Latest news with #Wendall
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I visited the UK's 'worst' seaside town - but the title is misleading'
The Welsh cathedral city has been dubbed one of the "worst seaside towns" but one YouTuber who visited was won over by one thing A Welsh cathedral city branded one of the "worst seaside towns" has charmed a YouTuber with its unique appeal. Despite its modest population of around 16,000, Bangor in Gwynedd didn't rate highly for its food, drink establishments, shopping options or tourist spots. The city faced criticism for lacklustre beaches and questionable value for money. The BBC shared that some dubbed Bangor "drab" and "run down". Yet, locals defended their home, claiming that Bangor isn't traditionally viewed as a coastal destination like Llandudno or Rhyl. Bangor boasts historical landmarks such as its sixth-century cathedral, the Victorian-era university building, an iconic pier, and Penrhyn Castle. Wendall, a travel content creator on YouTube, was captivated by the city's charm. Strategically positioned a stone's throw from the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Bangor enjoys close proximity to stunning natural scenery. Its Pier stretches invitingly into the Menai Strait, offering views towards Anglesey and the scenic town of Beaumaris, reports Wales Online. During a jaunt to the city's bay, YouTuber Wendall was pleasantly surprised: "Before I came to this small city that has been given the title of the worst seaside town in Britain, I expected far worse than this, look at this idyllic setting. I'm starting to think this might be a little bit of tabloid sensationalism, even more so than other places I've been." Wendall described the scene: "This is quite idyllic, the tide is out at the moment so you have a bit of seaweed and stuff but it's peaceful and quiet. There's new buildings and pathways and stuff for people to walk." Having visited numerous seaside towns, Wendall observed that Bangor was indeed quiet and subdued, but not rough around the edges, at least not in the town centre and near the waterfront. He said: "It's been termed the worst seaside town and I immediately think of it like a dying holiday resort, but this isn't actually a holiday resort, it's a town by the water but it's not got all the arcades, all the empty holiday parks, I think that title is misleading." Wendall also explored the renowned Garth Pier, which stretches 1,500 feet (460m) in length, ranking it as the second-longest pier in Wales and ninth-longest in Britain. The YouTuber praised its beauty, saying, "This is beautiful." Fellow YouTuber Ed Chapman shared a similar sentiment about the pier. In a video on his own channel, Ed remarked: "Now, this looks beautiful that we're heading towards here. Sun's starting to set now, getting to golden hour, and we're heading onto the pier, which does look beautiful. It looks a little bit more sort of traditionally seaside-y." Gazing out over the water from the pier, Ed added that the view was "impressive" and "glorious" before dubbing the pier "lovely". Later in the video, he expressed his admiration for the university, calling it a "nice" building and "very sort of Hogwarts". Ed was left "very surprised" by the city and said Bangor, in his opinion, wasn't the UK's worst seaside town and "pretty underrated". After the survey results were announced, Bangor City Council hit out at the poll. A council spokesperson responded: "It's disappointing to see Bangor City named as one of the UK's worst seaside towns. Such rankings often fail to capture the full picture and the unique charms that make Bangor City so special." The council highlighted local gems like the Storiel Gallery and Museum, Pontio Arts Centre, and the city's cathedral. Defenders of the city also weighed in on YouTube. One commenter asserted: "I'm Bangor born and bred. We are NOT a 'seaside town' and have never been one." Another clarified: "We are a very small university city beside the sea. We are not geared up to be a seaside town - that's places like Llandudno and Rhyl. We've never had a sandy beach and they are shoring up the sea defences down there atm [at the moment], which is a massive job. Bangor is the gateway to the mountains."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I went to Portugal's worst holiday resort – I wasn't aware how wild it is'
YouTuber Wendall says he went to Albufeira, in Portugal, hoping to catch some last-minute sun after returning from Australia and feeling down from the British weather, but found a "holiday hell" YouTuber Wendall, known for his videos showcasing the reality of life in the UK and abroad, says the notorious Algarve resort of Albufeira is his idea of a "holiday hell." Once geared towards families, the Portuguese destination now faces growing issues with public nudity, drug abuse, drunkenness and antisocial behaviour. Locals say that the majority of the people responsible for the "wild" behaviour in the town are British – many of them visiting for stag and hen parties. In some extreme cases, holidaymakers have suffered serious injuries. Earlier this month, the lifeless body of a 38-year-old British man, Greg Monks, was found in a rocky area just outside Albufeira. He had disappeared around eight days prior while attending a friend's stag party. Wendall explained that he had visited Albufeira seeking sunny weather after being dissatisfied with Britain's grey skies following his return from Australia, only for his plans for a restful weekend to turn awry. "It turns out that Albufeira, where I'm staying, isn't exactly chilled-out." He described the video by saying: "This is either going to be an advert for the best place to come on holiday in Portugal if you're into clubbing and going mental... Brits abroad and getting hammered. Or it's a warning that you should not come here because this is Portugal's worst resort." He added: "I wasn't aware, until I arrived, how wild Albufeira is." The first two locals he encountered said that, although they've become accustomed to Brits' unruly antics due to their work in a bar, their families were "scared" by the excessive drinking and mess created by British holidaymakers. He observed that Benidorm is notorious as the epicentre for 'Brits abroad', rowdy behaviour, but Albufeira could be even more chaotic, attracting a younger and wilder crowd. A young woman he spoke with recounted witnessing numerous brawls among drunken Brits. Another local told Wendall that while British tourists over 40 tend to behave decently, the younger ones are "not so good." Not all British visitors are pleased with the recent transformation of the city. Doreen Burywood told the Daily Mail: "We used to go every year, loved the place, but stopped when the hen and stag parties started arriving – such a shame." Amidst the prevalent binge drinking in Albufeira, Wendall stumbled upon a deserted shopfront boasting a large vending machine offering "gourmet" burgers and toasties. He described his toast as tasting "exactly how you'd expect," which was, predictably, terrible. A significant factor in Albufeira's deteriorating reputation is the rampant consumption of illegal drugs in the bars along the city's brightly lit "strip" during the night. Even after taking a stroll in the more sedate Old Town, Wendall said that despite its charming looks, "it's still a pretty wild place." When twilight descended on the strip, the vibe amped up even more and soon enough paramedics had to care for some overly indulgent souls sprawled outside a bar. Albufeira City Council is getting tough on unruly holidaymakers with new proposed penalties, including a ban on bikinis and swimsuits on city streets, with potential fines soaring up to €1,800. Mayor José Carlos Rolo is pushing for the introduction of this strict dress code by mid-July, aiming to polish the area's image. Reflecting on his choice of Albufeira for a getaway, Wendall confessed it wasn't the tranquil retreat he'd hoped for, lamenting: "I thought it would be a relaxing few days in the sun," before adding wryly, "but this ain't my type of holiday... this is my idea of holiday hell." Yet he conceded the town might suit those looking to party hard, stating: "If you want to let your hair down and go wild, like Brits abroad, then this is the place."
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
'I went to Portugal's worst holiday resort: it was a holiday hell'
Young Brits looking for an even rowdier experience than Benidorm have fallen in love with the Portuguese resort of Albufeira – but not all locals are happy with the change YouTuber Wendall, who specialises in reports showing the reality of life in towns here in the UK and around the world, says that the popular Portuguese resort of Albufeira was, for him at least, a "holiday hell." The once family-focused resort in Portugal's Algarve region has gained an ugly reputation in recent years, with drug use and public nudity on the increase. Most of those responsible for this surge in loutish behaviour, reports indicate, are British holidaymakers—particularly Brits on stag and hen outings. The heavy drinking and reckless behaviour can have grim consequences. The body of 38-year-old Scotsman Greg Monks was recently found in a ravine close to Albufeira—some eight days after he disappeared during a mate's stag weekend. Wendall says he had visited the resort hoping to catch a little more sun after returning from Australia and feeling depressed by the grey British weather. But the restful weekend he had expected was not on the cards: "It turns out that Albufeira, where I'm staying, isn't exactly chilled-out." He started his video by saying: "This is either going to be an advert for the best place to come on holiday in Portugal if you're into clubbing and going mental... Brits abroad and getting hammered. Or it's a warning that you should not come here because this is Portugal's worst resort." He added: "I wasn't aware, until I arrived, how wild Albufeira is." The first two locals he met said that while they were fairly relaxed about Brits' bad behaviour—because they had got used to seeing it in the bar where they worked—their families were "scared" because British visitors tended to "drink too much and make a mess." He said that while Benidorm was "ground zero for 'Brits abroad' loutish behaviour," Albufeira might be slightly worse because it drew a younger, less disciplined crowd. One of the young women he spoke to said she had seen a lot of fights between boozed-up Brits. Another local told Wendall that while Brits over 40 were generally fine, younger tourists were "not so good." Not all Brits are happy with the way the city has changed in recent years either. One British tourist, Doreen Burywood, told the Daily Mail: "We used to go every year, loved the place, but stopped when the hen and stag parties started arriving—such a shame." Alongside the heavy drinking that seems to have become an essential part of the Albufeira experience, there is inevitably the need to eat something. Wendall managed to find himself a deserted storefront with a giant vending machine selling "gourmet" burgers and toasties. His toast tasted "exactly how you'd expect," he said—which is to say, awful. One of the key elements of Albufeira's current grim reputation is the sheer quantity of illegal drugs being consumed in bars on the city's neon-lit "strip" at night. Even in the city's more sedate Old Town, Wendall didn't have to walk far before being offered a variety of illicit substances: "Even though the Old Town is nicer to look at," he said, "it's still a pretty wild place." As the sun went down on the strip, the already lively atmosphere heated up, and it wasn't long before paramedics were called to attend to one or two unfortunate individuals who had passed out in the street outside one of the innumerable bars. In a bid to crack down on antisocial behaviour by rowdy tourists, Albufeira City Council is introducing a range of new measures, including a dress code that forbids bikinis and swimsuits on the city streets. Rulebreakers could face fines of up to €1,800 (just over £1,500) if the legislation is passed at the end of this month. Albufeira mayor José Carlos Rolo said he hoped the new code of conduct would be in effect by mid-July this year. Wendall says he probably made the wrong choice by selecting Albufeira for his mini-break: "I thought it would be a relaxing few days in the sun," he said, "but this ain't my type of holiday... this is my idea of holiday hell." However, he added: "If you want to let your hair down and go wild, like Brits abroad, then this is the place."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
'I visited UK seaside town with bad reputation but I found one thing idyllic'
'I visited UK seaside town with bad reputation but I found one thing idyllic' A seaside city in Wales was dubbed the 'worst' in Britain, with people saying it was 'run down' and 'drab', but one recent visitor felt the title was 'misleading' YouTuber Wendall visited Bangor in North Wales to see if it was the 'worst' seaside town (Image: Wendall/YouTube ) A Welsh cathedral city that was dubbed as one of the 'worst seaside towns' won over one YouTuber who visited thanks to one thing. Home to around 16,000 people, Bangor in Gwynedd scored lowly for its food and drink scene, shopping and tourist attractions. Critics also slammed the city's beaches and value for money. The BBC reported that some commenters called Bangor 'drab' and 'run down'. Although people living in the cathedral city hit-back at the poll, pointing out that it has never been seen as a seaside resort, unlike destinations such as Llandudno and Rhyl. Instead, the city has garnered a reputation for its sixth century cathedral, 19th-century university building, its Victorian pier and the Penrhyn Castle. YouTuber Wendall visited the city and was won over by its surroundings. Bangor is located just miles away from the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. Its Garth Pier also stretches out into the Menai Strait overlooking Anglesey and the picturesque town of Beaumaris. YouTuber Wendall was won over by Bangor's harbour (Image: R) Article continues below In a video on his channel, Wendall visited the city's bay. He said: 'Before I came to this small city that has been given the title of the worst seaside town in Britain, I expected far worse than this, look at this idyllic setting. I'm starting to think this might be a little bit of tabloid sensationalism, even more so than other places I've been. 'This is quite idyllic, the tide is out at the moment so you have a bit of seaweed and stuff but it's peaceful and quiet. There's new buildings and pathways and stuff for people to walk. 'I've been to all sorts of seaside towns and Bangor, it's probably just a bit quiet and dead. But it's certainly not rough, not in the town centre and near the water anyway. 'It's been termed the worst seaside town and I immediately think of it like a dying holiday resort, but this isn't actually a holiday resort, it's a town by the water but it's not got all the arcades, all the empty holiday parks, I think that title is misleading.' Garth Pier in Bangor (Image: R) Wendall also visited the city's famous Garth Pier. At 1,500 feet (460 m) in length, it is the second-longest pier in Wales and ninth-longest in Britain. The YouTuber said: 'This is beautiful.' Fellow YouTuber Ed Chapman also praised the city's pier. On a video on his own channel, Ed said: 'Now, this looks beautiful that we're heading towards here. Sun's starting to set now, getting to golden hour, and we're heading onto the pier, which does look beautiful. It looks a little bit more sort of traditionally seaside-y." Looking out over the water from the pier, he added that the view was "impressive" and "glorious" before dubbing the pier "lovely". Later in the video, he expressed his admiration for the university, calling it a "nice" building and "very sort of Hogwarts". Bangor University (Image:) Ed was left 'very surprised" by the city and said Bangor, in his opinion, wasn't the UK's worst seaside town and "pretty underrated". After the survey results were announced, Bangor City Council hit-out at the poll. A spokesman said: 'It's disappointing to see Bangor City named as one of the UK's worst seaside towns. Such rankings often fail to capture the full picture and the unique charms that make Bangor City so special." Other highlights emphasised by the council included the Storiel Gallery and Museum and Pontio Arts Centre and the cathedral. Commenters on YouTube spoke-out in favour of the city. Article continues below One said: 'I'm Bangor born and bred. We are NOT a 'seaside town' and have never been one." Another added: 'We are a very small university city beside the sea. We are not geared up to be a seaside town - that's places like Llandudno and Rhyl. We've never had a sandy beach and they are shoring up the sea defences down there atm [at the moment], which is a massive job. Bangor is the gateway to the mountains."
