A NEW survey has rated Bangor as the worst seaside resort in the UK.

Compiled by consumer company Which?, the city received an overall customer score of 42 per cent, based on a number of factors including hotel prices, tourist attractions and parking.

Despite it propping up the table which was compiled, the editor of Which?, Rory Boland, who is a graduate of the city’s university, leapt to its defence.

He said: “No-one would dispute that Bangor has hit hard times of late, particularly with so many shops closing along its pedestrianised high street.

“But part of the problem too is that many of its best attractions, set back from the main town, are little known.

“The 1,500ft grade II Garth Pier is a Victorian triumph and remains much the same as when Lord Penrhyn opened it in 1896.

“Stretching into the Menai Straits, the views across to Anglesey and back on to the peaks of Eryri saw it named pier of the year by the National Piers Society in 2022.

“It's not the only award winner. Tiny Whistlestop cafe, also on the pier, has previously been named best traditional Welsh restaurant in the country. Stop by for a warm welcome and homemade Bara Brith.

“There is no real beach and Bangor won't ever compete with more dedicated seaside resorts, but it does sit amidst some of the most spectacular landscapes in Wales.

“The university means there are plenty of cultural events for a city of 16,000, and accommodation is affordable.”

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Travellers also found plenty to recommend about Bangor.

Multiple visitors remarked on its “wonderful pier” and noted that, while it has suffered from shop closures in the city centre, it has some “really good restaurants” and “excellent amenities”.

Which? surveyed more than 4,700 people in January about their experiences of UK seaside resorts in the last year, asking for their views on a range of criteria including the quality of the beaches, food and drink offerings, tourist attractions and value for money.

Elsewhere in Gwynedd, Portmeirion took second place with an overall score of 83 per cent.

Portmeirion received a full-five star rating for its “idyllic” scenery, seafront, tourist attractions, and parking, and four stars for its beaches.

Also representing North Wales, Llandudno and Criccieth placed highly on the list, with customer scores of 78 and 76 per cent respectively.

The lowest-ranked place in North Wales after Bangor was Colwyn Bay, which score 58 per cent.

You can read the survey’s findings in full on the Which? website.