London - A notorious stag-party destination has transformed itself by banning mankinis.
Pubs and clubs in Newquay, Devon, launched a zero-tolerance stance on “offensive” clothing to clean up its image.
And police pledged to send home anyone inappropriately dressed. At the top of the list was the mankini, a male bikini-style bathing costume popularised by film comedy character Borat and a favourite with rowdy stag parties.
Officers have now said the “robust” attitude to inappropriate behaviour, which began in 2009, has helped the seaside town become more family-friendly.
Devon and Cornwall Police inspector Dave Meredith, the town’s most senior policeman, said: “Everybody says Newquay has made a miraculous improvement.
“Did Newquay have a problem with its reputation five years ago? Almost certainly it did. Five or six years ago and more, Newquay was a little bit of a Wild West town. Certainly we have clamped down on that and the image of Newquay now has certainly curtailed some of that.”
Newquay’s mayor Dave Sleeman said the resort is “unrecognisable” now from its previous image. He said: “I remember back in the 2000s you couldn’t walk the streets on a Saturday without seeing someone wearing a mankini or what have you.”
Daily Mail