Furious locals hit back after seaside village is called UK’s ‘mini-Benidorm’

Love Spain but can’t be bothered to leave the country?

Well, according to some, this pretty little Welsh village is on its way to becoming a mini Benidorm, but the locals strongly disagree. In fact, residents of Abersoch have hit back at the critics and said it’s more like the French Riveria.

It comes after critics commented on a new development that is being constructed in Aberosch, Wales. The complex will include a new luxury hotel, spa, and apartments on Gwynedd’s Llyn Penisula.

Critics compared the £34 million development to buildings you’d come across in Spain’s popular holiday destination.

However, the locals weren’t having it and were quick to defend their home, which boasts sandy beaches, boutiques and restaurants.

One businessman told The Sun Online: “Abersoch is chic and the area has more beauty of the south of France than a grotty Spanish resort.

“The hotel isn’t finished yet, so it’s too early to pass judgement on how it will finally look, but it’s much better than leaving the site an eyesore.”

While Benidorm is a destination that Brits love, it doesn’t have the best reputation. Tourists on a Reddit travel forum branded it one of the “trashiest” places worldwide.

This is very different from the Welsh village that has multi-million-pound properties and has seen the likes of A-list celebrities, including Bradley Cooper and Bear Grylls, visit the area.

“It’s getting more like Monaco with the multi-million-pound houses,” a woman told The Sun.

The village is a hotspot during the holiday season as it experiences better weather than other places in Britain. Many people travel to stay in their second homes while enjoying some watersports or a little drink on their beach hut terraces.

However, when the warm season is over, Abersoch’s streets are much quieter, so some locals hope the hotel will benefit the village by attracting more visitors.

Others, though, are not entirely happy with the new complex. They mention that the village was “struggling” as a result of controls introduced on new second homes and holiday lets, stating that “it will be interesting to see how the hotel survives.”