Tide turning in Devon town once dubbed 'God's waiting room'

It's certainly no secret that East Devon has got a bit of a reputation for being a magnet for retirees. But locals say things are changing in one seaside town that was once dubbed 'God's waiting room'.

Like many places along the Jurassic Coast, Budleigh Salterton is perhaps best loved for its beautiful long beach. Many people dream of living in such a place but many don't live out that reality until they reach retirement and can finally afford to buy what are some of the most desirable properties on the market.

The 2021 census would back this up as it revealed that the Budleigh and Raleigh area has a higher percentage of residents over 60 than the average for all of East Devon. Meanwhile, the town's age demographics are below the regional average for almost every age group, with the exception of those aged 15 to 19.

Try DevonLive Premium for free with no ads, fun puzzles and new features

However, the town has also been named as the area of Devon where house prices are falling the fastest, having dropped by 4.33 per cent from the year to August 2023, according data from the Land Registry. That being said, homes in the area were still selling for over £500k on average.

While the number of older people in the area remains high, some locals say they have definitely noticed a change in recent years, with a variety of factors drawing in younger families.

"We've been here 20 years and in that time, we've seen a massive change in the town," said Jen Mills, owner of The Treasury gift shop. "The school is bursting at the seams and I think that demonstrates that the demographic of the town is changing.

"It's classically known as 'God's waiting room' and Sidmouth is the same but there has been some new housing built so we see a lot of younger people. I think a lot of people discovered Budleigh during lockdown as well, a lot of people come here for the beach and you see a lot of paddleboarders now which you never used to see."

She described Budleigh Salterton as a "vibrant" place as the High Street is lined with an array of independent shops and cafes. If there's one thing she would change, Jen says she wants to see more people making use of their local businesses.

She said: "There's a really good community here, there's a buzzing school, we've got the seafront, it's a fantastic High Street with loads of really nice independent shops and cafes. I think the High Street, like any other town, would benefit from being used more.

"We started a campaign called Shop Budleigh in September last year to try and encourage the Budleigh massive to use their High Street and to try and elevate the reputation of the town as a place to visit.

"It is seasonal and we've got the new estuary opening which has brought some people to the area. We tend to see a lot of visitors on the beach. Whether that translates to business on the High Street, I don't know."

Clelia Gwynne-Evans, who co-owns Orchard Wholefoods, shares this view and says there is real drive among traders to keep the town thriving. When she and her business partner Ian Hepburn took over the shop three years ago, she says locals breathed a sigh of relief that they wouldn't be losing a High Street business.

She said: "I told my business partner it would mean relocating and he said 'relocating? Where to?' and I said Devon and he said 'oh I love Devon. Is it by the sea?'

"It was really lovely because all the regular customers were coming by and greeting us and thanking us because a lot of people were really worried that the shop was going to close. It's a great community. I think a lot of people on the High Street want to keep the High Street alive."

When we visited the town this week, we couldn't have picked a worse day for a trip to the seaside. Rain and blustery winds had left the pebble beach completely empty and the town centre did feel a little quiet too.

Amanda Bigwood, who owns Budleigh Unwrapped, painted a much brighter picture, saying that on a clearer day, local tourists fill their High Street. She said: "It's a nice, safe place, you've got the nice beach. On a sunnier day you'd have lots of local tourists.

"It's lovely, it's got a very nice friendly, local vibe. We're looking forward to the summer because I think a lot of the shops are struggling through January and February. There's a year-round base layer of shoppers but when the summer comes, it's much more exciting."

She believes that Budleigh's reputation for attracting over 60s is very much in its past now. Once again, she mentioned a thriving local primary school being one of the main selling points for its changing demographic.

She said: "A lot of my customers are older but equally I have loads of younger ones. I think it's more people with money might be attracted here because homes can be expensive.

"It used to be 'God's waiting room'. There is an element of the older generation but I think the school is very good and a lot of young families have been attracted in."