Five beaches in the East Riding have achieved high standards to been awarded prestigious Blue Flags or Seaside Awards for 2026.
Hornsea and Withernsea have both been awarded Blue Flag status in the internationally recognised scheme, announced today (Friday 15 May) by leading environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.
Hornsea has earned a Blue Flag for six years running now, with Withernsea winning four years in a row.
Bridlington South, Bridlington North and Wilsthorpe have also been honoured with Seaside Awards in the annual programme recognising the UK’s best beaches.
This is Bridlington South’s first Seaside Award since 2022.
Hornsea, Withernsea and Wilsthorpe all recorded ‘excellent’ water quality results as part of the awards, with Bridlington North recording ‘good’ and Bridlington South ‘sufficient’.
Councillor Paul West, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “I’m extremely proud that our beaches have once again won Blue Flags and Seaside Awards to show they are among the best in the country.
“For Hornsea and Withernsea to be able to fly Blue Flags for the 2026 season is a superb achievement, and for Bridlington’s two beaches to earn Seaside Awards, alongside Wilsthorpe, proves that water quality progress is being made.
“We already know we have a fantastic coastline in the East Riding – and these are the icing on the cake.”
All five awards applied for this year by the council’s coastal services team, which manages the area’s beaches, were achieved.
The annual awards, run by Keep Britain Tidy, are now in their 39th year.
They honour the UK beaches which meet high standards in quality, cleanliness, safety, and the range of facilities they have for the public.
The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are designed to raise standards across England’s coastline and inland waters, while shining a spotlight on the country’s top beaches.
Keep Britain Tidy says these awards are the only way for the public to be assured that beaches are delivering a safe, clean and well-managed space for them to enjoy.
Blue Flag is an environmental education programme managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.
Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.
Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:
- Safety and services such as first aid, and lifeguards where necessary,
- Environmental information, including displaying details about local ecosystems,
- Environmental management, including litter and waste,
- Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award (designated bathing waters) winners must meet, as a minimum, the ‘sufficient’ standard.
Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “England is fortunate to boast some of the world’s finest beaches, and it’s encouraging to see this reflected in the awards to Hornsea, Withernsea, Bridlington and Wilsthorpe, signalling their high standards to all who visit or live nearby.
“Everybody involved in these achievements should feel proud of their ongoing work to care for and enhance these important local blue spaces.”
