12:46, 10 Mar 2026<\/p>\n
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The UK town is often dubbed Britain’s ‘angriest’ (Image: Manfred Gottschalk via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Brits across the country are feeling the pinch amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis<\/a> and other domestic issues. Yet, one town in the UK<\/a> has earned itself a reputation as Britain’s ‘angriest’. Tavistock, nestled in Devon<\/a>, is often dubbed “Britain’s angriest town”, largely due to its inhabitants’ fiery and triumphant track record of campaigning against big corporate chains to safeguard their local independent retailers and heritage.<\/p>\n This nickname gained traction following several high-profile local battles. The town made headlines for ousting a McDonald’s<\/a> branch in the early 2000s, which locals believed clashed with the town’s unique charm. In 2019, the nickname was reignited when residents spearheaded a fervent and victorious campaign to halt the construction of a Premier Inn<\/a> on a central car park, fearing it would pose a threat to local B&Bs and independent businesses.<\/p>\n The tag has been further amplified by social media influencers, such as Phil Carr<\/a>, who employ the term in a tongue-in-cheek or satirical manner to depict the locals’ vocal opposition to change and corporate behemoths.<\/p>\n Residents kicked out McDonald’s and Premier Inn from the town(Image: Education Images, Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/p>\n In one of his Instagram<\/a> reels about the town, Phil \u2013 who commands a following of over 73,000 on the platform \u2013 shared his impressions of visiting there.<\/p>\n He quipped that given the town’s disdain for large corporations, he anticipated it to be quaint and “traditional”. However, he confessed he was “wrong”, labelling the townsfolk “hypocrites” as it had big-name brands like Tesco<\/a>, Boots, Wetherspoons and Lidl<\/a>.<\/p>\n “God knows where McDonald’s and Premier Inn went wrong,” he remarked.<\/p>\n During his trip to the town, Phil mentioned the Tavistock Museum was closed, leaving him with just ‘the only other thing to do there’ – The Viaduct Walk.<\/p>\n This picturesque trail traces part of the abandoned London and South West Railway line, which shut down in 1968. It officially forms part of Drake’s Trail, a 21-mile walking and cycling route linking Tavistock to Plymouth.<\/p>\n The walk proves especially popular thanks to its sweeping views across the town’s rooftops, the historic Abbey, and the far-off tors of Dartmoor.<\/p>\n The Viaduct Walk is a picturesque trail that traces part of the abandoned London and South West Railway line, which shut down in 1968(Image: Thomas Faull via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Phil labelled The Viaduct Walk as Tavistock’s “main attraction”, suggesting that “to any other town, it would just be one mile of sh*tty disused railway” that locals use as a shortcut, but for Tavistock, it represents “as good as it gets”.<\/p>\n Despite the content creator’s swipe at the town, the post garnered over 15,000 likes from followers.<\/p>\n One commented: “I used to love the Maccies in Tavistock as it was closer than Plymouth.”<\/p>\n Meanwhile another chimed in: “You know what? It’s nice that they can protest and get what they want. Good job Devon.”<\/p>\n A third contributed: “Tavistock is a lovely town. Has everything you need and a brilliant market behind the town hall.”<\/p>\n Whilst a fourth declared the town their “favourite place to visit”.<\/p>\n![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2_View-over-the-town-center-of-Tavistock-Devon-towards-the-moors-of-Dartmoor-national-park.jpg\")
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