Latest news with #ConeyBeach
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'There's lots of memories, I can't believe it's going': Town 'devastated' at amusement park's demise
Residents in the town of Porthcawl say they are devastated by the news that their historic seaside funfair will close its doors for the final time this year. The announcement was made by the owners of Coney Beach Amusement Park earlier this week in a statement that said this season would be its last, with the attraction closing for good in October. It came after the Welsh Government purchased parcels of land along the seafront area in 2023, which included the amusement park site and the adjoining section of land known locally as the monster park. For the latest Bridgend news sign up to our newsletter here. READ MORE: Family raffle off dream seaside Welsh home for a £5 - with a catch READ MORE: 'Absolutely disgraceful' brawl broke out in front of stunned onlookers in Cardiff Bay These are set to be part of a mixed-use development that could feature a new housing estate, retail, business facilities, and a new primary school, as well as a number of recreational and leisure opportunities. However, the announcement of the closure was also met with an outpouring of sadness from many of those who visited the town this week, as well as from a number of local business owners who said their futures were now in a state of uncertainty. Tony Mottram runs a "bucket and spades" seafront stall just metres away from the iconic fairground, though he said that with the annual lease on his unit ending in October, the current season could also be his last if it isn't renewed. He said: "I love it here. For me it's not just work but a way of life, interacting with people all day, having a laugh and a joke, and there's a lot of memories. "When we heard the news this week I think it finally hit home. I'm selling my stuff off at half price, but there's no way I'll sell it all. "Customers are devastated and it won't just affect the stalls here but people in the town and the shops as well." Kym Bateman has run donkey and pony rides along the beach in Porthcawl for over 40 years and said she was very sad about the situation that now felt like the end of an era. She said: "It's devastating. Absolutely devastating. Porthcawl is quiet as it is and we all rely on the tourists coming in, but there's not going to be any tourists if there's nothing here for them. "Only finding out yesterday was a big shock as we thought there was going to be another two years. This business has been running for a hundred years in my husband's family and it goes back generations so for me to have to give it up now would be awful." Beach-goers Bill and Susan Emment said they were also saddened by the news, with Susan adding: "I spent all my childhood down here and I used to love to go in the fair to have a look around, spending time with my grandparents. There's lots of memories and I just can't believe it's going." Further down the seafront, Parminder Singh, who owns a chip shop, said he could also be forced to close in the coming months when the yearly contract on his stall ran out. He said: "This is my livelihood and I really enjoy it. We've been hearing over the last three years that it was going to go but finally we have the news of the closure and it's shocking news. "I can't even sleep at night. I've been doing this job for the last 16 years and I've never worked anywhere else or had any other jobs so I don't know what to do." Dave Jones of the Coney Sea-food stall added: "I've been here for a while now and there's been so many rumours that the fair was going that in the end we didn't believe anything. "It's official now that the fairground is closing down for good in October so that leaves a big gap and we don't really know what comes next to be honest. Until then all I can do is carry on selling my cockles and see what happens." Following the announcement, a spokesperson for Bridgend County Borough Council said: "Coney Beach Amusement Park has been associated with Porthcawl for more than a century and forms an important part of the town's cultural heritage. "When the Evans family decided to stop operating the amusement park and sold the site to Welsh Government in March, 2023, it safeguarded the land for use as an essential part of the council's waterfront regeneration plans for Porthcawl. "These regeneration plans include a range of all-new opportunities for ensuring that people can continue to have fun at the seaside, so look out for further news on this soon." A statement released by the Evans family on the closure said: "It is with heavy hearts we would like to share with you personally that this season at Coney Beach will be our last. We will be closing our gates for the final time this October. "It's the end of an era, for over one hundred years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl helping to make it a busy seaside destination bringing fun, laughter and fond memories to so many. "We will miss it greatly and while we are sad to see our time here come to an end we are forever grateful to have had the opportunity to have been part of so many generations of families' lives, young and old. Thank you for sharing our love of 'all the fun of the fair' and the legacy that Coney Beach leaves."
Wales Online
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
'Thanks for the memories' Sadness as Coney Beach prepares to close for good
'Thanks for the memories' Sadness as Coney Beach prepares to close for good Coney Beach Amusement Park in Porthcawl, South Wales, will close for good in October after more than 100 years of operation, with the Welsh Government set to redevelop the site Coney Beach will close in October (Image: John Myers ) The Evans family, owners of Coney Beach, have announced its final season, sparking a wave of nostalgia from generations of visitors who've enjoyed the Porthcawl fun park for more than a century. Described by past fair goers as "marking a true end of an era", the family has resolved to shut down the park. The family said they were "forever grateful" to have played a role in the lives of visitors across generations, leaving a lasting legacy behind. Established in 1918, Coney Beach Amusement Park remains in the memories of countless individuals in Wales, having been a staple for family and friendly gatherings. Since the announcement, messages have poured in, with many Wales Online readers saying the closure will leave a shadow over Porthcawl. For the local community, Coney Beach has long been a cherished part of their childhood memories. Read more: There are so many memories, I can't believe it's going The heartfelt missive from the family conveyed: "It is with heavy hearts we would like to share with you personally that this season at Coney Beach will be our last. We will be closing our gates for the final time this October. "It's the end of an era. For over 100 years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl helping to make it a busy seaside destination bringing fun, laughter, and fond memories to so many." Article continues below The Welsh Government has bought pieces of land along the seafront for a diverse redevelopment scheme set to include a new housing estate, retail business amenities, a fresh primary school, as well as various recreational and leisure facilities. Commenter Annette Pask says: 'So many childhood memories of the Miners Fortnight. Dirty Duck where we walked to the fair. The Hi Tide stunning meals in those days. We took my daughter twice a year and we still love it. So very very sad.' Girls on the helter-skelter ride at Coney Beach Amusement Park in August 1939 (Image: Getty Images ) Marvin E Wood agrees: 'I've regularly visited Coney Beach Porthcawl throughout my life and I'm in my 50s now but still visit often. I'll be doing so a few more times before it's closed. I think the town will regret it as there's very little else in Porthcawl for tourists or indeed locals.' Mick Rees points out: 'Unfortunately memories in today's world have little relevance. If people don't visit and operating costs go up, with little if any profit to be made, places like Coney Beach will inevitably disappear. It reaches a point where no one will invest to spruce it up or modernise it. The writing was on the wall years ago. Sad, but it's the way of the world.' Pauline Burch complains: 'They say they are closing it to make way for houses, shops and green spaces - that bit made me laugh. There used to be lots of green spaces around there before they ploughed it all up to build houses, flats and shops!' Iwan Dowie thinks: 'As much as I'm sad to see the fair go, I haven't been there for 15 years and I live up the road. Porthcawl can't be what it was in the 60's and 70's. Why - because most people are going to Benidorm or Portugal/Turkey for their two week holidays. All seaside towns in the UK are in the same situation unless you are a quaint Cornish fishing village.' Chris Davies agrees: 'Porthcawl will become a ghost town.' William Grandon replies: 'When Aberavon beach fair shut and the toilets and shops were demolished, the beach was empty. It was full of people before that. Be warned, Bridgend council, Port Talbot council wrecked our beach and now we only have one toilet in a 3 mile stretch.' Thelma Jackson remembers: 'We used to tow our caravan and stay in Porthcawl for two weeks, we absolutely loved it. The people there were always so friendly, so sad to read that it's closing.' James Bladen says sadly: "There will be nowhere to go soon in Wales, first Oakwood closed, now Porthcawl and it will be Barry island next. All the youth clubs have gone too, there is literally nowhere for the teens to go and they wonder why they just hang around and cause a nuisance.' Iris L Griffiths adds: 'Thanks for all the memories.' Article continues below Are you sad to see the fair go in Porthcawl? Tell us about your memories in our comments section.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amusement park dating back 100 years to shut down with owners describing it as the 'end of an era'
An amusement park dating back 100 years is set to shut down with owners describing the closure as the 'end of an era'. The rides at Coney Beach Amusement Park will run for the final time in October after first thrilling visitors in 1918. The funfair offers a range of attractions, including dodgems, go karts and water slides, as well as a terrifying ghost train. Its owners, the Evans family, announced the sad news of the iconic venue's closure on Facebook this week. Confirming that this season will be its last, the family said it was 'forever grateful' to have been part of the lives of generations of families both young and old. It said: 'It's the end of an era, for over 100 years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl helping to make it a busy seaside destination. 'We will miss it greatly and while we are sad to see our time here come to an end we are forever grateful to have had the opportunity to have been part of so many generations of families lives, young and old. 'Thank you for sharing our love of "all the fun of the fair" and the legacy that Coney Beach leaves.' The park is thought to have been built to entertain American troops returning from the First World War, taking its name from the slightly larger New York pleasure park on Coney Island. The Welsh Government has purchased parcels of land in the seafront area for a mixed-use redevelopment. The project is expected to feature a new housing estate, retail business facilities, a new primary school, and a number of recreational and leisure opportunities. The announcement comes after Welsh ministers confirmed they had secured the ownership of sections of land based on a 20-hectare site at the heart of the area for Bridgend Council's regeneration in Porthcawl. It comes after Oakwood Theme Park, the largest in Wales, closed with immediate effect in March. The site, in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, confirmed it would shut after nearly 40 years. Aspro Parks, the owner and operator of Oakwood Theme Park, said it reached the 'difficult decision' due to financial challenges caused by rising costs and declining visitor numbers. The firm said it has invested more than £25million since the park was saved from closure in 2008. Oakwood made headlines in April 2004 when a 16-year-old girl was killed after falling around 100ft from the top of the Hydro ride. A 10-year-old boy was also injured. But a coroner ruled out unlawful killing in the inquest into 16-year-old Hayley Williams' death and gave a narrative verdict. In 2008, Oakwood Leisure was fined £250,000 and ordered to pay £80,000 costs because of the tragedy when it was revealed that basic safety procedures were widely ignored by staff overseeing the ride. Announcing the closure, a spokesperson for Aspro Parks Group, which operates dozens of other attractions including Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire, said: 'In the entire history of Aspro we have never closed any park or attraction. 'We, and our dedicated team of staff has strived to overcome numerous challenges to continue to bring joy to families and visitors across the region and country. 'Unfortunately, we could no longer see a sustainable way forward and will seek to improve our other parks using the assets and where possible team elsewhere. 'We are aware that Oakwood has been a much-loved destination for generations and a rite of passage for many young visitors. It is for this reason we feel such a sense of sadness. 'We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedication and commitment of our team members past and present, suppliers and contractors who have loyally supported us and of course all those that have visited Oakwood Theme Park over the years. We are sincerely grateful.'
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
A look back at Coney Island Amusement Park, Porthcawl, through the years
It's the end of an era for a seaside attraction which has been in south Wales for more than 100 Beach Amusement Park, which opened in the Newton area of Porthcawl, Bridgend county, in 1918, will close in a social media post, its owners said: "It's the end of an era, for over 100 years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl, helping to make it a busy seaside destination."It follows a consultation in February on plans by Bridgend council and the Welsh government to redevelop the waterfront with up to 1,100 new homes, shops and restaurants, and the extension of boardwalks and green spaces.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Famous UK theme park to shut its gates for final time after 100 years of ‘bringing fun & laughter' to seaside hotspot
A FAMOUS UK theme park has closed its doors after serving customers for 100 years. The seaside attraction has brought 'fun' and 'laughter' for holidaymakers for years, but now will be replaced by a major project. 4 4 4 Coney Beach amusement park in Porthcawl, Wales, first opened up in 1918. It was reportedly built to entertain American troops in the UK, having been based on the famous Coney Island attraction in New York. However, after serving customers for over 100 years, its owners - the Evans family - have decided to close the park. The family took to social media to reveal the closure in a heartbreaking statement. The statement read: "It is with heavy hearts we would like to share with you personally that this season at Coney Beach will be our last. "We will be closing our gates for the final time this October. "It's the end of an era. For over 100 years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl helping to make it a busy seaside destination bringing fun, laughter, and fond memories to so many. "We will miss it greatly and while we are sad to see our time here come to an end we are forever grateful to have had the opportunity to have been part of so many generations of families' lives, young and old. "Thank you for sharing our love of 'all the fun of the fair' and the legacy that Coney Beach leaves. The Evans family." The Welsh Government has confirmed that it has successfully purchased sections of the 20-hectare site, which will be a key part of Bridgend Council's plan to regenerate Porthcawl. The 7 ways you're making your kids fat without knowing it - and why it might be time to bin your As part of a mixed-use redevelopment in the area, a new housing estate, new retail business facilities, a new primary school and recreational and leisure facilities will be opened. The news comes as the Welsh Government plans to ban popular lunchtime items for school children, in a bid to promote healthy eating. Proposals for what can be served in schools from 2026 could see sugary cereals and white bread banned, as well as processed meats like gammon. Fried chips could be served only once a week, while portion sizes will be adjusted to better meet the needs of different children. The bans are being considered as one in four Welsh children are now categorised as overweight or obese. 4
