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How Is Bexhill in the 50 Worst Towns?

posted by rachel jones on 19 Sept 2006 at 8:58 am

Did you know that Bexhill is number 8 in the 50 worst towns in Britain. Why is it there? Maybe because it is full of old people!? Not only is Bexhill in the top ten, but Hastings is in 39th place. So I think that the writer of the 'crap towns' book has clearly got it wrong and put the two round the wrong way. Surely Hastings deserves to be at number 8 and Bexhill, the lovely quiet town, should be put to number 39.

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50 Worst Towns

posted by Dave Hatherell on 23 Sept 2006 at 7:21 pm

Rachel, I think the Bexhill entry in Crap Towns was written by a dissafected yoof who has moved onto pastures new. Great says I, makes room for us...pass the Martini and Snickers.

Worst Town?

posted by Paul Metherell on 26 Sept 2006 at 2:11 pm

How wrong can people be? But long may it stay that way! Just bought a property after many years of weekends etc. I am not retired, but appreciate the very pleasant way of life. Thanks Bexhill.

Who Says?

posted by John Parsons on 30 Sept 2006 at 9:35 pm

Does anyone know how the so called "worst town" is defined?
There is no way Bexhill should be there. Is it only seaside towns, or every place in Britain. Can anyone find this out?

Hastings Vs. Bexhill

posted by Aim?e on 27 Oct 2006 at 12:55 pm

What exactly is there for under 30's to do in Bexhill? Absoloutly nothing.

"Lovely quiet town"
Well...yes. A trip to Bexhill on a weekday will provide you with a lifetimes supply of cremetorium fuel.

And if you're singing the praises of places like cooden, don't forget Sidley.

I was unfortunate enough to live there for a year and had more trouble there than where I am living now - in central St.Leonards.

Your sleepy little town gifts people with nothing but an art gallery and rusting ice cream vans.

Under 30?

posted by John Parsons on 30 Oct 2006 at 3:57 am

Well, young lady, how about attending evening classes to complete your education by learning correct grammar and spelling?

Whose Loss?!

posted by E Rosling on 16 Nov 2006 at 1:58 pm

When I was 25 I bought my first home in Bexhill and commuted up and down to London - I chose to live there because I grew up holidaying there and it always seemed idilic to me... I moved further north 2 years ago and can't tell you how much i miss it, so much so that I'm bringing my husband now to show him how perfect it it...
To my mind if people fail to realise the benefits of Bexhill it is their loss and our gain because surely it means they won't bother lowering the tone and re-visiting....

Moving To Bexhill From Croydon

posted by Mrs L Perkins on 10 Dec 2006 at 5:16 pm

I am hoping to move to Bexhill next year from Croydon. We have visited on many occasions looking to buy a property and have liked what we have seen.We are young retired people and wonder what there is to do where we can meet
other people and get to know more about Bexhill, Cooden.

Can anyone help?

So What is Missing?

posted by m on 17 Mar 2007 at 11:47 pm

So what do you think is missing from Bexhill?

Dead Town

posted by Terry on 23 Mar 2007 at 1:50 pm

Bexhill is a nice town to live in if you like peace and quiet. But if the local council don't start doing somthing now the town will die on its feet. The rot has already started the d.l.w.p is not used as it should be, the place is on the verge of becoming a dirty town with food, rubbish, beer cans, bottles flying round in the wind most evenings. The town wants people to visit but what has the town got to keep people here to do? Nothing! No hotel, nothing at the d.l.w.p.

I have lived in bexhill for 6 years and have watched the town go down and down. Hastings, a town i was born in and my family for many years were born, has history. The White Rock has lots of things on all the time, and many things to do and places to visit, so people will stay. Bexhill-on-Sea has nothing. So come on Bexhill Council, you get paid to bring people to the town, get on with it before it is too late!

Aimie Is Right, Nothing To Do Here

posted by Jonathan on 31 Mar 2007 at 2:34 pm

Firstly, I can't believe how patronising John Parsons' post was to Aimie! Lucky she only spelt one word wrong, and didn't abbreviate words in 'txt speak' or use acronyms which are perfectly acceptable on the web, or he might have done himself a mischief. Its a shame that when she made a valid point his only retort was a personal insult.

Aimie is right though, my wife and I (both in our 20s) moved from Brighton to Bexhill two years ago and have since started a family. We've just sold our house to move back to Brighton, as Bexhill really isn't geared up to cater for anybody under 30, especially new parents. By comparison, Brighton is a wonderful place to bring up children.

Dave Hatherell points out that the Crap Towns description of Bexhill was written by a "dissafected yoof" (John Parsons must've had a fit when he saw that) - too right that they'd be disaffected if they were brought up in this day and age with all the entertainment Bexhill provides! They should consider themselves lucky - after all, there's Hanging Out Outside The Co-Op to keep them busy, or of course the popular Racing Mopeds Around The Town Centre.

It's a Good Town

posted by ann on 19 May 2007 at 11:50 am

Yes its a good town. But it is going too up market now,. It's a good place to live at times, every place has good and bad points. Bexhill has a good selction of things which if people look they will enjoy....... yes i now moved on to wales yes thats a lovely place to be. Yes bexhill has a lovely beach to go to and its fun in summer and a bit dull winrter times. Don't moan, its a good town......

It Depends

posted by Balanced on 14 Jun 2007 at 10:54 pm

It Depends on what you are looking for. If you want nightlife - forget Bexhill. That urban buzz - try Hastings or Brighton. Events - well Hastings, Batttle, Eastbourne

If you want a decent town - lowish crime, Ok schools, brownies or drama clubs, places to walk without being attacked then Bexhill is your place.

It is a quiet lovely place with a wonderful seafront, a town ecntre that survives (just) without being a clone.

Yep it has issues like everywhere else - a group of 20 young people hanging about causing trouble especially for the other 3000 young people who are great and tends to provide more for the retired rather than the young. Jobs are scarce and not well paid, running a business tricky (I know I do)

But this is the place i chose to bring up my kids who can take themselves to the seafront ot parks (not at night though!!) i am very happy here and sometimes even venture to Hastings (5 mins on the train) or Eastboutne (10 mins) when I need a bit of a change

Sidley can be tough - and has more than its fair share of problems but again its not the whole of Sidley either.

Bexhill Wilderness

posted by Sarah on 25 Jun 2007 at 5:07 pm

One of my Biggest Gripes about Bexhill would be the lack of pride that is taken in the keeping of the town. All the grass verges are overgrown and unkept, at the oldtown traffic lights you can't even see over it!! even Ravenside seems to have let itself go. The roundabout there is a particular embarrassment I think, most other towns have nicely laid out flowers or well cut grass, what do we have??...2 ft high seeding grass and a multitude of different weeds!! a great impression to make on people entering ing the town from the Hastings end. Where you turn off to Bexhill its a mess, would you turn down there or carry on to Eastbourne?? When Hastings starts looking the better option you know its time to do something about it surely!! Anyone else in agreement?

Bewildered

posted by Naomi on 28 Sept 2007 at 10:16 pm

Yes, we are totally bewildered as to why anyone would move to an area with obviously first researching its amenities regardless of age group and then complain when there appears to be a lack of activities available. We moved to Hastings Old Town twelve years ago - which is disintergrating on a daily basis. Barely a night or day goes past without some kind of pub brawl. We had a restaurant in the Old Town and could not help but overhear customers saying they would not come here (Hastings) again due to the parking restrictions and deterioration of the place. We agree Hastings should be higher in rank in the book "Crap Towns".

We were surprised to see Bexhill in this book since from our own experiences there are many, many far worse places not even mentioned. We do however feel that the De La Warr Centre is a complete waste of time - extremely expensive restaurant / cafeteria and would not go there again let alone recommend it. Bexhill has always been known for its gentile qualities so if its nightclubs and the fast life you require then do your research and stick to Brighton or a similar area.

PS For Bewildered

posted by Naomi on 28 Sept 2007 at 11:10 pm

Sorry, forget to mention that we have lived in Bexhill for the last 19 months having moved from Old Town Hastings. We are happy here - not perfect but where is? Yes we did our research and yes we did research before moving to Hastings Old Town 12 years ago - after Croydon it was a nice friendly place but after about four years it was deteriorating in front of our eyes hence we got out and moved to Bexhill. We avoid going to Hastings if at all possible now.

Glad I Escaped

posted by Jeremy Hare on 29 Sept 2007 at 10:39 pm

Twenty-odd years ago, my parents, who still live in Bexhill, sent me away to boarding school. At the time I hated it. But now I realise why they did it. It wasn't for the great education, or the fantastic sports facilities, the music lessons, the mingling with all kinds of different people. No, they sent me away so that I would be saved from growing up in Bexhill. Every time I go back to visit and see just how economically dead Bexhill is; how there's nothing to do apart from drink, fight, and criticise those who drink and fight; and have to put up with the appallingly primitive facilities (the off licences close early! there's no cinema worth talking about! you can't even get a mobile phone signal half the time!); every time I go back, I am reminded of how much I owe my parents for sending me away.

Jeremy

posted by sheila on 04 Oct 2007 at 11:59 pm

I am sure the residents of Bexhill are very grateful to your parents for removing you.

Better Shops

posted by Lina on 07 Oct 2007 at 5:59 pm

I have lived in Bexhill for several months now and although it is a nice enough town it desperately needs some better shops and restaurants. A Pizza Express would be nice and maybe a Marks & Spencer food hall. It is certainly a more civilised place to live than Hastings or St L but I can certainly see why young people find it boring. One good thing about it is that cheap housing can still be found (and Kirsty and Phil in Location x 3 did not look hard enough. No flats under ?140,000 in January 2007? Pah!)

Bexhill

posted by Daniel Parsons on 10 Oct 2007 at 9:40 am

Yeah Bexhill is alright to live, only thing is there is not enough places for young people.
The main thing is the de la warr in which we all skate which is great.

From Bexhill

posted by Anonymous on 30 Oct 2007 at 8:51 pm

I moved to Bexhill six months ago. I could not get into st. Richards school, even though we live practically next door, and I am Roman Catholic. I applied in May and the appeal was set for July, I lost four months of school.
Even though there were twenty eight pupils per class set. The principal told my parents that he ran his school like an exclusive golf club. I thought he was running this school for the community. PEOPLE CHOOSE TO JOIN CLUBS //// HOWEVER I MUST ATTEND SCHOOL. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. THIS PRINCIPAL NEEDS REALITY CHECK // I THINK HIS MBE / OBE OR WHATEVER IT IS HAS GOT TO HIS HEAD.

My two sisters were advised not to even appeal for their primary schools, so they have to go to Hastings. My Mother waited seven months to see the health visitor for my baby sister, and my ten year old sister has been waiting six months to go to see a specialist at the local hospital.

I find it difficult to get along with the kids in Bexhill, even if I try hard, I am quite clever with a high I.Q but I am scared to show it because I will be bullied by being called a "nerd" or "boffin". I have to go to Hastings for afternoon activites
(because there is nothing to do here, if there are any, they are kept secret).

People are being rude to us in restaurants and in the street, just because we are a family of four children. On the first week of my arrival, a few kids tried to break into an off license throwing bricks and just yesterday some tw*ts broke into our car. My five year old sister forgot her doll buggy close to a charity shop, when she came back to pick it up with me, an old lady shouted at her for stealing and threatened that she was going to call the police.

It is no wonder that for families and kids that Bexhill is one of the worst places to live. I am glad now that we are leaving and am reassured we are not the only ones.

12 years old and lost in Bexhill.



Bexhill Is A Great Place!

posted by Stephan Wegmann on 02 Nov 2007 at 3:47 pm

My first visit to the UKl was in 1984 as a student staying in Bexhill for three weeks. We had such a great time and people were so warm and friendly. Since than I have visited the UK over a hundred times and next year I will take my children to Bexhill - hope they?ll also "fall in love".

Best wishes from Germany

Stephan & family

My Opinion on Bexhill

posted by liam on 05 Nov 2007 at 9:15 pm

i have lived in bexhill most of my life and i can truthfully it has to be one of the worst places to live i have ever come across, there is not much to do in bexhill unless you enjoy taking long walks on the beach, my girlfriend lives in guildford and i go up there as much as i can there is so much more to do up there.

I Love Bexhill!!

posted by pam smith on 22 Feb 2008 at 4:38 pm

I cant believe all the moaning about nothing to do in Bexhill.....what a load of rubbish.
I have only lived here for 4 months and love it and so do our children. You have bowling, swimming, beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants, excellent walks and if you are looking for theatre s you have hastings and eastbourne a short drive away. Stop moaning and enjoy!!!!!

Re I Love Bexhill

posted by Dorothy on 23 Feb 2008 at 8:55 am

You haven't lived here long enough ,when you have lived here over 70 years as I have maybe you will think differently.

Bexhill

posted by Jude on 24 Feb 2008 at 10:44 pm

Why do people keep moaning about Bexhill and what an awful place it is to live?? It has its good AND bad points just like every other town in this country.
Those who've never lived anywhere else and grumble that Bexhill is the worst place ever are not really qualified to complain.
If you don't like it, why stay?

I Loved Bexhill

posted by Helen on 03 Apr 2008 at 9:14 pm

I grew up in Bexhill from around 1970-1981. There was plenty to do as a kid. I lived between Egerton Park and the seafront and my friends and I spent a great deal of time at both. There was a pool in Egerton Park at the time and we swam there also. Now, I understand, there is a leisure center and bowling alley. There are also lovely places to take long walks or bike rides. If our family wanted to "go out on the town" we only had to go as far as Eastbourne or Hastings. It's not like Bexhill is an isolated town. I now live in the US and I often think back fondly about my time in Bexhill. Having been all over the world in the US Navy and Air Force, I have come to believe that every place is what you make of it. If you can't find something to entertain yourself, maybe you are boring, not the place. For people with young children who can't find something to entertain them, you obviously are too lazy to look around. Try looking for sea life in tide pools; go on nature walks; walk up Galley Hill; visit Old Town and let the kids play Hide and Seek in the old ruined manor; pick blackberries on the downs; or go to the library. Check out day trips (Drucillas Zoo, Long Man of Wilmington, Pevensy Castle, Hastings Castle, Treasure Island, Rye, Winchelsea, Bedgebury(?), etc.) There were so many places we went that were an easy day out from Bexhill, I don't think I could list them all!

Re: "I Loved Bexhill"

posted by Jude on 05 Apr 2008 at 10:12 pm

"I have come to believe that every place is what you make of it."
Well said Helen!!

I Like It

posted by mr t on 19 May 2008 at 2:24 pm

i think its slightly unfair to say there is nothing to do. I'm 25, lived in the town since i was 3 and i love it. I see people mention theres not alot to do for youngsters in the town. its not hard to find something to do, trust me. Me and my mates were always doing something during the summer holiday. football, beach, tennis and many other things(all legal) without making our parents go bankrupt. What i'm trying to say, is really any different to other towns in the UK? I'm pretty sure youngsters hang outside shops like co-op in other towns, mopeds going up and down streets. I'm afraid this is society now days. you make of it what you can.

It's Good

posted by Nathan on 04 Jun 2008 at 12:58 pm

The town is well-kept, quiet and tidy.
I think it is a nice place to live (as I did many years ago) and go to other places to "do".

There seems to be a lot more going on in the town than there used to be, a lot more shops open, more caf?s than there used to be.

Perhaps the biggest shame is the way that the De La Warr Pavillion is used. It is too reminiscent of a glossy 'arty' type place.

Having said that, the theatre there seems to be improving.

Its Boring

posted by Jonny on 23 Jul 2008 at 12:00 pm

well i am a 15 year old living in bexhill and i have lived here quite alot of my life and i agree that bexhill is boring. i skateboard and despite goin to youth clubs in bexhill it is very boring there isnt anything to do apart from go to the beach every day wich gets boring after a while. if u think that bexhill is a nice place to live then try living as a teenager in bexhill and then tell me if its boring.

Even when me and my friends find something to do we ither get the police coming and telling us that were not allowed to do that or we get old people complaning at us. i mean a few days ago me and a few of my friends were in a little park up galley hill and we were just minding our own business and then this elderly lady came up to us sayin to leave the park or she would call the police because the park wasnt ment for us. well ok the park might of not been ment for us but we wernt doing anythig wrong at all we werent breaking anything and there wasnt any one in there apart from us so we werent causing anyone any problems but because we were teenagers this elderly lady had a problem with us.

so this is only one of the reasons that i think that bexhill is just genrally CRAP

Bexhill

posted by charlotte on 23 Jul 2008 at 12:05 pm

I am 14 years old and i have lived in bexhill pretty much all my life and to be honest for a teenager it is a really boring place to live. sure everyone says its a lovely town because its by the sea but you can only really enjoy yourself on the beach when its good weather and even then it sometimes gets boring.
me and some of my friends were down the beach the other week and we were sitting in the porch of someones beach hut to get out of the sun a little bit we werent doing anything wrong but this old man came up to us and told us to not come to this beach again becuase he see's us here too much shouting, he also told us that he had been taking pictures of us that he would show to the police if we didnt leave. the beach is a public place yet we still get told off by old people for being there. and theres the De La Warr that sometimes do gigs, but its usually the same bands most of the time. they need to get new bands playing. sometimes me and some friends sit round the back of the De La Warr and some of them skate and even though we arent doing anything wrong we get the police come up to us and write down our names and tell us that we arent allowed there.
how are we meant to have fun if old people or the police always come and tell us off?
just because there are some teenagers that do do wrong it doesnt mean we are all like it but old people dont seem to see it like that.

the shops are rubbish aswell and there are loads of charity shops. you dont need that many. to be honest i think that there are more things for old people in bexhill than there is for young people.

Bexhill For Young People

posted by M Woolf on 24 Jul 2008 at 10:53 am

I agree entirely with Jonny and Charlotte that Bexhill is biased towards its older citizens, and that a lot of them are intolerant and selfish. What really does worry me though is the way that J.and C. have expressed themselves: I don't know where they go to school but, if this is the average standard of English for 14/15 year-olds, the teachers should be ashamed of themselves. Perhaps that's why Bexhill is considered a crap town: poor schools?

Bexhill For Young People

posted by Harry Saunders on 24 Jul 2008 at 5:34 pm

I have the good fortune to be involved with local youth for quite a few years and there are some splendid first class youngsters and good citizens of the future in Bexhill. Please don't knock them.
So many of the 'Oldies ' say "I could teach those youngsters a thing or two---" Sadly they seldon do !
So come on be positive do something for them.

Bexhill For Young People

posted by Jude on 24 Jul 2008 at 10:12 pm

"There's nothing to do" seems to be the warcry of many teenagers not just nowadays but for decades. Perhaps Jonny and Charlotte should think about what they and other teenagers WANT to do, approach the Council etc and try to get it organised. This might be more constructive than hanging around in parks and behind the De la Warr Pavilion moaning.

On The Fence

posted by lynn kirby on 31 Aug 2008 at 5:22 pm

I have just returned from a fortnight's holiday from Bexhill, and I am on the fence still as to wether Bexhill deserved to be in the bottom 50.
On the plus side, there are some nice shops and goodish facilities, and the people were friendly.
On the bad side, we went to play on the mini golf, and had to manouvre around 7 lots of dog turds !!! (come on dog owners, ever heard of clearing up the mess???)
Despite following the road signs for the 1902 race track, and the motor heritage museum, we could find neither as the sign posts sent us around in a big circle a few times.
We went to the open air music concert on Bank Holiday weekend, only to witness several people openly taking drugs, and the security staff did nothing about it, sort of spoiled it for us, as we were enjoying the music, but felt we had to remove our young child from the scene.
Seems to me that Bexhill has a lot to offer, but doesn't seem to value holiday makers or families. Such a pity.

Bexhill Is Boring!

posted by CK on 01 Sept 2008 at 5:14 pm

Well i have to say that i totally agree with bexhill being the 8th worst town. It is the most boring place ever! i moved to bexhill when i was 2 and went to school there, i finally left bexhill when i was 17 (im 19 now) and even though i only moved to st Leonards it is such a release.
Bexhill is full of moaning old people who moan at anyone that hasnt got wrinkles (once some old women went over to my 5 yr old brother and shouted at him in the shop because he was having abit of a show off because he wanted a toy!!!!!) they are completly rediculous (obv i know it isnt all old ppl but it is a gd 95%)....
There is nothing to do in bexhill i mean sure there is the beach, swimming pool, bowling & parks etc but seriously once you've been going to the same place for a gd few years it gets extremly boring!....
Also as previous ppl has mentioned is the idiot police - they clearly have nothing better to do so they stop & search all teenagers that are innocently walking down the road or hanging out in a park.....
Nightlife in bexhill is OK i guess they have a couple gd bars but still no nightclub!....
In a nutshell the town is built for old ppl (you know what they say waiting room to heaven and all that) there is nothing at all for ppl to do under the age of 30!

Worst Town?

posted by Nigel Gibbon on 20 Sept 2008 at 6:17 pm

Bexhill has no obvious night clubs, no pier, no kiss me quick hats, no theatres, no cinemas, no yobs especially and no thriving night life.

Wonderfull. That is why we chose to re-locate here from Hertfordshire. We could have gone to live anywhere in the UK. Long may it stay the same as it is right now.

PS Leave the front alone please!

BEXHILL IS NICE

posted by Tracey on 22 Sept 2008 at 10:18 pm

Hi Its funny that Bexhill got voted one of the worst places, as last month in one o the biggest papers it was said that the number one place to buy a house and to live was Little Common in Bexhill!!! Surprise? so why all the slating I live in Little Common and in my 30's we have two young children - (4 yr old and a 1 yr old)we have plenty to do, the community here in L.C is fantastic the school & Nursery in Little Common are above fantastic they are wonderful and the people in the village are lovely I used to live in Eastbourne and before that grew up in Berkshire and it is a million times better here, this is home and we have the best of both worlds being near the sea and near rural areas too. You just have to join in and get involved and then there is so much to do and see, in this area and surrounding areas. The childen love it. We love it!

The Best View Of Bexhill

posted by Michael upton on 15 Oct 2008 at 8:42 pm

Having lived in Bexhill for the first fifteen years of my life and then travelled all over the world I can only say that the best view of Bexhill is in the rear view mirror of my car.

Love It

posted by Adele Bird on 19 Nov 2008 at 4:58 pm

Bexhill on sea is THE BEST town and im only 20!
Lived here all my life and I could never live anywhere else

Nonsense

posted by c.p. on 20 Nov 2008 at 4:19 pm

I dont know how it can be rated in the worst 50 thats nonsense.

Put it this way in our local paper in surrey this week we had an attempted robbery in our local tescos and 2 local youths were held at knife point (all in 1 week!!!). We are in the process of moving to Bexhill and we cant wait. Believe me Bexhill should be in the top towns to live.

Bexhill Deserves Its 8th Place.

posted by Joe Kneale on 16 Mar 2009 at 3:54 pm

I was unfortunate enough to live in Bexhill for about 6 years, until I was 16, and can thoroughly agree that it is a dull, culturally starved, unattractive place to live.

People seem to have the mentality there that young people are the sole reason 'our country is going to the dogs', and are purely there to cause trouble and commit crime. This, of course, is nonsense. There are inevitably going to be some such kids, but the attitude of some of the elderly population and the authorities to the majority of the youngsters was only going to create more friction.

As for Jude's comment, we kids did try and get the council to build a skatepark back in the late 90s, one that wasn't a) really far out of town, and b) rubbish. Countless petitions, meetings, and about 5 years later, permission was finally granted. So saying kids just sit on their arses all day and whinge about things is incorrect, but given the difficulty of getting anything done for them is near impossible who can blame them?

Bexhill is wonderful if you have nothing left to do but die, as it says in the Crap Towns book, but for anyone even vaguely interested in anything cultural or exciting, is woefully lacking.

Bexhill

posted by Rachel G on 13 Apr 2009 at 11:48 am

I have lived here al my life and it is the most boring place eva yeah we have the beach but never the weather for it there are few pubs/bars but it is truley and old ppl town do u know we have the most old ppl in EUROPE They wil never make it more livley or do anything for the young communtity as 75% of the people here are over 50 everyone knows everyone here which is sometimes a laugh when u go out but most of the time its like eastenders every1 sticking there noses in other people business i wana move!!!!

Bexhill

posted by Amanda Clough on 19 Apr 2009 at 11:53 am

O.k lets stop for a moment and compare our town with the other coastal towns that surround us... Yes its true that we have more older citizens but why is that a bad thing? would people prefer a chavvy town centre, perhaps a thriving drug cultue would suit? I for one dont miss dodging the piles of vomit outside the bars and nightclubs or feeling threatened after dark on the streets of my home town.

Bexhill is a lovely place to bring up children and lets face it if you fancy a bit more urban and a bit less genteel then Hastings with its thriving music/party scene is just 5 miles down the rd!!! (not even a ?10 taxi ride and that is after midnight)

How Is Bexhill 50 Worst Town

posted by cp on 19 Apr 2009 at 4:12 pm

well said Amanda. I totally agree with you. I dont quite know what teenagers expect to be doing. At least we have a low crime rate and after moving from croydon area to here. Children in croydon have nothing better to do than hang outside supermarkets etc so i think the children here are lucky in comparison and maybe oneday will realise this.

Bexhill

posted by Tom on 15 Jun 2009 at 2:23 pm

Well, I'd like to start by appreciating Jonny and Charlotte above, for sharing their thoughts... but it's not fair to judge the standard of education they receive based upon their spelling? That's rather rude.

I go to St. Richard's and it's standard of education is second to none. Outstanding OFSTED reports and GCSE results prove it. So suck on that. :)

Anyway, I've lived in Bexhill for 5 years now and yes, it's not the most exciting of places. For those of you who think teenagers do nothing apart from stand outside Co-op and deliberately make other people's lives hard - we're not all like that.

Yes - there are a few facilities for young people to engage in, but not nearly enough to keep them entertained at an affordable price? Nor is there enough jobs for them to provide for themselves and their recreational needs. Especially during an economical depression, parents can't be expected to dish out money on demand for a trip to Ocean Bowling... and the few free activities available for us are hardly the most appealing... Once you've seen Egerton Park, the De La Warr, the beach, parks, etc. enough it's tiring so forgive us for seeking out new ways to entertain ourselves while we still can and we're not tied down by full-time education/jobs.

Rant over. :)

Its Lovely

posted by caz white on 11 Jul 2009 at 3:00 pm

i am a 43 year old with children moved out now and living alone,and visited bexhill by mistake really as before i was told to stay clear as it was not nice there....i fell in love with the quiet ness of bexhill, eating fish and chips on the beach, sipping a glass of wine in Thats Amore and watching the world go by.
I found the people in bexhill friendly, polite and east going unlike my life in london where no one has a nice word to say no manners and rushing around like headless chickens.
I love bexhill and hope also to move there soon, the idea of bexhills quietness with nothing going on suits me fine, and if pubs and clubs are opened there it will cause more fights in the centre, and if you want that sort of enviroment hastings and st leonards is not far off, although that is not my choice, im trying to escape that in london.I found bexhill like a land that time forgot and loved it and it may sound sad but what more do you need in live apart from stressfree living where you can walk the streets safely and i definately felt safe there.

Yes It's Lovely

posted by John Parsons on 12 Jul 2009 at 12:43 pm

Well said Caz. I liked your reference to "the land that time forgot". Come and join us, you will be most welcome here.

Why Are You Bored!

posted by SJM on 07 Aug 2009 at 11:44 pm

Having read some of the comments, anyone without knowledge of this part of south east England would think that Bexhill was in the back of beyond - many days travelling on foot before reaching anything of interest or other civilian life. Why do some people think that everything has to be on their doorstep? What is wrong with getting on a bus, a short train journey, riding a bike to where there is something of interest to them - there is so much in that part of the country - get out, explore and enjoy!

Moving To Bexhill

posted by maggie on 20 Oct 2009 at 2:26 am

i have just bought a house in bexhill,i was born and brought up in edinburgh but lived most of my life in london. i came back to edinburgh for my mum who was dying and got stuck here for 2yrs in the credit crunch and no house sales. i miss london and all it has to offer but after slowing down to a smaller city and safer way of life i decided to move to bexhill, it gives me the slower and safer pace of life to live in, but the advantages of london only 1 hour up the motorway, i call that the best of both worlds and am glad places like bexhill still survive, i think they could use a few more busses running to london and maybe a later service. if you want things to do and places to go you only have to travel 1 hour to one of the largest cities in the world full of things to see and do but you also have a great safe and quiet place to come home to, who wants stabbings every night and gangs roaming around etc ? some of the kids moaning on in this site should move be happy they are in bexhill and away from all these troubles.

Beautiful Bexhill

posted by chris Wintle on 04 Nov 2009 at 12:33 am

Bexhill holds many memories for me as we used to holiday here some 45 years ago. We stayed at 22 Buckhurst Road which I believe is now a nursing home. The place was and still is clean quiet and very peaceful to while away the hours. I have wonderful memories of watching the 'old' electric trains on the footbridge at the end of Buckhurst Road. Happy Days!!!

Bex-hole

posted by Nique on 08 Dec 2009 at 6:40 pm

Jeez

Now I've been to some pretty rum places in the UK in my time but Bexhill seems to have no soul. I've been to worse places...I'm thinking of parts of Manchester and London which fall below Bexhill in my esteemed estimations...however these places still have a kind of vibrancy about them...things to do, places to see, etc

Bexhill in my estimation is synonymous with the decline of the British sea side town...reliant just on the holiday season and not a lot else....I know there is one large company in particular here but not a lot of them actually live in Bexhill....and te ones that I've spoken to who do don't sem to have done it through choice.

As for one comment I've seen here 'Londons only an hour up the motorway' heh hem..... I'll correct you on that .... The M25 is 1 1/2 hours up some piddly little roads before you hit the A21.

It's a shame that under the worn slapdash facade that I've seen so far there could be a bit more to Bexhill..but until someone bombs the Pavillion (don't do it kids) and they decide they need another attraction (Home of British Motor Racing? Pleeeeassse....) I don't see there being much of a change.

It's a pity

Just out of interest, the worst hell hole i've had the misfortune to visit has been Jaywick Sands ...just down the road from Clacton.

You really do have to visit it ..... I neer realised such a place could exist in a (suposedly) 1st world country

Correction

posted by Alastair (Webmaster) on 08 Dec 2009 at 7:06 pm

Nique,

Just to correct you on your facts, Bexhill has never been the "Home of British Motor Racing" - that's Silverstone. However, Bexhill is the Birthplace of British Motor Racing.

As for the rest of your comments - Bexhill isn't the most lively place in the world, but that appears to be why a lot of people like it. No-one will ever win this argument as everyone likes different things.

Alastair
Webmaster of Discover Bexhill

Nique

posted by Andrea on 10 Dec 2009 at 8:35 pm

I think your negative outlook is a good excuse to stay at home and stop traveling. Bexhill is what it is and i have seen no advertising campaign promicing anything else. Butlins, have you tried it? seems much more your kind of party!

Brighton In There Too!

posted by Lisa Kayser on 19 Jan 2010 at 9:15 am

says it all really -

Idealic Bexhill

posted by trevor gill on 21 Apr 2010 at 3:27 pm

i hope to move to bexhill soon from co down i used to live in hastings as a boy and want to move back to the area i like peace and quiet so i think bexhill is the place to be ,as for the ones who made nasty remarks regarding older people in bexhill they should learn some respect

Home From Home

posted by Holly on 25 Apr 2010 at 11:58 am

I agree with much of what has been said on here. I've just moved here for my job in Hastings from a large village/small town in Dorset and what I like about Bexhill is that it reminds me of home. Its not hustly and bustly and it has that atmosphere of being a sleepy place. but thats exactly how I was brought up (I think Bexhill rivals the retirement home population of West Moors) so I'm quite happy with that.

Its a great place for bringing up families, enjoying your retirement and in general living in a safe environment. The downfall is the lack of activities, but you have enough and certainly more in the immediate vicinity than where I'm from.

My main problem is meeting people. I'm 23 and because of the class of people that live here its hard to meet people my age. but then i was the same in West Moors, all my friends went to school in the same area and I only ever met up with them. Im sure those young people who are around here are in the same situation. Yes you moan and everything about the lack of facilities, but all your friends are here and you make the most of what you have. you have a train station and bus services! its certainly beating where I'm from!

I love it here and once I'm more settled I'll appreciate it all the more!

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.

posted by Simon Kempthorne on 02 May 2010 at 1:03 am

I've lived in Bexhill for about 2 years since dropping out of university, though my family moved down here just before 2006 (and as such I visited sporadically between then and 2008). At the age of 23, I find my experience of Bexhill is a mixed bag, and it does leave a bitter taste of pessimism in my mouth.

I can see how the tranquillity appeals to many: not everyone (me included) enjoys the irritation caused by noisy party-goers each weekend, or that from noisy yobs racing about the streets (albeit there is the occasional idiot riding about on a scooter in the dark hours around or near Sidley). Naturally that does appeal to the older population, and as such, that's presumably why Bexhill has gained its status as ?God's waiting room?.

Hastings and Eastbourne are a short distance away, and they both offer things that Bexhill doesn't in terms of things to do, so the lack of things to do in Bexhill itself is somewhat offset by that. They certainly have the noisier stuff that younger people might prefer!

For those of us who aren't attracted to the hustling and bustling of city life, Bexhill is surrounded by some pleasant countryside. There are also the historical attractions, of course, as befits the area that is the so-called ?1066 Country?; the kind that you're highly unlikely to find in the city. Pretty good for someone like me that enjoys photography (so long as the weather's nice).

It is also the very nature of Bexhill that enables me to make a few firm criticisms of the place.

Because of the elderly population, the work available if you're uninterested in care is sparse. Bexhill thus seems stuck in a timewarp of sorts: there's virtually no industry to offer people a decent variety of jobs.

It also doesn't help that, because of Bexhill's location, it's harder to find work if you do not drive.

The focus on the elderly in the town leaves many young people like me in a lurch. In all the time I've been here so far, I've found it impossible to build up a social life, simply because there isn't anywhere for people like me to be able to socialise.

You could argue that I could instead go on to Hastings and Eastbourne for some pubbing and clubbing, but as I'm no longer interested in just getting drunk for the sake of it, it's a pointless endeavour.

All in all, while I recognise Bexhill has an obvious appeal, I feel emotionally imprisoned by this town that seems doomed to become petrified in the current rut it is in. However, I feel that it has great potential to diversify into a place that people of all ages and all persuasions can find enjoyment.

Has Anyone Noticed...

posted by Cleo on 18 Jul 2010 at 10:32 am

that the majority of people who value the peace and quiet in Bexhill are older or have young children?

I wouldn't choose to raise kids in Bexhill permanently- when they're small, they'd enjoy going to the park and feeding the ducks, but once they hit thirteen I'd be worried about the lack of distractions for them. I'd be worried that the lack of distractions and activities would lead them to do illegal or unsafe things to have fun.

As many teenagers have said, when you live in a place all your life, you're bound to have visited the "main attractions" before you hit puberty and- as entertaining as they were when you were little- they're going to get boring once you'e grown up a little... And costlier. I'm sure the majority of young teenagers in this area do not have a regular job- I'm 16 and I live in Hastings (a town altogether more alive than Bexhill) and there's no work there at all- which would enable them to go swimming with friends or
go to eastbourne for the day and I'm postive their parents won't want to constantly shell out to pay for their child to do things,even if they don't want them in on the Xbox all day. Even Hastings is a long walk to someone who can't afford the train fare and you'd have to trek through Warrior Square which, in my experience, isn't the nicest place. It'd be bad enough in the day, but if your parents aren't willing to be a taxi service you might find yourself there when it's getting dark, and that's much more scary.

In my opinion, it's like the Jerwood argument in Hastings- people in this area just seem to dig their heels in and refuse to accept changes in their community, when in fact having things for teenagers to do in Bexhill would make the town nicer and stop teens from "hanging about outside the co-op" and roaring around on motor scooters.

I Like It There X

posted by Becky on 12 Sept 2010 at 4:13 pm

I wouldnt live there but I love visiting my grandparents there! I am thirteen and I love going to the beach and swimming and going to the De le Warr Pavilion! The park, museum, ice cream, crazy golf! Its actually quite fun there! The shops are alright I guess but I love fashion and shopping so I dont know how I would able to live without a massive shopping centre with all the best shops!!

Rusty Ice Cream Van!! Not In Sidley

posted by Eugene on 14 Sept 2010 at 2:51 pm

I have been doing the streets of Bexhill/Sidley for many years. And never have l had an ice cream van that is rusty. In fact my current van is probably the best van for many miles. And the soft ice cream that I sell has been regarded to be the best in the UK for the last 9 years. Not to be confused with the sad efforts that park on the seafront.

WHy Are So Many Folk Rude And Patronising On Here ?

posted by peter w on 13 Nov 2010 at 2:43 pm

OK, you may not agree with the view of the individual that you are criticising but it is incredibly ignorant to simply insult the person rather than comment on their view.

I wont list the names of these folk but would be very interested to see a demographic breakdown of them. Without it I shall not comment further on their behaviour; however, perhaps they should be considering the example they are setting to the young people they are vilifying ?

Bexhill is a quiet and sleepy little place which probably has a bit of a problem with too many retired folk here in my view. I feel sorry for the younger people growing up here as there appears to be a lot of intolerance from the older folk moving here towards them.

I, personally, have found the young folk to be very friendly and generally nice kids that are very approachable and polite (even in the 'rough' Sidley which isn't).

Now if someone wants to comment on my use of a split infinitive or two please fire away :)

Peter

Plenty To Do

posted by Rob on 25 Nov 2010 at 9:46 am

The war cry of 'There's nothing to do' really is twaddle. I was brought up in Hastings and have lived in Bexhill for the past six years. I'm in my 30s now but there is no shortage of clubs - martial arts, football, dancing, photography, etc - operating EVERY night of the week so there are plenty of options.
For those who are old enough there are plenty of pubs for a relatively small town.

Not one person who has complained there is nothing to do has said what they think is missing...!

However, we could do with more decent restaurants and the De La Warr Pavilion is a scandalous waste of resource. It needs to have far more variety rather than catering for the same, small 'arty' crowd.

Any Day Above Ground Is A Bonus.

posted by pat corcoran on 30 Nov 2010 at 8:19 pm

My partner and I have just bought a flat in Bexhill in a splendid old building with shockingly high service charge to a managing agent that seems in the Faulty Towers standard of ineptitude. They are unable to organise the simplest of building repairs or present accurate accounts. The Estate agent pleaded for understanding as managing agents aren?t as sophisticated as they are in the metropolis. Sophisticated being confused with competency... Nothing a good solicitor can?t sort out I am sure.

It has taken a lot of persuasion from me to get agreement to buy in Bexhill. Its reputation means that people don?t want to be associated with the place; well people who live with me don?t anyway. God?s waiting room indeed, since when was death exclusively for the elderly? Must admit when I first tried to win the family over to the idea, in the summer 2009, my 25 year old son having had breakfast in Bexhill and lunch in Hastings said he was surprised that he hadn?t seen anyone he wanted to have sex with since we arrived at the coast. Humour that is what is missing from the representation of the community. I bet there is a whole crowd of people who?s time is taken up laughing themselves sick at how happy they are in Bexhill but don?t have time to be writing to the papers or on websites about how screamingly terrific their lives is, unlike the sad and disillusioned. The frustrations of the young people reminded me of when I was in my teens and living on a council estate in Battersea. I had much the same experiences and feelings expressed here.


I think is a terrific location situated within easy distance of many of my favourite weekend destinations. So why have I been surprised when we have told friends of our purchase that they have been so enthusiastic about us letting the place to them? And found out that one set of friend have people that they regularly visit in Bexhill but in all the years we have known them they have always referred to visiting friend s in Sussex.

The reason Bexhill has the reputation it does is because its disaffected residents voice their views....why is it that some people believe that everything, everywhere, everybody has an obligation to please and satisfy their expectation. Boredom is all in the mind, attributing personal dissatisfaction with the community you live in (unless they are literally persecuting you which they may be if you are a miserable lardy arse moaning minger) seems disingenuous.

I live in Kingston upon Thames work in the City of London and lack the imagination to take advantage of the activities those locations offer. I long for the peace that people, rolling out of Fusions and Milligan?s bar offer.....and what a fish and chip shop, sound of the sea, noisy seagulls and being blown off your feet for many months of the year oh and the graffiti. I do promise hand on heart that I will never blame Bexhill for any dissatisfaction I have with the time I spend there...that managing agent however may be a different kettle of fish!

Bexhill

posted by Alison on 05 Feb 2011 at 10:24 pm

posted by Aimee on 27 October 2006 at 12:55 What exactly is there for under 30's to do in Bexhill? Absoloutly nothing .

Aimee you are stupid. What do you mean under 30? What do you become an old person at 30 or something? I am 31 and still go to clubs. Go to Brighton. Anyway fyi most people stop clubbing round 25. I see your comment was posted in 2006 though, you're probably an old goat yourself now.

John Parsons-yes Its Lovely

posted by caz white on 18 Feb 2011 at 5:27 pm

JOHN PARSONS YOU ARE DEFINATELY RIGHT,after my boasting to move from LONDON TO BEXHILL i moved to bexhill in august 2009 and havent regretted a thing. life is calm and relaxed here, people are friendly and its like you are in another world.In london people havent got the time of day and if anyone approaches you, you desperately grab hold of your hand bag just in case they make a grab.Here people will say good morning or how are you just as natural as walking its a is a land that time forgot but will never be forgotten.HI EVERYONE IN BEXHILL.

Bexhill Is Beautiful....

posted by Maureen Noble on 25 Feb 2011 at 11:03 am

I recently moved permanently to Bexhill from far off shores and love it. I love the freedom of movement, climate, quaintness of the town and shops, the beautiful promenade, lovely walks. Fortunately my son looked long and hard at different areas, before making his decision to settle here 5 years ago with his wife, and thank goodness he did! Those that do not enjoy Bexhill..you have freedom of choice...move along - go somewhere else. Nobody is holding a gun to your head to stay! If you are still young and at school - stick it out, but have some respect for those that choose to stay in this town, and then move along when you have finished school to follow the bright lights, pubs, hotels and brawls which you obviously long for.

All Welcome To Cooden Beach Wind Orchestra Social Evening

posted by Louise Woodcock on 08 Mar 2011 at 9:59 pm

Here's something to do in Bexhill on Sea area: on Thursday evenings from 8.30pm the concert band practises at Cooden Beach Tennis Club on Withyham Road and you are very welcome to come and join us either to listen or to play! We enjoy a drinks bar social afterwards. Under 30's and over 30's welcome alike!

I LOVE BEXHILL

posted by Paulg on 10 Apr 2011 at 10:13 pm

I currently live in Hastings, I like Hastings it has lots of character and lots going on but I really really want to move to Bexhill, I think it will be a better area for the kids to grow up in, I love the place, i just hope things work out for me and my family, I just need the last piece of the puzzle to fall into pace.

Dropping Out

posted by Rod Clifton on 19 Apr 2011 at 10:31 pm

Why did you?

Stephen Yeomans: Bexhill Is Boring

posted by David Daniel on 27 Apr 2011 at 6:17 pm

I'm fed up with these London types coming down here to Bexhill and complaining about the town. If it's that boring, why don't they go home?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bexhill-is-Boring/205568569465359

David

You Don't Like It? MOVE!

posted by john simpson on 03 Jul 2011 at 7:55 am

After living most of my life in The peak District town of Buxton,where we get the water for free,I have heard all these comments before. Small town, nothing to do,balderdash. Get off your lazy backsides and make something happen,preferably something legal. We moved down here 18 months ago with no jobs and very little prospect. I went to Learndirect and did courses in Maths, English and computers,I now have qualifications in all three. After a couple of months on the dole I got a job by doing what I have always done, door knocking,in other words I made it happen.Bexhill is just like any other place in the UK, you just have to work at it.In this country we have the right to choose where we live, so if you don't like it, MOVE.

Bexhill

posted by Lewis on 13 Sept 2011 at 7:07 pm

Don't know how Bexhill got on this list, the nicest seaside town I've ever seen. Nowhere in Sussex should be on that list. Infact, having lived in one of the worst places in England for 12 years, I can safely say that Hastings is a very nice seaside town too.

Bexhill By The Sea

posted by billie on 28 Jan 2012 at 5:01 pm

I visited Bexhill for the first time, December, 2011. First impressions are often the last and, on arriving at the railway station, I was thrilled, not only by the clean, restored lines of the building, but by the light and warm ambience of the place. Unlike many seaside towns, Bexhill station opens onto a pleasant, suburban vista. Innocuous looking shops across the road, a pub, which may or may not harbour a rogue or two, and wide streets. I turned left and walked up Upper Sea Road and found a lovely old wall, a sense of Edwardian England and some fine houses with views over winter trees.

I turned back - bit treacherous crossing the road there - then made the 4 minute meander down to the seafront, to explore the Delaware building and afterwards, drifted along the promenade. Well laid-out, calm, the path flanked by newly-laid shrubs - the drama of the sun setting over the sea, a good breeze created, for a while, at least, one of those idyllic moments.

This was marred somewhat by the traffic; hard to get across the road at Bexhill, even for the youthful and energetic. I looked for a green space and discovered Egerton Park next to the museum. Small and beautiful; alas, too much noise of balls battering a surface to enjoy the boating lake. An odd arrangement, combining the offer of relaxation abutting the high testosterone nature of skate park and kick-about.

Leaving that, wandered a little further on to investigate the town. A wee bit shambolic; plenty of second-hand shops to intrigue, independent, self respecting outlets, too, and a rather depressing looking supermarket, which let the place down, I thought.

I made my way back to the train station for the 2 hour journey to London, just in time to listen to the chatter of a 'good deed' of scouts gathering on the platform.

Scouts? It all felt very homely and English then, and I wondered, do they still have jumbles sales here? It could've been 1955.

Comparisons are odious; Bexhill is its own place - for it to be like anywhere else, or want to compete with its neighbours would diminish the essence of the town. A calm, perhaps unremarkable suburbia-on-sea. Enjoy Bexhill for what it is, and make the most of its abundant natural resources, for I doubt it will change.

Wow~

posted by Stormie on 07 Oct 2012 at 3:10 am

I am appalled at the hostility and bitterness in some of the comments I have just read. I have recently just moved from Florida (originally from Brighton) to Bexhill; and if I had read through this forum before purchasing the house in which I currently reside, I would have seriously rethought my decision.

There was no need for your bigotry, here. In life you must learn to accept others opinions, even if you don't agree with them. You have no more right than they do to make a judgement or pass off your bias thoughts as gospel truth.

You have no right to make hateful comments towards another being because you were upset with what and or how they wrote.

I think it is great that the children posted their opinion on this thread. It gave some truth and insight into what was actually being said; Bexhill does not offer much for young adults. Plain and simple.

What people have tried to express is that for a town to succeed it must cater and appeal to all ages. Thus stated, Bexhill-On-Sea does not maintain a modern image or provide the youth with more outlets. People are bound to be not want to live here because of that. If you like the town how it is then good for you, but don't tear into those who don't share your viewpoint.

With that said.. I can see why some might not like it here, however, I myself quite enjoying my life here. (Other than college and the lack of available jobs that is.)
Then again, I've always been quite enjoyed entertaining myself. Just curling up by the fire and reading a nice novel would suit me perfectly.

Bexhill

posted by dave on 07 Oct 2012 at 5:16 pm

I was born in bexhill, and as kids there was always plenty to do,I think that part of the problem now is that people need to entertained, they dont seem to make there own entertainment anymore, as kids we were always off up the old railway building camps, chassing rabbits, making rafts that always sunk on the marshes ahahaha good days.we used to play football on the downs,collect conkers,on the downs, even chase the girls on the downs. caught a few too, hahahah also good days, but we didnt need to be entertained we made our own entertainment.the swimming pool was in the park then which was a great place on the weekends,the cinema was also a good place to go for the saturday cartoons etc. so yes there is good and bad every where but trust me I have lived all over the world and there are 5 billion people in the world that would gladly swap their current lives to live in bexhill, so it cant be all bad. make the most of what you have ,life is what you make it for yourselves not what othere make it for you.

? In A Time Bubble

posted by mopsera on 11 Oct 2012 at 5:51 pm

i think the few things 'wrong' with bexhill are; that its dominated by the elderly, there needs to be more facilities for teens, it needs smartening up and bringing into the 21st century. but thats all possible. at least its quiet, calm, with low crime. the way i see it like eastbourne , it will change, as more families move down/ accross due to cheap housing and the oldies die off ; only jokin; it will change. at least it has a lovely seafand front, a new pavilion, a new ish leisure centre, a renovated high school, and a slowly changing popluation. brighton, which i left because it became too overpopulated, has an increasingly bad crime rate, and is becoming more london-like every day. in 10 years bexhill will be different.

Bexhill

posted by Bob on 06 Nov 2012 at 12:40 am

We moved to Bexhill from a Kent Village five years ago,thinking it would be a nice idea to live near the sea...Although Bexhill is quite a genteel and safe place to live I find it totally souless and lacking any kind of character.The Town is desserted after seven 7.pm and the last bus gone.The Community Spirit I once enjoyed as been replaced by uneventful days of boredom..I'm past retirement so no youngster..This is my experience and is not meant to offend.

Thinking Of Moving In...

posted by Wendy on 16 Nov 2012 at 7:02 pm

Hi Bob - we are thinking of moving to Bexhill, from London, retirees, so bit alarmed to hear about lack of community spirit etc. Is it possible to live here without a car, find enough things to do - walking, yoga/pilates, volunteering,local history,music & arts, U3A etc Guess Hastings and Eastbourne are the places to go for these kinds of things? what are the health services, GPs like? Sorry for so many questions, don't want to make a big mistake!

Hi Wendy

posted by dave on 18 Nov 2012 at 8:17 pm

Hi wendy bexhill is what people make it, there are plenty of things to do lots of good walks and the people are generally very friendly, there is good and bad everywhere, bexhill is geared up for the retired more so than teenagers, which is why its still one of the top retirement towns in the country, life is what you make of it,its very easy to just concentrate on the negative,but there are many many positives to bexhill as well.

Potential Going To Waste

posted by Barry on 10 Dec 2012 at 2:05 pm

Hi, i grew up in the area but moved away for many years only to return aged 31 (single no kids) and am now living in the town centre. For someone my age Bexhill is quite nice, i actually like the abundance of charity shops, its calm by day which is nice but dead to the point of decomposing by night (not so good). It seems that their are no people in the 25 - 35 age bracket here at all that are not married with children. There isnt exactly a lack of community spirit, more a lack of an able bodied community! The De La Warr is a beautiful building and has recently held a number of prestigious arts events, but for who? A high arts scene that simply does not exist in the area. And now with the opening of the Jerwood in nearby surely it would make sense to promote entertainment that is affordable and enjoyable for the 50+ age group that live in the area? If i was close to retirement, married etc i can imagine Bexhill would be a fantastic place to live, but at my own stage in life it has already begun to feel like i am taking a break out of living my life. I cant see that Bexhill will ever change in a way that would attract younger people to live here. It will always be some where people grow up in and then do everything they can to get away from simply so they can actually start living a bit. For the older generation i can see its appeal so long as you are not fussed about having a nice local pub (there aren't any).

I Agree...

posted by Ed on 10 Jan 2013 at 5:34 pm

I agree with everything you said Barry..Thats why my house is up for sale and this D.F.L is moving back to the land of the living.

Bars & Restaurants

posted by Trudy on 27 Feb 2013 at 10:08 pm

I'm really thinking of moving to Bexhill-on-sea and was wondering if there were nice Pubs, Wine Bars & Restaurants?? I really like Eastbourne where my Friends live and there seems lots of bars and Restaurants there. I really don't want it to be rocking but to take friends out would be nice.

NEGATIVE

posted by Aiden on 02 Mar 2013 at 11:24 am

The answer Trudy is negative. Eastbourne has so much more to offer.

Stop The Moaning

posted by david on 21 May 2013 at 2:54 pm

read most of the posts on here, how negative you all are about what is essentially a truly great place to live , try living in some of the 3rd world countries riddled with famine and corruption , you dont know how good you all have it living here, what should we do then ? maybe open some strip clubs ,have a swingers convention on the sea front, , if you are born and bread here and moaning about it then get out , if you moved here recently and are moaning , THEN PUSH OFF BACK FROM WHENCE YOU CAME , i moved here from london and blooming love the place and the people

Well Said David

posted by dave on 22 May 2013 at 2:09 am

well said David ,I have lived all over the world and I generally find the people that complain the most have never been more than 20 miles from home in any one direction,There are many many places in the world that you really wouldn't want to live and remember this all you moaners, there are at least 5 billion people in the world that would swap places with you in an instant, look at what you have not at what you want, you will lead a much happier life that way.

Bexhill Is Great

posted by Mike on 28 May 2013 at 1:50 pm

Having moved here from crime ridden Croydon I feel lucky. Nice sea front, free parking,good bus and train services,Bowls tennis and golf clubs,M&S coming soon and something money can't buy a pleasant safe way of life. If you want a Night Club or Theatre then St Leonards is only 10 minuets away, Hastings 15 minuets. People, Instead of just moaning say what you would like to see in Bexhill. I think you have most of it.

The Problem (if There Is One) Is Apathy

posted by Peter W on 22 Sept 2013 at 1:19 pm

it's actually quite a pleasant place during the day although lacking many facilities. it seems to survive on it's elderly population.

it does seem quite sad that so many people posting on here are unable to put up a good line of argument and simply say if you don't like it then leave. that's hardly a responsible or adult line of dialogue.

perhaps it would be better whilst acknowledging the good things about Bexhill to also acknowledge the bad and make suggestions to improve it ?

as an example there is no bus service after 19.00 and virtually none on a Sunday. The Aviva buses are frequently cancelled and they are very unreliable. The renown buses are reliable but there are too few services.

The taxis are too expensive, after two buses were cancelled I had to catch a taxi to the train station. Under three miles was nearly £6 with the driver not putting the meter on. I couldn't walk as I was late.

There is no car park if you drive to the station so how about a new station with car park down where M&S will be ? There is a field by the petrol station which would be ideal.

So the town centre is dead in the evenings which is no surprise. This means there is no real choice in restaurants as there is no market for it. The French and Farmers markets are really over priced for what they offer.

The DLW pavillion is under utilised. Why not open up some facilities for our young there in the weekday evenings ? A social centre/ coffee bar and early teens disco earlier in the evenings perhaps ? They live here too :)

So why not stop being nimbys and actually think about what could be improved ? Bexhill isn't a retirement home.



Things May Have Changed Since 2006...

posted by Spike on 14 Dec 2014 at 4:07 pm

I don't live in Bexhill, but I have the misfortune of working there. During my employment I haven't met a single pleasant individual.

Hastings

posted by Pam on 20 Jan 2015 at 9:45 pm

I been living in Hastings for 10 years, its a great place to be lots going on all the time, we got the old town too I met some real lovely people here, one thing we need a bigger better town market and not just the thur lets have it for the thur fri sat and all year round ice ring all this will bring more money to the town. Bex Hill is lovely too peaceful and stress free Brighton is a mini west end fast lots of shops all sea sides have some thing for all of us it depends on what we are looking for.

Bexhill

posted by Michael on 12 May 2015 at 2:55 pm

Bexhill is O.K, if you are not in a cul-de-sac where most of your neighbours are pensioners yearning for the 'fresh sea air' that doctors have been going nuts about for ages, yes it has got the odd good restaurant dotted here and there, and one of the best schools in the area but, it's dwarfed by Eastbourne, Hastings and Battle.

Bexhill Gripes

posted by Jon on 30 Jul 2015 at 7:39 am

Having lived in Bexhill since 1979, i would say its steadily gone downhill. But the seafront (nice regeneration) and park make up for the somewhat scruffy town. Pavements littered in dog mess, cars parked wherever they like (no warden here). But Bexhill, all in all, is an okay place.Oh, and the very good sunshine hours help brighten us all up !

Diversity

posted by bea on 09 Mar 2016 at 10:35 pm

i'm thinking of moving to sidley with my 11yo child. i heard a lot of negative things about sidley, lack of things for young people to do, drugs,
drunks etc. how friendly is the local community towards people from an ethnic background ?. by the way i'm in my 50's & black british.

Sidley Cant Be That Bad Surely?

posted by eastender on 21 Mar 2016 at 11:31 am

i'm hoping to move from london to sidley and all i've read is mostly negative post about the area. it can't be that BAD! can it?

Littlecommon

posted by Shamim on 04 Jul 2016 at 11:47 pm

Littlecommon is better then Bexhill

I Remember Winceby House School

posted by paul pearce on 14 Sept 2016 at 2:05 pm

Hi everyone. I remember bexhill and little common aka cooden beach in the 70s i went to boarding school on southcliff. Called winceby house school. I enjoyed the whole area very much. I remember the hermit in the highwoods cycling into town going to the pavilions had such wonderful times and a very understanding headmaster and staff .yes times change we all get fedup with where we live sometimes but always think twice before you move somewhere else it could be worse be grateful for what you have take care all . paul

Love Bexhill And Little Common

posted by John on 30 Oct 2016 at 7:46 am

I lived in Margate for many years (the pits, now), then moved to London and now I live in Bexhill. I strongly believe this town is so much better than all the other towns I have lived and visited over the last 45+ years. Yes, Bexhill is not for everyone But as the old saying goes "you can't please all the people"

Visit

posted by paul pearce on 30 Oct 2016 at 10:42 pm

I hope to visit in 2017 to see how much bexhill and cooden aka little common has changed over the years. I will retrace all my old stomping ground from the 70s.bexhill will always hold a lot of memories for me i just wish my old school winceby house. Was still standing so i could have a look around .thanks paul pearce

Why Is It Bexhill?

posted by Kelly on 26 Dec 2016 at 6:28 pm

Bexhill is an important place. I love it and I've lived here for my whole life. People have no understanding of who and what lives in bexhill. This is the ideal place for elderly people. It's quite here and very peaceful. But don't take this small town for granted.

Hitting The Nail On The Head

posted by Paul Minter on 28 Dec 2016 at 4:55 pm

All young people grow old, so why not move to Bexhill early! The housing surrounding the town is growing year by year. The shops and leisure facilities are set to grow. Be among the first to join Kelly in promoting the importance of our town.

How Can You Say Bexhill Is A Crappy City

posted by Vernon Connolly on 28 Jan 2017 at 1:10 pm

I was wondering how you made the determination that Bexhill is a crappy city? I may live in Southern California (Los Angeles County), and believe me, when you live in a county whose population is sone almost 30 million people, you come to appreciate the small-town feel! I am a Brit, and I have been to Bexhill, and I just loved it!
Vernon Connolly

Love Bexhill-on-Sea

posted by Sheila on 27 Jun 2017 at 6:50 pm

We moved here 3 years ago from Worcester and love it. There's the De La Warr for a start: we're all into the contemporary arts and used to travel all day to and from London to access what's on offer there. There's the quirky independent shops, organic produce on sale at the farmer's market; artisan bakers, the glorious promenade, the quiet pace of life. There's the proximity to Hastings, Towner at Eastbourne, Brighton is reasonably reachable, The Turner at Margate too. The surrounding Downs and Weald are stunning, plus there are more places of interest for a day out than I can list. Our first choice was Hove but we didn't fancy living in a beach hut and kept looking until we found a home we could afford: that brought us to Bex. We have almost everything we want here: bring in a cinema and theatre and balance the demographic and it would be perfect. I 'do' totally get those younger people saying it's boring: I wouldn't have wanted to live here in my late teens and twenties either and I wish there were more here for you, cos I'd really like more of you around the place. I hear that it's more vibrant than 5+ years ago and hope that trajectory continues.

Nothing To Do For Youngsters?

posted by Paula on 29 Jul 2017 at 2:43 pm

How about boxing club,scouts,air cadets,navy cadets,rugby,cricket,football,keep fit, chess, swimming,sea fishing,athletics, acting, singing,dancing clubs. The woods to explore All available here in Bexhill plus of course the parks and cycle ramps. My kids always had plenty to do. BUT older teenagers may have a point in regard to clubs and evening entertainment.

Hidden Gem

posted by Bridget Schofield on 12 Aug 2017 at 12:32 am

We moved to Little Common 2 years ago and we love it here. The beach at Cooden is under 1 mile away and the East Promenade is lovely. There are so many cafes and restaurants, all independent and quirky little shops. My husband goes fishing most weeks and if I want to do big shops I go to Eastbourne. Bexhill is friendly, pretty and safe and all our friends are keen to visit. It has its faults of course but we feel it's a hidden gem and we don't really want it to be discovered by too many people as it would change its character.

Hi Bridget Schofield .

posted by paul pearce on 13 Aug 2017 at 11:38 am

Hi bridget would you be related to a keith schofield.who i went to school with in bexhill in the 70s . we both went to winceby house school would like to find out where he is now thanks .paul.

Nor Sure About Bexill Now

posted by Barry on 01 Oct 2020 at 1:09 pm

Ten years ago was a Honourable town , five years ago. White Flight from. London. The last year a new Mulicultural. Bexhill . The Towns Finished England's Finished

English Barry

posted by Joe on 04 Jun 2021 at 11:12 am

I'd wager most of the people Barry's so concerned about write better English than he does.

Not For Young Generations

posted by David Funnell on 11 May 2022 at 7:12 pm

I've lived here most of my life and have members of family, plenty of memories and am happy here.
However the town has been overtaken by people retiring from further afield and not putting anything into the community.
I would say to those raising young children get out before it's too late...

Bexhill On Sea

posted by Barry Bentley on 09 Dec 2023 at 7:27 pm

Bexhill OnSea Is now the new Africa which is a shame for a seaside town also if you have a nice car watch out for the Potholes which the council can’t be bothered to fix for years - Never see the police but plenty of Traffic wardens sneaking around even on Sundays -Ten years ago a great honourable town - Now African and Chav

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