Rhyl Unmasked: Navigating Decay in this Once-Bustling Seaside Haven!

From deserted promenades to fading attractions, witness the transformation of this once-vibrant seaside town. Join me in uncovering the complexities of Rhyl's decline.
SUBSCRIBE - / @honestplaces
#rhyl #travel #wales

[@The_Hoxton_Hipster]

If you’ve got young kids and are in Cheshire/Merseyside it’s really near, it’s got fresh air, a beach, kids fairground, some arcade things to do and the kids have a decent day…better than sitting in playing video games. Yep the High Street isn’t the best, but on a decent day the kids have fun.

[@moodyguymick]

My first holiday as a child in 1962, Sunnyvale caravan park. Happy times.

[@colinwatt3958]

The best bit of Rhyl is the road out. Spent a week there 12 years ago and it was grim.

[@Gsoulman2]

Karl Pilkington has let himself go :-) :-)

[@90dfender]

Love it mate, your ethos is so true.

[@rockwellmediadundee]

I remember the Sun Centre and Frankies night club hidden up a lane within a seafront arcade

[@PRAR1966]

Nice channel dude - You really nailed the Barrow one, so I'm working through your lists.

[@honestplaces]

Cheers pal. Appreciate it

[@peterrathbone179]

Rhyl always been good from my childhood for days out. Now take my daughter and she loves it too. It has a bit of a rough place reputation . Rhyl, Prestatyn and Frith loved going to all them. My favorite now is Tallachre beech lovely. I'm from Chester so it quite close.

[@markguttridge4972]

to be fair it looks really clean. well done to the people of rhyl . it was a bit of a state last time i went there around 30 years ago but much improved now

[@basylpeterjones]

It has declined a lot in 30 years. The redevelopments began just a bit earlier and they were the beginnings of the slide, I think. I also think some things were not maintained. I don't think attractions had good tenants, so that led to more blanket redevelopment. And the same mistakes are still being made.

[@paulthomas3841]

My Mother in law loves Rhyl, 70s and 80s we use to deliver eggs around Rhyl

[@ian7520]

You are exactly right, you’ve summed our sad lives up in one video, great vids keep it up !

[@OhTylerB]

As a kid that lived in Stoke-on-Trent I used to visit this place all the time with family. We would do Rhyl, Towyn, Colwyn Bay and then on to Llandudno all in one day. The best part about Llandudno was driving through a mountain to get there which always blew my mind as a kid haha. Have to say I always much preferred South Wales though to North. Places like Tenby, Saundersfoot and Manorbier. A really nice part of the country.

[@djlovenlive3920]

Some Pointers for the surrounding areas... 1. Llandudno. 2. The Great Orm 3. Grwych Castle (Check Spelling) 4. Welsh Mountain Zoo 5. Conwy Castle 6 Bodlwydan Castle (Although Closed) But you can still visit. 7. Colwyn Bay And A Lot More... Great Content... Keep them coming HP! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@iansalt4732]

All I'm going to say is FAIR PLAY to you matey Some of the comments you made, about people not getting out anymore and Netflix and Facebook. You are bang on mate. I went to Rhyl as a kid and like you say its Childhood memories. i Remember the massive outdoor swimming pool or Paddling pool and it was Blue with a Big Blue Fountain.

[@Neilmcfc65]

Rhyl back in 80s and 90s was good roller skating on front big paddling pool amusements we stayed tin a caravan on Sunny vale camp trips on bus to Llandudno Towyn was ok for staying miller's cottage Golden gate camp

[@yungamurai]

These videos are great mate, not seen a channel like this, great to see the underbelly of our country. Keep it up dude 🙏

[@TheMaccie]

You was in the centre of the drinking part, right on Main Street haha .. I live in Rhyl and work all over north west and Rhyl compared to other towns ain’t that bad! I used to think it was until I worked in oldham, Liverpool and other places I realised that it ain’t that bad !!

[@frankydanky9772]

Like your style mate..

[@honestplaces]

Cheers pal, appreciate it 👍

[@liverpudlian6205]

Great video mate rhyl use to be full of bodies especially when the fair was ther in summer itd gone down hill like lots of places

[@honestplaces]

I need to back, get down some back streets. See what the living situation is like. Cheers pal

[@dyzn1974]

if you want an ace location hit up Cheadle Manchester. Proper nice if you have a couple of hours to spare. Love the videos mate proper class!!!

[@honestplaces]

Mate i was there last week, it's really nice but i like going to grim areas 🤣 Also nipped to Bramhall after, that is nice also. Cheers pal

[@kat7777]

@@honestplaces Try Collyhurst and Belvue

[@danielmckenna4177]

I take my kids (5 and 2) there. My dad has a caravan about 15 mins away in a really nice site. My girls love the arcades and that little abit in the summer has loads of funfair bits on. It’s very dated but kids love it (as did I when I was young)

[@666Roadhouse]

people who think rhyl is the worst place ever are the ones that have never left wales lmao

[@honestplaces]

Yeh there are alot more grimmer places!

[@gb5584]

More grimer places up north

[@peterwallwork4778]

@@honestplaces probably is but it must be in the top of the holes 😂

[@garyharmer7797]

He's right! sat at home watching Netflix, what's happened to us?

[@simonbirtles8981]

Boss video mate👍

[@junelaw4162]

I’ve just found this Chanel brilliant video you say it as it is 😊

[@honestplaces]

Cheers, kind of always seems like i'm moaning but i'll take the compliment 🤣

[@antz8810]

I've just found it pretty interesting 👍

[@alynwillams4297]

Should do Wrexham next, maybe visit caia park the biggest council estate in Wales

[@honestplaces]

Got a long list to get through 1st pal 👍

[@stephendavies925]

Wrexham not to bad now Caia park is a lot better than it was too

[@paulmcallister8948]

​@stephendavies925 Wrexham should never have been awarded City status last year! I mean the City of Wrexham??? Wtf! 😳🥺🤒

[@NorthernExposure1]

One of the best this one, mate

[@jaysvlogssuk529]

I live in Rhyl it's not that bad here really nice place

[@cherylparry8032]

Not been there in years, it's changed so much.

[@adoremus4014]

I think the area at 12:27 used to be a large shallow paddling pool. I have photos of it from the 1960s.

[@knt2660]

Haha perfect timing I just finished watching your Manchester video 😂 could you go Bristol thinking about going there

[@honestplaces]

Just saw this 2nd and realised you don't live there after asking you what hotels are like!

[@stephendavies925]

Rhyl used to be the place to be in North Wales in the 70s the night life was great even the Beatles played there in the early 60s

[@davidjoy7654]

They did but only because they were contracted too prior to the start of the whirlwind. Friends saw them leaving in a van. Ah but we did not realise how big they would become. Great times.

[@davidjoy7654]

Played the Ritz dance hall which burned down some time in the sixties.

[@davidjoy7654]

In the early sixties 1960/ 1961/1962. The promenade would be jam packed with people. There would be football type crowds on Rhyl station with folk coming and going. As the sixties moved on it started to be affected by people going on hols to Spain. And to the demise of today.

[@laurenceharvey6202]

Great review 👍🍻

[@honestplaces]

Cheers pal 👍

[@lovinglifeeach1teach151]

New to the channel, top stuff, I to agree with how the new generations don't get about like we did. Have you been to Bootle Liverpool? Within a few hours of arriving there, my pal who was new to the area nearly had his motorbike stolen from outside his front window broad daylight😮. But in all Liverpool was a good vibe people were friendly and a good laugh. Sheil road aswel in Kensington, Liverpool.

[@honestplaces]

Cheers pal....i can't wait to get to Liverpool, seems a good place to explore 👍

[@lovinglifeeach1teach151]

@@honestplaces yea it's 1 of them type places. Loads of areas with there own identity as such. Been twice and was decent both times, would like to see it since the lockdown as not been

[@geebee6737]

I remember the elephants from Billy Smart's Circus cooling off in the sea at Rhyl back in the 70's , took my own children back there on holiday in the 80's...then went back as an old man a few years ago and was wary to get out of my car.....kids in hoodies on BMX's strolling round empty streets looking for their next deal.....stayed in the old jalopy and mooched a little further along to Llandudno for some fish and chips 🤣

[@stevo728822]

It's too expensive for many people to go out. Car parking charges, train fares, food and drink prices, entrance fees are all steep. They'll often save up for a week in Benidorm instead.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Rhyl is way nicer than a lot of towns ive visited.

[@WhackMcStuff]

Jesus.

[@courtneywilliams4143]

I used to love Rhyl I've been a couple years ago and it's gone downhill tbf. Towyn is OK which is the next to Rhyl

[@honestplaces]

How far is that Towyn place?

[@courtneywilliams4143]

@@honestplaces 2-3 miles

[@lemonaid2216]

Been enjoying your videos. You're walking through the ashes and documenting the decline of the UK. Would like to see your take on Birkenhead, Goole, Nelson, Keighley, Normanton and Castleford.

[@honestplaces]

Cheers! I have a huge list i'm working through. Will add Castleford though....is it not too great!?

[@lemonaid2216]

@@honestplaces Well it's not as bad as Dewsbury! Like a lot of places around that area, Cas has struggled since the pits closed. Also, the town centre struggles to compete with Xscape retail leisure park on the outskirts of town.

[@impairedspoons9934]

If he goes to Birkenhead that will probably be his last video

[@adzy166]

Liking the Terry Tibbs -style glasses

[@carolyn2159]

I've got great memories of the 80's holidays in Rhyl. Why do you take a camera walkabout video showing what an area is like but the hard the camera facing you? Then you swing it quickly to show something then back to your face! Try aiming at your subject matter that's what people watch the video for

[@honestplaces]

That is a good take, i'll deffo add more viewing of the area to my filming. I'll get to Kubricks standards soon enough 🍊

[@NANA-kd7yg]

Me and my family was planning to move here in 1999. But if fell through at the last minute.

[@antonyfirewalk2178]

loved the get out rant, very pilkontinish.

[@ahassen1236]

Smartphones have certainly made us very lazy. We don't want to get up unless we're making money. Going to seaside will cost £200 upwards for a small family, petrol, parking, food, entertainment etc. The experience isn't overwhelming anymore because phones give us distractions. High streets are shutting up because of the world's biggest markets for shopping in our hands. Even if we do go out a parking ticket costs about £100 for going a few minutes over. Sad really

[@honestplaces]

You nailed it 👍

[@JamesRogers-vs4vb]

I love him so much what he said is true

[@JamesRogers-vs4vb]

As I expected beautiful 😂😂😂

[@MikeHarrisHazchem77]

Is it always this quiet!?? I'm moving there!! Haha

[@stuartwalton-wr7mx]

Holy moly I saw an Aliens arcade 😮😊 why didn't u put a pound in and play 😅. Where's this place again i need to go there for aliens and the batman car game 😊 and an 80s bar 😮 Holy moly it keeps getting better

[@Tara-xp6ki]

My dad used to tattoo next to the blue shark fishing tackle shop for two seasons rented the shop off billy Williams near the Bridge went to school there for a while used to foul hook plaice when the tide was out pete camping and his brother used to take poeple tope fishing every day and bring back big tope and hang them out side the blue shark tackle shop memory ey my dads name was eric from nottingham

[@windingcirclelifesch]

My town had a seaside amusement park when I was a kid in the 80's, but then they tore it down. Fuck I miss those day's 😢

[@honestplaces]

Where was that?

[@windingcirclelifesch]

@@honestplaces It was in a seaside place called Glenelg in Adelaide, South Australia. The park was Magic Mountain.

[@honestplaces]

@@windingcirclelifesch Does sound Magical! 🤣 but far for me to visit that!

[@kat7777]

@@honestplaces Save up and go do a video ✈ 😂

[@honestplaces]

@@kat7777 Waiting for Jessie MD to host me!

[@1960davedan]

It's not moaning - it's THE TRUTH!

[@seanconnolly7386]

A lot of people just drive through rhyl to get to towyn sad.

[@honestplaces]

Very true

[@iroamabout364]

Who remembers the Sun Centre?

[@alexscott1257]

9:31 Damn boy! Ain't you never seen a seahorse before?!

[@dave1secondago]

used too be nice in 80s / turned into a proper dump now , great vid btw

[@Kiinell]

Everything you said in your rant was right. But I still want to know what Stacey had for her breakfast.

[@honestplaces]

🤣🤣🤣 cheers. Probs left over pizza

[@neilbertuk1]

It does not look that bad does it? I was brought up nearby so it was days out on the beach in the 70’s then clubbing in Rhyl in the 80’s. Memories of chatting up single mothers from Wallasey then being chased through the streets by Scousers with Stanley knives, happy days!

[@michaelclayton960]

It doesn't look half as bad as I was expecting. Suppose it helps when the sun shines.

[@honestplaces]

Always adds a nice feel. Very rare it's sunny though! 🤣

[@princebuster93]

Britain has been in decline for decades, and since CONVID, the decline and decay is even more evident. Am sure you have been to enough places to see a pattern, - no people about, shut down pubs and shops, litter, no atmosphere, people walking about with their heads down, etc. The reasons people don’t want to go out is because they were locked up, illegally for 2-3 years, submitting to liars, who attacked and traumatised their minds, and feared for their lives. No one has any money, to go anywhere due to economics, lack of good jobs, and the fact that it’s so depressing. One thing I’ve noticed more of since the rise of KZbin “ influencers “ is wherever they go, there are hardly any people about, in any area, on the streets in the UK, it’s really eerie, but a sign of the times of the last days.

[@24SparrowJack]

if you want a dingy pub in rhyl, then go to the Imp

[@crazyflod]

I definitely was gonna put that in the comments, that’s his sort of pup

[@johnnymoondog]

Should have filmed the Marine Lake !

[@honestplaces]

What's that pal?

[@johnnymoondog]

@@honestplaces kzbin.info?search_query=marinelake+rhyl

[@HarrisonDarbey]

@@honestplaces Just a big lake

[@basylpeterjones]

​@@HarrisonDarbeyWith a miniature railway. The best thing in Rhyl.

[@zandvoort8616]

I’m amazed how anyone can live here. Looks desolate. No wonder people just drink and take drugs all day to forget where they are.

[@honestplaces]

I personally couldn't live there. I could on the outskirts e.g 30 mins away. But yeh right in the heart of it i couldn't.

[@TheMaccie]

It’s an events arena yeah

[@kat7777]

Crackhead Central Rhyl is 🎯😂

[@honestplaces]

I didn't see a crackhead when i went, but they are always lurking somewhere 🤣

[@kat7777]

@@honestplaces 😂

[@chronical423]

Rhyl's definitely been worse than it is today, if you want a tour of a grimmer area of Rhyl do a walk of the reso

[@basylpeterjones]

It's at rock bottom now. There are figures showing its decline. It's been badly managed for over 30 years.

[@laurendavies9847]

There used to be a monorail Ryal

[@johnmcnulty1679]

Next time get into the bodfor it's near the train station

[@Melynnest]

All our seaside towns have been neglected

[@basylpeterjones]

Rhyl has had massive investment since the early-'90s but that's what caused its decline. Llandudno has not had big investment and it's more popular than ever. Resorts have not been neglected but knocking everything down and starting again is the worst way of managing a resort.

[@user-or6pk6fy5y]

Rhyl ain't has nice as it was back in the day but there's far worse places in the UK worth a stop on the way up to Anglesey Wales little gem if you ain't been go 👍👍🦊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@Suturner374]

I lived in Rhyl for 5 years it’s really not the worst place I have seen worse

[@MUFCGazKobe824]

9:30 it’s a seahorse mate.

[@garyfinn8772]

The stinking have taken over the place . I love the smell of fish heads in the morning

[@AnnoyedRecordPlayer-oi9wm]

If you think rhyl is bad looe in cornwall nice place crap for kids when mine was littie it was a fishing village no good for kids like rhyl used to ive had some good times in rhyl when i was young it needs renovating like most seaside towns these should be places that we should be proud of all them the government need to realise these places are all of ours not turfs ruled by drugs what are our little ones coming to not allowed to have fun and have some happy childhood memories they are the next generation i dread to think

[@michaelobrien9825]

THE BEST THING ABOUT RHYL WAS, WETHERSPOON.

[@seanmahony468]

It was a moan and half but very very true. People don’t wanna make the effort these days. It’s possible to have a nice family day that don’t cost £100s of pounds ❤

[@mrperfectedkelly]

Camera turning round constantly making me feel dizzy

[@garetheves7118]

Went there today Rhyl for the first time an absolute shit hole

[@tomgilbert4909]

Can u go Wrexham mate

[@dragonseye00]

This town dient dem half bad, especially considering it's winter. Not sure who would fall this town a dump. A little boring and depressing in dreary autumn or winter days, for sure. But can't say it would look bad at all.

[@marktaylor9678]

Had some good times in Rhyl in the late 70s,,,as my line of work still gets me here, its a absl;ute dump full of druggies

[@honestplaces]

Most of these towns were respected back in the day

[@basylpeterjones]

​@@honestplacesSeaside tourism industry has always expanded but Rhyl is one of the resorts that has gone the other way. Different things have happened in different resorts at different times; you can't generalise.

[@asatimmins3696]

What's it all about

[@andreaallen2568]

Anywheres ok with the right company mwsh

[@honestplaces]

That is true pal

[@user-yx9fb7bb5w]

That wasn't a fish , it was a seahorse.

[@LiseMac]

I don’t believe gambling and pubs makes people that happy!

[@jamesdean4100]

looks better than blackpool or weston super mare

[@basylpeterjones]

Rubbish. Both of those have large-scale tourism: Rhyl has not survived.

[@user-xk8xy7nl4k]

I live in rhyl some decent pubs and people but it has turned into crack central with alot of homeless shame really

[@macca1146]

I can remember going to Rhyl with the school when i was only 10 years of age , and although quite young i swore i would never go again and i haven't, even at a young age i can remember what a shithole it was.

[@honestplaces]

Yeh there are loads better places to go. It aint as bad as i remember, it is cleaner and less grim that Blackpool.

[@basylpeterjones]

That doesn't mean anything if we don't know when that was.

[@basylpeterjones]

How can such a busy and brash place as Blackpool be described as "grim"? It has more tourism than Portugal or Greece, so it must have some appeal.

[@shirleydrury5565]

Properly got a 5G on that now to fry are brains .😢😢

[@brianpower6424]

best LGBT content on here x

[@Michael-bk1ux]

only the lost and the lonely come to rhyl

[@ianhunkin5384]

No ones got any money ...plonker or they would be out and about

[@barbaragentry5690]

D

[@buy.to.let.britain]

i like it but i wont be spending any of my money there.

[@honestplaces]

Sums it up well!

[@buy.to.let.britain]

i dont give authoritarians my time or money.@@honestplaces

Move the camera more S L O W L Y !!! Why are you saying "Look at that" as you move the camera on to something else ???

[@honestplaces]

This is an old video....my new ones are better as i've had time to learn 👍

[@AA-ss6bt]

Most trashy place I have ever been to

[@honestplaces]

Not one good memory!? 🤣

[@AA-ss6bt]

@@honestplaces not really. I went there to visit someone & absolutely hated it

[@honestplaces]

@@AA-ss6bt fair enough, i deffo couldnt spend any time there, even if i had kids

[@AA-ss6bt]

😂😂😂😂 Do really like your videos mate. Keep them coming x

[@honestplaces]

@@AA-ss6bt I'll take that. Cheers pal

[@LiseMac]

That’s a part of it, but it’s a massive recession and maybe capitalism is dying. People are doing things, maybe just not spending loads of money. There are other options. I get what you are saying, but we don’t need a car to survive. It’s difficult for families.

[@Cheapbeatlewhore]

morecambe is far worse than rhyl

[@honestplaces]

Will have to check that out

[@kat7777]

🤣 🤣

[@stephenduncan3605]

Yes it is. At least Rhyl still has Prize Bingo on the seafront.

[@basylpeterjones]

Morecambe went into decline decades earlier than Rhyl because it lost the battle with Blackpool. But, now, it has recovered since the early-'80s and is far more successful than Rhyl - which began losing visitors at some point in the '90s.

[@Cheapbeatlewhore]

the monorail was excellent too

[@honestplaces]

Never knew there was one!

[@stephenduncan3605]

@@honestplaces think it only lasted about six months!

[@cripplz5741]

hiya pall think you should go to edgely. cracking area

[@honestplaces]

Only ever been to Stockport FC. Worth a visit?

[@cripplz5741]

@@honestplaces would say so yeah

[@user-iy9cl8dy2c]

wales is a dump of bams ., been there seen it