Harry Mockridge

A swimmer found and removed what appeared to be human faeces from Weston Marine Lake in August 2026, raising renewed concerns about hygiene and anti-social behaviour at the recently refurbished and reopened site. North Somerset Council said the lake had recently received an excellent water-quality rating, that its rangers had not reported problems, and urged visitors to use the public toilets and report issues. The lake remains open to the public.

The Beatles performed a series of concerts at Weston-super-Mare’s Odeon Cinema from July 22 to July 27, 1963, alongside Gerry and the Pacemakers, during a pivotal stage in their rise to fame. Local residents recall the screaming fans, packed crowds and, for some, difficulty hearing the music. More than six decades later, the concerts remain a celebrated part of Weston-super-Mare’s musical history.

An on-site review finds Weston-super-Mare more appealing than its poor Which? seaside-town ranking suggests, awarding it three out of five. The beach’s extensive mudflats, mediocre shopping, parking costs and limited value for money are significant drawbacks, but the town is credited with a strong seafront, the Grand Pier, family attractions, food options, lively bars, Italian Gardens and a generally relaxed atmosphere. The review concludes that Weston is an imperfect but characterful traditional resort that deserves better than a bottom-10 ranking.

National Highways has begun the second phase of improvement works at M5 Junction 20 near Clevedon, with verge work continuing through August and no current plans for motorway or slip-road closures. A more disruptive phase is expected in September, when the southbound entry slip road is scheduled to close around the clock for approximately three weeks. Drivers will be diverted via Junction 21 and are advised to check updated travel alerts because arrangements may change.

Flags installed without permission on lampposts along Weston-super-Mare seafront by campaign group Flagman UK were removed by North Somerset Council within 48 hours. The council said the flags posed potential visibility and safety hazards and that removing unauthorised items diverted resources from other services. Flagman UK criticised the removal and claimed cable ties might have been left behind, but photographs showed they had also been removed. The group said it intended to reinstall the flags.

North Somerset Council has rejected rumours that the public toilets near Weston Marine Lake are closed. Four of the five 30p-per-use units remain available, while one is out of service pending repairs. The council said some visitors were confused because the doors must be pulled open manually after card payment, and it has asked contractor Healthmatic to install “Pull Open” signs. Temporary Marine Lake closures are planned for September, October and November.

Whitbread is closing the Pavilion Beefeater restaurant in Weston-super-Mare as part of a nationwide shutdown of its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre chains, resulting in nearly 4,000 job losses. The site will serve its final meals on September 10 and is listed for sale with offers invited. The closures follow rising costs linked to budget tax changes and form part of Whitbread’s plan to shift toward a hotel-focused business built around the Premier Inn brand, with integrated food and beverage services and additional hotel rooms.