The rejuvenation of Bridlington's Old Town

Undoubtedly Bridlington Old Town – with its cobbled pathways, Georgian architecture, flowering planters and Victorian street lamps – is picturesque. It was those very charms that attracted the production team behind the big screen version of Dad’s Army. Its streets and shop facades were used in the story of Captain Mainwaring and his troops, but it is more than two years since Toby Jones, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bill Nighy et al marched away.

As for the Old Town it is onwards and upwards – its regeneration started years before a film location manager spotted its star potential and it continues now.

Bridlington Old Town Association and East Riding Council have worked together on regeneration. The renaissance of Bridlington stretches beyond the Old Town into the centre and seafront. The south promenade, the beach chalets and the Spa have all undergone dramatic transformations.

“The Old Town is recognised as the cultural quarter of Bridlington,” says renaissance co-ordinator for Bridlington Denise Cowling. “But its disjointedness from the town was tricky. It is two miles from the seafront.”

This has been overcome by waymarkers and flyers, but more importantly it is about getting people to stay and see how much there is to do once they have got there.

“East Riding Council is committed to the Old Town and has completely bought into its regeneration. We have to be interested in it and ensuring it has sustainability,” says Cowling.

“It has more to offer than people expect and once they are here they are pleasantly surprised.”

There is, however, only so much that councils and committees can achieve – at the forefront of change have been and continue to be the residents and businesspeople.

“It is the tenacity of the people that is the driving force,” says Martyn Coltman, former chairman of Bridlington Renaissance Partnership. He had an art gallery in the Old Town before taking up the job of events manager at Bridlington Spa. After six years away, he is now back on his original turf with another business. He also owns an apartment on The Avenue in the Old Town.

“We have to keep footfall growing and doing more of the same, encouraging new businesses. But no matter how much you build you have to engage people as well,” he said.

It is tenacity like that shown by the owner of the Georgian Tearooms, Susan Tobias, who took over the premises two years ago, that Coltman is talking about. The property also includes three floors of antiques, with more than 30 traders. Some have single cabinets while others, like Pamela Dalley, have an entire room from which she sells retro fashions and furniture.

Trace