The deserted beaches and deserted cafes of the seaside resorts of Wales

It’s a sunny holiday weekend, which means Wales’ favorite beaches, cafes, parks and seaside spots would normally be crowded.

But in 2020, the scenes across the country on Good Friday are unprecedented.

Beaches are empty, cafes have closed, game rooms are boarded up and even the famous Pembrokeshire Coast Path is closed.

There are police roadblocks along all major roads, authorities patrol hot spots and council leaders are telling the public to stay away and follow the UK government’s message to stay home.



Police patrol the eerily empty Barry Island



Usually-frequented Barry Island beach remained empty, despite a sunny Good Friday

Almost three weeks have passed since the Prime Minister announced that everyone must stay at home in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus and save lives.

It took a while for this message to penetrate and some continue to try to flout official guidelines, like going crabbing or booking an Airbnb.

But the new rules, put in place by the UK and Welsh governments, have resulted in a catastrophic price tag for the tourism industry.

This is what Easter looks like on lockdown at the resorts of Tenby and Porthcawl.



Pembrokeshire Council Chief David Simpson said he was probably the first leader in history to ask people to stay away from the county



Empty lobster traps and deserted streets – there is hardly anyone around the generally bustling Tenby Harbor



South Tenby Beach would normally be teeming with a sunny Good Friday, but now it’s deadly quiet



No fishing trips from Tenby Harbor until further notice



These ice cream vans should be doing a roaring business today, but instead they’re all parked

Debbie Hughes, owner of the Panorama Hotel in Tenby, said it was “utterly heartbreaking” to see the seaside resort so empty.

“The place should be bustling with people,” said the 49-year-old.

“It’s heartbreaking to see because you think, will I survive? It reminds you of everyone who would be here on vacation. I’m looking at the beach and the sea now and it just makes you want to cry.

“There would be so many people here creating memories. The fact that the weather is so perfect only adds insult to injury.

“Easter weekend is the start of the season for us. Any hotel in Tenby or any seaside town can’t wait until Easter weekend. It marks the start of the manic season. when everything starts.

“I’m looking forward to it. I just hope we have a longer season this year and people want to take a vacation there later in the year after the lockdown ends.”



Tenby’s Old Town Wall would normally be filled with thousands of tourists enjoying the sun



The good weather would have seen tourists flocking to the famous seaside resort



Police patrol the streets






There are usually queues at this chippy’s door



Not a soul on the beach

It’s the same strange scene in Porthcawl. Every holiday you can count on thousands of people flocking to the famous seaside resort to soak up the sun. But not this year. Even the rides at Coney Beach Pleasure Park are still and silent.



Porthcawl beach is deserted



The normally teeming promenade is empty



No parking at Porthcawl as pandemic rages on



Runners walk past empty cafes, which would normally be filled with beachgoers and day trippers



There is literally no one here for Easter weekend

Good Friday, the death toll from the coronavirus reached more than 300 in Wales. As the Welsh Prime Minister urged everyone to stay home and save lives, there were massive queues outside a Welsh supermarket ahead of Easter weekend.

Meanwhile, police said they were still called in for house parties, football games and large family reunions, despite the lockdown.


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