Barry Island, named the second-worst seaside town in Wales by consumer magazine Which?, has undergone a remarkable revival driven by pop-culture fame and investment, challenging the perception that it is only worth visiting for fans of the BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey.
Which? survey ranks Barry Island low
A Which? survey of 5,000 people ranked Bangor as the lowest-rated seaside town in Wales, with Barry Island coming second from the bottom. Visitors judged resorts on beaches, scenery, food, accommodation, attractions, shopping, and value for money. One visitor described Barry Island as "tacky" and suggested it was only worth visiting if you "love Gavin & Stacey."
Both Barry and Bangor fared better than the UK's lowest-rated seaside town, Bognor Regis. Abersoch, on the Llyn Peninsula, also scored poorly due to high prices.
History of Barry Island as a seaside destination
From around 1900 to the 1970s, Barry Island was a major seaside attraction, with trains bringing thousands of families and miners from the South Wales Valleys to Whitmore Bay. The Butlins holiday camp, later renamed Barry Island Holiday Resort, drew crowds with chalets, swimming pools, amusement arcades, and competitions like Glamorous Granny and Lovely Legs.
However, like many British resorts, Barry Island declined after Butlins closed in 1986. The site reopened under new names but closed in 1996 after storm damage and licensing problems. Cheap flights and package holidays to sunnier destinations further reduced visitor numbers.
Gavin & Stacey sparks tourism revival
In 2007, the BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey premiered, putting Barry Island back on the map. The show created a wave of screen tourism, with fans travelling from across the world to visit locations such as Marco's Café and Nessa's arcade. According to tourism professionals, the show "had a huge effect on Barry, helping to put it on the map." Despite ending in 2024, the show's enduring popularity still draws fans.
Key locations include Marco's Café on the seafront, Nessa's Slots arcade on the Western Promenade, and Trinity Street, where the houses of Gwen, Stacey, and Uncle Bryn are located. Uncle Bryn's house has been transformed into an Airbnb. The fish-and-chip shop Boofy's closed in the new year after 25 years but was replaced by award-winning Farnham's.
Investment and redevelopment
In 2015, Henry Danter bought Barry Island Pleasure Park and invested millions into transforming the site, adding new rides and restoring old-fashioned fun. The waterfront has undergone major redevelopment, with former dock areas turned into apartments, restaurants, and businesses.
The coastal path from Cold Knap to Jackson's Bay offers ocean views and cafe stops. Jackson's Bay features a sea-view sauna, Môr a Sawna, which seats up to 10 people and offers views of the beach and harbour. Paddleboarding sessions are available with Island SUP, an accredited school.
A nostalgic and honest seaside experience
Despite the low ranking, Barry Island offers a nostalgic blend of beach, cafes, chip shops, coastal walks, and seagulls. As one South Wales resident put it, "I think Wales' very own Blackpool has a nostalgic blend of beach, fuss-free cafes serving bacon baps, chip shops, coastal walks, and overconfident seagulls and deserves a second chance from sceptical reviewers."
Barry Island is not pretending to be something it's not, and crowds filling the beach during heatwaves show that many people still appreciate its old-school charm. As the character Nessa would say, Barry Island is "tidy" exactly as it is.
