A new poll reveals that 80% of people aged 14 to 29 consider a day at the British seaside old-fashioned. The research, commissioned by eco-tech brand Hive, surveyed 2,000 young people who were quick to explain why traditional beach trips no longer appeal.
Top Moans: Phones, Toilets, and Seagulls
The biggest complaint, cited by 70% of respondents, was their phone running out of battery. Other sources of stress included filthy toilets, difficulty finding parking, and seagulls swooping in to steal chips. Physical annoyances like sand in shoes, cold sea, and pebbly beaches also featured.
Many said poor signal frustrated them, while others panicked about their tech getting damaged. More than one in ten moaned they couldn't see their screen in the sun, and nearly as many sulked because there was nowhere to charge their phone.
Generation Gap Over Battery Worries
While 70% of young people say a dying battery ruins the day, only 37% of Baby Boomers (aged 62 to 80) agree. Three in ten Gen Z and over a quarter of Millennials (aged 30 to 45) have left the beach early because their phone was running low.
Susan Wells of Hive, which commissioned the poll, said: “When the weather heats up, Britain heads to the coast, but beaches rarely offer power. Dead phones and no charging points have become a familiar frustration, especially when people rely on their devices for digital tickets, maps, messaging and mobile payments.”
Nostalgia Still Wins
Despite the complaints, Brits enjoy at least four beach days every summer, with 90% saying some of their best summer memories are from time spent there. The most nostalgic seaside memory, rated by 55%, is eating fish and chips wrapped in newspaper, followed by time with family. Other highlights include penny arcades, collecting seashells, and eating sticks of rock.
