Once a thriving steel town, Consett is now a typical example of a failed regeneration area. I had the misfortune to visit friends living there, on a bank holiday weekend. With an overabundance of pubs and nightclubs crammed together in a small area, the favourite Consett pastime is to start a fight at closing time, or more usually, en route to the nightclubs or take aways. For those unfortunates who risk waiting for the bus at this time, hordes of charvas are waiting to start a fight (in between puking up dodgy curries, pissing on the seats, or groping their slappers). The bus ride home from the town centre is also eventful, as it frequently stops for the driver to try to prevent the usual fighting or vandallism.
Lacking any kind of shopping arcade, the chavs usually congregate in Middle Street, the local park having been “developed” for housing by the council. The local industrial estates,however, provide excellent testing grounds for their crap and illegal cars, with plenty of fields for quick get aways.
Saturday afternoons in the town centre are infested with chavs too young (or inexperienced) to drive a car, who roam around drinking white lightning and smoking rollies. The small arcade at the end of the street is a mecca for cheap jewellery and much loved by chavettes, as is the new Matalan and Argos, provided by an understanding council.
Councillors will tell you that there is no drug problem in Consett, and this is true…Most Chavs seem to have no problem getting hold of them at any rate, judging by their speech, which has a bare resemblance to English. Watching chavs and chavettes stoned out of thier brains in a mating ritual is possibly the most gut churning experience you will have, especially as the ubiquitous bottle of lambrini and rollie are not left out and often accompanied by a chips and curry take away.
There is actually employment in the town, but so far most chavs have manged to avoid this inconvenience, preferring instead, “nightshift” work.
A large Job centre, thoughtfully placed between 2 pubs and in easy access of the “lard van”, take aways and discount shops, provides them with a fortnightly lesson in literacy (signing their names on spurious giro claims).
New housing developments springing up like a rash supposedly are bringing new prosperity to the town, although nobody in their right mind drinks in the town centre at weekends.
The town has an excellent by-pass, visitors are strongly advised to use it and avoid the town at all costs
Although this was written in 2004, I imagine it was as rubbish-packed then as it is now. A complete fabrication of what sounds like an action packed day! Don’t get me wrong, Consett is by no means an ideal place, but it’s certainly not like this description.
Buses are not frequently stopped through fighting and/or graffiti.
Yes, the park was (re)developed… but not into ‘housing’ as claimed, it was in fact redeveloped into a rather nice park, complete with play area, band stand and outdoor stage area. A far cry away from the social housing project suggested by the author.
I don’t know where the idea of a drug problem came from, I’m yet to see used needles and crack pipes littering the ghettos. Wait, what ghetto? more importantly, what drug problem?
Perhaps the author should apply to write for the Daily Mail?
how offensive!!
Being a non white person living in any part is hard. I been to London, Manchester and leeds. But all places are full of hate. Consett people are so natural, friendly and supportive. All you said about consett is just “Rubish”
Total BULLSHIT
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
I love the amount of people raging and picking a fight with the Original review writer, most of whom are from the area themselves. it just goes to further prove his point.
Anyway, this sounds like a pretty accurate write up to me. Yes, not everyone from Consett is like this. But people are always going to judge the masses.
This is totally untrue about Consett its a lovely friendly town sure it has its bad spots but so does every other place in the world. Total and utter BULLSHIT !!!!!!!!!!!!
As a hard working law abiding citizen born in Consett i find yor comments rude and offensive, Consett is a small village which has picked itself up remarkably well since the steel works closure. I suggest you stay in your perfect village or town where you are from and keep your comments to yourself and strongly hope that the friends you were visiting do not invite you again!!!!!!!!
Having moved from London, and having travelled the world, I have settled down into Consett and have now lived here over ten years. A lovely friendly little town with friendly folk. Beautiful countryside is right on the door step and cycle tracks abound (if you are into that). If other folk want to put the place down, let them, and those of us that are here can keep the real Consett as our little secret.