The summer seaside town of Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast is gearing up for a busy 2021 summer.
As lockdown restrictions significantly wind down 鈥 with Covid rates rising but hospital admissions staying relatively flat 鈥 businesses in the North Sea seaside town hope to recoup some of the losses made over the last year and a half.
John Nuttall鈥檚 family has been running donkey rides on the seafront for three generations.
He said: 鈥淚t was packed here on the bank holiday, so if that鈥檚 anything to go by I think we鈥檒l have a really busy summer.
鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be some good weather this weekend, so hopefully then the crowds will kick in.鈥
Explaining why holidaying at home makes sense this year the 62-year-old said: 鈥淔irstly, it鈥檚 safer to holiday in the 海角视频 rather than abroad. There鈥檚 plenty to do in England, especially Skegness. There鈥檚 something for everyone.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got indoor play areas, miles of great beach, everything they need in one place. Of course, the donkeys too.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot to do outdoors, in open spaces, which makes it a lot better and a lot safer for people.鈥
John and his donkeys鈥 are also going to feature on the second series of Channel 5鈥檚 Bargain Loving Brits by the Sea.
Matthew Yeadon is the director of Natureland Seal Sanctuary in North Parade.
He said: 鈥淪keggy is the ideal getaway really. It鈥檚 small enough so it鈥檚 not overwhelming, but it鈥檚 still got plenty to offer.
鈥淥bviously we鈥檝e got a nice stretch of beach too. The water is some of the best quality water in the 海角视频.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be able to allow people to get up close and see animals that they may never see in the wild.
鈥淢ost people probably won鈥檛 see the seals on the coast, even though there鈥檚 plenty of them there.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to give people a chance to see them, as well as some more exotic species too.
鈥淭o be honest, I like visiting the other animal attractions. I can鈥檛 get away from animals.
鈥淧laces like the aquarium and Hardy鈥檚 Animal Farm, which is just down the road in Ingoldmells are great places to visit.鈥
Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman said: 鈥淭he mixture of sand, sea and fun local attractions make Skegness on Lincolnshire鈥檚 coastline the perfect spot for a staycation this summer.
鈥淪kegness has so much to offer: enjoy thrill seeking rides at Fantasy Island, fish and chips on the promenade, a walk along the pier, a flutter at the arcades. The list goes on.
鈥淗olidaying safely to our great beaches and coastal destinations is perfectly possible and, at a time when international travel is not without its downsides, actively encouraged.
鈥淢ore restrictions are to be lifted on July 19, signalling a move towards taking greater personal responsibility; respect and awareness for those around us is vital.
鈥淚 hope that this summer we see people enjoying all that Skegness has to offer in a safe and considerate way.鈥
Plans are also underway to restore Skegness Pier to its nineteenth century glory, helping to create new jobs and attract more visitors to the town.
It is hoped restoring the pier promenade and pier head will create a new focal point for local shops and hospitality.
Owners the Mellors Group will set up a public exhibition at the pier for a month from July 26, to showcase their plans, which will see the pier length restored from its current 118m to its original 582m, in the hope that local people and visitors will support the project.
James Mellors, Operations Director with Mellors Group, said: 鈥淟osing so much of the pier to a storm in 1978 was a great shame, a great loss to the town and when we bought it earlier this year it was in the belief that it is our duty to maintain and try to improve it for future generations.
鈥淥ur ambition to restore the pier to its original length 鈥 and more besides 鈥 can regenerate lost heritage infrastructure, enhance an existing cultural asset and provide new public amenity space, while creating new jobs and helping to attract more visitors to our favourite seaside town.
鈥淲e hope local stakeholders, local people and visitors will support us.鈥
