I went for FISH and CHIPS in Weston-super-Mare. The WORST PLACE I've EVER BEEN and WAS ATTACKED!

You are so right . Weston-super-Mare ONCE was a lovely place, but it's a ghost town

Lived in aWsm 42 years, sadly the town has gone downhill since the mid to late 90s. I ran a business in town for many years but many things the council did killed a lot of trade . Parking been one and BID another expense for businesses on top of high rents and rates. I retired 5yrs ago as thefts were more often. Druggies and alcoholics made the town unsafe.

Great video but you talking about rip off prices makes me realise how terrible this country has become. Sorry to be so negative but I'm 52 and so glad I got to live in a period when England was great. I best not say anymore but anybody around my age or older knows exactly what I mean.

#1) people don't have the disposable income for recreation.
#2) people are working 24/7, no time off.

I grew up in near by cheddar. We kids used to get the bus over to Weston to play on the arcades back in the 1980/90s. It used to be a great place to go shopping aswel. And it used to have the Tropicana on the beachfront with an outdoor pool. Unfortunately over the last decade or so a lack of investment and covid seems to have sucked the life out of it somewhat.

Weston was convenient, that's it. For many of us in the south midlands, it was the closest and most convenient sea side town to visit, even though it was CRAP !

Weston lad here, it use to be a brilliant place, until they relocated all of the half way houses for rehabilitation into the seaside centre, night life was incredible, super cheap and great fun. The council has suffocated it for 20 years sadly.

American here. If you guys are able to hang in for another 4 years,we can loan Donald Trump to you so the out of control immigration issue can be handled right proper. He's a blessing to us.❤

£18 for fish and chips £1 to walk on a pier £14 to park, rats and 30p for the toilet really takes the p--.

Went downhill once they closed the RAF base down and turned the camp into a housing estate. The Helicopter Museum is well worth a visit and only a slight detour to the M5.

Locally it's know as WESTON SUPPER MUD

I live there. We love it here and have lived in far far worse places!

What a surprise! Gulls flying around at the seaside? Who would have thought it? 😂😂

The Council has voted to make it a City of Sanctuary as if that’s going to help.

Hi Lee the island you were asking about is called Steep Holm. The big open space u were asking about on the seafront which is walked in. It use to be a big open air swimming pool with diving boards. But the council for some insane reason decided to fill it in. The reason the town is a dump because we have 11% of the country’s rehab here and London only has 8%. Our council have just voted to take in alit of the channel crossing boat people. So things r only going to get worse 😢😢

I have many memories of Weston, but I'm afraid all towns are going this way. Very poor management of our governments. The government we have now is going to make it a lot worse.

Why do youtubers visit seaside towns out of season when the places do look more depressing and empty? It will never give a true reflection of a place only an opinion of someone who is just passing through for video content. I think you look for negativity everywhere you go apart from really wanting to have a true balanced opinion, some things you are right about but to say Weston is the worst in the uk I totally disagree. Yes the council are responsible for much if not all of the decline of Weston due to high rates/rents for business and high costs to parking, I have lived in Weston for over 30 years and have seen so many changes and not all for the good due to the councils mismanagement. Also the title THE WORST PLACE IVE EVER BEEN AND GOT ATTACTED! come on you knew everyone was expecting something other than a few birds wanting your food after saying WORST PLACE EVER BEEN!!!

I live in Weston Super Mare and I've grown up in, or around it, all of my 52 years of existence. A number of things killed it off as a seaside town, the only thing it largely has left to denote it still is one is it's beach, pier and prom.
Back in the 1980's, it was still ok and had some life left in it, but it's side into what its become started at the end of them. By the mid 90's it was dying and by 2000 it was all but dead. For me, the the Tropicana closing that year and never returning as a pool, signalled the very end of WSM as a fun loving seaside town.
Further back, the Welsh popping over every Sunday by ferry ended in the 60's and Cheap holidays abroad by the 70's slowly began crippling the tourist trade here, as it did in ALL British seaside towns. None of them got any economic support from any governments of the time to deal with it, with the exception of a few seaside towns that Londoners would flock to, or where there might be a marina for the rich to play.
WSM in it's heyday, the 50's and further back, was THE place to party and play. Everything that was here to allow people to party and play is now long gone and none of it shows much sign of ever returning, thanks to a council that REALLY couldn't care less about the town and hasn't since the 90's. The gentile Clevedon up the road, is where their attention and money is spent and you'd notice it if there compering it to WSM. The council very VERY rarely see's investment here, because they left nothing to entice any here. The collage is about the only thing that has invested in WSM and thus the council allows the collage anything and everything it wants. In the eyes of the council WSM is a collage town now, not a seaside one.
WSM does however have one hope on it's horizon, for some anyway. Cheaper flats and houses than Bristol and the other expensive areas and city's that surround it. Those that can get on the housing ladder and those already on it, are eyeing up WSM a great deal of late.
Younger buyers and renters and second home owners, that can't afford Bristol's sky high prices are already flocking here and from other area's, where there aren't bargains to be had anymore. Luxury flats with sea views, are being made right now out of the old hotels that lined the route to Birkbeck pier, others in town and along the seafront are on the way.
That if handled properly, could potentially cause a property investment boom here in WSM, for those with money that is. You wont see a high street revival, as the internet and out of town stores with free parking, killed all high streets off, but you might see the bars, clubs and cafe's/take aways and more daytime entertainment make a return to WSM in its place.
If you don't have money to play the housing game, then your leaving like me, because rents are going up insanely quickly. Residents that have been here for many years, can't keep up with the rising rents, plus Landlords and homeowners are also already selling up and making large profits. Add to that, WSM's outer area's like Locking are expanding and have built on and plan to continue building on, more new housing.
WSM could end up being quite a large place in the next 10 years and full of quite new money too. Where that leads it in terms of being a proper seaside town, if it does become one again, will be interesting to see.

It's a shame, cheep flights have ruined our seaside towns, it's grim to see. 😢😢😢

I live in Mid Somerset and I heartily dislike Weston and hate going there. Full of druggies, filthy, dirty, run-down and just so unfriendly. The beach is mud and not sand, thanks to the copious quantities emptied into the Bristol Channel by the River Avon. Papas is not a bad chippie but rather expensive. Odysseys, near the railway station and Tesco's is every bit as good and much less pricey. You didn't show the A370, the main road in and out of the town. The apparent lack of control over development has left it looking like the approaches to an American town but with roundabouts. Tim Horton's and other drive-ins, endless, characterless retail parks which have sucked the life out of the town centre, and absolutely no consideration for the pedestrian. The built-up area stretches about four miles from the sea front, all the way to the A5 motorway which probably makes it the largest conurbation in the county after Bristol.
Don't ever go to Weston-super-Mud!

Why would the Government put any money into renovating our Seaside towns? That would mean we could have a great time and enjoy our beautiful coast line and they wouldnt want us having fun would they.

Weston is lovely….its not all about money..

Controversial comment incoming:
I actually didn't think it was that bad.
Please visit Rhyl North Wales

It's something when a seaside town on a glorious sunny day leaves you wanting to look for the quickest exit to anywhere else.

Labour council failure. Labour MP failure.

Weston isn't Monaco, but the wife and I love it there.

These “15 minute cities” don’t require any shops except barbers, vape stores and mobile phone repair

It makes me so sad to see what's happening to the seaside towns, they were thriving when I was a kid in the 60s and 70s. Great video Lee.

Decades of poor governments, you get what you vote for... Choose wisely next time...There are parties(plural) out there...

I was in digs in Weston from 2002 to 2004 while working on the Avonmouth Bridge. Back then, it was a brilliant place-nice and clean, with friendly people and a good nightlife. It’s really sad to see how it has deteriorated.

Councils with their tax & look at the state of England, Wales etc. This Island is turning into a massive dump. Wasn't always like this. Greedy fat cats lining their pockets and letting this place rot. Makes me a teeny weeny upset as you can see

Let’s get it straight most towns & cities in the U.K. have been hollowed out just the same.

The big problem with most coastal towns are the councils. Business rates are sky high, so business's close and nobody can afford to start a new business. Covid killed many places off, especially those whose business's are seasonal. The price of energy and steadily increasing food costs don't help either.
Not sure why you decided to eat outside in the cold looking at the crap area, rather than stay inside which looked rather nice.

Bare in mind the pier is privately owned and is not owned by the council. A quid is good value to be fair, and if you want to buy a rides wristband the admission fee is included.
Most seaside towns in the UK lack customers, cheap flights and guaranteed sun is a huge draw that the UK can't compete with. They keep saying that people should be encouraged to set up businesses but without the footfall it will never work, they will become like Clacton where most of the hotels and guesthouses are now flats. Such a shame.

We love Weston! You should have walked further along the seafront past the historic open air swimming pool and beach then you would have come to the derelict pier. There is also Grove park with Ground force tribute garden to Suzanne Dando. Nice long promenade if your in a wheelchair like me 😉

Spent 4 nights in the Grand Atlantic hotel last week, travelled from Glasgow on a Caledonian bus tour we had the most perfect few days people were very nice and the food served in the hotel was fabulous.
Everywhere has there negative areas and you certainly managed to find them

Weston-Super-Mare used to be a nice seaside town , it is not the once attractive and thriving place I remember back in the day. Like just about everywhere else in this country, it has been neglected and allowed to slide into decline. It is especially a problem with our once very English seaside resorts. I guess it is all part of the plan to make the UK a third world colony. It is not worth anyone investing in Britain anymore.

I live in Weston& very rare go on the front. Shops & side streets are scary & very very dirty, pavements are filthy too. Bins always overflowing. Somerset council need to get their act together.

So Sad 😢
I left the UK as a kid in the early 80s, to emigrate to Australia. Beachside towns in the UK were great when I was a kid. I think, cheap airfares and holidays, in much warmer climates killed it. That and the erosion of National pride & culture due to 'well known' reasons.. 😢

1) the island in the estuary(not bay) is Steep Holm, a nature reserve & not accessible to the public. the other island you can see is Flat Holm and belongs to Wales, so we don't talk about that one. 2) you show the derelict pier (Birnbeck Island) @ 4.55 .If you had carried on along the prom, past Marine lake you would have found it. 3) Toilet charge. you would be hard pushed to find a seaside resort that doesn't charge for loos. I would rather pay than not have any like here in Bristol .4) The Grand Pier is privately owned and a charge has been in place since the fire of 2008 shortly after being purchased. And I think other piers around the country now charge.5) The general malaise in the High St. is nationwide , I'd hazard a guess that your own is suffering, and yet vloggers like yourself tend to pick on the seaside resorts. And of course you had to visit out of season didn't you.

My favourite fish and chips waterfront chippy 👍

And the council have just voted to make Weston a sanctuary city for migramts. If you think it's bad now......

the old pier was a docking station for ferries from Wales when sundays were dry in Wales! Westons pubs made fortunes!

My Gran lived in Weston so we always took holidays there when I was young, (born in 1939) I remember not being able to access Birnbeck Pier because of the barbed wire preventing it! Later on the paddle steamers ran from here to Cardiff and the lifeboat was based here also. The Waterfront fish & chips used to be Brownings Ice cream parlour where they dipped your cornet into a bowl of liquid chocolate, lovely. Good memories. Wouldn't want to go back now, very sad.

What a sad and depressing place. It's just so typical of so many seaside towns in England right now and I doubt it's going to get much better any time soon. Well done for posting this video. 👍

Those were the days, Lee. Deck chairs, knotted hankies on heads, sand sandwiches......happy memories, and the seagulls still love you! 😊

Come to Bournemouth. On a warm weekend the longest fully sand beach in UK is packed, beautifully clean sands, super eateries everywhere, and later in the year the Free Air Show to view from the cliff top or the beaches, or from a boat. Not all UK seaside places are the same!

Lee as the owner of an independent retailer in Wellingborough this video almost moved me to tears. I am at a total loss and completely bereft at the state this country has become. We can’t solve the world’s problems but throw money at it pretending we can but in reality we can’t solve our own. I’m not wearing rose tinted glasses because every generation has its challenges but as much as I hate to admit it we are fucked.

Weston Super Mud was what we called it!

Try visiting in season pal. All you've done is try and knock the place down looking at all the bad you could find . There's lovely places in Weston-super-Mare, if you'd spent on the pier you'd of seen an awesome fun spot . If you'd of walked a bit further you'd of seen the derelict pier, which is actually going to be restored , do a bit of homework before ripping the shit out of somewhere. Not a very professional video either , most of time there's a shadow of your camera and mic.
Fair to say you're a bit shite at this

There's a thrithing little village called *Idle* in Bradford, lots of shops etc, car parking was free for around 60 cars, but now the council have put a charge for parking and all the shops and eateries are now almost empty, this charge was applied to pay for future resurfacing work, some of the business owners said if that is the case they would all chip in to get it resurfaced rather than go bust with no customers, councils are just numpties !
Gaz Yorkshire.

Geezer never stops moaning. This time of year it's no problem to find free parking.. just not on the seafront...oh and of course it's ok to park on the beach , or it wouldn't be allowed. . Lots closed ? - visit during the holiday season, simple. I'm a Bristolian and the worse thing about Weston these days are stuck up RUclipsrs running the place down .

You need to visit and review Hastings Sussex pal … is worst

Thank goodness you found something that you liked, the chips...

Having watched your video to the end, you went out of your way to film everything either shut down or closed for the season. There are loads of great places here. I used to really like you, but you walk around like some sort of snob running everything down. If you look for the bad you will see it!
I love Blackpool as well, but that place and many other like Skegness have awful issues so 🤷🏼

30p for a piddle? They can piddle off! I'll go in the sea, for a paddle!

As a kid in the 50s we often went to Weston for our summer hols, it was brilliant. You could get a ferry from the old pier to Barry, I've got pictures of my brother and me on the ferry. 😄

It's the governments lack of funding that is causing the decline of these seasides. It's such a shame. My favourite that I love to go to, is Lyme Regis it's brilliant and luckily it hasn't suffered the same fate (yet).

Faultless video Lee, well done. I remember around 10 years ago visiting Weston & there was a lovely garden area in memory of Jill Dando. I wonder if it’s still there & what state it’s in.

Get rid of double yellow lines…let’s get people back into the towns …get rid of parking wardens…let policemen do that job..like in the 60’s

It's not the franchise. Papas in WSM has always been great to us. Lovely staff and great food. Place looks a bit more run down since I was there last.

I said many years ago that it would be better for WSM that it was completely flattened

I look forward to the next video: MacMaster staying at his majesty’s pleasure in Weston after being caught urinating on the beach rather than pay 30p for a toilet.

Even though they charge enough for the pier, they don’t allow dogs on the pier even if they are harnessed.

I honestly didn’t know Phil Colins lived in western super-mare

It's very sad but a sign of the times. The small independent shops have lost out to the supermarkets. Plymouth is no different empty shops everywhere. Rent too high, business rates too high, (doesn't reflect the income of the area) outside property owners living in affluent areas seem to not care their properties are empty. This won't change unless the measure of each individual town/ city is assessed on possible income from deprived areas. We have gone back almost two hundred years into the property that existed then ( tuberculosis, poor housing conditions) enough said...

Weston Super Mud was great when I was a nipper in the late 60s/early 70s.... I wouldn't entertain the place these days... The best thing to do in WSM these days is to get in your car and leave..

Yes Lee, it's a shame seaside towns are run down like that,may be when the warmer weather returns it will improve. Fish n Chips looked nice to me so a 8.5 this time 👍 Au

We just live over the bridge in South Wales. You should do Barry Island or Porthcawl sometime.
We go to Weston-super-Mare every year in the summer. The walk along the front is nice, and a walk along the Pier is also nice.

"It's Weston-Super-Mare Eddie" if you know you know.

lets be honest , most uk seaside towns now house alot of our lovely new community of doctors and engineers

The only problem with skinless fish is that you could be eating anything. Some have tried to pass off other fishes as cod or haddock and some have been prosecuted.

£7-14 parking , to sea the sights ? Nope .

@MacMaster never had any kind of problem with your videos, but you barely saw any part of the town. You missed the Palladium at the end of the pier, you missed Bimbeck Pier (how on earth did you miss that laugh😅) Yoy missed the cliffs up to Sand Bay which had some of the best coastal scenery in the country and views to Cardiff and so much more. It’s admittedly suffering like most town centres but I’m sure you could find alleys that smell like wee anywhere! So much focusing on the obvious negatives and making little effort to explore. The pubs are excellent (not so much the one you mentioned) loads of independents, loads of live music and karaoke…..come on fella! Not great!

WSM has become a sh*****e over the last 20 years you can't blame it on the pandemic. There's been a massive influx of people from outside these shores looking for cheap(er) accommodation and subsequently landlords will not spend the money on their properties. I live in Bristol only 21 miles away and I cannot think of a reason why I would visit WSM which is a shame as it was a regular place for us to go as kids.

Weston Super Mare isn't just about fish and chips. It has an amazing history starting with Iron Age Settlements, Romano British occupation, being a fishing village and the explosion of the Victorian Seaside phenomena. Birnbeck Pier is very special building, overflowing with nostalgia, when the Steam Ships, like the beautiful Waverley that still operates cruises brought people from Wales to enjoy the Pier's many amusements, which were leading edge at the time, like the Water Shoot. The architecture is amazing. A lot of buildings designed by Hans Price an amazing architect and there are some great examples of Art Deco. Weston is on the banks of the Bristol Channel, one of the largest estuaries in the world. We have fabulous parks too. There are always events taking place. We have a top class Museum and good local services like our Library, Colleges and learning hubs. Yes there is expense. Yes people don't read the warning signs about the mud and get stuck in it every year. Park their cars on the beach when it says don't park beyond this point and wonder why it's flooded when they come back from town. If anyone bothers to actually find out about this town, rather than finding fish and chip shops they may be surprised. And it is well know that the seagulls do enjoy sharing them, so don't eat them in areas where the birds are gathering. I mean...come on. Clearly you should have stayed in New York. If you are going to dole out criticism on someone's home town, try and make it balanced and constructive.

It ain't just the councils that are ruining coastal towns..it's also rich, entitled TV celebs..take Padstow for example..Rick Stein has ruined that town by selling sub par fish n chips at exorbitant prices..I went there with my wife and son several years ago and it was an utter disgrace..never again. Such a pity, it was a beautiful sleepy town back in the 70s..some very happy childhood memories. .local fisheries offering quality food at decent prices..little curio shops...GONE.
The UK is finished.

I love English seaside towns….who wants to fry on the costas?

What an absolute dump ,sign of the times ,no wonder people are emmergrating from the UK and holidaying more abroad .

He likes broken down, decrepit and abandoned things. Makes sense now why he bought a porsche EV

You know the parking on the seafront isn't even enforcable the council have just made it that way. And yes even tho they're charging for something they can't legally they still charge £14. But that's NSC all over CROOKS!

The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare has increased its admission charge from £1 to £2 for non-residents. Bosses said the rising cost of inflation meant they needed to start charging their 600,000 annual visitors more to "preserve the structure".

Spot on with that place.. I went on holiday with my mum and dad in the early 70's. It's not changed one bit.

Growing up working class in the West Midlands, WSM was the holiday destination of choice. I have many happy memories of the place, it's a pity if it's gone downhill. Although I expect it hasn't, just that everything seemed better when you were a kid and didn't have to go to school but could spend all day in the arcades, eating ice cream and playing krazy golf instead.

I’ve just come back from Cyprus yesterday what a lovely country clean and tidy. Walking round feeling safe. The uk is a disgrace now.

Those seagulls are the lucky ones, they had to get a bit quicker when the invaders came to town and started cooking them up!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂

Used to take my son there when he was growing up and went when I was growing up. Worked there for a couple of years about 15 years ago. Too many half-way rehab places there and then the druggies and alcoholics end up staying. Car-parking is daylight robbery….council has no money and can’t afford to invest in redevelopment.

Lack of investment by a short sighted council has ruined the place. Such a shame. Had some fabulous times here 40 years ago. Huge drug problem here now.

I have just watched the full video and have to say it seems to have concentrated on the very worst of Weston without showing the many positives! The presenter, as he mentioned had done no research before arriving in the town and could not even be bothered to look for the derelict Birnbeck Pier that he claimed at the beginning he wanted to see - what laziness! Also his refusal to pay a £1 to go on the pier and then nip into Wethersoons for a pee, rather than pay 30p, suggests to me he is something of a cheapskate! He then ate his fish and chips outside near the seafront and was surprised by the interest shown by the seagulls - what did he expect????
I am not from Weston but have lived here for 15 years and was really annoyed by this video and the bias of Mcmaster - if I went to Nottingham where it appears he lives, I could produce a video showing all the sad, derelict places around that city as I have also lived there in the past - it is very easy to show negatives as almost every town has them but Weston has a lot going for it which he might have discovered if he had stayed a bit longer.

left Weston in 95 im shocked how bad the place looks enjoyed ur video

£14 to park ! Makes visitors feel really welcome 😊

Great video Lee 👍 £14 to park you're vehicle that's just greed 😲 that message on the shop front says it all keep going 😆 been fair to blackpool they have been doing a little demolishing old building's and other bits watching walk on the wild side 👍

As a family with kids your better of planning a head get a cooler box on a trolley go ice land get packs of 3 magnums ice lollies it's far more cheaper get meal deals from the supermarket. And still have a good time. the shops on the sea 🌊 front are far to expensive and remember pound land have buckets 🪣 and spades ♠️ that's the way to do things nowadays it's sad to much greed . around .greed kills businesses.

The islands you can see are steep Holm and flat Holm , I think they're both bird sanctuaries .

Back in the 1950's and 60's a day in Weston super mud was a family outing to be looked forward to. Then we discovered a package holiday to Spain. Enough said I think..

You pissed and moaned about prices, and optionally paid to eat at the most expensive fish and chips you could find from the “chained” store you didn’t want to eat from. You could have chose to eat from the shop that sold it at £8.50 or £10.50 but you decided to eat at the most expensive one. You wont pay £1 to walk the pier, but you’ll pay an extra £5 - £8 to eat Fish and Chips. Yes the place is in absolute disarray, but you can’t moan about the prices when you optionally choose the expensive route.

.....and Joe & Petunia keeping an eye out on the cliff for boats in difficulty, so they can call the Coastguard. "Oh he's waving......Lovely day int it!......Coooeee!" 😊

.... any thoughts on the heathrow substation fire, Lee?, strange how it went up in flames just as the off-peak electric period started (EV's / ASHP / electric boilers / immersion water tanks just starting up !), your mate Sadiq has a lot to answer to!

On the Queensland Gold Coast parking is free, electric barbecues are free, toilets are free. Beaches are regularly cleaned and lifeguards patrol most beaches for free. Usually the sun makes it a perfect day. I am so glad I made the move.