The news that Caffe Nero will be coming to Llandudno will be good for Mostyn Street, I think.
Caffe Nero have confirmed to me that they intend their Llandudno cafe to be open 'late November/early December', which doesn't give them a whole lot of time to refurbish existing premises/apply for change of use. Could it be that speculation about Burtons Corner is misleading and they actually intend to just buy and re-brand an existing cafe business on Mostyn Street? Or are they just very fast workers...?
As always...time will tell.
Over to Rhyl Events Arena last weekend to do some event photography at the 'Fun In The Sun' series of open air concerts. Headlining the event was Gareth Gates (pictured), supported by a host of local talent getting their chance to shine. It's a shame we can't have events like this in Llandudno.
Full set of photos can be seen here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/sets/72157627535684732/
http://www.rnli.org.uk/
"The RNLI is an independent charity, funded by voluntary donations. "
A demonstration of the RAF and RNLI's capabilities at the Emergency Services Day at Llandudno today.
A trip up the Conwy Valley today and I stopped to grab this photo over the wall of the wonderful Gwydir Castle at Llanrwst. Built in c1490, it is really a fortified manor house but still very impressive, nonetheless.
Torrential rain all day long in Llandudno today. Not been the greatest of weekends for the town's traders but, being fair, we're had plenty of decent weather up until now.
Photo was taken Sunday lunchtime, barely a soul on the Pier or Promenade, in spite of the Triathlon taking place.
Once the word LLANDUDNO was picked out in colourful flowers visible to everyone that walks along the pier, now they are just filled with concrete - what a shame.
Summer has finally arrived....for a few days at least. The weather has been glorious in Llandudno this weekend and it's good to see the town and its businesses buzzing with people.
Now you see it....
After several years of deadlock, Conwy Councilllors voted today to move forward with the acquisition of the semi-derelict Colwyn Bay Pier.
This has to be good news for this beleaguered structure. The Plan is for the Council to grant a Lease to a local Community Group, who can work to both obtain grant funding for renovation work, whilst also carrying out smaller jobs themselves and reopening some of the pier's facilities to the public. I wish them the best of luck.
Very pleasing to see a powerful new fountain in Queen's Gardens, Colwyn Bay, a replacement for a rather feeble one that rarely worked due to vandalism. Well done to CCBC's Parks & Gardens Dept for getting this sorted out.
Next on their 'To Do' List - the Cascade water feature in Happy Valley, Llandudno....
I saw this graffiti on a sign in the Pwllycrochan Conservation Area of Colwyn Bay. One wonders if the vandal may have a point, as several large Victorian houses in that area have disappeared over the past few years, to be replaced by Apartment Blocks.
Surely allowing Permission for such developments is against the whole ethos of a Conservation Area?
I snapped this shot of the side entrance to Colwyn Bay Pier at the weekend. Sad to see how the process of decay is accelerating.
I only hope that the Friends of the Pier are ready to hit the ground running if they are able to assume ownership of the Pier - I understand that Conwy Council will be holding a Meeting in June to decide whether they will buy the Pier and then pass it on to the Friends Group to run.
Gilbert & Sullivan's Ruddigore
Rhos on Sea Savoyards are performing Ruddigore, an operetta by Gilbert & Sullivan, for 4 nights 18th - 21st May 2011. The Show starts at 7.30pm and it takes place at St. Paul’s Church Hall, which can be found in Rhiw Road Colwyn Bay (almost opposite the Town Hall). Tickets are only £5 for a musical show that pokes fun at both gothic horror and etiquette.
If you would like to reserve tickets, please contact Alison Smith on 07955 070885.
Rhos on Sea Savoyards is an amateur group that specialises in Gilbert and Sullivan; they’ve been around for nearly 30 years: more details on their website at www.savoyards.org.uk
After a rather wet start (due to the high tide, not rain!), the Promenade Day at Colwyn Bay was another big success! As with the Extravaganza at Llandudno, it was good to see so many people enjoying themselves.
The Victorian Extravaganza in Llandudno has had perfect weather this year and the crowds have been larger than ever as a result. Good to see so many people enjoying both the event and the town of Llandudno itself - it's what the resort was built for after all.
Credit must be given to the Organisers and Volunteers who put so much event into setting up the event every year. Photo shows the very talented Mr. David Alexander of Alexander's Travelling Show.
Another beautiful day in Llandudno and I took the opportunity to take a few photos from the top of the Little Orme.
What a day in Llandudno! Town was really busy and it was great to see so many visitors enjoying the town in the glorious sunny weather. Felt like it was the middle of August, not April!
An adorable little pig, to be found with his pal in the grounds of the Gwrych Caravan Park at Abergele. He enjoyed having his head scratched (by me obviously!).
I was up on Anglesey Road on Sunday evening in the hope of taking some decent Sunset photos across West Shore and Conwy Bay. I didn't get anything really exciting but this one is not too bad, I think.
News has surfaced in the local press that Conwy Council may be preparing to buy Colwyn Bay Pier from the Receivers for £35,000 and then hand it over to the Pier Pressure Group to run.
Regardless of the rights or wrongs of the various parties surrounding the ownership issue, I'm delighted by this news, because it means that the deadlock may finally be broken. The Pier has become little more than a ball to be kicked around by people with various agendas, whilst the Pier itself decays a little more every day.
Let the Pier Pressure Group have it...and let them try to harness the local community to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in with both physical work and fund-raising. It's sink or swim time for them...and I wish them the best of luck.
The view looking across Llandudno Bay with the Great Orme Tram making the steady descent down to Llandudno from the Summit of the Great Orme.
Prints are available to buy here:
llandudno-emporium.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&p...
Lovely day yesterday, a real feeling of Summer. I grabbed this shot of Colwyn Bay Pier with a fantastic sky above.
Very pleasing to see so much work going on at Colwyn Bay's Promenade. After a couple of decade's worth of council neglect, work has finally started to rebuild and revamp the Promenade. Even in its neglected state, the area was still busy on a Summer's day; think how busy it could be if it looked attractive and had some decent attractions...
We just need to hope that the Pier gets sorted out soon. Fingers crossed on that one!
I found this old photo from about 2005 recently, it shows a vain attempt by an amusement arcade owner to conjour up the spirit of Las Vegas...in Rhyl. I've always seen it as symbolic of Rhyl's sad decline as a seaside resort. The sign, building and funfair behind have all been demolished in the last few years, as part of the Welsh Assembly Government's regeneration plans for Rhyl.
This odd looking structure is on the beach at West Shore, Llandudno. I believe one of the local residents built it in the 1970s as a look out point for their house (which was on top of the cliff) but dont have any details. It's now abandoned and semi-derelict. Couldnt find a way up to the top of the tower, although we did look!
Following on from an old post about the vanished Pubs of Conwy, this is an updated list, with thanks to AngieP and Gwynedd Archives:
Conwy's pubs, past and present, vanished and in other uses (those marked * are still running as pubs today):
The Albion Vaults* (6 Uppergate Street)
The Anchor Uppergate Street (Could be same as Crown & Anchor or Hope & Anchor possibly?)
The Black Horse (West side of Castle Street - immediately to left of Aberconwy house) (In existence in 1795)
The Black Lion (Lyon) (now semi-derelict, Castle Street) (In existence in 1795) (Landlord 1895 - David Roberts)
The Blue Bell* (Castle Street) (Landlord in 1856 - Edward Jones)
The Boot Inn (now r/h side of Alfredos, Lancaster Square) (In existence in 1795) (William Lardner - Landlord in 1798)
The Bull (distinct from the Bull's Head, no idea as to location - any ideas?) (In existence in 1795)
The Bull's Head (High Street, by present Bull Cottages)
The Bridge* (Rosehill Street)
The Britannia Castle Street (Chinese Takeaway opposite NatWest Bank)
The Carpenters Arms (No 6 Berry Street)
The Castle Inn/Hotel* (High Street)(Landlady 1856 - Cordelia Owen)
The Castle View (Bangor Road, Old Co-op Building))
The Cockpit (in vicinity of the Cockpit)
The Commercial Inn Mrs Jane Fielding Llanrwst Rd Gyffin (1929)
The Conway Castle (No. 3 Berry Street) (Thomas Jones - Landlord in 1798)
The Conway [Conwy] Ferry (1798)(Landlady - Mary Davies)
The Conway [Conwy] Mariner (In existence in 1795)(Landlord - Thomas Jones)
The Crown and Anchor, Conwy (Landlord - John Jones)
The Crown Vaults Tavern (High Street, same side as Plas Mawr - Edwards Butchers Shop site?) (Miss Mary Annie Davies - Landlady 1910)
The Cross Keys, Conwy (In existence in 1903)
The Eagles Inn (Now Fisherman's Chip Shop, Castle Street) (In existence in 1795)
The Eccles Inn (Could this be a misspelling of Eagles Inn?)
The Feathers (7 Lancaster Square - currently the Post Office) (Richard Lewis - Landlord in 1798)
The Foresters Arms (Gyffin, now a private house)
The George & Dragon* (21 Castle Street)(Formerly the Tal Y Cafn)
The Hall, Conwy (Landlord - John Thomas)
The Harp Hotel (High Street, where Spar (former Woolworths) is now) (Roger Rous - Landlord in 1798)(formerly The Newborough)
The Hope and Anchor, Conwy (Landlord - Robert Jones)
The Joiners Arms (other side of Wing Gate Wall)(now house called Glanrafon)
The Kings Head (now l/h side of Castle Hotel)(Later known as Castle Vaults)
The Liverpool Arms* (on the Quay)
The Mail Coach/Coach & Horses* (High Street)
The Malt Loaf/Erskine Arms Hotel* (Rosehill Street) (Erskine Refreshment Room - on current car park)(Erskine Tap Room - Church Street)
The Mostyn Arms - Castle Street
The New Inn
The Newbridge Arms (Newborough Terrace)
The Old Bull's Head (High Street, in area where Bull Cottages are now)
The Pen y Grisia, Conway [Conwy] (1798)(Landlady - Catherine Jones)
The Plough Inn (site now occupied by Beresford Adams, Lancaster Square)
The Plough Bach (to left of Plough Inn (above))
The Railway Tavern, No.1 York Place, Conwy
The Red Lion (Lyon) (on High Street, opposite Conwy Pantry) (In existence in 1795)
The Rising Gull (Berry Street)
The Royal Oak Tavern (house to right of 'Smallest House' on Quay)
The Ship Tavern (now Pen Y Bryn Tearooms, High Street) (In existence in 1795)
The Ship (Castle Street)(next to the Eagles)
The Soldiers Rest (by Berry Street Arch) (May also have been called Soldiers Arms)
The Sun, Conway (In existence in 1795 - Mary Jones Landlady)
The Swan (Berry Street, 'up entry by old Co-op')
The Union Tavern (Chapel Street - now Hen Dafarn house?)
The White Horse (Uppergate Street - next to the Albion)
The White Lion, Conwy (Landlord - Nathaniel Atkinson)
The news that J D Wetherspoon has confirmed their interest in opening a Pub in Conwy must surely strike dread into every existing Conwy Pub Landlord's heart.
A vast Wetherspoons emporium of cheap food and drink can only prove to be the final straw for many of Conwy's already struggling pubs. With the Albion and Mailcoach already closed, how many of the others can survive? Conwy is only a small town and the trade is already spread pretty thinly, especially in the Winter months. What effect, too, will it have on Conwy's cafes and restaurants, as cheap food is a staple of every Wetherspoons?
The word is that Wetherspoon are interested in purchasing the Palace Bingo building and converting that into a pub. This would make perfect sense for them - all of Conwy's existing pubs are way too small for a Wetherspoon style operation - talk of them purchasing the Albion is just fanciful.
Major investment by a business is usually always very welcome but I fear in this case that the competition will be too much for Conwy's independent pubs.
The Annual 'Nick Beer' 10k Road Race took place today here in Llandudno, with 750 runners taking part. It is now apparently in the Top 5 10km races in the UK. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves!
Whilst out walking today round Llyn Elsi, I passed this frozen waterfall on the Afon Rhiwddolion, just by the Sarn Helen Roman Road at Betws Y Coed. An impressive sight! Llyn Elsi itself was completely frozen over, too.
The weak January sunshine illuminates Conwy Castle and (on the right) one portal of Robert Stephenson's Tubular Bridge of 1848 carrying the Chester-Holyhead railway line..
After quite a few years of people telling me "you should sell your photos", I have set up a website to promote the photography side of things:
www.davidroberts-photography.co.uk
Good to see some money being spent on repairing Llandudno's Pier - it has become noticeably shabbier in recent years. I've always thought that the owners, Six Piers Ltd, made a large mistake in treating it the same way as their Blackpool piers - Llandudno is a far classier resort and the attractions on the Pier should reflect that.
Try a visit to the Oceans Cafe at the end of the pier and you will find a tatty looking cafe that serves appalling sludge described as Nescafe coffee in paper cups. Who on earth would want to come back and have another one? The Pierhead bar has all the character of a Bus Shelter. Large sections of the pier railings and kiosks appear to be half decorated - why start the job of painting them and then leave it halfway through? Why have the Bar and Cafe open...but not have any Toilet facilities for their customers at the Pierhead? Management's sole focus is on cutting costs, there is no interest in investing for the future, in terms of new attractions etc.
Fact is...Six Piers are slowly killing the Goose that laid the Golden Egg...and Llandudno as a whole will lose out in the end. The Pier should be the town's premier attraction, instead of some third rate catering facilities and a collection of kiosks selling tat.
EDIT: I now see on Oscar's blog that Six Piers Ltd are proposing to increase the rents on the Pier kiosks by as much as 100%. At a time when economic problems are mounting, this surely must be the final straw for small businesses operating from the pier?
Isn't it time we brought Llandudno Pier back into local ownership, instead of the dead hand of Chorley based Six Piers Ltd? With some investment and imagination, it could become one of North Wales' top visitor attractions once again. Who's willing to step forward and put their money up?
The area shown in the photo beyond the kiosk is shortly to be demolished and rebuilt, the first stage of the massive Colwyn Bay Waterfront scheme. The sea defences will be rebuilt first (and extended outwards to give more room for facilities), then a newly designed Promenade will be built. I thought it would be good to document this area before it all disappears forever.
Potential design submissions for this are can be seen here:
www.conwy.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=8199&doc=27652
Here's an artist's impression of one of the design entries for this area:
This is a once in a hundred years opportunity to revitalise Colwyn Bay's Promenade and increase visitor numbers. Let's hope they don't mess it up!
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