Does anyone actually like the city centre 'beaches'?

[pinotnow]

Surely they are even worse than the Christmas markets/Winter Wonderland horrors that every town 'boasts' these days?

I went past ours on the tram the other day and got hideous flashbacks to the few times I took my dc to sit on a tiny patch of sand being accosted by them to go on endless rides and purchase overpriced snacks, occasionally venturing into a tiny paddling pool. No space and absolutely nothing like the experience of going to an actual beach or even a proper lido.

Our city has a very nice square with a lovely water feature that kids can run around in and splash about which is much better than the bloody 'beach' but is out of action for the whole summer due to it. It also has loads of benches and walls to sit on and I used to like taking the dc, treating them to a Greggs and a treat drink and just sitting there while they splashed around. Mine are too old anyway now but it still annoys me that there's actually only a few weeks in the year when you can do that before the whole space gets taken over.

I get that there is a drive to get more people into city centres but is anyone actually drawn to these things? Surely there is a better way to use the space.

The one in my city is awful! They've reused the same german style cabins from the Christmas market but sell ice creams and slush puppies in there instead 😂. The sand got trampled all into the nice water fountains, so now the fountains are gross. I saw some big swings that might be nice for the toddler, but then I saw it was £2.50. Each. For a swing 😂.

The one in my nearest city is always pretty busy and it’s free. I’m sure there are a few children there who will rarely get to the seaside. Public transport is expensive and would take ages to get there. the poorest people in our city don’t drive.

I clearly live to close to actual beaches as I have never heard of this. I feel educated. Which cities are they in?

Depends on how well done they are - the adult-orientated ones which are basically food courts with deckchairs and umbrellas are fine! The tacky kids ones are a rip-off.

If you mean Nottingham, OP, the fountain's been out of action for years and there's no money to fix it.

Never heard of this before.

Can someone post a photo?

I live 3 miles from the coast and miles of beaches.

My town centre has a "pop up beach" (a sand pit, and deck chairs 😂) inside it this year and it's been busy whenever I've had to venture in!

But I imagine if you live somewhere 3-4 hours drive from a beach then it's a good experience. And some people won't have the funds to take their kids to the beach for a holiday.

I'd never heard of them until recently but I remember a CTM episode many years ago where they did a pop up beach and thought it's was such a good idea!

I have never even heard of this, sounds awful!

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair I don't think I'm superior - what gives you that idea? I did used to buy the dc a Greggs. It wasn't a dig about anything - I used to get them that as an inexpensive thing they enjoyed. The stuff sold in the beach huts is, as I recall, way more expensive and a total rip-off.

Snide? The comment is about enjoying Greggs.

Like a fake pile of sand? Is there any water? I used to live in Chicago and was a 10 minute walk from a beach which was amazing in summer so I’m a big fan of the urban beach but can’t imagine how you fake it?!

The one in my mother in laws town is free, simple and lovely.
There is a large sand pit with free to use bucket and spades in there (donated by a local shop I believe). There is a person employed to keep an eye on behaviour etc.
There are those shooty up water fountains (that are actually there all year round) too and the council provide some deckchairs.
As part of the council summer events there is scheduled activities that take place too like a Punch and Judy show.
An ice cream van is usually there but no "stalls" or anything.
The next two nearest towns have the same minus the water fountains and one has a small merry go round you have to pay for - but that's there all year round.

Sounds like you're describing Nottingham. Yes it gets busy (it's very popular which is why it's something that's brought back year on year), and I agree the rides are expensive (but it is possible to say no to children going on these). Nottingham is two hours from the seaside and I've taught secondary school children who have never been out of the city, so I think it's great for those who would otherwise not experience this kind of thing during their childhoods.

I think there’s some very crazy city council decisions made all of the time and this is just one piece of nonsense. Ours are hellbent on all kinds of “upgrades” that have clogged up the city centre for years and really only benefit a particular demographic, the rest can just suffer inconvenience for things they won’t be able to afford once they’re finished.
Your only hope is to get involved in citizen groups, be very active, hold their feet to the fire at election time etc. They can be stopped, but rely on citizen apathy which rarely puts a dent in the various vanity projects

There’s one in my city centre shopping centre but we are super far from any beaches so I think it’s probably a good thing for the kids who won’t get the chance to visit a beach this year.

@Needmorelego That one sounds lovely, and is nothing like the one I know.

I do see the point about some children not getting to the seaside otherwise but it is nothing whatsoever like the seaside, which is part of my issue with them! I feel like the council would be better off doing heavily subsidised coach trips, probably via schools, that would take kids to the actual sea - with lots of spaces for parents to go along. That is probably a hugely impractical idea that wouldn't work for all sorts of reasons, but I do think it's a shame that, if the aim is to provide something that children from poorer households wouldn't otherwise be able to experience, it is so full of massively overpriced stalls and rides. Yes, I know you can say no to kids and I had no problem saying it to mine and we are fortunate in that this beach wasn't the nearest they got to the sea. But I can imagine that parents for whom this was a massive treat for their kids may feel dismayed to have to spend the day saying, 'no,' to extras that the kids asked for.

Here is information on the Leeds one and Birmingham it’s two hours to a beach from Birmingham

Why does it sound awful ?

I've not been to others, but the one near us is fantastic.
It is nothing like the OP describes and is sneering at.
It is an opportunity for people who don't live near beaches, to spend time enjoying some time on a beach in the sunshine. Wonderful for all those hundreds of thousands of children who don't get the opportunity to go to the seaside.

TBF I’d sooner go to Nottingham Beach than to our actual nearest beach, which is Skeg.

What’s snide about the Greggs comment?

Sheffield by the sea🤮

Took Dd once when she was 8. We ran away within in 10 minutes. Horrible. We still talk about it now. (she’s 18)

There’s really lovely fountains to play in. But the whole thing? Never. Haven’t been back to the city centre for 10 years in the summer. The noise!

Because of what the OP describes the one near her as, didn't you read? tiny patch of sand being accosted by them to go on endless rides and purchase overpriced snacks, occasionally venturing into a tiny paddling pool. No space and absolutely nothing like the experience of going to an actual beach or even a proper lido.

Sounds awful to me

The ones you have experienced may well be fantastic but that's no what the OP is describing 🙄

In what way am I sneering? I have described the one near me and explained what I don't like about it. Being cramped, unlike real beaches and filled with expensive 'extras' are the only details I have spoken negatively about. I haven't been nasty about the people who go to them so I don't think it's fair to say I'm sneering.

@Boopbeepbeepboop , The Thread title is "does-anyone-actually-like-the-city-centre-beaches?"

I am saying yes, I love them, Thousands of families love them.
My experience (and this is more than one city beach) is nothing like that. My experience is they are an opportunity for parents / Grandparents to give their children chance to play on a beach when they otherwise might never get the opportunity. But also, for all those families who might normally go to the seaside for a while, it is something to do for a couple of hours, for FREE during the school holidays. Which family doesn't benefit from that ?

I took my dc to sit on a tiny patch of sand

Ours certainly isn't 'tiny'

being accosted by them to go on endless rides

Ours doesn't have rides, or a fun fair there, but, just like when you go to the seaside, parents can say no.

and purchase overpriced snacks

Ours doesn't have over priced snacks. But if I were going, I'd probably take a picnic if it were a nice enough day to be going for a few hours.

occasionally venturing into a tiny paddling pool.

That's a nice bonus. Ours doesn't have a paddling pool

No space and absolutely nothing like the experience of going to an actual beach
Again, ours can get busy later in the day on a hot, sunny day, but that, to me, shows just how popular they are, and just what a lovely opportunity they provide for so many families. But I've seen many a beach where families are on top of one another, so it would be quite like those beaches.