Seaside destinations have long been known as picturesque holiday locations, where families spend quality time together enjoying the very best of the great British coastline from funfair attractions to fish and chips on the beach. Many people have fond memories of UK seaside holidays as children and as adults enjoying weekends away, but it seems like the idyllic bubble has now burst.
Blackpool in Lancashire has topped the list of the UK’s top ten places where couples get divorced, with a divorce rate of just over 13%. Also on the list, in order, are:
- Hastings in Sussex, with a divorce rate of 12.83%
- Torbay in Devon, at 12.19%
- Weymouth and Portland in Dorset, at 12.05%
- Isle of Thanet in Kent, at 11.86%
- Isle of Wight, at 11.56%
- Gosport in South Hampshire, at 11.48%
- Eastbourne in East Sussex, at 11.47%
- Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, at 11.37%
- Worthing in West Sussex, at 11.23%
In the UK in general, the research found that the divorce rate is 8.2%. The new study, carried out by Leeds-based law firm Lake Legal, suggests that living by the coast could increase your likelihood of getting divorced by as much as half.
Why would living by the sea make you more likely to consider divorce?
There isn’t an immediately obvious reason why living in a seaside destination could have such a dramatic effect on a couple’s marriage and cause them to split. Is it just a coincidence that all of the top ten on the divorce hotspot list are on the coast, or is there something about living by the seaside that can put unbearable strain on a relationship? Lyn Arton, the managing director of the firm which conducted the research, outlined a few possible theories for its surprising findings in a recent article in The Express. She said:
"While seaside towns can be lovely places to live, they are often areas of high deprivation. Often money problems rather than infidelity lead to behaviour that is then cited as the reason for divorce.
"It is difficult to explain why seaside towns have a much higher divorce rate than inland towns. Perhaps, after lively summer seasons at the seaside, the sheer boredom of winter on the coast in England drove inhabitants to some form of distraction."
If you’re considering divorce, seek expert advice
Wherever you live in the UK, if you are considering starting divorce proceedings – it makes sense to have a seasoned expert on your team. Tracey Miller Family Law has years of experience in guiding people through the divorce process, providing crucial advice on everything from divorce settlements to custody claims. Get in touch for a friendly chat with one of the team today.