Days out at UK seaside considered outdated as young people moan about seagulls, toilets and phone woes

Days out at UK seaside considered outdated as young people moan about seagulls, toilets and phone woes The poll, commissioned by eco-tech brand Hive, found eight in ten of people aged between 14 and 29 are no longer fond of visits to Britain's seaside resorts The tide is turning on traditional bucket and spade beach holidays, according to research. A poll found 80% of those aged 14 to 29 reckon a day at the British seaside was old fashioned. And the Love Island generation weren’t slow to explain why a trip to the sea gives them the ick. The major moan for 70% of the 2,000 young people was their phone running out of juice. But other sources of stress include filthy toilets, problems finding a car parking space and seagulls swooping in to nick their chips. Physical conditions of the beach can also be annoying. People shared complaints it is too far from the car, the sea’s too cold, they get sand on their feet, or it is too pebbly. Phones seem to matter to Gen Z more than enjoying a day out. Many say poor signal does their head in or panic their tech will get trashed. More than one in 10 moan they can’t see their screen in the sun, and nearly as many sulk as there’s nowhere to charge their phone. While 70% say a dying battery ruins the day, just 37% of Baby Boomers, aged 62 to 80, who managed to survive childhood without a portable power bank, agree. Three in 10 Gen Z and over a quarter of Millennials, aged 30 to 45, have left the beach early because their phone was running low. Susan Wells, of eco-tech brand Hive, which commissioned the poll, said: “When the weather heats up, Britain heads to the coast, but beaches rarely offer power. Dead phones and no charging points have become a familiar frustration, especially when people rely on their devices for digital tickets, maps, messaging and mobile payments.” Brits enjoy at least four beach days every summer with 90% saying that some of their best summer memories are from time spent there, proving a little sand in your shoes is still a price many are willing to pay. When it comes to the most nostalgic seaside holiday memories from childhood, eating fish and chips wrapped in newspaper at the beach is rated by 55%, followed by more than half who valued time with the whole family. Other highlights include penny arcades, collecting seashells and eating sticks of rock.