Nearly a decade ago, locals in Weston-super-Mare were taken aback when they discovered their town had been chosen for what seemed to be an exciting new theme park venture. The long-abandoned Tropicana outdoor swimming pool had undergone a secret transformation into ‘Dismaland’, an art exhibition.
At first glance, it might have looked like a delightful seaside entertainment ground, but the reality was far from typical family fun. The installation showcased bizarre and darkly comical works, such as killer whale statues leaping from toilets, mini-golf scenes with helicopter crash themes, and even a riot van dramatically adrift in a water feature.
All of this sprang from the mind of the semi-mythical street artist Banksy, who decided to bring his “sinister twist on Disneyland” to his fondly remembered childhood haunt, naming the place a “family theme park unsuitable for children”. Reflecting on his motives, the artist shared in a statement, “I loved the Tropicana as a kid, so getting to throw these doors open again is a real honour.”
Evidently, Banksy’s selection bore deeper meaning, paralleling the lido’s history with Britain’s societal angst—the Tropicana had seen better days prior to its 2000 closure and had been languishing since then, despite various regeneration projects that ultimately didn’t pan out. The most notable was a failed revitalization in 2011 by the developers Havard Tisdale, who backed down citing that the plans were no longer financially feasible.
Dismaland might have been the embodiment of gloom that many British seaside towns experienced in the mid-2010s, but for Weston-super-Mare, the Banksy exhibit proved to be an undeniable windfall. While operational for just two short months, celebrity figures such as Brad Pitt and Ant and Dec joined the throng of 150,000 visitors who flocked to the Somerset town, contributing an estimated £20 million to the local economy.
However, according to John Owen, Regional Land Manager for Keepmoat Homes, the impact left by Banksy on Weston-Super-Mare was much more expansive than mere visitor numbers or economic benefits. “Banksy created a buzz,” he told the Express.
“Anything he seems to touch brings people along and I think Weston-super-Mare have tried to cultivate that sort of cool image [that Dismaland generated]. The local authority is trying, I think, to be seen as interesting and arty [and trying to make the town] a forward-thinking place for people to go.”
A decade on, this change in perception has had tangible effects on the town. Havard Tisdale, which previously had concerns about the Tropicana site’s lack of development post-Dismaland, has seen a renewed interest in implementing ambitious plans.
There are currently strides being made towards an expansive £1 billion project set to rejuvenate the seaside resort. The proposed development aims to offer 882,000 square feet of commercial space, generate 9,000 jobs, and construct 6,000 new homes.
So like many a seaside town, Weston-super-Mare could be seen as going through a bit of an identity crisis. But a re-brand could be on the way. Super Weston is the name of the Weston Placemaking Strategy, a ten-year vision (2020-2030) for Weston’s renewal and regeneration. The strategy was shaped by more than 5,000 residents who took part in the ‘Weston Wishes’ consultation exercise in 2018. An outcome was that people wanted an experience-based economy with a thriving arts, culture and heritage sector.
The town’s ambition doesn’t end there. There are plans to open a new waterpark this summer, to revitalise Birnbeck Pier, and to use the Old Town Quarry as a performance space: “We could have an opera there, we could have a ballet there, we could have things that are not necessarily associated with Weston-super-Mare.”
The Tropicana – the location of Dismaland – could soon host crowds of up to 5,000 people and see the main 1930s promenade building repaired. Under the proposals, the existing 1980s internal building will be demolished and replaced with a new structure to host indoor events for about 1,000 people, increasing the venue’s total capacity to 5,000.
This project is part of North Somerset Council’s ambitious placemaking vision for the town, made possible thanks to the authority’s successful bid for £20 million from the UK government. A council spokesperson said they hoped the revamp will elevate Tropicana’s status to become a nationally significant multi-use entertainment venue.
Built in 1937, the former swimming pool on the beach is owned and run directly by the council. The Tropicana was a swimming pool until 2000 when it closed down.
In 2015, following numerous unsuccessful attempts to develop the venue, there was the creation of The Bay Café. Later that year, it hosted Banksy’s Dismaland. Last year, throughout the festive period, the venue hosted the country’s largest outdoor ice rink, Icescape.
Cllr Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member responsible for seafronts, and investment in the Tropicana, said: “The submission of this planning application marks a key milestone in the life of the Tropicana. This iconic landmark building has seen several changes over the years since opening in 1937 and the new proposed designs support our vision to create a fit for purpose entertainment venue. They meet industry standards to help us attract the best operator for the next twenty plus years and take the venue into the future.
“Thanks to all those who came to have their say on our early proposals at the drop-in events in September. I encourage people to take the time to look through the planning application on our website and I hope that they will be pleased with the latest designs. I’m particularly encouraged to see the reduction in total height within the design for the new building, while retaining the ability to change colour of lighting, which will provide an interesting and useful addition to the seafront skyline, especially at night.
“Reinventing this key destination at the heart of Weston’s seafront will create new jobs, support local businesses and deliver a year-round experience-led economy for the future. We want to attract higher profile acts, culture and entertainment events to elevate Weston’s place within the regional, national and international scene.”
There are plenty of other plans afoot in the town. Weston-super-Mare’s iconic pier is set for a dramatic £10 million revamp thanks to the National Lottery, reinstating its status as a beloved jewel of the Somerset coastline. The historic 160 year old Birnbeck Pier, which has been teetering on the brink of collapse after falling into serious disrepair, is finally receiving the TLC it desperately needs.
Residents and tourists have looked on in despair as the pier, once an emblem of the towns seaside charm, has suffered neglect, but now its all change with this substantial injection from lottery funds. Birnbeck Pier is not just any old pier; it’s a piece of history that connects Britains mainland to the small island of Birnbeck and has been sorely missed by Midlands day-trippers yearning for a bit of coastal escapade.
Closed for three decades, the planned works will breathe new life into this unique structure, enabling public access once more to the only UK pier that reaches out to an island, reports the Express.
Councillor Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, expressed his gratitude for the significant £10 million funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
He said: “£10 million is a significant amount of money we are so grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their ongoing support of our project to restore Birnbeck Pier,” He also thanked National Lottery players, stating that the project “I must also acknowledge and thank National Lottery players as this simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Keepmoat’s Land Manager Owen has been pivotal in the property developer’s engagement with an aspirational project for the town. He shared insights saying: “We’ve got 425 homes [we plan to build] and we’re actually one of the smaller parts of it. The wider masterplan is almost like an urban extension to Weston-super-Mare,” also adding, “The idea has been quite a few years in the making, there’s a lot of housing need; in terms of affordable housing and smaller private sale housing. There’s a lot of demand because it’s got greater transport links and the [potential to be a major] commuter town.”
With firm belief in Keepmoat’s initiative, Owen anticipates that most of the home buyers in Weston-super-Mare will come from Bristol, highlighting, “A big proportion of the people buying houses, particularly the new build houses, are commuters to Bristol.”
“The value in Weston-super-Mare is lower than Bristol. So if you’re a first time buyer, maybe you could get a two-bed house in the south of Bristol somewhere, but actually you could just move 20 minutes down the motorway to get a three or maybe a four-bedroom house and would save money. That’s quite an easy decision.”
Warren Parker-Mills is the Tourism and Information Services Manager for Weston-super-Mare’s town council. In the past, he’s worked on brands like Playboy and Chupa Chups. When we first meet, he speaks animatedly about Weston-Super-Mare’s ‘brand’. The idea that Weston could be a brand as much as it is a tangible place, a marketable product in the same way as a lollipop or an adult magazine, is thought-provoking.
Warren is friendly, enthusiastic and one of the town’s biggest cheerleaders. He’s also aware that not everyone rates it as much as he does: “If you go on YouTube and search ‘Weston-super-Mare’, you will find some negative content.”
That’s putting it diplomatically. The first result for me reads ‘Weston-super-Mare! The UK’s dying town’. The second looks more even-handed. The third is from a channel called ‘Turdtowns’, promising the viewer a “deep dive into the biggest Turdown [sic] in Somerset, Weston-super-Mare.” The thumbnail ungraciously christens the resort ‘Weston-Super-Mould’.
In the middle of our conversation, he says one thing that sticks in my mind: “I used to spend a lot of time in London- and actually, I can almost envisage Weston further down the line to have little pockets of Shoreditch or little pockets of Islington.”
With so many ideas for the town, I had hoped Warren might be able to resolve Weston’s identity crisis. What is Weston-Super-Mare’s brand? He replied: “I can’t answer that question yet. I’ll be honest with you, it’s been a challenge. But ask me again next year!”