbours with seal colonies and fantastic restaurant scene Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT was just as the boat turned south out of the River Stour estuary that we got our first glimpse of them. On the sandbanks of the salt channels were dozens of gluttonous seals stretching out in the spring sun, many of the females showing off their pregnant bellies. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Have fun on the Kent river Credit: Alamy 4 A plush room at The Dog At Wingham Credit: Supplied We'd joined the River Runner seal cruise from the Quay in Sandwich, Kent, on a two-hour trip down to Ramsgate to catch sight of their local colony of seals. There's loads of fun to be had, with herons, little egrets, kingfishers and oystercatchers to spot with binoculars on the journey down the channel. It was just one of the highlights from our weekend in Sandwich, which is the most complete medieval town in Britain. Just over an hour from London by train, this quaint coastal settlement is a hidden gem between the more popular tourist destinations of Margate and Folkestone. Steeped in rich history, it was one of the five historic Cinque Ports. Alongside Hastings, New Romney, Hythe and Dover, these formed an alliance before the Norman conquest to provide ships and men to the crown in return for special privileges. We stopped by the Guildhall museum in the town centre, which is free to enter and is home to some of the town's most prized possessions, including the 'Sandwich gold silks' from the Coronation of King George II in 1727. The 16th-century building tells the story of the town to the present day and highly informed tour guides from the Sandwich Local History Society can guide you through viewings of the Sandwich Magna Carta from 1300AD and other treasures dating back to the Mesolithic Age. Stepping outside the museum you'll find yourself in the market square where there are stalls selling freshly baked goods and local arts and crafts. From here you can wander down through a street of independent boutique shops selling clothes and homewares, to St Peter's Church, which is home to a bric-a-brac market full of pre-loved local books, ornaments and toys. To get a higher view over the town, you can climb the church tower for a £5 donation (£4 for children) or just relax with coffee-and-walnut cake in the courtyard and listen to the bells ring. I'm a foodie and you've been making a bacon sandwich all wrong There's an abundance of activities to enjoy in the town itself, too. We visited the Cat's Eye Carving on Market Street where we had a go at stone-carving with Jurassic limestone. An class — hosted in the shop — involves a demonstration using traditional stonemasonry tools, before creating your own sculpture to take home. Just outside the town you'll find Wingham Wildlife Park, which is Kent's fastest-growing zoo. As well as seeing everything from red pandas to moon bears, you can enjoy one-on-one experiences with animals including giraffes, tigers and tortoises for an extra charge. Seaside ambience The village of Wingham, just six miles from Sandwich, was also where we stayed — at much-loved gastro pub The Dog At Wingham. The eight bedrooms are all individually designed, with exposed brickwork and beams as well as all the modern comforts. We tried the pub's new a-la- carte menu for spring, with dishes such as devilled crab sourdough, £14, salt-cod and potato fondant, £25, and Kentish lamb, £30. The pub is very popular so it's recommended to book a spot for dinner. The breakfasts were great, too, with huge portions to set you up for the day. And the food in town was equally impressive. We enjoyed smoked salmon and cream-cheese sandwiches in The Waiting Room cafe, a lovely spot in the centre of town. 4 A chillled ot seal on the beach Credit: Alamy 4 Jess Wilson on board a boat for a ride Credit: Supplied But the highlight of the weekend was without a doubt dinner at The Toll Bridge Restaurant on The Quay. This was the best restaurant in town, with a lovely seaside ambience and laidback vibe, while the food was Michelin-star quality. We tried a selection of dishes on the menu including local Kentish mussels cooked in cream and white wine, scallops and homemade fish and chips. The warm bread and whipped butter with whole roasted garlic bulb was also a highlight, as was the frozen hazelnut parfait with white chocolate wafer. Top tip — turn up hungry.
