How was summer trade for Great Yarmouth seafront businesses?

Businesses remained open to serve end-of-season holidaymakers, who enjoyed the seaside laying in the sun, watching bowls and lapping up ice creams.

People enjoy the hazy sunny weather and higher temperatures at Great Yarmouth. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

Britannia Pier deputy manager Keegan Snell said despite the slow start the summer had been a success.

"We had the weather against us at the start of the summer," he said.

"But with the pier's new additions to the arcades and the funfair, footfall has been up overall."

Mr Snell said Long John's Back Pier was still not seeing crowds it did before Covid, but it was still on the upswing.

Keegan Snell, manager at Britannia Pier at Great Yarmouth. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

"It's been an enjoyable busy year," he added.

"It's been nice to see so many people on the pier, and we've got more additions coming we think visitors will enjoy."

The pier's arcades are set to remain open after the summer season.

People enjoy the warm weather at Britannia Pier at Great Yarmouth. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

Over at the Slush Hut, manager Esther Roberts said the start of the summer didn't offer a lot of promise to seaside trade.

"From Easter, the weather wasn't on our side and that makes all the difference in this industry," she said.

Esther Roberts, manager of Slush Hut. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

"But once the school holidays began, the weather was much more consistent and everything picked up.

"So, despite the shaky start, this summer has been great. Certainly different to last year, where we had beautiful weather from start to finish, but we've seen a lot of people out and about enjoying themselves."

A landau driver on Great Yarmouth seafront. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

It was a similar story at the Pirates Cove Adventure Golf. Co-owner John Daniels said the summer began below par due to the weather.

"But we're now back to pre-pandemic numbers and getting back to some sort of normality," he said.

Even Batman (Billy Halstead) was out enjoying the weather at Great Yarmouth on Wednesday. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

While the seaside town enjoyed temperatures of up to 27C on Wednesday, the weather is expected to stay warm and sunny for the rest of the week and over the weekend. 

The Met Office forecasts a high of 27C with clear skies on Sunday.

People watching the bowls and enjoying the sunny weather on Great Yarmouth seafront. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)