Loss of tourist attraction(s) - just a thinning out, or little left to visit?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Living Coasts in Torbay

It is with regret that Wild Planet Trust has to announce that it will not be re-opening Living Coasts as a visitor attraction following its closure during the current global coronavirus pandemic. Falling visitor numbers and the forced closure of all its zoos due to COVID-19 has meant that it has had to look at its cost base and make efficiencies. After nearly twenty years of operation the site also needed substantial maintenance that the Trust is no longer in a position to afford.

The next stage is to find homes for the animals. Living Coasts is part of a world-wide network of zoos and aquariums and we will be looking for homes for the animals within them once movement restrictions have been lifted. Most of the animals kept at Living Coasts are marine species that will need specialist facilities. Living Coast is confident that good new homes for the animals will be found, but at present it is unclear how long this process may take.

All 44 staff at Living Coasts have been placed at risk of redundancy. This will be considered within the context of the wider restructuring of the Trust’s zoos, and potential redundancies at their other sites (Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo).

Wild Planet Trust would like to thank the many people who have visited and supported Living Coasts over the years, and the many businesses, and grant giving trusts which have support our vital conservation work.

I've seen other attractions starting to more from "reopening soon" though "reopening when we can" and then perhaps "not this year" or "we're under permanent threat".  This looks like a significant total loss - have any other medium or large attractions being tipped over the balance yet ... and if not, could this be the start of a whole series?  

[SandTEngineer]

Heritage railways?......

[CyclingSid]

From the Hayling Ferry

Still no word on when DEFRA will allow the Ferry to restart though!

from https://www.facebook.com/haylingferry/ dated 13th June.
Why DEFRA, or has somebody got their wires crossed. They are inspected by the MCA which is part of DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), so what has DEFRA got to with it? Might be able to understand if it was Foot and Mouth, not Covid-19.

 Not sure they will survive. As always if you don't get the Easter to October income you stand less chance of surviving winter, as with all coastal businesses.

[REVUpminster]

Paignton Zoo opens to the public on the 8 July, Bygones and The Model Village 4 July, and Kent's Cavern on the 11 July.
Premier Inn seems to be opening but not their associated Pubs so how they do breakfast I don't know. Self catering opening up and hotels with en-suite and can serve breakfast in the rooms.

[broadgage]

I would presume that premier inns serve breakfast in the bar and dining area.
With admission confined to overnight guests, social distancing should be achievable, Remembering that not every guest will desire breakfast at the same time.

[REVUpminster]

I would presume that premier inns serve breakfast in the bar and dining area.
With admission confined to overnight guests, social distancing should be achievable, Remembering that not every guest will desire breakfast at the same time.

The three Premier Inns in Torbay use the adjacent Whitbread pubs. I have stayed at Eastbourne and the Premier Inn had it's own restaurant.

[Surrey 455]

I would presume that premier inns serve breakfast in the bar and dining area.
With admission confined to overnight guests, social distancing should be achievable, Remembering that not every guest will desire breakfast at the same time.

The three Premier Inns in Torbay use the adjacent Whitbread pubs. I have stayed at Eastbourne and the Premier Inn had it's own restaurant.

I thought that Whitbread had left the brewing and pubs business many years ago but having checked their website, I see they still operate many chain restaurants with attached bars.

[CyclingSid]

Still no word on when DEFRA will allow the Ferry to restart though!

Snuck back when I wasn't looking https://www.haylingferry.net/

It appears that the Itchenor ferry is also running, but the Hamble ferry appears not.

[REVUpminster]

Paignton is packed. Steam railway packed, Crazy Golf packed and so are the cafes and pubs with big gardens. New tourist attractions in Paignton; construction of the two hotels, 161 beds and 119 beds. Foundations and underground chambers nearly complete.

Cranes at the Park Hotel (161 beds) and at The Lighthouse (119 beds) by Robert, on Flickr

Cruise ship in the bay, last of three with no passengers dispersing their crews home and numerous large freighters.

cruise ship in Torbay by Robert, on Flickr

[Lee]

Is social distancing being scrupulously observed, REV?

[REVUpminster]

Is social distancing being scrupulously observed, REV?

How can you tell? Could be a family household?  Two households? In the fish restaurant Scoffs the row of tables that only two can sit at seem further apart and you are back to back with the next  couple. Hardly anyone wearing masks on the Esplanade, pier which re-opened last week, and the greens. Car Parking, normally banned from the Esplanade in the summer are allowed, council  needs some money coming in, and only a few spaces available. More people seem to be using the car instead of the train. The two toilet blocks on the esplanade are privately run and cost 30p; cash or card.

[bobm]

Cruise ship in the bay, last of three with no passengers dispersing their crews home and numerous large freighters.

cruise ship in Torbay by Robert, on Flickr

Cunard cruise ship Queen Victoria now anchored off Teignmouth.

[REVUpminster]

It's actually sitting off Maidencombe Torquay with it's tender at 14.30hrs today.

Torbay 26 July 14.30 hrs by Robert, on Flickr

[bradshaw]

Weymouth and Portland proving popular for cruise ships, from MarineTraffic, see attached screen shot