It’s been a full year since a Merseyside village said farewell to its beloved Pontins holiday camp.
The sudden closure of the resort by Britannia Hotels left shockwaves among local residents and raised concerns about the future of Ainsdale Village – the resort’s host for over five decades.
The Liverpool Echo visited Ainsdale Village 12 months after the closure to gauge the atmosphere following the park’s shutdown. What they found was a village thriving despite the presence of the abandoned holiday park.
Lorraine Griffin, who works at The Chocolate Box newsagents, said: “I work and live in the village and have done for more than 30 years.”
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Speaking about the loss of the holiday park, she added: “It’s a shame really because it did bring people into the town and into the village. It helped the shop too because we sell buckets and spades, sweets for the kids, so it did bring people into the shop, but having said that the shop is doing well without it.”
Despite initial concerns, Lorraine pointed that Ainsdale Village is now on the up and up since the holiday park closed it doors. Station Road, for example, now exudes vibrancy with its lively bars, delectable eateries and array of shops.
Life is very much starting to return to this part of Ainsdale, with the recent addition of The Beach House, a pop-up food and drink stall. The Sands, which has sat boarded up since 2017, is currently under offer from a mystery bidder and it’s hoped its reopening could see a further rejuvenation of the beachfront.
Ainsdale Village has become a microcosm for the everchanging hospitality industry in recent years – the Golden Monkey being a prime example. Another recent addition is The Mallard, a more traditional pub serving a range of drinks and food.
Just last month In Den Engel opened its doors on Liverpool Road, where it offers customers more than 130 beers. The pub captures the current zeitgeist of sampling beers from around the world.
Lorraine Cross, bar manager at the Golden Monkey, shared her own insights on the local business climate: “I’ve only worked here for a year but I don’t think we’ve lost out since it’s [Pontins] shut. It’s just been normal.”
She added, “Even though we’re quite close to Pontins, being next to the train station, we’ve not lost out at all. We have a strong customer base here with people who live in the village.”
Reflecting on the shift in local popularity, she remarked, “Once upon a time it used to be Formby and Birkdale that were the places to be but the number of people that now rave about Ainsdale village, I think it’s great. It’s good to have all these thriving businesses in the area.”
Originally hailing from Chester, Lorraine has called Ainsdale home for over two decades, living there intermittently with her husband. After spending a significant portion of her adult life in the corporate world, she decided to leave it behind and work for a local independent business close to home – a decision she hasn’t regretted.
She expressed her love for the convenience of having the beach and pinewoods right at her doorstep, a sentiment shared by many residents of this village located south of Southport town centre. However, despite all the positive aspects of Ainsdale, one question remains unanswered – what will become of Pontins?
Last September, it was revealed that Britannia Hotels holds a 150-year lease agreement with Sefton Council, which owns the land where the holiday park is situated.
Britannia Hotels, a budget hotel group with 64 establishments across the UK, has owned the Sefton holiday park since 2011. Some Ainsdale locals told the Echo that if the site isn’t repurposed immediately, it should be “knocked down”.
A persistent rumour claiming the park would be turned into a golf course has also been quashed.
Alistair Urry, who lives a stone’s throw from the Shore Road site, has lived in Ainsdale on and off for the last 30 years and claims the village hasn’t missed the visitors the park would usually attract. He said: “People are coming into the village from around the town, it’s good to see businesses busy and making money.”
Local MP Bill Esterson said: “We now have an eyesore in Ainsdale and people are fed up with the situation. I ran a consultation and it was the biggest response I have ever had. There is a real desire for investment in what is known as the beach gateway. People want it to be an attraction for people locally and those coming from out of the area.”
Mr Esterson also added he plans to speak with other members of parliament about the situation with Britannia Hotels, with the company also shutting the doors at its Prestatyn and Camber Sands camps in 2022.