'I went to UK's worst seaside town – and my kids absolutely loved it anyway'
Britain's often-maligned "worst seaside town" has found an unexpected fan. Despite its reputation for dreary domestic getaways, one father-of-two discovered it to be a delightful and affordable retreat for his family.
Skegness, along with Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, had the dubious honour of being ranked at the bottom of the Which? guide on the best and worst seaside towns in the UK. However, this didn't deter Sam Dimmer from venturing to the Lincolnshire coastal town with his two sons.
Mr Dimmer decided to test the waters himself, taking his children to Haven's latest holiday park in Skegness. Despite the town's less-than-stellar reviews, he remained optimistic about what he might discover.
Sam was impressed with the holiday park's facilities (Sam Dimmer / Nottinghamshire Live)In an article for Nottinghamshire Live, Mr Dimmer shared his positive experience: "If you set your expectations at the appropriate level then Skegness is a marvellous place to visit, especially if you have young families."
He further praised Haven for stepping up their game, saying, "And Haven has undoubtedly upped its game of late, so I was genuinely excited about heading across Lincolnshire to test things out."
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The new Haven park, formerly known as Richmond Holiday Village, recently underwent an £11 million revamp. The results left Dimmer thoroughly impressed, with him noting: "The site has had the full Haven treatment, with an outdoor stage, fake grass and fast-food restaurants galore."
"Step inside, and you'll find the arcade mirrors the one at Golden Sands in Mablethorpe, while the Richmond Arms restaurant offers a cozy atmosphere with reasonably priced, tasty food," describes the East Midlander.
However, he asserts that the real star of the show is the Marina Bar and Stage. "The crowning glory though is the Marina Bar and Stage, a meticulously crafted entertainment complex that makes for an ideal evening hangout spot."
Skegness boasts fairground rides and a large beach (Shutterstock / LD Media UK)He continues to praise its decor, perfectly capturing the essence of Skeggy, ample seating, and the convenience of ordering food or drinks through the Haven Serve app.
Mr Dimmer's experience with the staff at the new Haven facility was unlike any other British seaside resort he had visited. He noted: "Haven has clearly recruited well because every staff member I interacted with genuinely cared and wanted to help and, as a veteran of many caravan holidays, this is not normal."
He believes this level of service makes a significant difference, especially as the park itself still has some improvements to make to reach Haven's expected standards.
Despite his overall positive impression of the Haven park, the tourist did express some concerns about the quality of certain facilities. He wrote: "The pool, whilst big, warm, clean and really interesting looking from the inside, has clearly been on the park for a while and has a fair amount of scaffolding surrounding it."
He added: "It's still great fun though for older kids, but for younger kids that shallow end gets awfully busy."
"And while the playground may seem modest compared to Haven's usual grandeur, it's safe to assume that this is where the park chiefs will be splashing their cash next. However, don't let its simplicity fool you - investing in this park is a no-brainer as it already stands as a fantastic destination for visitors."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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