¡Olé Newport! Our very own Magaluf

A blog, written by Lauren Raine on student website The Tab, talks about everything Newport has to offer – the good, the bad and the ugly.

In it, she compares the small market town in the borough of Telford & Wrekin to one of the most popular holiday party destinations for young Brits.

The title of the blog, 'Newport is more than just Shropshire's answer to Magaluf', states that all the town needs is someone "handing out flyers" and it would be like the Spanish resort.

The comparison comes amid continued protests from locals in Newport about rowdy behaviour at night, blamed by many on students at nearby Harper Adams University.

Newport

Nightlife: You can get a great pint in pubs like The Phez and The Barley on the High Street – then go on to the town's Central Square nightclub.

The town: A beautiful market town, with nice cafés, antique and bookshops. The Guildhall is listed and Harper Adams University is nearby.

Claim to fame: The town is where Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn grew up. He played cycle polo at Adams Grammar on the High Street.

Attractions: Home to the Newport Show at Chetwynd Deer Park. The Lilleshall Monument, a 70ft obelisk, stands nearby.

Magaluf

Nightlife: The Punta Ballena strip is home to Tokio Joe's and Boomerang nightclubs, and the world-famous Project Club Magaluf.

The town: A major holiday resort on the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca), 30 minutes from capital Palma.

Claim to fame: Many top DJs have played at the resort including David Guetta and Calvin Harris.

Attractions: It boasts a white, sandy beach. A popular challenge for tourists is a swim to Black Lizard Island in the centre of Magaluf Bay.

Also, two students from the town's Adams Grammar School were expelled in December by headteacher Gary Hickey after they were caught with cannabis. He said he was "determined" to address what he sees as widespread availability of drugs in Newport.

Lauren speaks in her blog about Newport's large number of pubs, adding: "Several pubs being on one strip means it's like going on holiday.

"People from elsewhere are amazed about how much drinking actually goes on here, the reason being that's kind of the only thing to do.

"All we need is someone handing out flyers and it's basically Magaluf."

As well as poking fun, Miss Raine also talks about some well-known sites in the town such as The Barley Pub, Jaspers, Waitrose and the Co-op.

She touches on the rivalry between the three secondary schools in the town: Adams Grammar, Burton Borough and Newport Girls High School.

In the blog, she says: "Will they ever get along? Probably not.

"Turned up shirt collars and boat shoes vs. blue un-tucked shirts and Clarks shoes."

Miss Raine also talks about some of the natural beauty in Newport as well as touching on the issue of cannabis availability.

She said: "We all joke about the dead fish and the smell of cows and marijuana but a walk along the canal is actually pretty pleasant; you can go fairly far in either direction if you manage to avoid the swans guarding their young.

"The old railway is also a great spot to walk down and it goes all the way to Stafford."

Despite poking some fun at her town, she does say Newport has a "charm" better than any of the big UK cities.

She said: "It might be small, and people might always ask you whether you mean Newport Wales, but our Newport has a charm far better than any big city.

"Home to three schools, a thriving night-life and surrounded by beautiful countryside, it's hard to find anything to complain about."

Town and borough councillor Peter Scott described the blog as an "amusing take on our town".

He added: "It is not exactly the Newport I know but then I suppose it depends on your age – under any circumstances give me Newport before Magaluf."

Another town and borough councillor, Eric Carter, says despite some of the negative views he is proud to live in Newport.

He said: "Having moved to Newport from Lancashire in 1974 I have always been happy here.

"I previously worked on the door at what was then The Vine before it became The Village, then Main Street and Central Square.

"I had some great times then when there was live entertainment every weekend and made many long-lasting friendships.

"Where else do we find a high street that is so vibrant together with an Aldi, Waitrose, Co-op and B&M which offer great choices to all?

"The university which is on our doorstep provides our town with many pluses as well as the odd negative, but we thrive as a result of its presence."