We went to the pier last night for a post work/school stroll and we were absolutely astonished that on a hot, sunny evening in July, with loads of people milling about, the only place open along the entire length of the pier was the amusement arcade at the entrance. There wasn't one kiosk open, nowhere to buy an ice cream or a drink.....just nothing. I overhead quite a few people commenting on this, mostly tourists wondering why no one seemed to want to relieve them of their spending money. I know the school holidays haven't started yet but surely 8th July must fall within the tourist season, even in Llandudno . On the other hand it seemed most of the pubs and bars at the top end of town were happily cashing in, there were crowds stood outside the Queen Vic, probably refugees from the wasteland that was the pier.
Yeah, thats the sort of 'complaint' I hear regularly, as I am always the last shop to be open. But it is misguided.
But I think you summed it up Andy when you said, you went for 'a stroll'
After 4pm even, there is no money spent whatsover in any of the kiosks, although we sit til around 6pm in forlorn hope.
The Pier is a promenading pier, a nice place to go for a walk, it is not a shopping centre.
I think you will find that The Victoria Centre is a shopping centre, but strangely that too closes at 4.30pm.... why do you think that might be? The answer... insufficient trade.
When I hear someone say to me... 'why are all these shops closed?' I answer in one of three ways.
1, Because no one wants to buy anything.
2, Because they obviously have more sense than I have.
3, They are not all closed... I am open, what would you like to buy?? The answer is inevitably... NOTHING.
Andy, I urge you to take a shop on the pier. During year one, you will open all the hours Gods sends in order to take advantage of this so called 'evening trade'.
By year two, you will be gone by 5pm as the boredom is soul destroying.