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Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'Even the bouncers looked like they were falling asleep!': Has 'Britain's Magaluf' turned into a seaside paradise for booze-free Gen-Z?
A wave of momentary panic came over me as I looked around at the elderly couples and families sat at the boarding gate - had I misread the departures board? Surely this flight should be full of stags and hens who are about to torture me for an hour and a half as they screech Sweet Caroline on a loop all the way to Newquay? But no, instead we all sat quietly on the plane with the only interruptions being a gurgle from a bonny baby and a few wealthy sounding laughs from elegant ladies with fabulous blow dries and husbands who look like they've never told them no. I'd never even been to Cornwall before, let alone Newquay, and my only impression of it was how haggard my dad and brother had looked after they'd come home from stag dos there when I was young. But what I was met with when I stepped off the plane was a far cry from the mayhem my feral sibling and dad had indulged all those years ago. Because yes, it seems Newquay, the seaside town once dubbed 'Britain's Magaluf' has completely overhauled its image. Locals and business owners say Newquay is unrecognisable these days after the council put their foot down and introduced a strict no-nonsense 'mankini ban' in 2009. The new law, part of the award-winning Newquay Safe campaign, banned all 'inappropriate clothing' - mainly fancy dress - in public. It was a crackdown born from tragedy after two drunken teenagers plunged to their deaths from cliffs whilst on nights out in the town. Andrew Curwell, 18, was on holiday celebrating the end of his A-level exams with friends when he died on June 28, 2009. After drifting apart from his friends on a pub crawl, the teenager lost his wallet and horrifically fell 100ft from a cliff as he searched for it. Just nine days later, Paddy Higgins, 16, met the same tragic fate when he also plummeted from a cliff on Tolcarne Beach. Similarly to Andrew, Paddy had been blowing off steam with pals after finishing their GCSEs and was found to be three times over the legal drink-drive limit in post-mortem exams. The two youngsters deaths paired with the general chaos of the rowdy nightlife spurred on the council's plan to reform the area. And it worked, by 2012, Devon and Cornwall Police reported a 20 per cent drop in crime compared to 2009, with anti-social behaviour incidents dropping from 685 to just 286. Now, there I was 16 years on, tasked with figuring out if the good behaviour was being kept up - and perhaps, if it was actually worth it? I live in London and went to a school in deep Towie territory - AKA Brentwood. I got my hands on a fake ID at an age far younger than I'd like to admit, so I'm no stranger to boozing culture. But in the cab from the airport to the hotel I couldn't spot a single person who looked like they had gone near a pint in years. I put my window down to give my lungs a dose of sea air and was hit with the surprising smell of cannabis. The highstreet seemed stuck between two identities - a traditional seaside resort with budget souvenir shops and fast food joints and a quaint upmarket town with Dalston-esque coffee shops run by millennials backed by the bank of mum and dad Then I spotted the surfers - sandy hair, tanned skin, wet suits, bare feet and an air of superiority that makes your eye start twitching. Ah, it's THAT kind of town now. 'Yes, it's much calmer now,' my taxi driver told me, 'It's all surfers and families. We still get the stags and hens but not as many and they don't cause problems when they get in the car.' Hmm, perhaps I won't be needing that Berocca after all, I thought to myself. I dumped my bags in my hotel room and gawked at the breath-taking view of the beach from my window before heading out to explore Newquay in the daylight. The highstreet seemed stuck between two identities - a traditional seaside resort with budget souvenir shops and fast food joints and a quaint upmarket town with Dalston-esque coffee shops run by millennials backed by the bank of mum and dad. Why is there a rundown Original Factory Shop, a Bargain Booze and a Peacocks on the same stretch of road as a CBD shop and an independent cafe where they put an edible flower in my latte? It appeared to have become somewhat of a gentrified Clacton-on-Sea - where I spent every weekend and school holiday as a caravan kid. I whipped out my phone, pulled up TikTok and searched for 'Newquay lunch spots' and decided to head to a popular joint other Gen Z's were raving about in their videos. Blend, which dubs itself 'Bali on the bay', was brimming with trendy 20-somethings and a few families tucking into Instagram worthy smoothie bowls overflowing with fruit and bright green glasses of iced matcha. I ordered the sunset bowl and a white chocolate matcha, and whilst both were delicious, I couldn't help but feel a fry-up and full fat coke would be a better - and more respectable - hangover cure. But some locals argue that despite its respectable new look, Newquay isn't as calm as others say. Alan McCusker, 47, said: 'There is still a scene here and it does get way out of control sometimes. 'I saw a guy pick another man up by the gold chain around his neck outside a nightclub recently.' The father-of-five insisted it still gets 'very violent, very quickly' at night during the busy summer months. Now unsure of what to expect, I headed back to my room to get ready for my night out on the town. During the day it had been hard to walk down the main strip where hundreds of families were mooching around buying trinkets or begrudgingly letting their kids get airbrush tattoos. But now it was a complete ghost town, so quiet that it almost felt eerie as the sea fret lay like a salty blanket over our heads. Nearing the end of the highstreet, I started to see and hear some signs of life which we soon discovered were coming from the watering hole of choice for... well everyone. The Central Inn gave huge Wetherspoon vibes - an outdoor area where most people had plotted up attached to a dark pub with maroon carpets harbouring the smell of stale beer with a few red-nosed old men sat in the corner. It was just outside here that we finally found our first herd of slurring stags in matching t-shirts emblazoned with nicknames which I am sure were hilarious to them. Leading the pack was Vil, who was having a final blow out before his upcoming wedding in Birmingham. I tried to speak to them, but they were far to busy posing for my photographer and the only response I got from any of them was painfully loud 'Weheyyy!'. We set the young bucks free and watched them stumble into the night before heading into the The Central Inn. Outside sat around a table were a group of excitable hens wearing some questionable novelty shirts and downing drinks as if it were the end of a prohibition. Slurring her words, the bride-to-be Gemma Jones told me she had chosen the quiet town for the girl's trip purely for nostalgia. 'I just love Newquay. We've been coming here for years. Every girls' weekend we come here.' But they were not planning to go out drinking the next day and instead her thoughtful pals had arranged a relaxing spa day for the following morning. Around an hour later, we came across the next group of revellers dressed up to the nines as cowgirls and cowboys. Sky Hemphill was seeing in her 23rd birthday in a pink corset, tutu and cowgirl boots as she and her gang stumbled around the streets - with one tumbling over when her heel got caught on a cobble stone. I assumed they were out-of-towners but Sky told me she had moved to Newquay a year ago because 'I'm 23 and want to live by the beach, why not!' - fair enough. 'I love it here. It's not as lively as it was before but it will liven up more in a few weeks time,' she said before being dragged away by a friend desperate to carry on their boozy pilgrimage. One local, who asked to remain anonymous, gave me good insight into how the bars and pubs work together to ward off any trouble. He said: 'It used to be bad for the hen and stag dos but it's right calmed down now. 'They've introduced these rules and the pubs work together, so if there's a rowdy group of stags they get on the radio and warn the other pubs and then they're basically banned from them all. 'And if they try to go in some bars and clubs in those outfits they will turn them away. 'Newquay is aimed more at families now, which is good. There used to be loads of strip clubs and people on the roads like promoters handing out tokens but it's all gone now. It's shed that reputation and it's much nicer now.' I sat outside The Central Inn for another hour. It was very dull - even the bouncers looked like they were falling asleep. Off on another walk around, we trotted past Sailors pub and club which is supposedly very popular but there was barely anyone there and I wouldn't have been surprised if a tumble weed drifted past. The Dead Famous, another spot which is said to be favoured by young people, only lived up to the first part of its name. Even the Belushi's was basically dormant. It was all getting painfully boring until we walked back past The Central Inn and witnessed a jacked up man land a devastating right-hander on a much smaller and drunker guy in front of a bar with an arcade boxing machine outside. I rushed over to the now hysterical victim Callum who had blood pouring down his face to find out what happened. 'I don't even know him!' he wailed, 'He was walking around saying he wanted to punch someone, so I asked him who he wanted to punch and then he punched me in the face!' Callum was being tended to by a group of underage girls who had been swigging vodka on the streets and approaching everyone and anyone for a hug and told me several times how much they loved me. They reminded me of my street raking self at their age and so I stuck around to give them a big sister lecture on staying away from older men and getting home safe. Perhaps I made them feel comfortable or, more likely, the cheap liquor made them loose lipped as they soon started trauma dumping on me about their parents and boyfriends. Some of the horrific things they had been through at the ages of just 14, 15 and 16 made it clear why they were drinking and smoking so chaotically on the streets. By the time I finished comforting them it was half past 12 and we decided to call it a night. I sat and reflected on my Newquay trip whilst taking off my makeup in my hotel room and came to a conclusion. During the day, it's as good and as busy as any seaside town, even with the smug surfer dudes and social class confused high-street. But the only words I could think of to accurately describe Newquay nights were: dead, boring and rather sad. The ghosts of its heyday haunt the streets in the form of troubled underage drinkers, the occasional stag or hen do there for nostalgia rather than crowds and sporadic bust ups between men just desperate to feel something. If you deem that to be a success for the councils crackdown, then so be it, but I found myself pining for more people, more laughter and even just a little bit more chaos.
Scottish Sun
26-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Our beautiful seaside town was once dubbed the Magaluf of Britain – strict ‘mankini ban' saved us
'Britain's Magaluf' has cleaned up since the mankini ban was introduced MAN ALIVE Our beautiful seaside town was once dubbed the Magaluf of Britain – strict 'mankini ban' saved us A SEASIDE town that was once known as 'Britain's Magaluf' is unrecognisable after cleaning up its image - and banning mankinis. Business owners and locals say they hardly recognise Newquay in Cornwall, after a major effort was made to shed its 'wild west' reputation. Advertisement 11 The mankini ban was introduced in 2009 Credit: Brad Wakefield - The Sun 11 The seaside town was once dubbed the 'Britain's Magaluf' Credit: Brad Wakefield - The Sun The coastal spot had a reputation for rowdiness and was known for playing host to stag dos, lads holidays and drunken teenage gatherings. The council finally had enough and in 2009 introduced a "mankini ban." The new law, which was part of the award-winning Newquay Safe campaign, banned mankinis and other "inappropriate clothing" such as fancy dress in public. The campaign was introduced after two teenagers tragically died on nights out in the town. Advertisement It was a huge success, Devon and Cornwall Police reported crime in 2012 fell by one-fifth compared to 2009. Reports of anti-social behaviour also dropped from 685 to 286 in those years. Long suffering locals say Newquay today is a world apart from its past. Independent coffee shops line the high street where the infamous Bertie's nightclub, which closed its doors last year. Advertisement Families walk along the quiet coast and take surfing lessons, while older residents play bowls overlooking the beach. Vintage and skate and surf clothing stores are dotted amongst quaint pasty shops. The only markers of a different time are the arcades in the town centre. Arcade worker Maddie Grover, 25, says that while there are still stag dos, they're "not as bad as they were at the time." Advertisement She grew up in the town and said the area particularly quietened down after Bertie's closed down. She said now some clubs don't allow stag dos inside if the attendees are dressed up. Maddie added: "The high street is a little bit rowdy in the central area. It's better now, it's more calm, there aren't as many fights. "We see lots of families because we work in an arcade but we see a lot more families in general." Advertisement 11 The town is now home to vintage shops and surf shops Credit: SWNS 11 Locals say the town has gone through a major change since the mankini was banned Credit: Brad Wakefield - The Sun 11 Andy said he is happy that the town has cleaned up its act Credit: SWNS Andy, 40, is happy the town had shed its former reputation, he said: "I definitely think it's better. Advertisement "There's a higher level of respect and there isn't the locals being like: 'Oh God.' "Silly season, we expect, but it's not something you're dreading anymore. You're not dodging vomit on the high street. "I skateboard from the top of the hill to the shop and there's no longer passed-out people, people who have vomited everywhere and broken glass. It's cleaned up quite a lot since then. "I just see hungry, happy, people wandering around in the mornings looking for a good breakfast. Advertisement "There are families coming down, and the families that come down have that mentality of: 'I'd love to live here because of how it is.' "Compared to before when you would walk down the high street and see six dudes in mankinis and none of them have seen a gym before and you're like: 'Great.' "You still get stag and hen dos but they've been reined in. There are certain rules and regulations, like the mankini ban. You're not allowed fancy dress in certain bars over a certain time in the evenings. 11 Families now visit the seaside town Credit: SWNS Advertisement 11 Most of the clubs in the town have now closed down or been replaced Credit: Mike Lusmore - The Sun 11 A number of new businesses have opened on the high street Credit: SWNS Andy, who likes to wear spandex and cowboy boots, complained that the rules were so strict it had meant staff had refused him entry. "There's a difference between fancy dress and dressing fancy", he said. Advertisement "It's entertaining to a certain degree. The way I see it, living in Newquay, if you think you're in the circus, it's a headache; if you think it is a circus and you're just watching it, it's quite funny because you're not taking it seriously. "Fights are fights, it's always going to happen. It's the nature of mixing alcohol with idiots. You might not get it to such a grand scale now but it's still going to happen. "We want you to have a good time but also we want to have a good time, so don't knock the bins over at 3am and wake everybody up. "It's just goofy stuff and not stuff the police can be running round and dealing with." Advertisement He said tourists were attracted by the "little town mentality and community." Seaside town Andy added: "Everyone's welcome until they do something stupid and then they get shunned. "It's a small town; crime is pretty low." However, he said there was a problem with second homes - an epidemic across Cornwall. Advertisement Locals complain they are being priced out of their picturesque towns by people buying up their houses and raising costs. Andy added: "There is a problem with second homes and the council renting out homes to undesirables. I've noticed that quite a lot. "Families are just shoved in and they then treat the place like crap and then a couple months later they get kicked back out again because the council looks at the state of the place and goes: 'Oh, you're not taking care of this.' That happens quite a lot." Peron Wills, a climbing instructor from nearby St Dennis, said he was part of the nightlife when he was younger. Advertisement 11 Peron is now a climbing instructor but was once part of the town's rowdy scene Credit: SWNS 11 Most of the seaside town's clubs have now shut down and the beach has been cleaned up Credit: SWNS 11 The small town once played host to rowdy stag dos Credit: Alamy The 38-year-old said: "It's not as good a night out as it used to be. Advertisement "I have been on stag dos here and they were pretty crazy. They have New Year's and Christmas parties still but I think it used to be crazier. "I don't go out anymore so I just assume nobody does." Mark Dixon has been in Newquay for 40 years. The arcade worker said it is nowhere near as busy as it used to be, as Newquay would be "booming" from the Easter holidays until the October half term. However, he pointed to a trend rising throughout Cornwall - the second home. Advertisement Mark, 58, said: "We haven't got any hotels anymore; most of them have been converted. There used to be a lot of guest houses but now there are second homes no one can afford. "When I was younger there were quite a lot of clubs and pubs. Sailors is the only club we have in town. "Bertie's shut; Hotel Victoria, Prince Albert pub." He said the newcomers sometimes didn't understand the small nature of the town. Advertisement Mark said: "People ask us: 'Can you tell me where River Island is?' "We say we haven't got one and they look at you and wonder how we exist.
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Our beautiful seaside town was once dubbed the Magaluf of Britain – strict ‘mankini ban' saved us
A SEASIDE town that was once known as 'Britain's Magaluf' is unrecognisable after cleaning up its image - and banning mankinis. Business owners and locals say they hardly recognise 11 The mankini ban was introduced in 2009 Credit: Brad Wakefield - The Sun 11 The seaside town was once dubbed the 'Britain's Magaluf' Credit: Brad Wakefield - The Sun The coastal spot had a reputation for rowdiness and was known for playing host to The council finally had enough and in 2009 introduced a "mankini ban." The new law, which was part of the award-winning Newquay Safe campaign, banned mankinis and other "inappropriate clothing" such as fancy dress in public. The campaign was introduced after two teenagers tragically died on nights out in the town. Read more in News It was a huge success, Devon and Cornwall Police reported crime in 2012 fell by one-fifth compared to 2009. Reports of anti-social behaviour also dropped from 685 to 286 in those years. Long suffering locals say Independent coffee shops line the high street where the infamous Bertie's nightclub, which closed its doors last year. Most read in The Sun Families walk along the quiet coast and take surfing lessons, while older residents play bowls overlooking the beach. Vintage and skate and surf clothing stores are dotted amongst quaint pasty shops. The only markers of a different time are the arcades in the town centre. She grew up in the town and said the area particularly quietened down after Bertie's closed down. She said now some clubs don't allow stag dos inside if the attendees are dressed up. Maddie added: "The high street is a "We see lots of families because we work in an arcade but we see a lot more families in general." 11 The town is now home to vintage shops and surf shops Credit: SWNS 11 Locals say the town has gone through a major change since the mankini was banned Credit: Brad Wakefield - The Sun 11 Andy said he is happy that the town has cleaned up its act Credit: SWNS Andy, 40, is happy the town had shed its former reputation, he said: "I definitely think it's better. "There's a higher level of respect and there isn't the "Silly season, we expect, but it's not something you're dreading anymore. You're not dodging vomit on the high street. "I skateboard from the top of the hill to the shop and there's no longer passed-out people, people who have vomited everywhere and broken glass. It's "I just see hungry, happy, people wandering around in the mornings looking for a good breakfast. "There are families coming down, and the families that come down have that mentality of: 'I'd love to live here because of how it is.' "Compared to before when you would walk down the high street and see six dudes in mankinis and none of them have seen a gym before and you're like: 'Great.' "You still get stag and hen dos but they've been reined in. There are certain rules and regulations, like the mankini ban. You're not allowed fancy dress in certain bars over a certain time in the evenings. 11 Families now visit the seaside town Credit: SWNS 11 Most of the clubs in the town have now closed down or been replaced Credit: Mike Lusmore - The Sun 11 A number of new businesses have opened on the high street Credit: SWNS Andy, who likes to wear spandex and cowboy boots, complained that the rules were so strict it had meant staff had "There's a difference between fancy dress and dressing fancy", he said. "It's entertaining to a certain degree. The way I see it, living in Newquay, if you think you're in the circus, it's a headache; if you think it is a circus and you're just watching it, it's quite funny because you're not taking it seriously. "Fights are fights, it's always going to happen. It's the nature of mixing "We want you to have a good time but also we want to have a good time, so don't knock the bins over at 3am and wake everybody up. "It's just goofy stuff and not stuff the police can be running round and dealing with." He said Seaside town Andy added: "Everyone's welcome until they do something stupid and then they get shunned. "It's a small town; crime is pretty low." However, he said there was a problem with Locals complain they are being priced out of their picturesque towns by people buying up their houses and raising costs. Andy added: "There is a problem with second homes and the council renting out homes to undesirables. I've noticed that quite a lot. "Families are just shoved in and they then treat the place like crap and then a couple months later they get kicked back out again because the council looks at the state of the place and goes: 'Oh, you're not taking care of this.' That happens quite a lot." Peron Wills, a climbing instructor from nearby St Dennis, said he was part of the nightlife when he was younger. 11 Peron is now a climbing instructor but was once part of the town's rowdy scene Credit: SWNS 11 Most of the seaside town's clubs have now shut down and the beach has been cleaned up Credit: SWNS 11 The small town once played host to rowdy stag dos Credit: Alamy The 38-year-old said: "It's not as good a night out as it used to be. "I have been on "I don't go out anymore so I just assume nobody does." Mark Dixon has been in Newquay for 40 years. The arcade worker said it is nowhere near as busy as it used to be, as Newquay would be "booming" from the Easter holidays until the October half term. However, he pointed to a trend rising throughout Mark, 58, said: "We haven't got any hotels anymore; most of them have been converted. There used to be a lot of guest houses but now there are second homes no one can afford. "When I was younger there were quite a lot of clubs and pubs. Sailors is the only club we have in town. "Bertie's shut; Hotel Victoria, Prince Albert pub." He said the newcomers sometimes didn't understand the small nature of the town. Mark said: "People ask us: 'Can you tell me where River Island is?' "We say we haven't got one and they look at you and wonder how we exist.
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Britain's Magaluf' unrecognisable since 'mankini ban - but not everyone is happy
Newquay in Cornwall was once known as the go-to place for hen and stag parties, but is now unrecognisable since the council cracked down on the drunken antics including the wearing of makinis The seaside resort once dubbed 'Britain's Magaluf ' has transformed beyond recognition after ditching its raucous image – and outlawing mankinis, according to local residents. Shopkeepers and residents of Newquay in Cornwall hardly know the town anymore since it made a determined effort to lose its 'wild west' tag. Famed for its unruly atmosphere due to stag dos, boys' holidays, and boisterous teen celebrations, the coastal spot has seen dramatic change. In response to growing concerns, the council imposed a "mankini ban" in 2009. As part of the lauded Newquay Safe initiative, this rule prohibited mankinis and other "inappropriate clothing" like fancy dress in public areas. This action was spurred by the tragic deaths of two teens during night outs in the area. The initiative proved successful, with Devon and Cornwall Police reporting a reduction in crime by one-fifth when comparing 2012 to 2009 figures. Incidents of anti-social behaviour also plummeted from 685 to 286 during these specific years. Locals, long wearied by incessant partying, say that today's Newquay is in stark contrast to its boisterous past. Where the notorious Bertie's nightclub used to stand, now quaint independent coffee shops adorn the main thoroughfare - the club shuttered last year. Nowadays, families enjoy peaceful strolls along the shore and engage in surfing lessons, while the elderly can be seen playing bowls with the scenic beach as their backdrop. Vintage boutiques, skate shops, and surf gear outlets now intersperse with charming pasty sellers. The amusement arcades nestled in the town centre remain as the sole remnants of a bygone era. Arcade employee Maddie Grover, 25, has observed a shift in her hometown's atmosphere, noting that while stag dos still exist, they're "not as bad as they were at the time". She recalled how the nightlife quietened notably after the closure of Bertie's. Now, according to Maddie, certain clubs bar entry to costumed stag groups. Maddie described the change: "The high street is a little bit rowdy in the central area. It's better now, it's more calm, there aren't as many fights. We see lots of families because we work in an arcade but we see a lot more families in general." Local shop worker Andy, 40, is relieved that the town is shaking off its old notoriety. He believes the transformation has bred a new mutual respect and eliminated the dread locals used to feel: "Silly season, we expect, but it's not something you're dreading anymore. You're not dodging vomit on the high street." His daily skateboard commute is more pleasant now, without having to navigate around hazardous remnants of nocturnal activities: "I skateboard from the top of the hill to the shop and there's no longer passed-out people, people who have vomited everywhere and broken glass. It's cleaned up quite a lot since then. I just see hungry happy high people wandering around in the mornings looking for a good breakfast." And it's not just the early risers who have changed; the town's allure for families has spiked: "There are families coming down, and the families that come down have that mentality of: 'I'd love to live here because of how it is.'". Andy also doesn't miss the once-common sight of scantily clad tourists: "Compared to before when you would walk down the high street and see six dudes in mankinis and none of them have seen a gym before and you're like: 'Great'. Everyone likes to see a bollock at 11 in the morning. "You still get stag and hen dos but they've been reined in. There are certain rules and regulations, like the mankini ban. You're not allowed fancy dress in certain bars over a certain time in the evenings. In the day, if you want to come out and have a stag do and everyone dresses up and has fun, that's absolutely fine, but once it gets past a certain time of night, it tends to knock that on the head." Andy, who enjoys donning spandex and cowboy boots, lamented that the stringent rules had resulted in him being denied entry to venues. "There's a difference between fancy dress and dressing fancy", he remarked. Overall, he conceded that Newquay has "cleaned up its act". "Fights are fights, it's always going to happen. It's the nature of mixing alcohol with idiots. You might not get it to such a grand scale now but it's still going to happen. People will smash bottles on the beach," Andy added. "I don't care what you do but my mates walk down here barefoot, my friend's kids play on the beach. The beach is for everyone, not just for you to have fun. There is a bit of that and locals will bark at people. We want you to have a good time but also we want to have a good time, so don't knock the bins over at 3am and wake everybody up. It's just goofy stuff and not stuff the police can be running round and dealing with." But he mentioned concerns regarding second homes - an issue rife across Cornwall. Residents lament over being unable to afford homes in their scenic towns due to outsiders snapping up properties and driving up prices. Peron Wills, a climbing instructor from nearby St Dennis, reflected on how nightlife has changed since his younger days. At 38, he remarked: "It's not as good a night out as it used to be. "I have been on stag dos here and they were pretty crazy. They have New Year's and Christmas parties still but I think it used to be crazier. I don't go out anymore so I just assume nobody does. "There were always moans in the local papers that Newquay needs cleaning up. I don't think it's just Newquay; every town has the old versus young. Everyone moves away to go and find money. You grow up here and can't afford to live here for a while so you go away and come back when you retire. There's a big age gap. There are still clubs around but not as many as there used to be."
