{"id":476719,"date":"2025-10-05T21:30:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T21:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/476719\/"},"modified":"2025-10-05T21:30:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-05T21:30:26","slug":"sad-day-for-welsh-town-as-iconic-seafront-attraction-closes-for-good-with-a-bang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/476719\/","title":{"rendered":"Sad day for Welsh town as iconic seafront attraction closes for good with a bang"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was the end of an era in Porthcawl on Sunday as the curtain came down on Coney Beach for the last time\"AA fireworks display was held to mark the final day of Coney Beach, Porthcawl(Image: Richard Swingler)<\/p>\n

A Welsh icon ceased to be on Sunday night as the historic Coney Beach amusement park shut its doors for the final time.<\/p>\n

In a grand farewell to over a century of joy provided by the attraction to locals and tourists alike, a fireworks display wowed crowds to celebrate the \u201cend of an era\u201d as the park brought more than 100 years of tradition to an end.<\/p>\n

Earlier in January 2025, it was revealed that the site currently occupied by the beloved amusement park and promenade has been earmarked for a new development project.<\/a><\/p>\n

The vision includes the construction of 1,100 new homes, alongside a variety of shops, cafes, restaurants, and leisure facilities. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter<\/a> here.<\/p>\n

The amusement park\u2019s owners, the Evans family, confirmed in July that this summer season would be the park\u2019s swansong, with a \u2018last day\u2019 of October 4. It meant that the attraction would close 107 years since it first welcomed visitors in 1918.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe entrance to Coney Beach Pleasure Park(Image: Richard Swingler)<\/p>\n

During a recent visit to Coney Beach, we met some of the long-standing vendors who have become part of the fabric of the place, serving multiple generations.<\/p>\n

Steve, proprietor of American Donuts within the park, has been a fixture since 1967, having joined right after finishing school<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now a sprightly 75-year-old, he\u2019s chosen not to hang up his hat because his customers \u201cwouldn\u2019t let\u201d him, fearing the park wouldn\u2019t be the same without his presence. Steve has been inundated with pleas from patrons urging him to carry on, constantly enquiring about his next move.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe last day of Coney Beach Pleasure Park(Image: Richard Swingler)<\/p>\n

With the park\u2019s closure imminent, Steve admits he\u2019s \u201cgutted\u201d over his \u201cforced retirement\u201d, having had no intention of stopping any time soon.<\/p>\n

One regular visitor to Coney Beach said: \u201cThis makes me so sad. Years of memories.. Porthcawl<\/a> will never be the same after this night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another reflected: \u201cI had a nostalgic trip there on Monday……sad to think it won\u2019t be there next time I come home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe famous slides(Image: Richard Swingler)<\/p>\n

Porthcawl councillor Elen Jones is sad to see the attraction shut down for good, but is hopeful of a bright future for the area in the wake of the closure.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an end of an era for Porthcawl,\u201d she said. \u201cWe look forward to working with the community, government, businesses and investors to ensure that the future of Porthcawl is vibrant, successful and sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neelo Farr, Bridgend<\/a> county councillor for Porthcawl East Central, said the amusement park will forever be an important part of the town\u2019s history but stressed that exciting times lie ahead.<\/p>\n

\"CuddlyCuddly toys on display(Image: Richard Swingler)<\/p>\n

\u201cConey Beach Amusement Park has been associated with Porthcawl for more than a century and forms an important part of the town\u2019s cultural heritage,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the Evans family decided to stop operating the amusement park and sold the site to Welsh Government<\/a> in March 2023, it meant that the land could be safeguarded for use as an essential part of the council\u2019s waterfront regeneration plans for Porthcawl.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are currently preparing to reveal the final stage plans, which continue to be based on extensive public engagement and feature as many of the ideas that people have put forward for new facilities and amenities as possible.<\/p>\n

\"SomeSome people lit fires on the beach for the firework display.(Image: Richard Swingler)\"TheThe last day of Coney Beach Pleasure Park and the surrounding sea front buildings on Porthcawl’s sea front, ending with a firework display(Image: Richard Swingler)<\/p>\n

\u201cThey also include some all-new surprises which will ensure that people can continue to have fun at the seaside.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll will be revealed later this autumn when we publicly showcase the final stage regeneration plans for Porthcawl Waterfront.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PeoplePeople line the sea front for the firework display(Image: Richard Swingler)\"AA big heart to end the display(Image: Richard Swingler)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It was the end of an era in Porthcawl on Sunday as the curtain came down on Coney…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":476720,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5010],"tags":[21132,748,4884,85154,16,15,1764],"class_list":{"0":"post-476719","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wales","8":"tag-bridgend","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-porthcawl","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-wales"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115323694641138174","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=476719"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476719\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=476719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=476719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=476719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}