In 2024, WhichBingo revealed that chip-snatching seagulls were wreaking havoc along the British coast. This year, we’ve gone deeper. Our updated 2025 survey captured over 300 public responses from across the UK, focusing not only on food theft but also on behaviour trends, public safety concerns, and where these aerial snack thieves strike most often.
The findings suggest seagull-related incidents are more frequent, more aggressive, and more disruptive than ever with some notable shifts since 2024.
Key Findings at a Glance
- 50.6% of Brits say they’ve been chased by a seagull or a flock (up from 43.3% in 2024)
- 44.7% reported being physically attacked by a seagull (new question in 2025)
- 70.8% avoid eating outdoors in certain areas due to seagulls (new insight for 2025)
- 58.6% believe seagull aggression has increased in recent years
- Chips remain the most stolen food at 45.2%, but down from 65.7% in 2024
- Ice cream thefts have dropped to 14.4%, down from 42.5% in 2024
See our 2024 Seagull Mayhem report for comparison
Top 10 Most Reported Beaches
Our respondents identified hotspots across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The percentages listed represent the proportion of total respondents who reported a seagull incident at each beach:
- Brighton Beach (8.6%)
- Blackpool Beach (7.9%)
- Scarborough (6.7%)
- Cleethorpes (6.0%)
- St Ives (5.3%)
- Newquay Beach (4.9%)
- Portobello Beach (Edinburgh) (4.6%)
- Padstow Beach (4.2%)
- Tenby North Beach (3.8%)
- Tynemouth Longsands (3.6%)
These beaches accounted for a significant portion of the responses. However, 43.4% of respondents reported incidents occurring at other smaller UK beaches, reflecting a broad spread of seagull activity beyond just the top ten.
What Are Seagulls Stealing in 2025?
Seagulls continue to target traditional British seaside favourites, with 45.2% of respondents saying chips were snatched or targeted. This represents a notable decline from 65.7% in 2024.
Other stolen items include other takeaway food (27.6%) and ice cream (14.4%), the latter also seeing a significant drop from 42.5% in 2024. In rare cases, wallets, phones, and even clothes were mentioned, though these represent fringe cases (each under 1%).
Changing Holiday Habits
The threat of seagulls is genuinely altering public behaviour. 70.8% of respondents admit to avoiding eating outside in certain areas altogether. While this was not captured in 2024, it marks a strong trend worth tracking going forward. The shift is especially noticeable in tourist-heavy locations like Brighton and St Ives.
Are Seagulls Becoming More Aggressive?
A majority of respondents (58.6%) believe that seagulls have become more aggressive in recent years. From increased swooping to bolder theft tactics, the public perception is clear: these birds are growing more fearless.
Seeking Medical Attention
While most encounters result in inconvenience rather than injury, a small percentage of respondents required basic medical attention. 2.2% reported using first aid or self-care, while the vast majority (96.3%) required no treatment at all. Though not widespread, these cases still reflect the surprising intensity of some gull interactions. This was a new question introduced in 2025.
Other Notable Observations
A few respondents reported pets being chased, and others mentioned lesser-known beaches not previously tracked in the 2024 survey. While not statistically significant, these stories point to the geographic spread and unpredictability of seagull behaviour.
Things to Note
- Reports of seagulls stealing keys, phones, and wallets were extremely rare (0.1% each)
- A small number of respondents chose “Prefer not to say” on medical-related questions
- Some beaches had no reported incidents or low engagement, and have been excluded from rankings
Whether it’s losing your chips in Brighton or defending your pasty in Padstow, one thing is clear: seagulls are a growing force to be reckoned with on UK beaches.
With over half the population reporting some level of harassment or attack, councils and holidaymakers alike may need to rethink how to enjoy a seaside day out. Until then, keep your food close and your eye on the sky.
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