With its warm weather, continental lifestyle and popular beach, for many Brighton is one of the best places to live in the country.
So just what are the authors of the new Crap Towns book thinking by including it in its annals as one of the worst in the UK?
Despite being voted as one of the happiest places to live in the country last year, Brighton has found its way onto the dreaded nomination list for 2013.
Our seaside townshares the questionable accolade – which was voted for by the British public – with other towns including Felixstowe, Southport, Slough, Grimsby and Bradford.
The nominations for this year’s list were based on everything from “grinding poverty to unbearable snobbery” – but its authors insist the “common feeling” was that the attributes had a “very real impact” on quality of life.The survey is also based on crime statistics, house prices, local facilities, transport and schools.
Grimsby
But a glance across Brighton at the weekend painted an entirely different picture to that summed up in the book.
As the mercury soared across Sussex on Saturday, the beach, as ever, was jampacked with revellers who had flocked from different parts of the country for a slice of seaside fun.
The famous Lanes, with its quirky and creative shops, were bustling with beady-eyed shoppers while everybody on the Palace Pier was the personification of happiness.
But it’s not just The Argus that thinks the nomination is a load of old tosh.
Jason Kitcat, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said the nomination was “monstrous” and “nonsense”.
He added: “Businesses tell us they want to trade here because we have a great quality of life, and I don’t disagree.
“It’s nonsense and a cheap PR stunt.”
The Lanes in Brighton
Wesley Burtenshaw, of seafront cafe Bucket Beach, said: “I lovemycity. I was born and bred here and I really disagree.
“We have parks, the downs, the seafront, a great pier, great people and great nightlife. We are definitely not one of the worst.”
Other big hitters to have found themselves on the list include London, Liverpool and Portsmouth, plus Sussex towns Crawley and Lewes.
The final list of the 50 Crap Towns will be published in the book on October 10. For more information visit craptownreturns.com
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