'We visited the seaside town ranked one of the worst in the UK'
25.03.2023 - 15:11
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Despite having a theme park, a beach, a pier and a high street, one North West seaside town has been dubbed the 14th worst in the UK.
In a scathing article published on its website, The Telegraph ranked Southport as the 14th worst seaside town in the country – saying it needs to “reassert itself” if it wants to challenge nearby Formby and Lytham.
Southport may have seen what some claim as a managed decline heading into the Covid-19 pandemic, but following spells of lockdowns, staycations and trips across the country are popular again.
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People living in Southport see the pros and cons of the town, whether that be the bustling nightlife or empty units that plague Lord Street, but many disagreed with the brutal ranking from the national title.
Steve Jones, who works at The King's Plaice fish and chip shop on Lord Street told the Liverpool Echo as the sun draped into the relatively new addition to the high street: "I've lived in Southport for nine years.
“The front has been massively improved and there building that multi-million-pound complex, it's a pity that Lord Street isn't what it used to be.
"As it comes to one of the worst in the country, I wouldn't say that, it's a pleasure to live here, I love it here. Give me Southport over Blackpool any day.
"I used to live eight miles away from there. It's a shame all the shops are closing in the town. The rent and rates are too high and that's why I think a lot of businesses have to leave."
Although Chapel Street has seen better times, businesses such as the Tavern and the Houghton Coffee Lounge and Bar have ploughed money into creating a livelier atmosphere near the busy train station that connects