Total dump shut the place
I live there.....
To cover a few points, and maybe dispel (or even confirm) a few myths
Tropicana has been closed since 2000. Complete eyesore now. Have been several plans to redevelop it - there was a great one recently that looked like the arse end of a cruise ship - but keep geeting blocked by the council and buggered by the NIMBY OAP's living on the sea front
New pier is open, and has been for about 18 months, still looks and feels like a pier, but now with a kart track and a few different rides, nice restaurant etc.
Place is overrun by brummie's year round, which is irritating
They're building a snow dome (bigger and better than MK) this year.
Don't bother going in the sea. Well its not really the sea anyway, its the Bristol Channel. The beach near the old hospital (up near the golf course/Uphill) is much nicer than down the pier end. Quieter too.
I don't know of an open air pool near Birnbeck Pier. Are you thinlking of Portishead? (recently refurbished as part of a tv show)
I'm going to hunt out that shop that sells lardie cake on Saturday. Thanks!
Best time of day is Weston is the hour either side of sunrise and sunset, especuially in Autumn and Spring. Mainly because all the day trippers have fucked off, you get some lovely sunsets as the sun goes down over the Welsh hills and its really quiet with just a few people out beach fishing, cycling, running on the sea front. I often cycle down early morning or early evening just for a bit of p&q.
But generally, its quite shit and full of chavs. Like Gillingham, but by (ish) the sea.....