Bridgwater
Another one local to me, it’s just off the M5 between Taunton and Weston Super Mare. Locally it’s reputed for its cellophane plant, which when the wind blew across the town, would make the entire place stink like the inside of an arse. This had an expectedly negative effect on house prices and thus the occupants of the town. Another local rumour is that it has the highest levels of incest per head in the country. Not sure I believe that one, but it’s fairly common knowledge that a man in Bridgwater fathered a few children by his daughter.

The other thing Bridgwater is famous for (perhaps a few of you will know it) is its carnival. Definitely not just rumour, Bridgwater carnival is the second-largest in the world, behind Rio de Janiero. They are immensely proud of this fact. The problem is, while Rio’s carnival is a truly spectacular affair, a full-on, city-wide party, with an absolutely ballistic atmosphere.

Bridgwaters though, is 3 and a half hours of floats crawling down the streets. I’m sorry, I understand the attraction of a classic British float carnival, especially for the kids, but once you’ve seen one ridiculously overlit float, you’ve seen them all. As a child I remember being absolutely bored to tears by half an hour in. Yet they push it to new heights every year, and all around the local area committees and focus groups spring up leading up to carnival season.

There’s a sign just on the outskirts – one of the classic ‘Welcome to our town’ signs. Underneath – ‘Twinned with Rio de Janeiro’. I’m willing to bet any amount you’d care that Rio don’t have a similar sign.
( Rookie You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel, Tue 3 Nov 2009, 16:20, 6 replies)

You will be pleased to know
That the cellophane plant has long gone.
Carnival however remains the same
(insomniac-surfer oh go on then, just this once, Tue 3 Nov 2009, 16:41, closed)

Yes
I know the cellophane plant finally stopped for good a couple of years ago. But the memories linger...
( Rookie You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel, Wed 4 Nov 2009, 9:38, closed)

No doubt you've seen the sign on the edge of North Petherton proclaiming it "Twinned with Royston Vasey".

I think Bridgwater is due more respect than it gets. It's had a pretty interesting history.
( IHaveABadFeelingAboutThis most likely working from home on, Tue 3 Nov 2009, 16:52, closed)

while it's true that bridgewater is not a fantastic town
and that walking down the highstreet is a bit like stepping into the 70's during a 4-minute warning test, I have found that the locals are pretty colourful and very friendly, and theres a lot to be said for that.
(Roopy all is not what it seams, Tue 3 Nov 2009, 18:46, closed)

It could be worse.....
....it could be Shepton Mallet. It's really not a good sign when the people who live there call it 'Shit-and-smell it'.

And the blooming carnivals just seem to be a reason for the menfolk of Somerset to dress up in drag. Very disturbing.
(ninja chinchilla, Tue 3 Nov 2009, 19:41, closed)

just remember
Before Bridgewater carnival you've got the rest, Chard, Crewkerne, Ilminster, etc...and all those bloody days stuck behind the soddin tractor and crappy float, all to see some bints in short clothes freeze their tits off...actually...
(bluehamster, Tue 3 Nov 2009, 20:37, closed)