The Coney Beach amusement park in Porthcawl, Wales is to close later this year, marking the “end of an era” for the seaside funfair.
The park’s owners, the Evans family, announced the upcoming closure in a statement on Facebook, confirming that Coney Beach will shut in October.
The Evans family wrote: “It is with heavy hearts we would like to share with you personally that this season at Coney Beach will be our last. We will be closing our gates for the final time this October.
“It’s the end of an era, for over 100 years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl helping to make it a busy seaside destination.”
The closure of Coney Beach, which opened back in 1918, comes after a consultation in February on plans by Bridgend council and the Welsh government to redevelop the waterfront site with new homes, shops and restaurants.
The Evans family said, “We will miss it greatly and while we are sad to see our time here come to an end we are forever grateful to have had the opportunity to have been part of so many generations of families lives, young and old.
“Thank you for sharing our love of ‘all the fun of the fair’ and the legacy that Coney Beach leaves.”
Jason Green, owner of Mansel’s chip shop, which is located next to Coney Beach, told the BBC: “It’s going to have a big impact on the area… it’s the end of an era.”
Theme park closures in the UK
Earlier this year, Wales largest theme park, Oakwood, announced its immediate closure due to “unrelenting economic challenges”.
Aspro Parks, owner and operator of Oakwood in Pembrokeshire, said the company “reached this difficult decision due to the challenges presented by the current business environment”.
These challenges include increases in costs, including ride parts, electricity, food and beverage, and the national living wage, as well as changes to national insurance thresholds.
Images courtesy of Coney Beach
