Move to Bridgewater - any opinions?

[CrochetNut]

Afternoon

DH & I are considering a move to Bridgewater area - combination of both our jobs moving to WFH permanently and wanting to move away from the SE.

Does anyone have any opinions on the area? Good or bad, we’ve literally just stuck a pin in a map and have never even visited!

Thanks

I know Somerset well and Bridgwater wouldn’t be on the top of the list of places to live.

Nooooo. Chose somewhere else.

I also remember the horrendous smell from Bridgwater— some kind of chemical factory there, not sure if it’s still there but do find out before moving there.

Oh no, not Bridgwater! Taunton is nicer, or maybe a bit further north like Clevedon or Portishead?

Or maybe this is all a ruse to keep the town folk out...!

Hugh Grant was spotted in Frome the other day. Wells is nice. Bristol too. Not Bridgwater. What sort of place are you looking for?

Oo no. Not Bridgwater. My parents live within the ta7 postcode but in a small village outside of Bridgwater. There are lots of nice places in area. But Bridgwater is not one of them, Taunton is a bit of a dive as well. Personally I hate Glastonbury as well but lots like it.

It's a bit rough, is close to the M5 and they're building a nuclear power station on the doorstep.

North Somerset here. Err hard no to Bridgwater. My sister taught in the secondary there. Just not somewhere you would choose to live if you had other options.

You sound like my dh house hunting on right move he kept finding these amazing houses that had swimming pools etc but were really cheap 😁 as a person with local knowledge I knew why!

DH and I nearly got a divorce at Bridgewater Services once

I just remember a funny smell tbh. I believe Taunton is nice (but probably more expensive).

Pretty sure it was voted the biggest shithole in England a few years ago...

Drove through yesterday actually, found it quite bleak feeling.

Taunton is not nice.

I’m from not far away and i wouldn’t live there, it’s a bit rough

It's not the best, I sometimes meet my parents there as it's half way between their home and mine. There's nicer places in n Somerset on the coast but prices do rise as you approach Bristol. The Somerset coast also has nice spots but not the towns. If you are moving from London/SE I think it will be a bit of a culture shock - I suggest clevedon or Portishead

I came on to say 'don't do it'. Also Taunton, Weston and Burnham are not nice either in my opinion. Somerset generally is amazing though so book yourself a cottage and have an amazing week location scouting!

Bridgwater is a dive but some of the outlying villages are very nice and pretty for example Kilve/nether stowy.

Taunton is 10 mins down the road and a much nicer town.

The cellophane factory caused the smell but it isn’t there any more.

Not top of the list of places I want to live after having worked in the area for years.

At least the cellophane factory has gone now but that's the best I could say for it. If you're set on Somerset there are much nice places to live.

I think it depends what you are looking for.
After years of living in/near big city’s we moved to a village attached to taunton 2 years ago. We love it, some nice restaurants in the town enough to do without too much. The village we live in we can walk into town and it has the best parts of being in a village and a town. Parts of Taunton are not nice but like anywhere it depends what you want from where you live and what part you pick.
DHs family are all in Bridgwater and he grow up there, I don’t find it a very nice place and it always feels very cliquey. We have been together 10 years and when we go to events outside of the direct family (I.e hobby related events which his while family have been involved in and he used to be) most of the women won’t even speak to me!
I would really suggest looking at a village nearby like Wells.
Wells would have been my choice but die to work locations ended up in Taunton.

Oh god, it’s a hole. Lots of bits of Somerset are for some reason. Depressed and depressing little towns with bugger all going on.

We went to bridgwater once. Once was enough.
There are much nicer towns nearby.

I live in Somerset and would not choose Bridgwater to live / it's an area of serious socio economic deprivation with the associated difficulties that entails. Wells, frome, Bruton and langport are all lovely - lots going on, very pretty and surrounded by beautiful countryside.

I currently live in Stroud however have lived in Somerset before. Bridgwater, Yeovil, Burnham on Sea and Weston are all shitholes. Anywhere else is fine

Some points to make.

The smell came from the cellophane factory which is long gone.

It has lots of housing developments which lifting the tone of the town.

Some parts of the town are deprived, but I doubt the OP will chose to live on those council estates.

It’s had some development around the retail park and has Next, M&S food.

People are suggesting Taunton. It has gone sadly downhill fast.

They’ve lost the big Debenhams store, Monsoon, Phase Eight, Next, County Stores a historic store in the centre. Plus other shops.

It looks sad and deprived now.

Tell me @CrochetNut what about Bridgwater appeals to you.

The proximity to the M5

The proximity to the coast

The proximity to Exmoor

Quantocks, beautiful villages.

I agree with the others on the thread. I personally wouldn’t want to live in WSM or BoS either. Taunton has some nice areas and some very not so nice areas so you’d have to choose wisely. There are lots of lovely more rural areas if you want to be in Somerset, either more towards Frome, or across towards Exmoor. Or further down the M5 Exeter is generally good, lots of things to do, proximity to the coast etc. It depends what you’re looking for when you move and your budget. House prices have shot up in some parts of Devon recently but not sure about Somerset.