Crowds of holidaymakers gave Burnham-On-Sea’s economy a welcome boost during the final summer holiday weekend of the year – but trade for the whole season was still poor, traders said this week.
Almost all hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses in Burnham were fully occupied for the final Bank Holiday weekend of the year, with large numbers of visitors flocking to the town.
But the three-month summer season has not been as sucessful as some business owners hoped.
Joanne Townley of the Royal Clarence Hotel told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “It was a very busy Bank Holiday weekend, and overall it has been a good summer for accommodation bookings, but people have just not been spending as much on food and drink as they used to. We think this is down to the recession.”
And while crowds of visitors were also seen along the Esplanade and the High Street over the weekend, large profits were not made.
Chamber of Trade Chairman Geoff Shickle told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “April, May and June were good, but the poorer weather in July and August meant the momentum was lost.”
“The height of the season over the last eight weeks has been disappointing, but hopefully some fine weather in September may give the town an autumn bounce.”
