your comments
Carl B, Cheshire
We went to Ffrith Beach, had to pay £1.50 to park and there was my car and 1 other car there. It was late Saturday morning, lovely day, the place was deserted, dirty, really overgrown and really run down. Inside it was like they were after the evening drinkers with a bar and ten pin bowling. The 3 rides that was their fair were old, the amusements were switched off, the walks were closed as all the gates were still shut and it was like a ghost town. This place was shocking, me and my family were there all but a few minutes and then we left, a waste of £1.50 to park.
Tue Jun 16 08:18:32 2009
M Williams from Prestatyn
The funfair will fail, it's what happens after then that concerns me. I would clean up the whole area, extend the lake and turn the whole lot over to wildlife. Plant indigenous species of hedgerows (and trees) around the paths, instead of fences, put in bins (emptied in the evening), a jetty area for bird feeding and information boards on wildlife. We have messed around with this site for decades. Let's have somewhere pleasant to walk and increase the biodiversity of the area as well.
Thu Jun 11 13:34:29 2009
Manchester United Fan
Why not build an ice rink-type of arena there. I think that would be great. I have been skating today and I loved it. That's what that place needs - an ice rink. If you want to go for a walk, use the beach - kids need to do something. Come on, get a grip people. ICE ICE BABY!
Fri May 29 08:34:56 2009
Jezzabel, Staffordshire
I agree that there should be a little retail village on Frith gardens near the carpark. The area used to be lovely in the 80s. When I went on holiday when I was young it was the best place to go. I don't remember everything about it but it was a lovely place to visit. Now in 2004, when I went it was all different. But it could be turned into green space, with protected wildlife. The swans and geese and rabits made it look habitable. It would be nice for the town to have retail outlets and maybe, pleasants walks around the Frith lake.
Mon May 18 10:00:22 2009
Camster from Prestatyn
Many people writing in don't seem to understand that Prestatyn has changed. People go abroad now for holidays, there is no market for the old seaside town any more. Prestayn's new population are retired people and Prestatyn does well out of their money. These people do not need or want a funfair. They want the Ffrith area as a green space, just as it was gifted to the town to be. Three years ago the Ffrith was tatty (in a nice way) and used by locals. Now it is just tatty and left spoiled by a firm who wanted a tax right off. A new development is planned. If planned is the right word. What horrors for residents will this plan bring. What the Ffrith actually needs in just cleaning up. The removal of all the left over junk from the last failed attempt to exploit it and being made safe and clean for residents. It was never given to the town for the use of tourists. It was always meant to be a green space for the use of the citizens of Prestatyn.The buildings could be used for a retail park, the parking areas are there. But no one wants a funfair. It can never make money and will just become an eyesore. It's all very well for people living in other areas to bemoan the passing of the old Prestatyn, but they don't live next to a noisy funfair and have their property vandalised by the uncaring people such things attract.
Mon May 11 08:50:16 2009
Adrain
Dave, it's due to the fact that locals have not backed this project. It's always easy to condemn rather than support. The community is only to blame, you should be ashamed of yourself...
Tue Feb 17 14:52:08 2009
Dave, Prestatyn
Just read that Ffrith Leisure Ltd has gone into administration. No surprise there then after the mess they made. The site is now in a worse state than it was before. Just another eyesore in this declining town.
Tue Feb 3 10:50:28 2009
David H
Having spent many a holiday year with my grandparents on Russell Drive, I too have seen the Ffrith in its heyday. I think many of the comments on here from locals are unfair, they are slating a company who have invested their own money to try and make good what was horrific. Unless the local people support the venture then the lack of money being made at the venue will signal its demise. Ffrith Beach needs 21st century attractions, maybe an ice rink and some accommodation fit for the 21st century possibly a swimming area. Who knows but unless it is supported then it will rot away and then the residents will be complaining...
Wed Nov 5 14:50:28 2008
Lynn, Prestatyn
2008 Halloween at the Ffrith was awful. Last year was so good, we were all looking forward to this one. No continental market, no ice skating, not a lot of people compared to last year. Sorry but we all thought it was a big let down, we spoke to people who had travelled from the Midlands for this event and were bitterly disappointed. We all felt that the fun fair ruined what started as a promising project for the area. I really don't think this area needs a fun fair, there certainly were no queues to go on the rides and most of them were empty. Ffrith Parc started off great, but sadly I now feel it's going off down the wrong track.
Wed Nov 5 08:32:48 2008
Jean from Gwaenysgor
What a disgrace to see Denbighshire Council erecting Rhyl's cast off, run down funfair in Prestatyn. They should be ashamed of themselves. They just seem to to be moving Rhyl's eyesores along the coast, so much could have been done in that space (see Andrea-Prestatyn July 28th for good ideas). Over the years (we were bringing our children here in the early 60s) they seem to have got rid of many good amusements and seem hell-bent on destroying the image of Prestatyn with Rhyl's tat. Shame on you all!
Thu Oct 16 11:18:55 2008
J Smith, Scotland
When I went back to Prestatyn on holiday in August, and visited Ffrtith Gardens, the whole area remained in a terrible state. I used to walk around the Ffrith grounds quite a lot when I lived in Prestatyn. I hope regeneration at Ffrith happens quickly. I loved living in Prestatyn and I hope to live there again in the near future. Love, Jan.
Thu Sep 4 08:22:16 2008
J Smith, Scotland
I lived in Prestatyn up until eight weeks ago. I returned for a family holiday two weeks ago, and decided to go and see what was going on at Ffrith now the fair is in the process of being set up. I was very shocked to see that the whole of Ffrith is a total disgrace. Where the market takes place is like an area of devastation and appears extremely dangerous, with untold rubble, stinking rubbish sacks overflowing from bins. The whole site needs to be bulldozed, it is Prestatyn's shame. Who the hell is responsible for this mess? Whoever is in charge of this site should be sacked. On the day I visited Ffrith other people were driving onto the site, taking one look at the place and leaving in droves. The place looks as though it could be overrun with vermin.
Mon Sep 1 15:43:34 2008
Arnold Cohen from Prestwich
Returned this weekend to Ffrith Beach Fun Parc for the bank holiday weekend and noted that the redecoration of the facade is still ongoing and much improved. The AstroBowl tenpin bowling alley was very enjoyable (the kids loved it) and the staff polite and helpful. La Freccia Ristorante was buzzing and the food fantastic. Cannot understand, as visitors, why some of the locals (in your column) do not seem to appreciate what has been achieved and seem to nit-pick at every opportunity. NIMBYism? We were disappointed that the 'loop' had not opened in time for the weekend but it was explained that the Health and Safety Executive had passed it but the specialist ride inspector needs to submit his paperwork to the H&S Executive. All I can say is congratulations to the developers and every success for the future - keep up the good work. Prestatyn (and Rhyl) badly need a leisure venue and given half a chance Ffrith Beach Fun Parc will be the answer and deservedly so! Will see you again for Halloween, the 2008 Spooktacular at Ffrith Beach Fun Parc. 2007 Spooktacular was awesome - how will they improve on it in 2008?
Tue Aug 26 07:40:33 2008
Bob Kearton, Charlesworth
Lesley from Mold and Ponies at Ffrith
Read your comments on ponies and Mr Pullen. I did likewise from the mid to late Fifties where I had my first love affair with a fantastic dapplegrey named "Bluebird". Last met Mr Pullen mid Seventies, then with only two greys. He remembered me as though it had been the previous year. Would love to hear more of his life following my last visit. Also, any information on horses, "Bluebird", Molly, ponies, "Flicka" and "Dolly". My brother and two of my sisters also helped in the same era. Will give further accounts if anyone truly interested.
Tue Aug 12 08:00:38 2008
Sammy, Prestatyn
Sorry I have to say this...Prestatyn has changed a lot over the years, my grandad has told me as well as my mum how fantastic it was then in their day, it was packed with people and mad busy. But if everybody keeps complaining about litter etc things aren't gonna improve fast, they are trying to imporve, sorry but life today is about the children and what have they got? I'm only 21 myself but I still feel strongly about people complaining about the noise etc, etc, that's what life's about! The noise shuts down about 10, no problem then. As for skating ring and bowling alley bring it on...it will be good for Prestatyn and will give children a place to accutally go rather than hang about on the streets because there's nothing to do for them!
Mon Aug 11 13:58:52 2008
David, Prestatyn
Quite impressed with what Ffrith Leisure have done refurbishing the buildings, somehow it seems there is more than one outfit involved in this regeneration of the Festival Gardens. The gardens themselves have been cut back so badly some of the shrubs have died off and been replaced by weeds, while the rollercoaster was dismantled, why didn't the owners think to clean off the rust and paint it before it was put back together, do they just want it to look tatty? This is why I think more than one outfit is running the show. P.S. What happened to local jobs for local people, locals don't need to stay in caravans on an illegal site on the carpark.
Mon Aug 4 12:02:15 2008
Ian, Prestatyn
I have lived all my life in Prestatyn and have seen the Frith in its heyday and in its twilight years. Its decline came about because it was no longer profitable and that was not the council's fault but because of the UK population's love of cheap package holidays. Prestatyn, like all of the UK's seaside resorts, has suffered because of the attraction of air travel. What residents of Prestatyn do not seem to understand is that Frith Leisure is a commercial operation and need to make money. They are not there just to make the site look pretty, the only time the festival gardens looked pretty was when they were first opened. I imagine they have invested a considerable amount of money in installing the fairground, even if it is second hand, but all everyone wanted was to see the Ffrith like it used to be - filled with people having fun and the sounds of laughter and thrills, a pretty landscape would not achieve this. I work in the leisure industry and have been to the restaurant and to the bowling centre and can honestly say that Frith Leisure are on the right track, with time and re-investment they will get the right mix for the Frith.
Tue Jul 29 10:07:22 2008
Andrea, Prestatyn
What and why and more to the point, who had the silly idea of putting a terrible rollercoaster on the Ffrith Festival Gardens? I'm most annoyed that again the people of Prestatyn are not having their say! Why can't Ffrith Leisure do a decent job of the Ffrith without it appearing cheap and half heartedly done! What about a proper boating lake, crazy golf, rock climbing wall, a decent quad biking track, maybe some archery, make it an area that can provide fun school trips, team building exercisers and interesting for holiday makers.
Mon Jul 28 09:26:47 2008
Arnold Cohen from Prestwich
We are holidaying in Prestatyn and went on Wednesday night to the tenpin bowling alley on Ffrith Beach. After our game, we watched the Prestatyn & Rhyl Lions playing a team of blind bowlers for a challenge trophy - the blind bowlers won! We will be returning this Friday evening for the disco karaoke at AstroBowl. Finally, something different to do in Prestatyn and in a georgeous setting. We will be returning here again later in the summer.
Fri Jul 25 07:51:17 2008
Ady from Manchester
Give them a chance, these type of projects take time. That's the problem nowadays, people shoot off their opinons to soon. I advise people to go down there and have a look, check the place out. It's still under construction.
Mon Jun 23 09:36:35 2008
David, Prestatyn
I noticed this morning all the earthmoving equipment and hoped, but sadly it wasn't there to demolish the re-claimed re-cycled fun-fare and makeshift caravan site. No, it appears to be there to rip up even more of the trees just while the birds and other wildlife are trying to raise their young. This council couldn't run a bath.
Wed Jun 11 09:01:17 2008
Chris Wilding, Cannock, Staffordshire
I can't wait to see the progress at the Frith as I get married in July so will be having my honeymoon near to Prestatyn so really looking farward to seeing how well it's looking and also reading other comments on here. I see the old fair from Rhyl is being put up there as well, but still don't know why they have removed the fair from Rhyl anyway as it's already in ruin so without the fair there I don't think many people will want a holiday in Rhyl any more because of the state of it.
Tue May 27 09:28:36 2008
Lesley from Mold
I was one of a group of friends who used to work on the Ffrith for Mr Pulleine, the "donkey man" giving rides on the ponies and donkeys at Ffrith and Central beach, from the sixties to mid-seventies. Even after all these years, the group of us are still in touch. If anyone remembers us and would like to get in touch, please post on here and see if we can get in contact. We would really love to contact Babs Turner, formerly of Sale, Cheshire and Maggie West, but have totally lost touch with both of them. We're always keen to see pictures of the donkeys and ponies taken when we were there. Please post if you have any. Thanks.
Wed May 14 08:06:03 2008
R.Cole
Are the Ffrith gardens going to become an overspill of the undesirables of Rhyl? I think so. I just pity the people who have to tolerate the caravans, rubbish everywhere and the rat infestation that will come in time. God help all the residents in Prestatyn who were not even consulted. Surely there must be laws against this.
Tue May 6 11:19:31 2008
Dave from Prestatyn
The new look Ffrith has no landscaping, no gardens but lots of litter and a discarded fairground from Rhyl. What a terrific attraction for residents and visitors! Welcome to 21st century Prestatyn.
Thu May 1 08:32:32 2008
Tara Cole
I agree that a lot can be done with the Ffrith. I don't think placing a fairground inherited from Rhyl is the way forward. Get the Ffrith looking beautiful.
Mon Apr 14 09:23:30 2008
David
For all those who miss the old funfair at Rhyl, it doesn't look like you will have long to wait before it is restored to its decrepit glory. It is now being re-assembled on the Ffrith festival gardens car park, along with a new free for all caravan site. Just think this is all happening in time for you to vote in the local elections, would it be allowed in the south of the county?
Wed Apr 9 09:09:07 2008
Joe Trigg, Rhyl
For the last 10 yrs I have been involved with most of the dance associations and can confirm there are dancers most Sundays in 2008 at Ffrith beach. Prebooked wristbands are also available for all organised groups for our funfair now being planned. Lots going on at Ffrith in 2008.
Mon Feb 18 15:54:13 2008
Geoff from Prestatyn
There’s not many venues in North Wales that could beat the newly reopened Ffrith Beach leisure complex. After being left for dead for 14 years by the local councils, a few true visionaries have brought it back from the brink of its flat-line existence. On offer is a state-of-the-art ten-pin bowling alley with a light show to equal a close encounter of any kind. Still under construction is a soft play area and a quad-bike circuit perfectly placed on the old pitch-and-putt golf links due for completion around Easter. There is also the Italian restaurant, La Freccia.
Thu Jan 24 08:52:59 2008
Kate - Liverpool
Hi, I am not sure what's happening with Ffrith Beach this year. But I will tell you this, us Morris Dancers are back. We have been told that the Festival Gardens and surrounding area are being revamped and that they are looking to be up and ready by the first time we dance there. Our first competition at Ffrith will be on Sunday 18th May 2008 and then where back again on the 13th July and again on the 31st August. I have never danced at Ffrith but am really looking forward to doing so in 2008. My friends have many good memories of dancing here and I know my troupe can't wait. I just hope it's all ready! I hope you come out to see us Morris Dancers once again cos we can't wait xxx
Wed Jan 16 08:00:05 2008
Alison Nock, Prestatyn
I live on the Coast Road five mins from the Frith. Don't go back to the 70s, make this a site for 2008. House prices have dropped in Rhyl, my house has been for sale for two years and the Frith being empty doesn't make it any better. What do I pay my council tax for to see a disused waste land and rubbish site? Please Denbighshire council get your act together!
Fri Jan 11 10:05:07 2008
Andrew Hughes ex Rhyl, now Leeds
Having read all the above comments I feel saddened to read that the Frith is now very run down. I remember living in Rhyl (Lynwood Drive) and visiting the Frith many times with my parents, this would be around late 50s and early 60s and always enjoying it. There were boats, paddling pool and other things but the mists of time take it all away. However having been past there a few time over the years I know it was not very good but hopefully now it will be improved.
Mon Jan 7 11:12:47 2008
Joel Dolben, Brisbane
I am Meliden/Prestatyn born and bred, but obviously not any more. I worked at the Ffrith fairground on the motor boats and bumper boats for seven consecutive summers from 1987 to 1993. It was a great way to make money and hang out with my mates for the whole summer. I have only good memories of those times (even when the morris dancers were there!). I did see Ffrith slowly slide into a gradual decline, but the people who worked there were always under the impression that the council would perhaps improve the amenities and improve the overall experience that people could have when they went there for a day out. It never happened. I was 19 yrs old when I finished up there. We were telling tourists and day-trippers for weeks that the whole place was closing down and not to bother coming back next year. How sad. Anyway, five years later, as a street wise 24 year old I was back there again! Not on the boats, but weeding for the council! It was more than heartbreaking to see the acres of nettles, the algae filled pond, and the unfinished work all festering under the nose of the David Bryant Lawn Bowls Centre. On this particular day, the weather was typically poor, and so was the look on the local councillors' faces as local TV crews (BBC or HTV) started to ask them why the "Festival Gardens", (Funeral Gardens?) was in such a dilapidated state and why were all the tourists not flocking back to the new "Jewel in the North Wales Crown", the Festival Gardens. Needless to say they fudged it all over with a few well chosen sound bytes. I was back at the Ffrith in 2002 with my now wife and it looked the same as it did in 1998. Like a tip with a pond but with shops. Turn it round and make it good! I know the Ffrith can rock again, and, hopefully, provide the same amount of fun and great laughs that I used to enjoy.
Fri Jan 4 10:29:23 2008
K Sosa
Just in reply to Anon from Prestatyn, I think that input in itself is a great thing, to have input from all walks of life that are going to benefit from the venture is more plausible, to have it from one select group, i.e, the kids who seem to get a bad name by doing bad things, hanging around the streets, is not a constructive way forward and only limits a venture if built on that single premise. Many thanks.
Mon Dec 31 08:35:57 2007
Anon, Prestatyn
I think personally that the children and teenagers of Prestatyn and the local area should have been approached for ideas on what would be good for the site as they are the next generation growing up in a town with nothing to do but hang about the local parks and town centre drinking ,smoking and getting a bad name.
Mon Dec 17 07:58:44 2007
Chris Wilding from Staffordshire
A message for Andy Oliver from York. I would love to see the pictures you are on about of the arcades and any others you have. I don't know whether this will get put on here or not, but if it does and you manage to read this then I would love to see them, or anyone else that has any pics from 70s to 80s of the Ffrith. My email address is with the webteam or email them to the website at wales.northeast@bbc.co.uk
Mon Oct 29 09:09:04 2007
Andy Oliver from York
Chris Wilding, the slide you're referring to was called the Astroglide. I used to go on this even when it was shut in the winter. It would be fantastic if they could bring the boats back. If you want real nostalgia of the 70s-80s period go to Facebook and check out the Ffrith Beach Memorial Society. I think as long as it's kept tasteful it should succeed over a longer period of time as it would take a lot of work and recommendations for word to spread enough for tourists to finally start coming back, but I am confident it will happen again. I took a look around the Ffrith about a month ago also and there were bungee jumps, and a small ice rink, not a lot really but people were there and kids were back using it. I'm definitely coming back in the summer and even contemplating the Christmas events they are having there (just an excuse to go check it out really, take the kid and see what progress is being made). I have collected a fair few photos of the Ffrith in the 1979-1983 season (the golden time for me) and if copyright permitted will be allowed to publish these online. These include both the blue arcade and the yellow arcade (by the fair). I'd like the local historian Harry Thomas to upload all the pictures he's got of this period also, he must have loads, surely. Unfortunately, the Happy Valley has gone (the hills before the dunes have been cut out so the landscape is totally different but funnily enough you can see the foundations of the old cafe, the kiosks and the shop there plus the old road kerbs). The new Ffrith area is now situated to the west a little where the go-karts used to be and the blue arcade with joke shop/T-shirt shop. All the entertainment area will be based around there and further back to where the pitch and putt used to be (now a rabbit warren overgrown - and the old back road to Earlswood Avenue has been obscured by sand in the dunes so you can only just make it out).
Wed Oct 17 11:42:09 2007
Stuart Lewis
I now have been twice to the la Freccia restauant at the Ffrith and what first class food and service they have and it's so nice to see the whole area been developed again after all these years been left in a bad way. It takes outsiders to bring the Ffrith back to its glory. Why do we need councillors who have wasted our rates on a white elephant over the past ten years? At least these new owners have a brain to see the potential of the area.
Mon Oct 15 09:28:03 2007
Chris Wilding
Does anyone remember the big slide that was almost on the sea front? That would be great if they put one up again as they are getting rare - you don't see them like you used to. And it would also be nice to see the boats back, and dodgems, and go carts. Would also be nice to see a proper footpath through the sand dunes to the beach as it's really hard if you have a pushchair. I visited the Ffrith about a month ago, apart from the fire damage it's slowly getting there. And for all concerned - keep up the good work as I really hope one day to return with my own children.
Mon Oct 15 08:44:24 2007
Andy Oliver from York
I went down to Prestatyn last weekend and walked around the Ffrith. There is a little bit of life there but not much. I saw La Freccia the Italian restaurant and I also saw they put a helter skelter there (the original one?). There were a couple of bungee jump machines and a small outdoor ice rink but they were all huddled over by the disused plastic cowboy buildings and looked a bit lost. BUT it was a start for sure, seems like if it's done incrementally they'll be onto a better thing for sure. We all want so much for the Ffrith to come back to life. You wouldn't recognise the new Ffrith now as the main road entrance has gone and the original hills have been bulldozed or cut out so you can't tell the original landscape. It's definitely in the process of being cleaned up. I really hope I can take my kid there in the summer of 2008 and have a full day there of enjoyment. I want my kid to enjoy what I used to.
Wed Oct 3 08:34:33 2007
Andrea, Prestatyn
I am delighted that the Ffrith Festival Gardens is finally getting the attention it needs. I think a train down the prom from the area to the Beaches Hotel and to Rhyl also would be a wonderful idea.
Mon Sep 24 09:38:25 2007
David Cooper from Prestatyn
At last things wonderful things are happening on the Ffrith, a new Italian eaterie has openend and is very nice. Overgrown hedges have been cut back and work as started on the buildings. The bowling alley and skating rink are set to open for Christmas. Hooray.
Mon Sep 10 09:41:21 2007
Your views about Ffrith Beach Festival Gardens which, after a long campaign, has been redeveloped and turned back into a leisure park.
