Author Topic: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?  (Read 2614217 times)

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Offline Fester

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7740 on: August 24, 2017, 01:59:43 pm »
I think there's some truth in it - they could hardly make up the bit about the hotels - but the UK is experiencing a lot of foreign visitors this year.  But I'd be wary about describing it in the same vein as that of someone who describes anything he doesn't like, true or not, that way.

You can make up whatever you want, if you have no accountability for it, and you have a vested interest in talking the situation up!
Remember, all that was said was...
'Anecdotal evidence suggests most of the well-run hotels are at or near capacity'
... and that suddenly becomes newsworthy?
Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline Nemesis

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7741 on: August 24, 2017, 02:26:53 pm »
Today I took delivery of a light bulb....................one light bulb. Look at the size of the box !! It was also encased in a thick layer of bubble wrap.
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to know.


Offline Ian

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7742 on: August 24, 2017, 02:28:46 pm »
Only at one point;  They wrote "Mostyn chief executive Edward Hiller said that most hotels were at or close to capacity, ", so no use of anecdotal there. 

The thing is they're trying to talk the town up, as they say. And I'm not sure that's a bad thing. Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce can shed some light with stats.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline Bosun

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7743 on: August 24, 2017, 02:49:17 pm »
Just seen a yellow low wing monoplane fly east to west south of Llandudno, had USAAF markings, radial engine and long glass canopy, similar to a WW2 Harvard.

Does anyone have any knowledge?
Being negative only makes a difficult journey more difficult. You may have been given a cactus, but you don't have to sit on it.

Offline Tom Davidson

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7744 on: August 24, 2017, 03:09:17 pm »
Time for a "Parcel Farce" headline
After all what is time, a mere tyranny.

Offline SteveH

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7745 on: August 24, 2017, 04:23:02 pm »
Just seen a yellow low wing monoplane fly east to west south of Llandudno, had USAAF markings, radial engine and long glass canopy, similar to a WW2 Harvard.
Does anyone have any knowledge?
I saw it pass over, my best guess would be something to do with the Rhyl airshow this weekend.

Offline Fester

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7746 on: August 24, 2017, 04:50:19 pm »
Nemesis, what is it? The world's most expensive lightbulb?
What's it made of diamonds??
That's 'outrageous behaviour '
Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline SteveH

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7747 on: August 24, 2017, 05:34:20 pm »
Today I took delivery of a light bulb....................one light bulb. Look at the size of the box !! It was also encased in a thick layer of bubble wrap.

Your not the only one Nem.....

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=amazons+small+items+large+packing&rlz=1C1CHKZ_enES433ES433&oq=amazons&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j0l4.25169j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Offline Nemesis

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7748 on: August 24, 2017, 08:41:21 pm »
Nemesis, what is it? The world's most expensive lightbulb?
What's it made of diamonds??
That's 'outrageous behaviour '

Admittedly it wasn't cheap, none are these days, it was a low energy type suitable for an outside light. Nor was it from Amazon!
 My OH ordered 2 five litre tins of masonry paint and a couple of packs of cheap paintbrushes from Toolstation a while back. When they arrived we had a cardboard box full of paint, so obviously that packaging wasn't good enough, could do with a happy medium. ;D
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to know.

Offline Dave

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7749 on: August 25, 2017, 07:54:07 am »
I socialise with several people who cater for the tourist industry in Llandudno in a variety of ways, "unusually" they all seem very content with their current businesses. There is however, a lot of muttering about the number of coaches bringing a new type of visitor here on day trips. They set up on the prom with their own food and amusements, and enjoy themselves without spending a bean. Good for integration I suppose, but not so good for our businesses.

Maybe there is an opportunity for someone to try and cater for their particular special needs if it isn't there at the moment?
On the other hand visitors to the town are not obliged to spend a penny to enjoy what the residents take for granted and they are putting money in to someones pocket even if it's only the coach park or the parking meter. I think most people who don't spend money don't do so because they perceive it's poor value or too expensive for their pocket. 

Offline Ian

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7750 on: August 25, 2017, 08:19:51 am »
They're excellent points. It continues to surprise me how expensive many of the hotel rooms are here, when comparable rooms in many places are far cheaper.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline Fester

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7751 on: August 25, 2017, 09:11:54 am »
Some good points yes, but others are being simply missed.

Dave, we are talking not talking about a gap in the market, we are talking about large groups of people who for cultural or religious reasons don't eat what we eat, and therefore bring their own food.
They are perfectly entitled to do that but on many occasions they creat a lot of mess (and are prone to feed the seagulls because they don't know better)
That mess has to be cleaned up, and it's paid for by local business rates..... but the businesses are taking the revenue from them in the first place, do you see the problem?
I would estimate that this group now make up circa 20%  of the visitors to Llandudno. That's an average, because it's a higher proportion at weekends.

Then, we move on to the group who CAN'T spend, quite simply because they don't have enough disposable income to do so.  A few coppers in the arcade, a butty from Poundland and that's it.
During the six week school holidays this group is massive in number, and growing each year.
That takes me to Ian's point. Why is everything so expensive?
The margins on food and drink are in excess of 80% generally anyway, but in Llandudno the rents seem to push that figure ever higher. 
When I travel to Manchester or Leeds, many of the bars and cafes are doing half price offers on food, on certain days... or 2 for 1 cocktails, that kind of thing.  But never Llandudno.
The pier has greatly upgraded its offer of rides and amusement machines, but those rides and machines are now much more expensive.  Bouncy castle for example, has gone from £2 for all day, to £3 for 5 minutes.  Ice cream has increased approximately 30%


It's leading to an ever increasing feeling of being ripped off, not the pier, Llandudno as a whole and this is certainly borne out when you read Trip Advisor reviews.
Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline DaveR

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7752 on: August 25, 2017, 09:26:54 am »
With businesses like the Pier, I think you need to be very careful not to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Ironically, the arcade on the pier did used to be called the Golden Goose, but I digress.

If you hoik up prices on food/drink/arcades/rides, then you can get away with that once or twice. But people do notice these things and, next time they're planning a day out....they may well go somewhere else that they perceive as being better value for money. The last thing the Pier needs is to gain a reputation for being a ripoff, otherwise you will just get families walking up and down without spending anything.


Offline Nemesis

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7753 on: August 25, 2017, 09:50:29 am »
The Pier is somewhere I rarely frequent, but recently we had a visit from our Granddaughter and her partner with their 2 kiddies aged 2 and 4. I took them down to the pier and we spent an hour or so mingling with everyone. The arcade at the end wasn't quite as packed, so we ventured in. Naturally, at that age the girls liked to ride on the static things like Thomas the Tank and others. They were£1 a go which didn't seem bad. We supplied them with 2p pieces and they soon were delighted when more came out of the tray at the bottom as the coins fell down. Also out came reams of red tickets which we had to exchange for 'prizes' in the other arcade ( a couple of little bags of Haribo sweets)....more of an idea to have you fighting your way to the back of the other arcade. On the way back I treated them to a go to' Hook a Duck' which when we had finished 'faffing' about with tokens turned out to cost £3 per child. I felt rather that this was over priced, BUT when it came to the prizes the 2 year old had a lovely Dory soft toy and the 4 year old had a dolly's hairdressing set. The stuff was decent...not as bad as the usual fairground tat, so I was quite satisfied.
There seemed much more to do on the pier than previously, which was reflected by people who seemed to be spending and enjoying themselves. As a point this was mid-week and not weekend.
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to know.

Offline Dave

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Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« Reply #7754 on: August 25, 2017, 10:03:19 am »
Fester, I too have noticed the groups of people who we are talking about, you can't miss them because they do stick together in large groups and look different to everybody else. You do wonder if we had outlets that sold food that was suitable for their consumption would they patronise them or would they still prefer to make up their picnics at home. They may well leave rubbish behind and that is inexcusable but don't blame them for the KFC and McDonalds rubbish that litters the A470 or for that matter the wrappers from the likes of Sainsbury's,Greggs and M&S that are blown along the streets of Llandudno. When it comes to feeding the gulls I think the remains from the chip shop meals is possibly the biggest culprit?
You also say that Llandudno never seem to offer half price deals or 2 for 1 offers. Maybe they don't need to, why reduce your price when you can get the full amount? If the rents are too high and the business folds it's usually the fault of the business for undertaking to pay a rent  where it isn't feasible to cover from the nature of that business.There are a lot of businesses that come and go because someone didn't do their homework properly and research their market with either unrealistic prices or trying to sell goods that few actually want to buy. In a way you have accepted the argument that the reason people don't spend is that they don't perceive something to be value for money. On the other hand a lot of folk obviously do, Llandudno's not only surviving but thriving despite the pictures of gloom.

Take a look at this  http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/llandudno-never-been-busier-near-13516224

I think it's also interesting that there is a bit of an anti national and multi-national business attitude by local business operators because of course they are competition and they often bring prices down. Travel Lodge or Premier Inn in a brand new set up is at least a guarantee for a certain expected standard at a certain price. You can understand why some choose that route when there are so many second rate places that try to charge more and you may not be aware of the package you are getting until you walk through the door.
In the article above Johnny Dough's owner is quoted as saying that he hopes the arrival of multi national chains doesn't push out the independents and I agree. Individuality is an asset to any town. However, the article also includes a link to another where he states there are plans afoot to open branches in Conwy,Bangor and Prestatyn. Wonder what they think there then? What will the shareholders of Pizza Hut think when he has driven them out of business and become a global brand!?
Then of course there is the question of where do local entrepreneurs spend their hard earned too ? How much of that stays in the town? If they have made enough during the summer I bet they can't wait to put their feet up on a sunbed and spend the winter in their apartment or villa in Spain, maybe buy a nice car made in Germany or have weekends in London and complain about the high prices and being ripped off.