Coast of Teeth: Travels to English Seaside Towns in an Age of Anxiety

The English seaside has long been a source of quirky thrills, but recently many towns have been struggling with poverty, unemployment, underinvestment, addiction, Brexit, Covid-19, and the climate emergency. Writer Tom Sykes and illustrator Louis Netter take a Gonzo tour of 21 English coastal communities in an age of anxiety and absurdity, encountering comical, sad, weird, and beguiling encounters. However, there are also good news stories, such as beach cleaning projects and art projects that draw attention to coastal erosion and other ecological menaces. Seaside towns may be our last outposts of eccentricity and individuality in an increasingly uniform England.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 146 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2023
Publisher: Signal Books Ltd

The English seaside has long held a captivating allure, drawing punters for two centuries with its unique offerings. From the thrill of bingo and Wurlitzer organ dances to glamorous granny parades and child-jockeyed donkey races, the seaside has offered a diverse range of experiences. However, in recent years, many seaside towns have faced a multitude of challenges, including poverty, unemployment, underinvestment, addiction, Brexit, Covid-19, and the climate emergency. Writer Tom Sykes and illustrator Louis Netter embark on a gonzo tour of 21 English coastal communities in this era of anxiety and absurdity. Their encounters range from comical to sad, weird to beguiling, often all at once.

A post-lockdown beach party in Bournemouth takes a violent turn, with plastic waste and sewage piling up on the Hampshire shores. St Osyth and Jaywick's trailer parks and makeshift homes have become reminiscent of a Global Southern shanty town, with Covid disinformation daubed on walls and benches across the Dorset coast. In Scarborough, a pub celebrates Ulster paramilitarism, while Portsmouthians grapple with their imperial past. A Blackpudlian musician confesses an intimate connection to the serial killer Harold Shipman.

Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. Combers and mudlarkers are diligently cleaning our beaches, raising awareness about coastal erosion and other ecological threats. Art projects are being undertaken to highlight these issues and preserve the unique character of seaside towns. In an increasingly uniform England characterized by red-brick estates and retail parks, seaside towns may serve as our last bastions of eccentricity and individuality.

Weight: 548g
Dimension: 210 x 297 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838463076