I live in one of the UK’s best seaside towns – but there is a huge catch
A STUDENT has exposed the brutal downside to living in one of Britain’s most popular seaside resorts.
The TikTok user mollzdollz72 has caused a stir online with her video showing the catch that comes with coastal life in Brighton.
She posted a video of herself accompanied by the caption, “‘Go uni in Brighton’, they said – ‘it’ll be fun’, they said”.
Yet as she walks along the Sussex city’s iconic shoreline, tucking into snacks, a seagull suddenly descends from above – prompting screams from her and a friend.
She added online when sharing the footage: “Promise I’ll stop posting about this – just need to mentally recover first.”
Comments posted in response include Michelle Hansen saying: “Hahaha this is so funny made my morning , My daughter is hopefully going to Brighton uni in Sept.”
Other viewers said “will forever be traumatised”, “Omfg brighton life”, “omg Molly that’s horrific” and “stop this is the funniest video I’ve ever seen”.
The city’s seagulls have become notorious over the years, with holiday-makers telling of increasingly-brazen attacks – such as divebombing for chips.
Premier League high-fliers Brighton and Hove Albion, who dented Arsenal‘s title bid with a 3-0 win in north London last Sunday, go by the nickname the Seagulls.
The city is home to two different universities, attracting plenty of students who might yet find it “fun” despite feathered friends’ attentions.
Brighton University boasts former students such as chart-topping DJ Norman Cook – who performs under the name Fatboy Slim – as well as Peaky Blinders actor Paddy Considine, Red Dwarf comic Chris Barrie and radio presenter Jo Whiley.
Alumni of Sussex University, which also has its base in Brighton, include business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch, the BBC‘s Mastermind host Clive Myrie, comedians Frankie Boyle and Bob Mortimer and 1977 Wimbledon tennis champion Virginia Wade.
Seagull swoops aside, the coastal city does have plenty to recommend it.
Three-mile-long Brighton beach might be covered in pebbles rather than sand.
But a study last year suggested it was one of the most popular stretches of coastline in the country – behind only Kynance Cove in Cornwall.
Attractions include the historic Brighton Palace Pier, trendy shopping districts The Lanes and the North Laine, and the 162m-tall Brighton i360 observation pod.
The city is also renowned for its restaurants and boutique B&Bs – as well as grander seafront hotels such as the Grand Brighton and the Hilton Brighton Metropole.
Also facing on to the esplanade is the Brighton Centre gig venue, where Abba won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with their hit Waterloo – and their native Sweden will host next year’s event, half a century on, after Loreen won last Saturday’s latest event held in Liverpool.