With more and more leisure activities on offer to families the competition to provide something new is hotting up. 

It can be hard for those historic venues like casino destinations or amusement arcades to shake off the old traditional perception that it is a place that essentially relives you of your hard-earned cash.  

Seaside Towns Suffering as Result of Downturn 

Seaside towns are also suffering as the cost-of-living soars and foreign holidays become ever more affordable. A new generation is also looking for ways of reducing their impact on climate change by taking stay vacations at venues not necessarily at seaside locations.  

One such town suffering a decline and, which has been in the news recently is Skegness. Once a thriving, bustling seaside town where thousands of people flocked each year to take their annual summer holidays.  

Viva Skeg-Vegas  

Skegness or ‘Skeg-Vegas’ as it is sometimes known was the birthplace of the quintessential holiday venue known as ‘Butlins’.  

Now a Which survey has labelled the town the worse seaside town in the UK. An accolade that some would like to see banished to the realms of the Conga and Agadoo. 

For the local businesses it has become a struggle to survive but as always out of the ashes rises a phoenix. A new generation of business owners and managers are trying to bring something new, to change perceptions and cater for families who might just consider a trip to Skegness.  

Which? surveyed 3,000 tourists and found that Skegness was thought to be the worst seaside town in the country.  

The Great British Piers Fight Back 

Seaside towns had the stereotypical Kiss me quick hats, Naughty Postcards, Sticks of Rock, Donkey rides and of course glorious and sometimes run-down British piers. 

Pleasure piers were first built in Britain during the early 19th century. The earliest structures were Ryde Pier, built in 1813/4, Trinity Chain Pier near Leith, built in 1821, Brighton Chain Pier, built in 1823. and Margate Jetty 1823/24 originally a timber-built pier. 

Only the oldest of these piers remains. 

Skegness has a wonderful pier, and it is here that the ‘New Look’ pier is offering something a bit different and not usually associated with amusement arcades.  

Forget the Kiss Me Quick Hats and throwing darts to win a goldfish (now banned in the UK). How about 10-Pin Bowling, Laser Quest, Gellyball, Escape Rooms and a large indoor soft play area and the adrenaline filled Clip ‘n Climb the only one by the way on the East Coast! 

These are just some of the new attractions, which the owners are hoping will regenerate custom and attract people to the town.  

Pier Staff Tackling the Issue of Climate Change  

On the issue of Climate Change. Leave it to the staff from Fantasy Island and Skegness Pier who teamed up with Coastal Access for All for their first beach clean of 2024. 

In April this year more than thirty-five staff took part in a successful beach clean at Skegness in wet and windy conditions. The event formed part of Fantasy Island and Skegness Pier’s wider initiatives to encourage more sustainable practices and to help protect the local environment. 

Heidi Watson, Fantasy Island’s Senior Events Coordinator and the organiser of this collaboration, said, “I am very proud to lead our fantastic team for today’s beach clean and delighted to be working alongside Coastal Access for All."

This is the perfect opportunity for Fantasy Island and Skegness Pier to quietly do our bit in our community and for the coastline we all cherish. I look forward to our next organised beach clean event and to being part of many more.”