A seafront hotel in Bognor Regis has been praised in a national newspaper as ‘leading a revival in the UK’s ‘worst seaside town’.
This comes only a yr after the town was ranked among the many nation’s least standard coastal spots.
Under the headline ‘Bognor Bounces Back’, the national newspaper described the reworked seafront venue as spearheading change in a town that was ‘ignominiously dubbed the country’s worst seaside town’ by client group Which? final yr.
Bognor was third from bottom in 2025, overwhelmed out solely by Welsh town Bangor and Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire for the doubtful honour of lifeless final. With a vacation spot rating of simply 47 per cent, brutal two star evaluations for seashores, surroundings and worth for cash, and only one star for the town’s grade-II listed pier.
The West Sussex town acquired only one star for its seafront, food and drinks, vacationer sights, surroundings, buying, parking, peace and quiet and worth for cash, in response to the Which? survey. Respondents stated the town felt ‘dirty’, ‘run-down’ and ‘depressing’, that it had ‘forgotten it was next to the sea’, in a scathing reflection on the historic seashore resort’s lack of services and sights.
However, the Mail painted a really completely different image throughout its current keep.
Opening its characteristic, Hayley Minn wrote: “In a bright, modern hotel room with sweeping sea views and blazing sunshine pouring through the window, I might be in the south of Spain. Somewhere chic near Malaga perhaps, down the coast towards Portugal.”
The piece then reveals: “But I’m not. I’m in the UK – in Bognor Regis.”
The newspaper stated it had come to see how the seaside spot might ‘possibly deserve that dreary title’.
It described The Navigator as a as soon as ‘tired, dated and old-fashioned’ 12-room hotel now refreshed with ‘newly made-over sea-view suites’ and brighter interiors.
Owner Kathleen credited her appearance on The Hotel Inspector – fronted by hospitality professional Alex Polizzi – with serving to to show the enterprise round.
The article added that the hotelier is now a self-declared ‘local ambassador’, defending the town from critics and inspiring guests to see past outdated perceptions.
After the report was revealed, The Navigator Hotel introduced on Facebook: “So the cat is definitely out of the bag now! We are thrilled to be featured in today’s Daily Mail, with a lovely review from Hayley of not just The Navigator Hotel but Bognor in general.
“Additionally, we will feature on The Hotel Inspector on Thursday 5th March, Channel 5 at 9pm. We are looking at putting a TV into the bar for anyone who’d like to come and watch with us, we have not seen it so hopefully it showcases us, and Bognor at their best.
“Thanks to our incredible team who have supported us over the last 17 months since we bought the hotel. See you all soon.”
The national spotlight comes as many in the town hope Bognor’s reputation is beginning to shift.
For locals, business owners and visitors, things are a little more complicated. “Bognor is more than Bognor,” said Jason Passingham, owner of Heygates Bookshop – an award winning secondhand bookshop built into the town’s grade II-listed railway station.
“If you wish to ask ‘do families come here and enjoy themselves?’ the reply is sure. Bognor Regis is a stunning conventional seaside town in and of itself, however we’re additionally an important launching pad to discover different areas. You can use Bognor as your base, and from there you’ll be able to go to Arundel, you’ll be able to go to Worthing, or Chichester. There’s a lot round this space – you’re simply spoilt for selection.”
Another native, whose lived in Bognor for the final 20 years, had comparable issues to say. For her, Bognor’s unhealthy rap will get in its personal approach. “We’ve been to other places, and I think Bognor has similar issues to a lot of seaside towns; we’re really no different.”
“We’ve quite a good community here. There’s a lot in Bognor for people who are vulnerable. And that’s a good thing. There’s My Sister’s House, there’s Grandad’s Front Room, there are all these places where people can turn for support, and I think that sense of community spirit is good.”
But it’s not all rave reviews. Two visitors returning to Bognor Regis after a gap of some thirty years said the seaside town wants for a sense of atmosphere and place suggesting that, despite its holiday-resort chops, there simply isn’t much to pull the punters in.
“My husband got here right here years in the past as a baby, so our go to is about coming again down reminiscence lane,” they stated. “But we wouldn’t feel the need to come back here again. Why would we, in a way? there just isn’t much special about it. It just doesn’t feel particularly attractive, and we’re really sorry to say it.
“We found the museum really interesting – that was lovely – but there’s nothing else here that we think we particularly want to come back for.”
Issuing a passionate defence of the town last year, a spokesperson for Arun District Council said Bognor’s reputation is ultimately a matter of perspective, writing: “Yes, like many seaside towns, Bognor faces its share of challenges. But what sets it apart is the strong sense of community and the genuine effort being made to improve and evolve. The town is full of people who care-who volunteer, support local events, and welcome visitors with open arms.”
