Seaside visitors going home earlier, traders say

1 hour ago

Jessica Lanein Skegness

News image — Craig Watts, who runs the Boating Lake Cafe, thinks people do not have money to spend on luxuries

BBC A man in a pink polo shirt looks at the camera. He is standing next to signs advertising waffle and ice cream. A big wheel is in the distance. — Craig Watts, who runs the Boating Lake Cafe, thinks people do not have money to spend on luxuries

Seaside traders believe people are spending fewer evenings and less cash in one of the east coast's biggest resorts.

Restaurateurs, publicans and shop owners in Skegness, Lincolnshire, say business is down significantly this summer.

Statistics gathered for East Lindsey District Council show that there were 2.94 million visitors to the coast in 2025, 8% higher than in 2024, with an economic impact of almost £752m (up 15%).

But Craig Watts, who runs a fish and chip cafe by the seafront, says: "We've had all this great weather this year. People are coming, but there's no money."

He adds: "We're struggling to stay open until 5.30pm now and we're not opening as early as we used to.

"We see an arrival at around 12 noon and at 4pm it's dropping off. It's day trippers."

A woman in a black sleeveless dress looks at the camera. She has dark sunglasses and a silver necklace. She is standing in front of shelves full of sweets and toys. — Hilary Fox says visitors are not spending as much money this year

Hilary Fox, who has owned the factory rock shop on the main shopping street for 57 years, echoes his views.

"We close around 7.30pm now. We used to be here until nine, but there's nobody about," she says.

"I think there's more day trippers than holidaymakers, so they want to get home.

"There's lots of people about in the day. It's just not the same. I don't think they've got the money."

A man in a black polo shirt which says Suncastle on the left-hand side looks at the camera. He is wearing a dark baseball cap and sunglasses sit on top of the rim. He is standing in front of some chairs and tables and a building shaped like a castle is behind him. — Richard Underwood says his pub has not seen enough good days this year

At the Suncastle pub, landlord Richard Underwood says the summer is vital to tourist resorts.

"We rely on a huge influx of visitors during the school holidays and footfall is definitely down.

"It's been a very strange season so far. We've had some really busy days, but not enough. It has been a struggle at times."

The venue, which opened in 1932 as a tea room and solarium, has been in Underwood's family since 2004. But he has had to cut back evening entertainment from every night to weekends only.

"Evenings are not what we've been used to. I'd say it's a gradual trend we've seen over the last two or three years," he says.

"People haven't got the resources to sit in a pub for three or four hours and enjoy themselves. I get the impression people are holidaying on a tighter budget."

'More than ever'

East Lindsey District Council says official visitor figures for 2026 are not available yet, but 2025 was a good year.

Speaking in July, councillor Steve Kirk, the portfolio holder for the coastal economy, said statistics showed "more people than ever" were "choosing to stay and enjoy everything our coastal communities have to offer".

Across the whole district, which also includes the popular Lincolnshire Wolds, there were 1.927 million staying visitors (up 13% on 2024) and 2.837 million day visitors (up 2.7%).

They supported 6,814 jobs across the district, up 5%.

However, the figures did show a shift in where people stay, with the number of visitor days for serviced accommodation in East Lindsey falling from 856,000 in 2023 to 722,000 in 2025.

During the same period, visitor days in non-serviced accommodation rose from 8.1 million to 8.9 million.

A woman with long blonde hair smiles at the camera. She is sitting next to a pram, a bag and some pairs of shoes. She is wearing a black and white checked, sleeveless top and two tattoos on her left arm. Behind her are fairground rides. — Aiobheann Collins-Gould and her family save up for their holiday to Skegness each year

Visitors to Skegness say they still love their holidays, but are doing their best to cut back on spending.

Aiobheann Collins-Gould comes to the resort every year with her family from Birmingham. They save up so they can get away, but she says it is still hard to afford.

"If you have younger kids you're up early and out of the house, so you're spending money from seven in the morning, so you can't really stay out until seven in the evening – especially with the price of everything going up."

Lerato Marumo, from Nottingham, is on holiday with her two children.

"It's not as busy as we thought it would be here, but there's still a lot to do. I will go broke by the end of the week," she says.

Three people look at the camera. The woman on the left wears a pink vest top and patterned shorts. The woman to her right wears a dress with fruit on and the young girl in front is in a T-shirt. — Rachel Garriock, with her mother Mary and daughter. They say they go back to their accommodation in the evenings

Rachel Garriock, from Nottingham, is on holiday with her mother and daughter. She says it feels busier than in previous years, but adds: "We don't go out at night because we've got the little one.

"It was quiet before we went home yesterday – it had definitely quietened down by about 7pm."

One issue identified by Skegness Town Council involves street lights being turned off at midnight in some parts of town as a cost-saving measure, meaning some residents and holidaymakers have to walk to their homes or caravan parks in darkness.

Taxpayers have been asked if they are prepared to pay extra to turn them back on.

Watts, whose family has run the Boating Lake Cafe for about 27 years, fears that if current trends continue, the resort will suffer.

"We realistically have 10 trading weeks to make money. You work towards the school holidays.

"We're doing different offers now. A mini fish and chips which is cheaper, which we've not done previously [and] Monday to Friday ice cream offers. We're trying to regain some money back, but it's difficult."

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