Taken from the New Statesman archive, 13 February 1926.
Little doubt here that Clifford Sharp, the founding editor of the New Statesman, was a man to take his holidays abroad. This exchange, besides painting a picture of the English seaside hotel that anticipates Fawlty Towers by half a century and more, shows the great popularity of Switzerland as a holiday destination between the wars. In time prices there would outstrip even those of England's south coast.
Selected by Brian Cathcart
Sir,
Of all the mindless mimicries modern people suffer from, none is so harmful to their fellow-countrymen as spending their savings on holidays abroad. They take their full wallets of English money to the Continent and bring them home empty. It has been lately computed that France alone makes seven hundred millions of francs every year out of foreign visitors, mostly English, and Switzerland does not make much less. And this money is only spent on fares and hotels. What is spent on millinery, frocks, cosmetics, jewellery and thousands of other things cannot be calculated.
If only the tenth part of this money were spent in English resorts these towns along the English coasts would be thriving once more instead, as now, of presenting an aspect of appalling decay. What is wrong with Brighton, Hastings, St Leonards, Ventnor and Torquay?
Do not tell us that the climate in the Riviera is better. The autumn and winter in the Riviera are spoiled by furious downpours, day after day. The visitor is tortured by swarms of the most poisonous mosquitoes. There is no twilight. Night falls all at once, which has a very depressing effect. The air is over-stimulating, which makes patients risk too much exertion, and leads to relaxed nerves. Every now and then the mistral blows, a cold wind from the Alps which no invalid can endure.
Our pleasure resorts along the South Coast offer a far more equable climate, quite as much amusement, finer sea-bathing in summer than the northern resorts of France, where the tides are "racing" and the sunlight is all day long on your back, and a quite superior accommodation.
Our patriots abroad put up with a lot which at home they would not endure a moment. What I ask is why they must take money out of this country while over a million people at home don't know what to do for a bare living. This luring of English people to the Continent to spend their savings really requires some legislation.
Yours, etc,
An Englishman
Worthing
Comment from the editor, Clifford Sharp:
We were not aware that English watering places were in so distressful a condition. If they are, it is largely their own fault, for all along the South Coast the prices of accommodation have been raised to a quite absurd point . . . When prices become more reasonable Hastings will once more be able to compete successfully with Dieppe.
A fortnight later, two replies:
Sir,
I am delighted to see the letter entitled "Holiday-Making Abroad". Every word is justified. At the same time I think reference should be made to your note remarking: "Hastings will once more be able to compete successfully with Dieppe when prices become more reasonable." I suggest that even now prices in this town are as reasonable as those at Dieppe. I do not know why you single out Hastings, but I think the selection is unfair, and I would therefore suggest, if you are not willing to accept the personal assurances of this Association, that you should make your own inquiries. In any case, I can positively state that the entertainment provided in this town, mainly by the Corporation, is on a scale of price moderation which is unsurpassed in any town in this country or even abroad.
Yours, etc,
W H Dyer
Secretary, Hastings and St Leonards Borough Association
Sir,
I am entirely in accord with "An Englishman" in deploring the fact that so much English money is spent abroad, but I differ from him when he speaks of "superior accommodation" in English watering places. Hotels are cleaner, the beds better, the service given more pleasantly and ungrudgingly in France and Switzerland.
Your correspondent does not speak of food, but it would be hypocritical to deny that the varied and well-cooked food one gets abroad plays a large part in determining people's travels. To begin with, why are the little crisp rolls we have at "petit déjeûner" not to be had at home? And though tea is our national beverage, both it and coffee are better prepared abroad. For lunch and dinner there is so little variety in England, that it is hardly a change for the housewife from the cooking she has to endure at home. I could instance, at so-called first-rate hotels at our seaside resorts, old potatoes in June, tinned fruits, custard made with egg powder, and no salads; in short, a complete absence of the desire to tempt visitors.
If our hotels were run by such well-trained managers as are to be found in all Swiss hotels, there is no reason why we should not compete. I spend every summer travelling in England, and find in most cases that no individual seems to care for the comfort or wants of visitors, and the "young lady" in the office, by her haughty demeanour, gives one the impression that one is an intruder. Until all this is altered I fear the rush to the Continent will continue.
Yours, etc,
An Englishwoman
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