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Benidorm is often known as Little England due to the number of British tourists that flock to the Spanish resort, but one couple were surprised when they decided to visit the Costa Blanca

A couple who visited Benidorm for the first time were surprised by what they discovered. Content creators Ashley McCarthy and Kelsey Lewis claimed that tourists either “love or hate” the Spanish resort.

But after finding a “really good deal” and picking up £50 flights, they decided to jet off to the popular holiday hotspot and find out what it’s really like. Upon boarding their plane, Kelsey pointed out the “variety” of passengers, from hen-dos, to families, and couples wanting a short getaway.

In a video Kelsey said they woke up to a “beautiful sunrise” on the Costa Blanca before deciding to explore the city further. They were also impressed with Benidorm’s famous beaches.

Ash said: “Look at these palm trees, look at this sand, the sand is so soft. This is a really nice beach.”

He commented on how a number of buildings along the promenade looked like “something from Dubai”. The couple later decided to take a walk along the beach towards Benidorm Old Town.

Ash continued: “I wasn’t expecting this walkway along the beach to be so nice. It’s really clean and I like how they’ve incorporated greenery, it feels almost like a garden than a promenade.”

He added: “I don’t get why Benidorm gets so much hate. I get the other side where it’s a bit tacky, a bit rowdy, but it was fun. This side’s lovely.

“There’s a reason it became so popular in the first place and that’s got to be because of these beaches.”

The pair did however find time to check out Benidorm’s pubs and bars, including one named The Red Lion. Benidorm has long been a hit with British travellers, who make up around 40 percent of visitors to the resort.

It has led to the city receiving the nickname “Little England”. Ash said: “There’s so many bars, restaurants and pubs here, you just wouldn’t make your way through they even if you lived here.”

Ash, from Wales, later admitted he was impressed by how well kept Benidorm is. He concluded: “To be honest, I don’t really understand the hate it gets.

“Yeah, there’s parts of it that can be rowdy or tacky or whatever you want to call it, but it’s a massive place and there’s a lot of areas that are really nice. It’s not just about the strip and there’s so much restaurants, bars, cafes, nature, like outdoor space, beaches and whatever that there’s enough to enjoy without even seeing that side of it.

“But I think the thing that surprised me the most was it’s really clean. There’s no rubbish on the floor anywhere. Well maintained. It’s well kept.”

The couple praised the Spanish resort for its weather as well, enjoying highs of 20C during their February trip. The area boasts well over 300 days of sun throughout the year and in March daytime highs can reach anywhere between 20 and 22c.

Elsewhere, Benidorm recently got access to its very first Wetherspoon branch. The Castell de Santa Bàrbera, the chain’s first Spanish pub, opened at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport.

It serves a range of Spanish and British dishes including Full English breakfasts and patatas bravas. Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said: “We are delighted to have opened in Spain.

“We believe the pub will be popular with a wide range of customers travelling home from Alicante Airport, including those travelling home to the UK and those using the terminal for trips to England and beyond. We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports.”

KATIE Price appears to be planning to double down on defying her family’s warning about her husband – by marrying him for a second time.

The 47-year-old wed Lee Andrews last month in a whirlwind ceremony in Dubai just days after meeting in person.

However, concern was raised by her loved ones amid fears she’s being “conned for her fame and money”.

Despite this, Katie uploaded an AI generated image of a cartoon version of her in a wedding dress and asked fans: “Should this be my wedding dress?”

She then gave “yes” or “no” options in the poll alongside an emoji of the Union Jack.

It suggests she’s plotting a wedding back home – having had her five children missing from her first ceremony.

SLURRED SPEECH

‘Pregnant’ Katie Price slurs in video after Lee PUNCHED Kerry Katona’s man

ABUSE ROW

Katie Price dropped by women’s domestic abuse charity after rant at husband’s ex

The Sun revealed her self-proclaimed millionaire husband Lee punched Kerry Katona’s boyfriend in a dramatic fallout on their honeymoon.

And soon after, Katie – who claims she is pregnant with her sixth child – was heard slurring her way through a video message to a fan.

Pals fear it’s a “huge mistake” to be planning to have a child with Lee whose exes Alana and Crystal Janke claim they were hoodwinked by the businessman — branding him a lying swindler who preys on women.

Weeks after breaking up with Married At First Sight’s JJ Slater, Katie posted photos of her wedding proposal, with flowers spelling “Will you marry me?” at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa hotel. 

The pair had struck up a relationship on social media before their whirlwind wedding last month, days after they met in person. 

He has not yet travelled to the UK to meet her family or kids.

Katie Price’s relationship history

We take a look back at the highs and lows of Katie Price’s relationship history.

1996-1998: Katie got engaged to Gladiators star Warren Furman – aka Ace – with a £3,000 ring. But their relationship didn’t make it as far as ‘I do’.

1998-2000: Katie described Dane Bowers as ‘the love of her life’ but she broke up with the singer after he allegedly cheated on her.

2001: Footballer Dwight Yorke is the father of Katie’s eldest child Harvey. He has had very little to do with his son throughout his life.

2002: Rebounding from Dwight, Katie famously had one night of passion with Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, allegedly taking his virginity.

2002-2004: Katie was dating Scott Sullivan when she entered the jungle for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!. He threatened to “punch Peter’s lights out” when chemistry blossomed between her and Peter Andre.

2004-2009: The jungle romance resulted in Katie marrying Aussie pop star Peter. They had two kids, Junior and Princess, before their bitter split in 2009.

2010-2011: Fresh from her break-up with Peter, Katie enjoyed a whirlwind relationship and marriage with cage fighter Alex Reid. They split 20 months after their Las Vegas wedding.

2011: Katie briefly dated model Danny Cipriani… but it ended as quickly as it begun.

2011-2012: They didn’t speak the same language, but Katie got engaged to Argentinian model Leandro Penna in 2011. He later fled home to South America.

2012-2018: Wedding bells rang once more after Katie met Kieran Hayler in 2013. They eventually called it quits after a rocky marriage.

2018-2019: Katie moved on quickly with Kris Boyson. They had an on-off romance for one year and even got engaged. They split for good in 2019.

2019: Katie was linked to Charles Drury during her on-off relationship with Kris. Charles, who also dated Lauren Goodger, has always denied being in “official relationship” with her.

2020-2023: Car salesman Carl Woods took a shine to Katie in 2020. Their relationship was up and down for three years. They broke up for a final time last year.

2024-2026: After weeks of rumours, Katie confirmed her relationship with Married At First Sight star JJ Slater in February 2024. The pair split in January 2026 after two years together.

2026: Katie shocked fans when she revealed she had married Dubai-based businessman Lee Andrews after a 48-hour engagement and only knowing him a week.