Another one bites the dust , what's really happening ??

[TheDaddy]

So I suppose in a way this is Arcade related as there was amusements arcades on the site but on the whole what do we realy think is going on ?



CLICKY HERE >>>>>>>>>

MSN

These places do not just do arcades so cant be the sole reason for the closure but its happening everywhere. I know its not the 80's anymore but shorly people still go on holiday and want to go these places , or is its running costs or maybe taxes closing these places down ??

What are your thoughts ?

Dave.

P.S Nothing too heavy or too serious just a discussion on what you think !

 

[Lurch666]

Never heard of this and I think this might be a part of the problem.
Would have visited if I had known about it and am now wondering if there's other places like this I'm missing.
Always been thinking about going to great yarmouth since I only went there once as a kid but remember it being a cool place but distance and time have always stopped me.

And I'm someone who's invested in the old seaside experience since that's where my love of arcades come from.
So for others who never really lived through the old seaside arcade experience I guess there's no real pull to go to places like this.

 

[69er]

Yes it’s sad for those old enough to re-visit their childhood memories of the holiday bonanza years of the 60s-80s especially ..

A sign of the times and even the fairground rides like all current costs have gone extortionate (Blackpool fair now is at least £25 just to walk on or through without riding or trying the prize win stalls)

Rhyl was same a number of years back , funfair , schooner pub and arcades to both sides , even the model village before that!

Noah Robinson a friend of mine owned it and they compensated him by developing the Alice’s wonderland opposite the prom arcades but it wasn’t anything like the atmosphere ..

Instead a “much needed” retail park was developed … so needed it took years for the few shop units to open to trade and the huge car parks stay empty even tho the council charge now to kerbside park on the promenade….

Then the centre of the west parade prom arcades was split apart by building a premier inn and more recently the savoy including Vernes, & Parker’s Queens arcade/ market hall and the whole block behind flattened for a new precinct hall I haven’t been attracted to as yet….

The rot set in when Rhyl and other resort towns had empty holiday flatlets outside of the main season and the government decided - what a great place to house DHSS unemployed persons who smashed windows dumped mattresses and rubbish all along the popular prom… but when the fair closed nobody walked further west than the last arcade as it was nearly a “No go” unsafe pavement to pass the falling broken furniture….. so they just demolished them too in the end, no accommodation except caravan parks away from the town.

Then the government makes a big fuss about helping invest in a Disney style theme park south of the midlands and how HS2 will improve everybody’s life … if they live long enough ????

Just face it , grab the pleasures that remain on some resorts which bravely support arcades while you can and give you kids and grandkids that experience…. It could be a good thing this year as Turkey Egypt Cyprus, Geek islands, and anywhere in the area might be off limits this summer?? No flights and mega airport delays after increased ticket costs on rare to find fuel for the planes….. sorry , rant over .. Dave’s fault!!! above .

 

[80sArcadeGeek]

Energy prices
Land prices/rent
Rates
Consoles
Overseas sunshine

Pick any of the above, sadly!!!!

 

[Yakama]

I think it just comes down to costs nowadays. Places like these have some of the things that just cost a fortune nowadays - staff, premises, machines and high heating and electric plus the lure of cheap holidays abroad mean people don’t flock to places like this like they used to

 

[cools]

Local to me. Hasn't been budget fun for years, and travelling fairs put on a better (on the surface at least) maintained set of rides.

There's only so many times you stump up a fiver for your child to get 10 seconds of fun before it grows thin and you stop bothering. The bigger fixed entry price places around here offer far better value.

Barry Island is another I'm wondering how much life is left in.

 

[PAC-MAN]

Barry Island is another I'm wondering how much life is left in.

I'm amazed Barry Island is still going!?! I purchased my first PAC-MAN from there in 1999 and it was ultra naff even back then!

I don't understand all the fuss about going abroad on holiday, I'd rather spend a week in a dirty 80's Arcade.

 

[Body pop]

I often look at things like this and think
How did all these businesses,do so well for years
Surely there also greed involved ,on top of the mounting prices
Things getting passed down the family like this and pound signs for the land take over
Does everything have to be a major profit these days
What happened to running
something like this for a wage and to pay wages for workers in the community
The retro arcades seem to be making a fortune .why can’t this be classed as retro

 

[Phils Arcade]

Barry's amusement park in Portrush went up for sale a while back and there was talk of it going the way of developers and apartment blocks. Thankfully Curry's stepped in and bought it, keeping the seaside park alive for another while.

Currys Funpark Portrush | Portrush

Currys Funpark Portrush, Portrush. 49,968 likes · 1,174 talking about this · 8,793 were here. Currys Fun Park Portrush … Fun Fun Fun

www.facebook.com

The cost of running these places, especially with rates prices seriously over the top. A recently opened classic style cinema opened in Belfast, and their rates have increased by £400,000 a year. What the hell! and they say they're trying to bring people back to the city centre. Not like that they're not.

 

[69er]

Spurred on by what I wrote above I went to street view Rhyl west parade promenade as it is quite recently now with just 4 huge arcades seperated by intervening gaps/buildings.. once a run of about 18-20 small arcades with an odd cafe or coach tour office and the corner house cake shop/cafe all family owned and run … the only massive one back in the 60s /90s till about 15 years ago, was Verne’s ( Vernon Trahearn ) in the ground floor of the Savoy hotel corner of Queen st. Now gone … only Jimmy Parker’s Bright Spot now on that block .

Progressing west Les Harkersi Monte Carlo now swallows several neighbours where he used to just be on the corner.. then Mr Bs used to be a variety of smaller arcades and the odd bargain clothes or novelty shops …. Lastly HB leisure Palace-arcade & knights caverns took over from 4 units previously Solomon Parker’s Black Cat , Webber bros FunCity (2units) and Ronnie Seldons Sands arcade .

My sister worked for Ronnie Seldon in the 60s on a bingo arcade now part of PremierInn. She was also nanny to his twins Robert and Oliver who own Golden Gate holiday park.. Towyn , where we occupied the arcade for a while 20years or so, ago by rental tender….

I headed on west to where the funfair once was till I got to #98 west parade the cellar of which was David Skelly’s Breaks snooker hall with 9 tables , a bar to where we supplied licenced jackpot fruits a jukebox and one of the two pooltables

It’s not been there for about 10 years ..or more? see the aerial picture where Range retail has been trading for over a decade on the site of the extinct Rhyl funfair, but it’s not in shot while passing #98 see other photo…

A ghostly visit to the past … Breaks fun centre arcade and snooker club bar came back from the dead tonight , strange spooky happenings in Rhyl just as it gets topical here!!!

It only appears for a short passing then vaporises to todays grassy wasteland.?

Pictures courtesy of google earth street view.

 

[Body pop]

Barry's amusement park in Portrush went up for sale a while back and there was talk of it going the way of developers and apartment blocks. Thankfully Curry's stepped in and bought it, keeping the seaside park alive for another while.

Currys Funpark Portrush | Portrush

Currys Funpark Portrush, Portrush. 49,968 likes · 1,174 talking about this · 8,793 were here. Currys Fun Park Portrush … Fun Fun Fun

www.facebook.com

The cost of running these places, especially with rates prices seriously over the top. A recently opened classic style cinema opened in Belfast, and their rates have increased by £400,000 a year. What the hell! and they say they're trying to bring people back to the city centre. Not like that they're not.

I love Belfast city centre ,but even I can see its turning into a real dump
It’s just became a tourist trap for ripping people off that are interested in the depressing history
£7 a pint is not for the working class
Rates increase of 400 k ! That’s mental .Is that the cinema in castle court ?
I didn’t know curry’s had actually bought Barry’s. I stopped following the story when they started renting in temporarily
Even the hotel facing it is going to be flats
Don’t get me started on Bangor sea front 30 odd years derelict.
Beach gone .now the car park that was built were the beach was is getting ripped up

 

[Bods]

Without saying too much were on the "Rollercoaster 2030" strap in peeps

Business rates in England are set to increase on
April 1, 2026, following a major revaluation based on April 2024 rental values. A new five-tier, higher-multiplier system will apply, with industry forecasts suggesting significant hikes for sectors like hospitality (up to 115% over three years), though transitional relief will phase in the largest increases.

Key Details on 2026 Business Rate Changes:

• Effective Date: The new revaluation and rates take effect on April 1, 2026, with draft rateable values published in late 2025.
• Multiplier Increases: The standard multiplier is expected to rise, with a "super-supplement" increase of around 5.8% for certain properties.
• Sector Impact: Retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties face a new, specific, and often higher, multi-tiered multiplier structure.
• Relief Measures: To mitigate the impact, the government is introducing transitional relief, which caps the maximum increase in bills in the first year (2026-27).
• Small Businesses: The Supporting Small Business Scheme (SSB Relief) will cap increases for businesses losing eligibility for small business or rural rate relief.

How much will rateable values increase for pubs in 2026?​

Statistics from the VOA show that rateable values in England for “Public Houses/Pub Restaurants” will go up by an average of 30% in 2026, and rateable values for “Public Houses/Pub Restaurants (Including Lodge)” will go up by an average of 70%.

 

[Phils Arcade]

I know a small business here, that nearly went into administration after Covid, but they battled on and last year they finally turned a profit, of £6k. Yup six thousand. Their business rates for this year is going up by £24,000. They've no idea where that money is coming from. Already talking about closing up shop after 36 years. Sad to see. Him and his wife work there and employ 3 people. Not large by any stretch, but they provided work and money to spend on goods and services, bringing money into the governments coffers. Now 5 people out of work, possibly claiming benefits, at least for a while, now costing the government. The spiral goes on.

 

[TheDaddy]

Only other thing to add , we Have 8 Kabab shops in our tiny town , Chip shops & Normal shops closing left right and centre. Also overrun with charity shops (I say charity shops they are just big business for some now with Directors commanding £180000 a year in wages) no rates or tax for them.

So how come these survive and thrive ? ( I have my own theories !)

Dave.

 

[Body pop]

I know a small business here, that nearly went into administration after Covid, but they battled on and last year they finally turned a profit, of £6k. Yup six thousand. Their business rates for this year is going up by £24,000. They've no idea where that money is coming from. Already talking about closing up shop after 36 years. Sad to see. Him and his wife work there and employ 3 people. Not large by any stretch, but they provided work and money to spend on goods and services, bringing money into the governments coffers. Now 5 people out of work, possibly claiming benefits, at least for a while, now costing the government. The spiral goes on.

Didn’t business’s just survive in the old days to pay a wage for everyone involved
Now it’s all profit profit profit
There was some small businesse’s really milked the Covid grants. Like chip shops that stayed open ,thrived and got grants
I know of someone who opened a second business on the back of those grants !
It’s that kind of ,let’s call it what it is ‘theft’ is the possibly the reason amongst other things,why the rates are up

 

[Bods]

Only other thing to add , we Have 8 Kabab shops in our tiny town , Chip shops & Normal shops closing left right and centre. Also overrun with charity shops (I say charity shops they are just big business for some now with Directors commanding £180000 a year in wages) no rates or tax for them.

So how come these survive and thrive ? ( I have my own theories !)

Dave.

To me a real Charity shouldn't have money involved, instead of people working in a shop for free you could have people giving some time to help people recovering, or animal shelter etc, just one big money $cam

 

[Bods]

I know a small business here, that nearly went into administration after Covid, but they battled on and last year they finally turned a profit, of £6k. Yup six thousand. Their business rates for this year is going up by £24,000. They've no idea where that money is coming from. Already talking about closing up shop after 36 years. Sad to see. Him and his wife work there and employ 3 people. Not large by any stretch, but they provided work and money to spend on goods and services, bringing money into the governments coffers. Now 5 people out of work, possibly claiming benefits, at least for a while, now costing the government. The spiral goes on.

News story the other week about Labour Government urged to stop people accessing private pensions at 55 (Think Tank Then) said something daft like we need more people in work (paying taxes I'l add) so they need to stop people retiring so early while at the same time more and more businesses going under thanks to the Scrypt Readers (Government) and more people flooding the country taking jobs, I mean they must think were thick and its incompetence while its all planned really

The UK government is moving ahead with increasing the Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) from 55 to 57 on April 6, 2028, but is facing calls to address the confusion and disruption this change causes for individuals planning their retirement
. While the change is designed to align with the state pension age rising to 67, it has created a "cliff-edge" scenario that experts argue needs fixing.

Key Details on the Pension Age Increase:

• The Change: The minimum age to access private pension savings will rise from 55 to 57 on April 6, 2028.
• Who is Affected: Anyone born after April 6, 1971, will be affected by this increase.
• Protections: Members who joined a pension scheme before November 4, 2021, may have a "protected pension age" allowing them to continue accessing their pension at 55.
• Exceptions: The increase does not apply to those retiring due to ill health, or for members of certain public service schemes (firefighters, police, and armed forces).

 

[big10p]

The government basically want everyone to work and paying taxes until they drop dead. Except the government themselves, of course. I read that the bloke responsible for the state pension age increase retired early on a huge private pension. Lol

 

[Bods]

The government basically want everyone to work and paying taxes until they drop dead. Except the government themselves, of course. I read that the bloke responsible for the state pension age increase retired early on a huge private pension. Lol

That sounds about right, in Government and Banking the top dogs still get rewarded when they fail, not bad hey

 

[Bods]

abit more from the 'House Of Common Thieves' https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10460/​

What has the government done?​

The property valuation process outlined above is conducted independently of the government. However, it is up to the government to decide on the other element of business rates bills: the multipliers.

There are currently two multipliers for business rates in England (‘standard’ and ‘small’). Retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties in England – including pubs – currently receive a 40% discount on business rates. In the Autumn 2025 Budget, the government announced that the discount would be removed.

Instead, from 2026/27, there will be five multipliers in England.

Two of the new multipliers are designed specifically for RHL properties. This category includes pubs. Pubs with a rateable value of under £51,000 will use a multiplier of 38.2p, and pubs with a rateable value of between £51,000 and £499,999 will use a multiplier of 43p. Any pubs with a rateable value above £500,000 will use a new, non-RHL-specific higher multiplier of 50.8p. These rates are set by regulations.

The business rates multipliers for 2026/27 will all be lower than those for 2025/26. However, they will not be 40% lower. For many pubs, and other properties, the decrease in the multipliers will be outweighed by the removal of the discount and the rise in rateable values.

What could possibly go wrong, wages go up less, food, energy, taxes all skyrocket so businesses make less profit or put up prices so people can't afford to go and then they make a loss if they weren't close to it in the first place and then the inevitable happems. it's very depressing when it's done on purpose