‘It’s all we’ve ever known’ Locals mourn funfair closure after more than 100 years

When the screams from the Waltzer stop and the intoxicating smell of fresh donuts fades away, Portcawl must look to the future without Coney Beach Amusement Park, which will close after 107 years.

The seaside amusement park has been delighting families since it first opened in 1918 to lift the spirits of American GIs returning from the horrors of the First World War.

But after diminishing footfall and a horrific fatal accident, its owners announced that the beloved, but faded, funfair will close in October.

The ghost train, tea cups and iconic bumpy slide will be torn down to make way for a new 1,100 home development.

The traditional fresh seafood stall with its dizzying array of cockles, mussels and whelks plucked from the Bristol Channel will be replaced by sleek modern shops and restaurants.

The owners described the heartbreaking decision as marking the ‘end of an era’ on Facebook. ‘For over 100 years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl helping to make it a busy seaside destination’, they wrote.

‘We will miss it greatly and while we are sad to see our time here come to an end we are forever grateful to have had the opportunity to have been part of so many generations of families lives, young and old.

‘Thank you for sharing our love of “all the fun of the fair” and the legacy that Coney Beach leaves.’

Simon Hogarth, 29, owner of fried chicken restaurant The Bone Cartel told Metro he was saddened by the news.

‘Love or hate it I think Porthcawl will lose a lot of its character when the fair is gone,’ he said.

‘I’ll always have fond memories of going to Coney Beach, it’s been a Porthcawl staple for years.

‘You rock up with the excitement of the rides, smell the chippies and the fresh donuts and it instantly takes you back years.

‘I’ve spent many times there as a young boy with family and later on in my early teenage years with friends.

‘It’s hard to know how it’ll impact the town, especially from a business sense.

‘It’s all we’ve ever known here, so to see how it’ll play out when it’s done will be interesting.’

The park was temporarily closed for a number of years following the outbreak of World War II because the 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment was based at the Coney Beach site.

The 1950s were the peak of popularity at the park – with events like boxing matches, firework displays and aerial acrobat shows organised by the Royal Air Force.

Since the 1990s visitor numbers have dwindled and in 1994, a 9-year-old boy died in an accident on the site’s Water Chute after a gantry fell onto the track.

But Lucy Domachowski, who owns the Harbwr Deli in town, told Metro Coney Beach has been ‘a core part of Porthcawl’s identity for generations’.

‘It’s a place packed with nostalgia, tradition and childhood joy, so the news is incredibly sad for a lot of people. It’s hard to imagine the seafront without it.

‘My dad, who now co-runs our family café, used to go there as a child.

‘He has really fond memories of being there on summer evenings, hearing the music playing and the buzz of the rides while eating candyfloss.

‘It’s been a constant backdrop to life in Porthcawl for so many years.

‘Coney Beach wasn’t just a fairground. It was part of growing up here. It brought families together, drew visitors in and gave the town its energy.

Looking to the future, she said: ‘The town is definitely on the cusp of big change. There’s a lot of development planned by Bridgend Council, and while that brings opportunity, it’s also a real shift in the character of the seafront.

‘For decades, the fair has drawn thousands of visitors here over the summer months. It’s been a big driver for footfall and has helped support small, independent businesses like ours.

‘Whatever comes next needs to recognise that and help fill the gap — we need something that not only respects Porthcawl’s past but also keeps the town thriving in the future.

‘We hope the next chapter for the seafront honours that history while building something that truly benefits local people and helps keep the heart of Porthcawl beating.’

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