Felixstowe and Southwold in Suffolk receive Blue Flag 2023

Felixstowe South and Pier was awarded the 2023 accolade, alongside Southwold beach further north on the east Suffolk coastline.

The pair have retained their status after both being awarded Blue Flags in 2022.

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The award is aimed at improving the quality of England's coastline and is only presented to well-managed beaches with excellent water quality and environmental education programmes.

Felixstowe beach being cleaned - cleanliness is considered for Blue Flag status (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: "Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards. 

The beach huts at Southwold (Image: Newsquest)

"The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas and, in order to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria. 

"We’d therefore like to recognise and applaud all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular.

Felixstowe beach has retained its Blue Flag for 2023 (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

"The collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses all contribute to the success of these sites in achieving the incredibly high standards demanded."

The Blue Flag and Seaside awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and promoting the country’s best beaches. 

The full criteria for a Blue Flag award includes safety and services such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary, environmental information including displaying details about local eco systems, 'excellent' water quality as set out in the EU bathing water directive and environmental management, including litter and waste.