How bad is Western-Super-Mare?

[ohdaisydaisy]

I used to go when I was very little but that was over 50 years ago now!

We are looking at holiday cottages and have seen a lovely one but the nearest seaside is Western. We will do other things in Somerset but the kids (teens) will want at least one day at the seaside. One loves the sand and the other loves arcades.

However I've been told Western is (now?) a complete dump, stinks of cannabis and is rife with crime.

I think the kids will like it and it would be nostalgic for me (although I do have an irrational fear of sinking sand and I've heard this is a thing there!)

Anyone have any recent experience of W-S-M?

We used to go regularly when a relative lived there. There is a good lidl is probably the best thing I can say.

I never went on the pier as they charge to go on, so I didn't want to spend a quid per person to walk along a plank. Sand bay is not appropriately named. I hated the feel of mud between my toes as I sank. Some love surrounding countryside. I liked Wookey hole, but discovered with rather unfortunate timing that ds1 is terrified of caves.

It was fun for us to go see a relative and have a cheap few days, but we haven't been back since they left.

I agree with this.
Minehead has a great beach with all the good seaside bits you’d need. Arcades, crazy golf, fish n chips, ice cream. (And a brilliant Indian restaurant - Taj Mahal - if you’re there in the evening)

It’s close to lots of other beautiful places too.

It's bloody awful ( and we live in Bath) we will drive to minehead, Poole, Lyme or Bournemouth or even Weymouth rather than go to WSM -

Oh no 😂 we are literally going there for the weekend with DD who is 2 because I thought she’d enjoy the pier and some walks along the beach.. slightly regretting our decision now!

We stopped there on our way home from a holiday in Devon a few years back, just for one night. It was very run down and we struggled to find anywhere to eat, even quite early in the evening - everything was shut. The beach was all gated off for a paid sandcastle exhibition. We happened to go on some kind of biker night, so it was noisy all along the sea front, and the hotel room was by far the grimmest we've ever encountered. I can't say I have any great desire to go back.

Thank you everyone!! So, to summarise, it's not a bit shit, but very shit, and to be avoided at all costs!!

Thanks for all the fantastic tips on other places to go though. I'll start researching!

Ghastly. I never go there. It's very much like Margate only without the old town and gentrified bits. I live in Glastonbury and I either go to Porlock or Lyme Regis both of which are lovely.

Bucking the trend here as I often go to Weston and stop in a sea front B&B. It's a great base to drive out from each day and I like the pier and walking along the seafront. It's not a classy place by a long shot but it's certainly not the pit it's painted out to be either.

Depends what you're looking for really. As a base for visiting other places it's a pretty good choice - easy to get to a lot of places - bristol, Somerset, Devon etc.

If you're looking for a beach holiday, just don't. It's more mud than sand, the second biggest tidal range in the world means that for about 22 hours a day you can barely even see the sea and when you can, it's not safe for swimming. I don't even let my dog in the sea there.

If you're after a beach holiday have a look at some of the other suggestions. Lyme Regis is a quaint little seaside town. Charmouth less touristy but a must if interested in fossil hunting. Parts of Devon aren't much further travel wise than WsM but so much nicer.

Hehehe, I've not been in 50 odd years either! We used to holiday there most years. I think my first word, accompanied by much screaming, was 'mud, MUD!' 😆

Ack, it's not as bad as a lot of people are saying. There is plenty of nice sand before you get to the mud. The pier is exactly what you would want a seaside pier to be (tacky but fun). There are donkeys, which makes up for a lot. Loads of money has been spent on the seafront zone to tart it up and there are some ok cafes, restaurants, etc. Behind the seafront the town is a bit horrible.

Brean Down is lovely to walk on (though you have to drive quite a long way to get to it - don't be tempted to take the quarter-mile walk through sinking mud!)

As seaside towns in decline go, it is one of the better ones. And of course there are nice walks, caves, a short drive away.

Oh, and there is a plaque on a seafront building saying that Haile Selassie used to go swimming there. How many other towns can boast of links with a divine emperor?

It's really not as bad as people are saying I don't think. There's a lot to do. Cinemas, arcades, the pier, indoor activity centre etc. There's also some really lovely places to eat. Yes the beach can be muddy and there are a lot of nicer ones but it's an estuary so it was never going to be great. I mean there must be a reason why it's always packed when you drive down the seafront in the summer and school holidays

We had some nice days out on the beach there. Kids like beaches with piers and arcades! The town itself I would not bother with and can be quite oppressive. I would not stay there. Sand Bay is nice but not a lot there. Brean Sands is a holiday place nearby. Clevedon has a swimming lake you can swim or paddle board in or go crabbing. Obviously, there are lots of Somerset days out. Dunster is further away but I hear that is a nice place for a holiday.

I hated it as a child in the 60s and 70s, just a mud bath

It’s not nice… I grew up in Clevedon and we would sometimes visit Weston 😬

it’s a shame as Somerset is beautiful, many many nicer places to spend time than there.

I grew up near there and WSM is a dump. I found it depressing even as a child. The sea is brown - well, the sea is brown all around the Bristol area, but at least places like Clevedon have better scenery.

It has a sandy beach and arcades but it's a dump. No decent shops or restaurants. Commonly known as "Weston-super-Mud". Memorably described by Al in Doctors as "The 'Mare".

It’s really not as bad as some of these posts claim!

The walk along the promenade is lovely and there is a lot of sand! It’s maybe not the nicest sand, but it is sand. The mud is a bit further out.

It does have one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, but the tide is still in twice a day just like anywhere else. It’s just that when the tide is out, it’s really out.

From your OP it sounds as though you would be staying outside Weston itself and just spending a day or so there? With teenagers I’d recommend eating at Revo on the beach and maybe a round of glow in the dark crazy golf. Walking along the prom or beach and either going on the pier (yes it is £1 to get on) for the arcades or going in the arcades on the road opposite the pier if you don’t want to pay to get on the pier. Then going to the bowling place for more arcades/bowling/smart darts/shuffleboard/pool etc. There are also
escape rooms if that’s your thing. Or elsewhere just off the high street there is laser tag/more smart darts/axe throwing etc. There are some lovely restaurants too if you wanted more food or obviously fish and chips.

I mean for a beach holiday where you were hoping to swim or sunbathe etc I wouldn’t recommend it but for a day or two of arcades and sand absolutely.

The sunsets are also amazing!

You'll be fine. I think some posters are being rather dramatic. You're going for a short break, not moving there! The beach is fantastic for walks/making sandcastles, although you can't swim. If the tide is in you can paddle though. There's plenty of eateries and takeaways, floral displays, the pier with loads of amusements, crazy golf, donkeys on the sands, sand sculptures - although some of this is probably seasonal. Go and enjoy yourself with your DD.

@Hardknocks its not the best place but you can have a nice day out there if you stick to the beach area. A 2 year old will love it. The sand as you go on to the beach is perfectly fine for building sand castles, but there is no access to water, the "sea" is miles away! There are donkeys and a few trampoline you can pay to go on.
Years ago if you walked down to the far left end of the promenade there was a miniature railway and at the other end a small water park/splash pad thing you could pay to use.
The pier is ok to waste a few hours, especially if it rains, my toddler enjoyed the 2p coin machines and some of the coin ride-ons. And the promenade is flat and safe so if they have a scooter or balance bike it can be a good space for them to safely ride on.

I think people are being a bit snobby. I used to take my kids when they were little and we always made the most of it and had fun, you can have a nice few hours there if you overlook that its quite a poor area.

How old are your kids?

There are valid criticisms but my DC (5&7) would be delighted with a holiday cottage and playing on Weston (weston not western) beach with the odd ice cream and bag of chips. Arcades are fun too. It's got a sleazy charm, I'm fond of it.

Yes the sea is a long way and there's mud but you can manage a paddle and drawing in the sand, sandcastles etc. it's not exactly packed with drug addled zombies like posts here make out.

And if it's rainy there's lots to do in bath and Bristol indoors.

Funnily enough I fancied going there last month (haven't been for years). It's not the most scenic beach, but it ticks the boxes of sand and the pier is perfect for the arcade side of beings. I felt safe there and no signs of anyone being high of anything or smelling of it.

How is Clacton these days?

On a nice day in the summer I think it's great. It's got all the traditional seaside attractions, a lovely big pier, a good beach and an interesting walk along the esplanade. Top-class retro fun, in my opinion (but then, I love all seaside towns, so I am a tiny bit biased in their favour).

It’s a shithole

I used to go as a child and wanted to go last time we were in the area on holiday, was very disappointed

Banksy had a display there a few years later called Dismaland, which seemed apt

She’ll enjoy it. If she has a scooter or balance bike the promenade is brilliant for this. There’s a little soft play on the pier as well as rides/arcade type things. Unfortunately the water park is being renovated at the moment but the marine lake beach has water all day (and is quite sheltered when it’s windy) and further round from there is a stony beach where my kids have always enjoyed throwing pebbles into the water and building towers. Clarence park is also good for young children to play in. There are lots of places to eat and drink (some obviously attract the hen/stag party type of clientele but it’s easy to avoid those)