UK town slammed as 'chav paradise' with 'air of grubbiness' by angry tourists

26 August 2023 , 09:03

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Scarborough Beach is a bustling tourism spot in summer (Image: Getty Images)

A Scottish couple has lashed out after a trip to Scarborough - which they describe as having a “general air of grubbiness”.

The Glasgow based couple, posting on TripAdvisor, visited Scarborough for three nights this year - but advised other visitors to “keep on driving” instead of staying the night. They described the seaside town as full of “loudmouths, slot machines, and a general air of grubbiness”.

The bad-tempered two went as far as to describe it a “chav paradise”. The harsh comment said: “It’s no great surprise places like Scarborough struggle, the place needs a good clean up and that includes a lot of the clientele.”

They certainly weren’t the only ones with poor reviews for the town - although others had more personal reasons. Rita W, who visited this month (August), said the local council “should be ashamed of themselves” given the lack of disabled toilets for her husband. Another tourist agreed, saying the authority should “get a grip”, the Express reported.

One couple accused the popular town of having an "air of grubbiness" (Getty Images)

One wrote: "The beach was dirty and the whole neighbouring area littered and filthy. We last came here 15 years ago and it’s changed dramatically from a vibrant seaside town to nothing more than a ‘dump’."

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Despite a handful of negative reviews, Scarborough breach still holds a very strong 4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor, a healthy score on the site. Many holidaymakers commented on the traditional donkey rides available on Scarborough Beach, particularly on South Bay. Others, including Caroline G, who visited this month, as well as Zoe, who visited in May, complimented the beach for being "well looked after".

Scarborough Beach remains the most popular beach in North Yorkshire and attracts tens of thousands of visitors a year. However, the beach recently failed water quality pollution tests just days before this weekend's bank holiday.

Traditional donkey walks are one of the favourite attractions for tourists (Getty Images)

The water at Scarborough's South Bay is classed as poor by the Environment Agency and a sign on the beach advises against swimming. Scientists at the Environment Agency tested a water sample last week and found potentially harmful bacteria often linked to human sewage and animal waste, three times worse than the minimum water quality standard set by the Government.

Earlier this summer, the level of E.coli bacteria in the sea at Scarborough South Bay soared by almost 7,000 percent. A spokesperson for the agency said that the investigation into what is driving the collapse in water quality in Scarborough is complex and remains "ongoing".

Oli Smith