A year ago, Rhyl seafront was a very different place. The promenade boasted a £15 million water park and a popular aquarium, and was hoped to soon be joined by the Skyflyer attraction and the revamped Queens Market.
However, the hoped-for launch of the balloon airship never took place due to problems – the attraction was finally closed in October following storm damage. Then in November, the news came that the SeaQuarium – which attracted 80,000 visitors annually – would have to close permanently due to ongoing coastal protection work on Rhyl Promenade.
As we all know, all misfortunes come in threes, and in December news came 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 for the seaside resort.
Although the redevelopment of Queens Market is complete, it is still empty. The Rhyl Airshow has also been cancelled for this year due to the unavailability of the Red Arrows.
All of this is throwing the whole regeneration of Rhyl into crisis, as the resort – a shadow of the town in its glory days – loses some of its main reasons for tourists. While there are still attractions – including a wonderful sandy beach, amusements, Ninja Day and a popular theatre and cinema – there are serious doubts about the direction of the seaside town after it was hoped it had turned the corner.
Jim Jones, Managing Director of North Wales Tourism, said: “The announcement of the closure of SC2 and Aquarium is a real cause of concern for Rhyl. These closures represent a significant loss for the town as they are important attractions for locals and tourists alike. The failure to deliver the Skyflyer only adds to the disappointment felt by many Rhyl residents.
“This series of setbacks means the town now loses some of its key 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 key attractions as SC2 and the Aquarium at the height of the season not only deprives residents of leisure opportunities, but also impacts on the overall vibrancy and appeal of Rhyl as a destination.
“It is critical to address these closures and work towards revitalizing the city’s tourism sector to ensure its long-term sustainability and prosperity, because without the tourism sector, there is little.”
Darren Millar MS, Shadow Minister for North Wales, said: “Rhyl was once a busy tourist town with plenty of entertainment for families but sadly that is no longer the case. When SC2 first opened to visitors in 2019 I was hopeful that this would be the start of the town’s return to its glory days but sadly this has not been the case and in recent years we have seen nothing but attraction closures and failed ventures in the town.
“Earlier this year the city lost its popular Seaquarium, the new building at Queen’s Market, which cost a staggering £12.6 million, still stands empty and children were devastated when the popular promenade park was closed for sea defence works.
“It seems the current Labour-led County Council has not thought anything through properly and as a result this once thriving seaside town is losing visitors in droves. Neighbouring towns of Towyn and Prestatyn are thriving and Rhyl could do the same with the right vision and determination to succeed.
“It has one of the best beaches in Wales and there are still some great shops, such as Harker’s Amusements and the Kite Surf Café, but people looking to come here for a day or a holiday should know that there is plenty to do whatever the weather. The closure of SC2 for the rest of the year will no doubt hit the town hard as people will go elsewhere instead.
“It’s a huge shame that Rhyl has lost its popular paddling pool to SC2, it should never have happened. If it was still a standalone attraction at least families could be flocking there this summer. I know I’m not the only one who has been sorely disappointed by the lack of progress in Rhyl over the past few years. Residents are fed up with excuses from Denbighshire Leisure and Denbighshire County Council, they’re fed up with the lack of progress and they’re fed up with reading negative press about a town they were once proud to call home.”
Rhyl East County Councillor Justine Evans added: “I was extremely disappointed to learn 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 town when there is nothing here for them to do?
“As I replied to Denbighshire Leisure when they announced the closure of SC2, it is unlikely that anyone visiting Rhyl this year will 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 close during peak season, particularly after the last three years where our business operations were continually disrupted due to various extreme weather events.”
“We are very proud that we provide an exceptional service and that we have not only survived but thrived while many leisure businesses across the UK have suffered greatly. So please remember that our staff and their families are reading the comments on social media. Bear with us – we are all in the same boat and are just as disappointed as our customers that our water park is not open this summer. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.”