Seaside town joins UK Town of Culture race

Bridlington is planning to bid to become the first UK Town of Culture.

The government's new competition forms part of a wider drive to "restore pride in communities", inviting towns to showcase their own "unique stories".

Town councillors said they were planning to write to the government declaring their bid for the Town of Culture crown.

Councillor Andy Walker said: "We want to be the best... we've got great culture, we've got history, we've got modern culture and we can make it stick."

Walker described Bridlington as "the most beautiful, diverse seaside town".

He said Bridlington's Old Town and quay gave it a "natural advantage".

Walker also highlighted the town's links with award-winning artist David Hockney who lived and worked there.

Mark Lonsdale, general manager at Bridlington Spa, said the town is already a cultural destination and winning the bid will "just enhance that".

"It will only enhance the local visitor economy. It's for residents, it's for visitors, it's for everybody," he said.

The winner will be given a £3m prize, with the runners-up getting £250,000 each.

"£3m is not to be sniffed at," Lonsdale added.

The seaside town will be going up against Pocklington and possibly Grimsby, as well as many other Yorkshire towns.

But Lonsdale does not see it as a competition.

He said: "We all work in partnership and whoever gets it is thoroughly deserving."

Angela Langton, who helps run the town's food festival, also backs the bid.

"My family are an old Bridlingtonian family and there's so much history here and the culture up in the old town is just amazing."

The food festival is now in its fourth year, bringing food vendors into the town centre. Langton also runs the ice trial and hopes to bring it back for a third year.

Langton said: "It's just an amazing town. It's got so much going on at the minute, so much investment coming into the town. We're on the up. We deserve to win."

Towns have until 31 March to express their interest.

The first title will be awarded for 2028 when the winning town will start a year-long programme of cultural celebrations.

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