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.

Lots of LIDOs have been closed down over the years. I wish we still had them.

It’s not my thing either but I also know I’m quite privileged to be able to afford to go to a proper beach. It can still be fun for lots of families. Better than everything being the same all the time.

I went to one at the Trafford centre once. It cost a fortune, the beach was free but there was all these games to pay for. Run around across water in those inflatable hamster balls. Ride in electric cars on a track and an ice cream cost £££s We live close to a river/ loch so lots of sandy beaches and swimming spots. I have all the kit buoyancy aids, wetsuits and paddle boards etc but we go lots so cost per use is pennies.

Sounds like your kids enjoyed it @pinotnow . Surely that's the point? We do lots of things for our kids that we don't particularly enjoy, but our kids do, that's part of parenting.

@ReceptionTA Its a bit weird hearing you talk about a 7 year old who had never been on holiday, as if they are massively deprived. Its not that unusual.

Sounds grim to me, although when DS was little we went to one in Paris on the banks of the Seine that was really nicely done. Probably not the same effort put into the ones here though.

Sounds ghastly.Unless there are donkeys.

Absolutely ghastly dahhllliinng.

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

So your children had fun, then?

How ghastly, why can't the plebs just jet off to The Maldives for a real beach.

Where do you live that that child is unusual?? Round my way most kids haven't been on holiday!

First time I have seen ‘Greggs’ and ‘name drop’ in the same sentence.

What a weird response😂

I think those fake beaches vary. I live in the West Mids and, while the one in Birmingham City Centre seems nice enough, there's one in a small town near me that is about 30×10metres, filled with builders sand, a few deck chairs and fenced off with 6ft garden fencing. Once you're in, you can't see outside of the enclosure. It looks cramped and utterly dull.

Maybe not, but it is where I work. I once had a child complain to me they weren't happy with their parents choice of hotel because it was only 4 stars and not 5 stars.

If it's not that usual for a child to never have been anywhere but their home town then bring on the town "beaches" I say!

Ah, we have one in each of the two towns by us. One is pretty lame, but does have a few events and a free old fashioned bus on a Wednesday down to the splash park, the other has free stuff at set times through the day, like balloon modelling, punch and Judy, some stuff from community groups. It's sand , water fountains, a big round seating area, etc. I think the church and the library, in walking distance, also have things set up. Only thing to buy is am ice-cream! Some of these sound awful.

I have to say that photo that somebody linked to above makes it look quite lovely and me a bit of an arse. However, I'm sure there were way more people than that when I went and the noise of it was something else too. Clearly a lot of people do like them though and I don't begrudge any kids having access to one if it is the only beach they'll get to. I do think the associated stalls etc make it a bit of a rip off though.

@ReceptionTA You obviously work in an area with a very different demographic to my life!

The one in our nearest city is pretty good. Has fountain/sprinkler things next to it and just one shop selling drinks and ice cream etc so doesn’t feel like an expedition to buy loads of tat. The kids love it and I quite like the effort to provide for kids in the public space.

@quickturtle - I live in what I think of as a very average town in the midlands, and work in what I think of as a very average catchment area - mostly 3 bed semis. I'm surprised how many lovely holidays some children seem to have each year.

My DGC have all had holidays abroad from a very young age. However, when they were small, I took them to the nearest city ‘seaside’ and they had great fun! We took a picnic lunch, they went on the helter skelter, and had a couple of other treats. Lots of kids splashing about, and plenty of seating. Cheap and cheerful, and for some the nearest to a holiday they’ll get.

@ReceptionTA I do not think a 3 bed semi is an average house. It is an average lower middle class house, although there are some council houses that are semi detached as well.

There's a "beach" at the waterpark in a nearby town - a man-made lake with sand on both banks and I think you can hire those pedal boats. In the summer, and on sunny weekends, it's packed. It looks a bit grim and I would be very wary of going in the water but I have lovely memories of going there as a child and have taken my own children there many times. It's free and in the summer they have "beach days" where they being in fairground rides, a Punch and Judy show, an ice cream van, deck chairs, a stall selling buckets and spades... It's good, the children love it and the people who live in this area, which is an area of high social deprivation, get to take their children "on a day trip" and feel like they've been able to do something fun over the holidays.

Really? I'm sure it is; all of the council houses I've lived in and visited have been 3 bed semis. Most of the village in which I live - a very poor area - are this type of post-war prefab 3 bed semi-detached houses.

There is a new one near us. It's free and has water play as well as a large sandpit. Kids love playing in sand and water. No it's not like the real beach but if you live far away from the sea it's great entertainment for the kids. Sounds like you're over thinking it OP!

That is the vibe I am getting from a few posters though.

I mean, to raise the excitement levels, our beach has dinosaurs roaming across it occasionally
Again, this is free.