IN a stunning British seaside town dubbed “Costa Notta Lotta”; – it’s not just the fish and chips that’s going cheap.
With a gorgeous sandy beach, amusement arcades and cafes along the pier, it’s hard to believe houses sell for as little £20,000 – but locals told The Sun exactly why.
Redcar, on the coast, was once a bustling town, home to thousands of steel workers and famous for Lemon Top ice cream – a cone of vanilla ice cream topped with lemon sorbet first created there in 1924.
But since the furnaces closed in 2015, locals say there is less demand for housing, meaning properties are cheap to buy – with a one-bed flat selling for as little as £20,000.
Retired pipe fitter John Beckett, 76, told The Sun: “I am born and bred in Redcar. Lived here all my life, but it’s changed since I was a kid.”;
Sitting in the spring sunshine on a prom bench looking out to sea, he said: “It was a busy seaside town back then, but it has gone right down now.
“That is why the . Along the coast, in Saltburn and Whitby, that is where the expensive houses and flats are.
“We have lost a lot of industry, like British Steel, so houses are not so much in demand.”;
Redcar, with a population of just 37,000, has a higher than the national average child poverty rate with unemployment levels being the fifth highest in the UK – due to the loss of 3,000 steel jobs.
John added: “It’s a nice bit of coastline, though, I like it here. I like the town. There used to be shows on the beach when I was a kid, but no longer.
“We’ve got that vertical pier thing, but that’s not gone down well.”;
We visit here all the time, but if we were going to move to live at a seaside resort it would be Blackpool.
Kath Webber
The vertical pier – named the Redcar Beacon – is a pier that goes up towards the sky, offering views of the beach and sea.
Day-trippers Cliff and Kath Webber, from nearby Middlesbrough, were during their weekly visit.
Retired checkout girl Kath, 73, said: “I’m surprised that Redcar is the to get a house, it’s a lovely spot, and I thought it would have been dearer than some other places I could mention.
“We visit here all the time, but if we were going to move to live at a seaside resort it would be Blackpool.”;
Husband Cliff, 77, a retired railway worker, added: “Redcar is a great town and we do enjoy our visits here.”;
‘Nice investment’
Marcus Pacitto, 59, owns family run cafe and Pacittos on the seafront – famous as the first to ever serve a Lemon Top.
Marcus, busy making a fresh batch of ice cream, said: “We’ve been making ice cream for one hundred years in Redcar.
“Redcar has a lovely beach but the reason properties are so cheap is because it is a run down seaside town.
“Years and years ago Redcar used to be very busy and
“But the council, in their wisdom, knocked nice buildings down and put monstrosities up in their place, leaving Saltburn with its charm.
“They are still knocking down things and digging up things.
“I’d like to think Redcar is a nice investment for people wanting to buy a seaside home.”;
But not all of the locals are so positive about their home.
“The best thing about Redcar is the road out of here,”; joked metal fabricator Gary Lee.
“I have lived in Redcar all my life, but it has got worse since I was a kid there’s nowt to do,”; said the 45-year-old.
“But I wouldn’t move from here, because I don’t like change.
“It’s still got its attractions and so maybe it would be a good move for some people looking for a cheap holiday home.”;
I have lived in Redcar all my life, but it has got worse since I was a kid there’s nowt to do.
Gary Lee
Andrew Hall, 34, managing director of PH Estate Agents, based in the seaside resort, said:
“But these days, coastal homes usually come with eye-watering price tags. Redcar offers the best value for money for a range of property types. That’s where Redcar’s different.
“Our town offers seriously good value for money, and you get way more than just a home.
“We’ve got the North East’s best fish and chips (yeah, I said it), and we invented the Lemon Top ice cream – if you know, you know!
“Sure, our vertical pier splits opinion like Marmite, but that’s what makes Redcar interesting.
“We’re not just another seaside town – we’ve got character, community, and prices that won’t make you choke on your chips. Redcar is the ‘coast with the most!”;
Once known as a fishing village, Redcar also boasts a popular horse racing course, drawing punters in.
It’s hoped new investments announced in 2024 will still go ahead, meaning cheap property could provide a great return in the future.
