A year ago the situation on the Rhyl coast looked very different. The promenade featured a £15 million water park and a much-loved aquarium, hoping they would soon be joined by the Skyflyer attraction and a rebooted Queens Market.
But the hoped-for launch of the balloon airship never materialized after being plagued by problems – with the attraction eventually being demolished in October after storm damage. Then came the news in November that the SeaQuarium – which attracted 80,000 visitors a year – was closing permanently as a result of ongoing coastal defense work on the Rhyl Promenade.
They say bad luck comes in threes and in December news broke that storms had damaged the roof of the SC2 water park – which opened in 2019. It has now been confirmed that it will not reopen this year – a final blow to the seaside resort.
Furthermore, although the redevelopment of Queens Market has been completed, it remains vacant. The Rhyl Airshow has also been canceled for this year due to the Red Arrows being unavailable.
All this is throwing Rhyl’s entire regeneration into crisis, with the resort – already a shadow of the town in its glory years – losing some of the main reasons for tourists to visit. There are still incentives to be expected – including a beautiful sandy beach, entertainment, Ninja Tag and a popular theater and cinema, but there are serious questions about the direction of the resort after hopes were raised that it had turned a corner.
Jim Jones, CEO of North Wales Tourism, said: “The announcement of the closure of both the SC2 and the aquarium is indeed concerning for Rhyl. These closures represent a significant loss for the town as they are major attractions for local people and tourists. The failure of the Skyflyer adds to the disappointment felt by many in Rhyl.
“This series of setbacks means the town is now without some of its main attractions, which could have a noticeable impact on tourism and the local economy, which along with retail is the mainstay of Rhyl’s economy. The loss of such vital high season attractions such as the SC2 and the aquarium not only deprives residents of leisure opportunities, but also impacts on the overall vibrancy and appeal of Rhyl as a tourist destination.
“It is critical to address these closures and work to rebuild the city’s tourism sector to ensure its long-term sustainability and prosperity, as there is very little else without the tourism sector.”
Shadow Secretary of State for North Wales, Darren Millar MS said: “Rhyl was once a vibrant tourist town with so much to keep families entertained, but sadly this is no longer the case. When SC2 first opened to visitors in 2019 I was hopeful that it would be the start of the city’s return to its glory days, but sadly this has not been the case and over the past few years we have seen nothing different then the closure of attractions and failed businesses in the city.
“Earlier this year the city lost the popular Seaquarium, the new Queen’s Market building, which cost a whopping £12.6 million, still stands empty, and children were left devastated when the popular park on the promenade closed due to the sea defense works .
“It appears that this has not been properly considered by the current Labour-led County Council and as a result this once thriving seaside resort is losing visitors in droves. Neighbors Towyn and Prestatyn are thriving, and Rhyl could be too, with the right vision and determination to succeed.
“It has one of the best beaches in Wales and there are still some great businesses, such as Harker’s Amusements and the Kite Surf Café, but people who want to come here for a day or on holiday should know that there is plenty to do. occupied in all weather conditions. The closure of SC2 for the rest of this year will undoubtedly hit the city hard and people will move elsewhere instead.
“It is a great shame that Rhyl has lost its popular paddling pool to SC2, this should never have happened. If it were still a standalone attraction, families could at least flock to it this summer. I know I’m not the only one who has been seriously disappointed by Rhyl’s lack of progress in recent years. Residents are tired of the excuses from Denbighshire Leisure and Denbighshire County Council, they are tired of the lack of progress, and they are tired of reading negative press reports about a town they were once proud to call home.”
Rhyl East County Cllr Justine Evans added: “I was extremely disappointed to hear that SC2 will not be open this summer and for the rest of 2024. How on earth can we expect people to want to visit our city if there is nothing here for them? To do?
“As I responded to Denbighshire Leisure about the announcement of SC2’s closure, anyone visiting Rhyl this year is unlikely to return!”
Announcing the closure of SC2, Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd said: “The last thing we wanted as a business was to be closed during our peak season, especially after the past three years of continued disruption to our business caused by several extreme weather incidents.
“We are very proud of the fact that we provide an exceptional service, and that we have not only survived but grown while many leisure businesses in the UK have suffered greatly. So please remember that our employees and their families read the comments on social media. friendly – we are all in this together and we are as disappointed as our customers that our water park is not open this summer. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.