It was once one of Britain’s thriving seaside towns – popular with Londoners who would flock to the Essex coastline for a day at the beach and fun on the pier.
But locals living in Clacton, which is now ranked one of the most deprived areas in the UK, say the town is battling spiralling unemployment, drug use and crime.
Shops on the beachfront and in the town centre have closed – with some residents saying there now are so few opportunities in Clacton, they can’t even afford to move elsewhere.
However, if you travel just seven miles up the coast to nearby Frinton, where second homes cost up to £800,000, it is a completely different story.
Locals say the town is thriving, business is booming and it is a world apart from nearby Clacton, which was described by one person in Frinton as a ‘s******’.
Frinton’s high street has even been dubbed the ‘Bond Street of East Anglia’ due to its wealth of independent shops.
The town is famously resistant to change – with its first pub only opening this century. Locals also last year revolted against the opening of a ‘monstrous’ budget supermarket in the heart of Frinton.
This week MailOnline visited both Clacton and Frinton to understand what sets the two places apart, despite the towns being so close to one another.
Clacton, where houses cost an average of £250,000, was widely described as a ‘seaside resort’ reliant on unpredictable tourist trade.
Frinton, on the other hand, was labelled as an exclusive ‘seaside town’ – popular with retirees and wealthy Londoners.
Nevertheless, Clacton locals said they feel like there is some ‘snobbery’ towards them from their neighbours in Frinton which is seen to be much ‘posher’.
CLACTON: Locals say the town is battling spiralling unemployment, drug use and crime
FRINTON: Large houses are seen by the seafront in Frinton. The area is popular with retirees and second home owners
CLACTON: A man sits on a bench by the seafront in Clacton
FRINTON: The high street is full of independent shops, with many owners saying business is thriving
Richard Pegg, 67, who moved to Clacton with his wife Tina, 66, four years ago, told MailOnline: ‘Frinton is a lot posher, there is definitely snobbery there.
‘Frinton is very much stuck in time, unlike Clacton. They want to protect the town and the world in which they live.
‘We are very upset by people bad mouthing Clacton as that has not been our experience at all,’ he added.
‘Where we live is lovely and quiet. All we can do is sing the town’s praises.’
Linda Marshall, 66, who runs a kiosk on the beachfront, said: ‘There’s not many jobs in Clacton but the atmosphere has stayed the same.
‘We don’t get many residents coming and spending money. It’s mainly people who come down for the day – mostly Londoners.
‘Frinton is very traditional, they aren’t allowed to sell ice creams on the seafront.
‘There may be a bit of snobbery between the two places but it’s certainly not from the Frintonians. It’s from the new blood that comes in.’
Clacton, and nearby Jaywick-on-Sea, have been listed in the top one per cent of deprived neighbourhoods in the UK, according to recent government data.
The area, which tends to rely on summer trade, also has the highest proportion of people who are neither employed or looking for work in the country.
CLACTON: Locals say the town is battling spiralling unemployment, drug use and crime
CLACTON: Natalie Berritt with her kids Jackson and Lexi – she said many people in the town struggle to find work
FRINTON: Locals head to the high street in Frinton where there are many independent shops
CLACTON: Paul Hailstone, 66, who has lived in Clacton for nine years, said: ‘The town is a nightmare. Druggies everywhere. Never a copper around when you want one’
Government data from 2023 revealed that ‘economic inactivity’ in Clacton was 46.8 per cent – more than the 21.7 per cent UK average.
One in five people in the town have never had a job and nearly half of children living there were in poverty as of March last year.
Paul Hailstone, 66, who has lived in Clacton for nine years, said: ‘The town is a nightmare. Druggies everywhere. Never a copper around when you want one.
‘Lots of shops have closed. Sainsbury’s has shut, M&S has shut. There are absolutely no jobs. It is a joke. There is nothing.
‘I never go out at night anymore. There have been a couple of murders in the town centre and a woman was raped. It is just full of crazed druggie nutters.’
When asked what he thought of Frinton, Mr Hailstone said: ‘This is now the only area I stick to. It is too expensive to leave. I can’t afford the train.’
One local, who gave their name only as Lolly, said the issue is there is only seasonal work in the summer, leaving the town deserted in the winter.
They said: ‘There are lots of empty shops in Clacton. There is more drug use. We are all unemployed. There is only seasonal work. In the winter the place is dead.
‘Crime has gone up.’
CLACTON: Rubbish is seen piled on a street corner in Clacton
CLACTON: Linda Marshall, 66, who runs a kiosk on Clacton seafront. She said most of her customers are Londoners
CLACTON: One in five people in the town have never had a job and nearly half of children living there were in poverty as of March last year
FRINTON: Beach huts lined up along the seafront in Frinton. No kiosks are allowed in the area
FRINTON: Frinton only opened its first pub 20 years ago and its first fish and chip shop in 1992
Young mother Natalie Berritt, who was in Clacton with her two children Jackson and Lexi, said: ‘There’s not much for kids to do around here. There are not many parks or playgrounds.
‘The public transport is also bad. The buses only come every hour and often they don’t show up.
‘I’m also struggling to get my son into a school as all the local ones are full.’
Speaking about job opportunities in Clacton, she said: ‘I don’t work as I’m disabled and I’m homeschooling my son.
‘But I know people are struggling to find work. Obviously, you have just got to take what you can get really in this age.’
In Frinton, however, business owners and locals said their trade was as ‘good as ever’ and thriving all year around.
The famously exclusive town has become known as a destination for retirees and wealthy Londoners looking to buy second homes by the seaside.
Chris Pereira, who owns an independent business selling tweed jackets, said he moved to the town from London 30 years ago.
CLACTON: Closed businesses are seen in Clacton-on-Sea
CLACTON: Valerie Parish, 70, said Clacton is a very welcoming place with lovely people
CLACTON: Government data from 2023 revealed that ‘economic inactivity’ in Clacton was 46.8 per cent – more than the 21.7 per cent UK average
CLACTON: One in five people in the town have never had a job and nearly half of children living there were in poverty as of March last year
CLACTON: Pictured is a bowling alley on Clacton seafront
He said: ‘I’m always busy. It is always bustling. Business is going well, even in the off season.
‘The town has changed in the time I’ve been here – there are some modern shops but the place has kept traditional. It’s so nice, so laid back.’
Comparing Frinton to the nearby areas, he said: ‘There are no problems with crime. Hardly anything at all. It is safe to walk around unlike other areas.’
Alan, who moved to Frinton from East London more than a decade ago, said most people do not grow up in the area but come later in life.
He said: ‘A lot of people move up here from London. Almost everyone you talk to comes from there.
‘People move after coming to Frinton as kids. It’s somewhere they like so when they retire they decide to move up here.
Speaking of Clacton, he said: ‘I never go there, not unless I really have to. Clacton and Jaywick I avoid. It is just quieter here.’
Frinton only opened its first pub 20 years ago and its first fish and chip shop in 1992.
The town also hit the headlines in August 2020 when councillors banned ice cream sellers and other traders from its promenade.
Meanwhile last year, locals threatened to leave the area after the opening of a ‘monstrous’ Poundstretcher near to their £800,000 homes.
CLACTON: Lolly (pictured) said the issue is there is only seasonal work in the summer, leaving the town deserted in the winter
Frinton: The Lock and Barrell pub was the first to open in the town 20 years ago
CLACTON: Government data from 2023 revealed that ‘economic inactivity’ in Clacton was 46.8 per cent – more than the 21.7 per cent UK average
CLACTON: A man sits on the street in the town centre
Margaret Simpson, 62, who has lived in Frinton-on-Sea for 33 years, said at the time: ‘It is monstrous. It’s out of place, bright red, looks awful and just brings the whole area down.’
The retired administrator added: ‘It’s ridiculous. It offers nothing to the area. I worry about what will come to the area next.’
Reform councillor Richard Everett said Frinton’s economic success is built on the town’s community feel, rather than the second home owners.
He said: ‘A lot of people come to Frinton for retirement. People come from London to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and come to some normality.
‘Frinton is different from some of the areas around it. Clacton and Walton are seaside resorts, whereas Frinton sees itself as a seaside town.
‘People go to the other areas on day trips, so Frinton has a different feel to it. Frinton has lovely beaches so of course some do come.
‘The main shopping street in Frinton is called Connaught Avenue. It was once known as the Bond Street of Essex. It is a very successful high street.
‘Very few of the shops are empty.’
Meanwhile people in Clacton said the area has been historically underfunded by the government – despite a £20million regeneration project being announced in December last year.
Around £500,000 has been earmarked to improve tired shopfronts in Jaywick and Clacton. Another half a million will be invested in Clacton seafront.
A brand new library is also planned to be built in the seaside town.
Dan Casey, independent councillor for West Clacton and Jaywick said: ‘In Clacton and Frinton, you have the richest and the poorest.
CLACTON: The pier is one of the hubs of the seaside resort
FRINTON: The town is full of independent shops, including Wrights Deli
Chris Pereira, who owns an independent business selling tweed jackets, said he moved to the town from London 30 years ago
CLACTON: Around £500,000 has been earmarked to improve tired shopfronts in Jaywick and Clacton
‘Frinton is very wealthy but I think the people are very down to earth. They have always been very polite.
‘The difference between the two towns is a long history going back generations. Here there is very high unemployment, we do not have any big industries.
‘Frinton has lots of people investing but we have nothing against them. Most people have moved there from London.’
Many locals in Clacton also spoke about how much they love their town and the sense of community that comes with it.
Local Valerie Parish, 70, said: ‘I have lived here for 12 years and the community is amazing.
‘I couldn’t fault the character of the town. A lot of shops have closed down, but it is a seaside resort and that has happened all over the country.
‘Clacton and Frinton are two different places, yes. Frinton is more upmarket and everyone there is a little bit more posh.
‘There’s lots of second homes and they have rules – only one pub, only one fish and chip shop. Here we have everything.
‘Here we also have lots of tourists coming and going. Jaywick down the road has gained a reputation as a notorious place, but it’s actually a very good community – we stick together.’
Richard Pedd, 67, added: ‘We’ve been here four years and our experience with Clacton has been really really good.
‘The people we have met they are so friendly, everyone’s got time of day for you.
‘A lot of shops have shut since we moved – the town centres is in decline, but what town centre isn’t in decline?
‘Online shopping is killing the town centres but that is the way it is.’
