Thrifty holidaymakers flock to a former mining town that
become Britain’s most affordable seaside resort.
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea was once part of Northumberland’s coalfield, but is now gaining a reputation as a hidden gem among the country’s coastal destinations.
7
7
7
Trevor Jefferson, 64, landlord of the Coble Pub, has “the cheapest pint in Newbiggin” and it’s hard to beat: £3.20 for a McEwan’s Scotch Ale.
The building, run by him and his wife Mo, dates back to 1700 and was converted into a pub in the 19th century.
He said: “You get value for Money When you come to Newbiggin, I think it’s the same in the shops, pubs, cafes and coffee houses, everyone thinks about the customer.
“We sell John Smith’s for £3.30 a pint and Foster’s for £3.60, which
seems fair to us.
“We are old school and try to keep the price low for customers. For example, you won’t be charged for a squeeze of lime.
“The most expensive pint we have is Birra Moretti and that costs £4.80,
which is pretty good these days.
“We love the pub and its customers, whether regulars or
visitors.”
Directly opposite, you can also get cheap ice cream at Caffe Bertorelli.
Most read in Beach Holidays
Owner Frank, the third generation to work at Bertorellis since 1910, proudly displays his price list, which shows a single scoop in a waffle costs just £2.60 and a double scoop £3.40.
His great-grandfather Benjamin left Italy and went to Holborn in London, where he Future Mrs. Rosamonda Cura, whose parents had an ice cream Business London.
Frank said: “It’s amazing to see what’s happening to the city now. It’s really booming and I think it’s only going to get bigger.”
“The people here really welcome us and we take care
Visitors are not charged Earth. It’s great to see that there is more and more to do in Newbiggin.”
In destinations such as Salcombe, Devon – the most expensive in Britain
Resort according to research by The Halifax – it is not unusual
charged almost 500 pounds per night for a luxury Room.
At Sandy Bay Holiday Park, just a short walk from Newbiggin’s,
Golden Sands, a double room was available for only £45.
7
7
But for 67-year-old visitor Steve Downie from North Tyneside, the city’s greatest attraction is priceless: the warm welcome from the Geordie citizens.
He said: “It is such a beautiful place and until recently hardly
someone knew about it, but it seems like the word is spreading now
pretty quickly.
“The beach is stunning and there are plenty of Pretty Shops and Pubs and cafes to visit, but for me the best thing about the place is the
People.
“They are so friendly and welcoming here that you just have to fall in love.
There is a nice community atmosphere in the place.
The best thing about this place for me is the
PeopleSteve Downie
“If you look around here now, you can hardly imagine that
once part of the coal mining area, but if you look closely, you can still
you see traces of coal dust in the sand on the beach.”
The mine was in operation between 1908 and 1967, but only in 2007
that an extensive restoration project has been undertaken.
The former beach had been eroded, so a Dutch dredger transported half a million tonnes of sand up the coast from Skegness and was washed onto the shore at Newbiggin via a huge pipeline.
The newly revamped beach looked pristine, but Northumberland’s beach was particularly notable for the giant sculpture entitled ‘Couple’ by artist Sean Henry, erected the following year.
And it’s not just beer and ice cream where you’ll find bargains.
In cafes you can still get a coffee for £1.90 and fish and chips for less than a tenner.
The 63-year-old head of the real estate and insulating glass company Geoff Parker was born and
grew up in Newbiggin and said he was “thrilled” to see how the town had changed in recent years.
He said: “It’s amazing how far it has come and I’m thrilled to see it because I like to see progress, although I know some people who live here would prefer it to remain a hidden gem.”
“Not everyone wants a lot of tourists because they don’t like change, but in my opinion everything has been positive, the place has never looked better.
“It comes full circle, because in the 19th century it was a popular tourist destination.
Resort because the ship owners from Newcastle would like to have their second Houses Here.”
The couple Chris Laidlaw, 31, and Tracy Corbett, 34, also raved about the city and visited it with their daughter and dog.
Tracy said: “We love coming here. It’s the perfect place for a stroll along the seafront on a beautiful day like today.”
“It’s great to see new cafes popping up that serve really good food and that the local community organizes lots of events throughout the year.
“We just had breakfast at a new cafe which was very nice and like most things here, good value for money. Money.”
7
7
