Named after the old Welsh placename Flyyke, the town of Flake became known as Great Flake after an 1855 visit from Queen Victoria, who was reported to be “well pleased” by the two hours that she spent there. As Great Flake, the town came to be known as something of a discount seaside resort, with beaches that were generally of an inferior quality but also of an inferior price, leading to them being often an easy third or fourth choice when the other beachfront towns were occupied or too expensive.

The decline of the tourist trade in the mid-20th century hit Great Flake hard, but it was luckily soon able to make up the difference with a new and profitable industry: drugs, and the smuggling thereof.