The UK seaside town that has transformed from ‘dismal’ to trendy in 10 years

For five weeks in 2015, a slew of a-list celebrities, including Brad Pitt, Jack Black and Nicholas Hoult, headed to the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare.

It was rare to spot a celebrity along the North Somerset seafront—the town was run down and in disrepair. This was exactly what made it the perfect location to host Banksy’s pop-up exhibition, ‘Dismaland.’ The exhibition portrayed a sinister seaside resort and was described by the artist as a “bemusement park.”

North Somerset Council executive member for business and economy councillor Mark Canniford said: “One of the key messages from Banksy’s Dismaland reflected how run down the nation and Weston-super-Mare was. Hence why he picked Weston as a location.”

However, things have changed for the town and “the situation has now changed greatly”.

Dismaland’s impact on the town could not be ignored – in addition to stars, the project brought in 150,000 visitors worldwide, which boosted the local economy by £20m.

A decade later, the town’s future isn’t looking so ‘dismal’, thanks to a ten-year vision for Weston’s renewal and regeneration. ‘Super Weston’ was shaped by more than 5,000 residents who took part in a constitution in 2018, and it was clear that people wanted an experience-based economy with a thriving arts and culture sector.

Banksy hosted Dismaland at The Tropicana – a former site of a lido and outdoor swimming pool that closed in 2000. The building remained empty for 15 years until The Bay Cafe opened in the front section and then played host to Banksy’s project later that year.

However, the site could once again be a thriving hub for entertainment and leisure. Under new proposals, the internal building will be replaced with a new structure to host indoor events for about 1,000 people, increasing the venue’s total capacity to 5,000. Meanwhile, the main 1930s promenade building would be repaired.

The plans comprise the council’s vision for Weston, funded by the authority’s successful bid for £20m from the government. Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member responsible for seafronts and investment in the Tropicana, told : “The submission of this planning application marks a key milestone in the life of the Tropicana.”

He added that the proposed designs support the vision “to create a fit-for-purpose entertainment venue”. Reinventing The Tropicana will “create new jobs, support local businesses and deliver a year-round experience-led economy for the future”, Solomon said. “We want to attract higher profile acts, culture and entertainment events to elevate Weston’s place within the regional, national and international scene.”

In February, the government said the levelling-up fund given to Weston would also be used to revamp Grove Park’s entrance and repurpose the park’s buildings, as well as improve Marine Lake’s food and drink facilities and introduce outdoor swimming. The projects “form part of Weston’s wider vision for the town, which focuses on the themes of living, learning and lifestyle,” the case study stated.

There are also plans for a new waterpark to be opened in the town, to use the Old Town Quarry as a performance space and to regenerate Birnbeck Pier. The pier, known as the ‘Old Pier’, is the only one in the country which links to an island as it leads to the rocky three-acre Birnbeck Island. Since 1994, the pier has been closed to the public and is on the Buildings at Risk register. Part of the pier collapsed during storms in 2015, but the council were able to purchase it in July 2023.

The council has said it will work with the RNLI to return public access to the pier “as quickly as possible” and reinstate the RNLI’s “vital lifesaving service from the island”. The main restoration work is due to start in the spring. More than £25 million in funding has been raised, including £10 million awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in October.

Weston also has a Grand Pier with food and drink outlets, an arcade, rides, and attractions. The town hosts the world’s largest helicopter museum, a range of adrenaline sports, a sand sculpture festival, the Weston-super-Mare Carnival and a beach rugby and netball festival.