Seaside visitors going home earlier, traders say
Traders in the English seaside resort of Skegness report a decline in evening business and consumer spending despite an increase in total visitor numbers. Local business owners attribute the trend to economic pressures, noting that visitors are increasingly day-trippers who spend less money.
Why it matters
The report highlights the disconnect between tourism volume and local economic health, reflecting broader concerns about the cost-of-living crisis in the UK.
Image caption, Craig Watts, who runs the Boating Lake Cafe, thinks people do not have money to spend on luxuries
Seaside traders believe people are spending fewer evenings and less cash in one of the biggest resorts on England's east coast.
Restaurateurs, publicans and shop owners in Skegness, Lincolnshire, say business is down significantly this summer.
Statistics gathered for East Lindsey District Council show that there were 2.94 million visitors to the coast in 2025, 8% higher than in 2024, with an economic impact of almost £752m (up 15%).
But Craig Watts, who runs a fish and chip cafe by the seafront, says: "We've had all this great weather this year. People are coming, but there's no money."
He adds: "We're struggling to stay open until 5.30pm now and we're not opening as early as we used to.
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