Latest news with #Skyflyer
Rhyl Journal
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl's ill-fated SkyFlyer site is being cleared at last
Zip World pulled the plug on its Skyflyer attraction in October 2023. Following a number of set backs, the giant blimp-like airship never took off. Setbacks included engineering issues, a tear in its design, and the full force of heavy winds. Now photos have emerged showing the site being cleared, much to the relief of residents. Buildings connected to the Skyflyer remain on site, including the 'check-in' building (Image: Rhyl events and activities) Temporary buildings had been put up on the site, including a 'meet and greet' / 'check-in' facility. Rhyl events and activities, who shared the photos on Facebook with the caption 'Looks like the old "unforgettable" #zipworldrhyl site is getting cleared at last', told the Journal: "It is great to see it being cleared and it would be fabulous to see some other activity put in its place such as an ice rink, high wire climbing facilities, surf pool or a roller skating rink. "We could even have a kart track or a 'flip out' centre like Chester. "There's a whole list of amenities we could do with to enhance the town." Work to clear the site has started (Image: Rhyl events and activities) At the time the attraction was pulled, Zip World said: 'Following a fault with Skyflyer last month, which caused the aerostat to deflate, we have now safely removed the aerostat from the site in Rhyl. RELATED STORIES TIMELINE: How Rhyl's Skyflyer dream came crashing down SkyFlyer to be built at former Sun Centre site in Rhyl recommended for take off Zip World founder behind new attraction for Rhyl that will take fearless riders 400ft up in the air "Our primary aim has always been to work alongside the manufacturer to get Skyflyer operational, and we're hugely disappointed the latest incident has resulted in us coming to the conclusion that this is not possible. The re-inflated Skyflyer in March 2023 (Image: Ray Worsnop) 'Sadly, we've taken the decision to stop any, and all, further development of the Skyflyer experience. 'We understand that many in the local community will be disappointed with this updated, and we share their frustration. 'At present, we are in the preliminary stages with Denbighshire Leisure of exploring other alternative options for the Rhyl site." The deflated Skyflyer; heavy winds proved too much for the Skyflyer to endure (Image: Submitted) The Skyflyer was first expected to open in the summer of 2022. It had planned to take thrill-seekers in a 32-metre inflated balloon, 400ft in the air, to enjoy panoramic views of the coast of North Wales and beyond. The attraction was designed to offer 360° views - stretching from Moel Famau and the Great Orme in Llandudno all the way to Liverpool on a clear day. It was being built at the former Sun Centre site. The 'blimp' was created by Lindstrand Technologies Ltd of Oswestry. They were working Zip World and Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) on the attraction. Denbighshire County Council have been approached for comment. Zip World have also been approached. Efforts are being made to contact DLL.
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Rhyl's multi-screen cinema to reopen in latest boost for seaside town
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Rhyl's multi-screen cinema is set to reopen as the embattled seaside town shows early signs of a revival. The town has suffered a tough few years with the closure of the Vue cinema on the seafront, as well as losing the SeaQuarium and the failure of the Skyflyer to take-off. This was compounded by storm damage closing the SC2 waterpark. But this week came the news it would reopen next month. The town is also set to benefit from a £20m UK Government investment in the resort - with a board set up to decide how that should be spent. The Queen's Market Food Hall and Event space will also open in July. Now independent national cinema operator, Merlin Cinemas have announced they will take over the closed five-screen cinema, subject to completing lease arrangements with Denbighshire County Council, who own the site. The Cornwall-based independent operator has 21 other cinemas across the UK, including the Scala at Prestatyn. The company has a reputation for operating historic cinemas, as well as repurposed and modern buildings as cinemas, in communities often overlooked or underserved by larger cinema companies. Following the closure of the cinema at the end of January, Denbighshire County Council said it has been "working hard" to attract an operator to the popular amenity on Rhyl's promenade. Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said: 'We're delighted to have Merlin on board to ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy a great day out in Rhyl. Once the lease is signed and Merlin have taken over, the cinema will play a pivotal role in the broader regeneration efforts in Rhyl town centre.' Merlin is working closely with the Council to complete and sign the lease and with suppliers to assess the work needed behind the scenes before it can reopen. They said they are committed to improving the cinema and enhancing the cinema experience for the local community. It may mean that the cinema reopens in phases. There will also be a new name, which is still under wraps. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Merlin's Founder and Managing Director, Geoff Greaves, who was awarded an MBE for his outstanding contribution to the cinema industry, said: 'We're delighted to have been successful in our bid to operate this cinema. We're already familiar with the location because of our cinema four miles along the coast in Prestatyn, but when the opportunity came along, we jumped at the chance. "We are doing everything we can to get the doors open so that the town has a cinema again. We really believe that seeing a film at the cinema on the big screen with family or friends is a very different experience to watching it at home; it is more memorable, more sociable and offers a sense of occasion. We look forward to welcoming you back to your cinema very soon.' Councillor McLellan added: 'The cinema itself is in a great location opposite Queen's Market Food Hall and Event space, which will open on 10 July, therefore this is a great opportunity to be part of an exciting time for Rhyl. As a Council, we're delighted to have found an operator to take over the site so quickly and we're looking forward to working with Merlin to secure the success of the facility. 'When it opens, I urge residents to support the cinema as well as other leisure facilities in the town – we need everyone to be backing our businesses to ensure their continued success.' Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
North Wales Live
13-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Rhyl's multi-screen cinema to reopen in latest boost for seaside town
Rhyl's multi-screen cinema is set to reopen as the embattled seaside town shows early signs of a revival. The town has suffered a tough few years with the closure of the Vue cinema on the seafront, as well as losing the SeaQuarium and the failure of the Skyflyer to take-off. This was compounded by storm damage closing the SC2 waterpark. But this week came the news it would reopen next month. The town is also set to benefit from a £20m UK Government investment in the resort - with a board set up to decide how that should be spent. The Queen's Market Food Hall and Event space will also open in July. Now independent national cinema operator, Merlin Cinemas have announced they will take over the closed five-screen cinema, subject to completing lease arrangements with Denbighshire County Council, who own the site. The Cornwall-based independent operator has 21 other cinemas across the UK, including the Scala at Prestatyn. The company has a reputation for operating historic cinemas, as well as repurposed and modern buildings as cinemas, in communities often overlooked or underserved by larger cinema companies. Following the closure of the cinema at the end of January, Denbighshire County Council said it has been "working hard" to attract an operator to the popular amenity on Rhyl's promenade. Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said: 'We're delighted to have Merlin on board to ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy a great day out in Rhyl. Once the lease is signed and Merlin have taken over, the cinema will play a pivotal role in the broader regeneration efforts in Rhyl town centre.' Merlin is working closely with the Council to complete and sign the lease and with suppliers to assess the work needed behind the scenes before it can reopen. They said they are committed to improving the cinema and enhancing the cinema experience for the local community. It may mean that the cinema reopens in phases. There will also be a new name, which is still under wraps. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Merlin's Founder and Managing Director, Geoff Greaves, who was awarded an MBE for his outstanding contribution to the cinema industry, said: 'We're delighted to have been successful in our bid to operate this cinema. We're already familiar with the location because of our cinema four miles along the coast in Prestatyn, but when the opportunity came along, we jumped at the chance. "We are doing everything we can to get the doors open so that the town has a cinema again. We really believe that seeing a film at the cinema on the big screen with family or friends is a very different experience to watching it at home; it is more memorable, more sociable and offers a sense of occasion. We look forward to welcoming you back to your cinema very soon.' Councillor McLellan added: 'The cinema itself is in a great location opposite Queen's Market Food Hall and Event space, which will open on 10 July, therefore this is a great opportunity to be part of an exciting time for Rhyl. As a Council, we're delighted to have found an operator to take over the site so quickly and we're looking forward to working with Merlin to secure the success of the facility. 'When it opens, I urge residents to support the cinema as well as other leisure facilities in the town – we need everyone to be backing our businesses to ensure their continued success.' Join the North Wales Live
Wales Online
10-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
North Wales waterpark sets long awaited date to reopen
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A North Wales waterpark is set to reopen next month. SC2 waterpark - dubbed the 'new Sun Centre' after the famous former attraction - was opened in 2019 after a £15m investment on Rhyl seafront. But it was damaged by storms at the end of 2023 and was forced to close. This was one of a number of blows to Rhyl in recent times, with the multi-screen cinema and SeaQuarium closing, and the Skyflyer failing to take off. Today Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) announced the waterpark was reopening on July 5. They said new attractions had been added and that there would be discounts for locals. The new additions include a free adventure play structure in the Rainforest Diner that has been built for visitors. Bookings for the attraction open today. A DLL spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, due to storm damage to the roof at SC2, the waterpark has been closed for over a year. The repair work required was extensive, but the final touches are now being confirmed and the DLL team have pulled out all the stops to get the waterpark back open ready for the start of July." Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Jamie Groves, Managing Director at DLL, said: 'Everyone at DLL is extremely excited to see our flagship attraction reopening. The damage to the roof was extensive, but we were never going to let that get us down. SC2 is the jewel in Rhyl's crown and our priority was to re-open the attraction as soon as we possibly could. (Image: Daily Post Wales) "We know how important SC2 is to Rhyl, and we were determined to come back bigger and better than before. As one of the Denbighshire 's biggest employers, we are proud to have recently taken on another 30 people at SC2, and will be reopening with an exciting team, who can't wait to give everyone the very best customer experiences. "This year, we want to give visitors and residents a summer of fun and happy memories at SC2, and we can't wait to see you all in July, with exclusive discounts for locals as a thank you for their support while we were closed!" Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
North Wales Live
10-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
North Wales waterpark sets long awaited date to reopen
A North Wales waterpark is set to reopen next month. SC2 waterpark - dubbed the 'new Sun Centre' after the famous former attraction - was opened in 2019 after a £15m investment on Rhyl seafront. But it was damaged by storms at the end of 2023 and was forced to close. This was one of a number of blows to Rhyl in recent times, with the multi-screen cinema and SeaQuarium closing, and the Skyflyer failing to take off. Today Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) announced the waterpark was reopening on July 5. They said new attractions had been added and that there would be discounts for locals. The new additions include a free adventure play structure in the Rainforest Diner that has been built for visitors. Bookings for the attraction open today. A DLL spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, due to storm damage to the roof at SC2, the waterpark has been closed for over a year. The repair work required was extensive, but the final touches are now being confirmed and the DLL team have pulled out all the stops to get the waterpark back open ready for the start of July." Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Jamie Groves, Managing Director at DLL, said: 'Everyone at DLL is extremely excited to see our flagship attraction reopening. The damage to the roof was extensive, but we were never going to let that get us down. SC2 is the jewel in Rhyl's crown and our priority was to re-open the attraction as soon as we possibly could. "We know how important SC2 is to Rhyl, and we were determined to come back bigger and better than before. As one of the Denbighshire 's biggest employers, we are proud to have recently taken on another 30 people at SC2, and will be reopening with an exciting team, who can't wait to give everyone the very best customer experiences. "This year, we want to give visitors and residents a summer of fun and happy memories at SC2, and we can't wait to see you all in July, with exclusive discounts for locals as a thank you for their support while we were closed!" Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
