ESCAPE TO THE SUN

FUN IN THE SUN | West Midlanders head south for sun, sea and sand

30 years ago Benidorm was a sleepy fishing village. Now over 10,000 Brits have turned it into one of Spain's most popular destinations for some much needed winter sun.

Each winter, the Costa Blanca is inundated with thousands of Midlanders, escaping the winter weather. Not only that, but the town of Benidorm has a year-round population of Midlands ex-pats who’ve made their lives there.

Inside Out meets the Brits who escape to the sun.

Every November, Pat Marlow leaves her maisonette in Coventry for four months and heads for the warmth of the Spanish coast. She can’t bear the dark nights and cold weather here in the Midlands.

Sun, sea and sangria

Swap your winter coat for a sarong and flips flops

"When you’re in Benidorm you’ve always got somebody to talk to and there’s something on all day every day. There’s dancing, there’s cabaret. All I want is good health, and enough money to pay for my holiday, and I’ll be there," says Pat.

From November to March, Pat stays in one of Benidorm’s biggest hotels, paying £1,800 for her room and meals and there’s no need to worry about heating bills.

In the summer months, Benidorm may be a young clubber's paradise, but in the winter season, the nightlife belongs firmly to the over 50s. And no where is more popular than Rich Bitch show bar run by Wolverhampton born Gary Brown.

Permanent home

Gary's alter ego, Jordan Rivers pulls in the crowds

Unlike Pat who returns to the Midlands in the spring, Gary and his partner Michael Beddows have made Benidorm their permanent home.

Rich Bitch pulls in 100 punters a night, six nights a week. Gary, as his alter ago ‘Jordan Rivers’, is the star attraction.

"We do solo numbers, we do comedy, but generally it's all very much sort of production, sort of Burlesque, West End types, sort of Las Vegasy and all sort of mingled into one really," says Gary. "We could see that there was a gap in the market for this type of show as there was nobody else doing it."

West Bromwich to Benechembla

All this for the price of a West Midlands' semi!

Three years ago, bread delivery man John Hudson and his wife Margaret left West Bromwich for a life in Spain. They’d sold their four bedroom house, after 30 years.

They now live in the village of Benechembla near Benidorm. Their villa comes complete with a swimming pool and views across the almond groves in the valley below, and all for just £80,000.

It is not only property that is excellent value for money in Spain. John often dines out on a three course meal with wine for only £5. But if your expecting traditional seafood paella, you'll be sadly disappointed. Cuisine in the village is a little more closer to home. Liver and onions, pork chop and curry are to be found on the menu, all to John's delight.

Freedom

Ben certainly enjoyed his trip to Benidorm!

"When we were living in the West Midlands we were existing. We were going to work early in the morning, coming home frightened to go out in the evening because you’ve got to be up so early the next day," Says John.

"Here, we get up in the morning and do what we want to do, hour by hour and don’t have to think about looking at the clock - that’s brilliant!"

It's not enough however, to persuade Pat to make her holiday a permanent one. She claims the summer months are just that little bit too hot, or maybe the lure of the West Midlands proves just too strong!