HARDWORKING locals have opened up about life in one of Britain’s busiest seaside towns where tourists queue to get into packed pubs.
The picturesque resort of Tenby in Wales attracts around two million holidaymakers each year thanks to its colourful houses and stunning beaches.
A picture from the Easter weekend showed punters queuing for a drink in Tenby[/caption]
The Welsh seaside town attracts millions of visitors each year[/caption]
Come summer, the narrow cobbled streets are filled with tourists spilling out of shops, bars and restaurants.
The influx began early this year as pictures showed a queue of Brits waiting to get into one of Tenby’s many pubs over the Easter Weekend.
With a sunny Bank Holiday weekend now in full swing, locals have revealed how they are adapting with the flood of tourists after a tumultuous few years during the Covid pandemic.
Rachel Thompson, who owns Lindholme Guest House, told Wales Online: “This is a small medieval town with small streets so it will always look really, really busy in the summer months.
“If the weather is nice you can’t be in a better place than Tenby; it’s a brilliant holiday destination, and there’s definitely enough here to go around.
“Even in the summer, nobody will struggle to get a room, there’s definitely enough capacity.
“There are flats, there are Air B&Bs, cottages, B&Bs, hotels, and people can also go towards Saundersfoot, St Florence, Manorbier – all these places are within five or six miles of Tenby.
“The locals are friendly, there are lots of nice places to eat, places to stay, great fish and chip shops, beaches everywhere. It’s beautiful and it’s definitely ready for the summer season. Why wouldn’t you want to come here?”
Angus Dunlop, owner of Tenby Boat Trips, said he is in a “better position to cope” after introducing internet bookings and upping the amount of trips in the summer months.
But he said more parking spaces being introduced in the town would help deal with the swell of tourists.
Angus added: “Our main focus as a business community is to be a family friendly town, that’s our market.
“The days of being known as a town for stag dos and hen weekends are gone.”
While Matt Ronowitz, who owns Ronni’z Lounge, the Qube restaurant and Cove bar, is adamant Tenby can cope with the flock of tourists.
He said: “Tenby is not too busy.
“What it seems to have lost is the social drinking culture. Since Covid, people don’t seem to go out to just drink – the town gets very quiet early.
“I think, with Covid, we lost a lot of trade because people weren’t able to just stand at the bar, and we haven’t got back into that habit.”
Tenby is famed for its breathtaking cliff views, castle walls, sandy beaches and quaint harbour.
Castle Beach being voted number one in the Great British Beach Guide 2019 has also helped attract tourists.
Every September, it hosts the Ironman triathlon event, which helps boost local businesses as spectators line the pretty streets.
Locals say they are prepared for a flood of tourists[/caption]
Rachel Thompson, who owns Lindholme Guest House, said the town in a ‘brilliant holiday destination’[/caption]
Restaurateur Matt Ronowitz said the town can cope with the amount of tourists[/caption]