I came to Porthcawl in the late 70s as a contractor working at Margam , I lived in a flat on the Esplaanade on the top floor . I was given a hard time by my work colleges who were all from Manchester , I came from Surrey !! They really gave me the cold shoulder ! One wet night I was walking the streets on my own when through a missted up pub window a table of girls indicated I should come in . It was the Peir Hotel , from that evening on I had found a new home and a new family . The Aston brothers and an Sparks known as Fluke a character and a half ! Happy Days
The Aston brothers, are they the ones which formed quite a successful band? The Pier hotel was sold earlier this year. Rumours are it's being turned into 'assisted living' flats!
Super busy there today. Took my son out in our classic mini to Llantwit Major, Nash Point and finished up at Porthcawl. I was telling him that the car park by coney used to be a harbour full of wooden ships but I don't think he believed me 😄
Thank you for stirring some wonderful memories! I also grew up in Porthcawl in the 1970s and 80s and I loved it, but whether I'd have had so much fun as an adult then, I don't know. I do remember the model village and the dinosaur park with huge fondness and the huge King Kong in the fair gave me the heebie-jeebies every time I went past it, lol.
70s/80s your a good vintage my friend,great memories you must have I too grew up in that time remember everything from that time but too many changes ,not all for the better.
Yep, some things have improved some are worse than ever. Do you remember the old prom when you could hide under the upper deck when the waves came over the top.
Another good un Marcus, pity about the harbour? speaking of which, I hope you get photos of the harbour when I remembered it, the most prominent thing I can remember is a Bofors AA gun right by what is now Sidolis ice cream (I think, although I could be wrong it was a long time ago) it was there a long time, we all used to work its controls (they all worked) great fun, no idea when it was taken away.
Well done Marcus another really enjoyable video. Well done in finding some of the locations as they look quite different now than they did. Concerning then and now many of the changes I am indifferent about, progress must be made, however, some are more moving. I think the changes made to the rest home at Rest Bay is a good example as they have done the change of use well and kept the main character of the buildings although it is a shame that this private investment will be beyond the budget of most people and perhaps it would have been better to make it a building for public use (Library, museum youth club or visitor centre maybe) The one change that I feel is very disappointing is the Esplanade hotel, the old building looked majestic and should have been preserved, the new building looks out of place and looks as if it was a "folly" of the architect. One building calling out for some sympathetic improvement is the Seabank hotel. 1920's /1930's buildings are unique in so many ways and define a point of history. This building could or should be updated in a luxurious Art Deco style. If this building was in London it would have been updated and improved without losing the character, but then I guess the cost would be recouped more quickly than would be the case in Porthcawl. Thanks for the video.
Thanks, I agree with you regarding the Seabank. The Rest would have made a good luxury hotel which I think the town needs with facilities locals could use but it's all down to who is willing to invest. The Esplanade Hotel was architecturally interesting although throughout the late 70s and 80s it was pretty much a dump and used as a DHSS hostel for most of the 80s. I think Porthcawl suffers from a few business people who take without investing anything back into the town.
only now discovered your video’s Marcus, really enjoying them all, lived in Portcawl for a number of years and still have family there and visit frequently, love the place and the people, keep up the very good work 👍🏻👍🏻😁😁
Really enjoying your series of videos on Porthcawl. I have been coming to Porthcawl since I was a small child, I am now 75. My paternal grandparents lived in Pyle, I still have cousins there and in Bridgend, so we always had family holidays here. I now stay at the Seabank. The walk to Sker is one of my favourites, I enjoy birdwatching there. As a member of the RSPB I also visit the RSPB reserve at Newport Wet Lands. I have subscribed to your Chanel. Great seeing the old & new comparisons. Thanks again for great videos. Tom.
If I remember rightly Ceasars palace was on Trecco. Underneath was a bingo hall. There was another cinema on Trecco as well. Stan Stennett had an interest in it.
Great video interesting to look at. Do prefer the old architecture to now as the houses looked more similar so give a sense of grandier to the town. You should do a book on Porthcawl area then and now I'm sure lots of people be interested
Thanks, we like the old Victorian, Edwardian houses, we live in one. Although I do like many modern buildings and contemporary designs. I think the problem with development in Porthcawl is that the materials used are very low quality and they look tatty very quickly.
one thing I miss was the stall that sold rocks, sweet type rocks, as found in all seasides in those days, it was situated on the foreshore road, towards the docks, after it was demolished they built a block of flats on stilts, it looked out of place, the rocks stall had hundreds of bars of rocks. god knows if they ever sold all of them ?
Now then I may be wrong about this but I think the house at 6:29 might have been the original house that sold milk and bread before it became the Dirty Duck pub, Bingo and Arcade. The side door is where the stairwell would have been to go up tot he flat above.
@@flydriveexplore Just wondering if the photo had been mislabelled as I know lots of people didn't know the name of Rych Avenue and would refer to it as "the beach road".
Is the Rafa club still there ? Wow can’t believe wot happened to the Esplanade hotel the fire the night club underneath Falgonis ice cream? Tennis courts! the figure of 8 OMG the water slide, My Mother worked at the stoney club haha any one remember? So sorry going on had the best time of my life in the town Bob hope and Bing Crosby still owe my Mum money for photos she took of them at the Miners rest home! That sea wall has got a lot shorter over the years watching the waves over the sea wall OMG it scared me Now I can taste the salt water on my tongue WOW!! Swimming in that pool in the rocks with raw sewage as company haha! im not joking either and to top it off some of the best ice cream I have ever had in my life God bless you Porthcawl Love ya always xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx sorry for the spelling just had to do it!!!!!!
RAFA club is still here. Old Stoneleigh club is now sheltered housing. No more sewage in the water although it still looks murky (Beaches actually have Blue Flag award)
Hi Marcus and Mel. Enjoyed the tour of the old home town. Seventies and Eighties? Hmm, spent a lot of time in the Stoneleigh Club, the Apollo, Gigi's... Must have left a few brain cells there. How about you?
I used to go to the Stoneleigh in the mid to late 80s (before it 'mysteriously burnt down). Usually the "Wine Bar' on Friday, Stoneleigh on Saturday. I then moved away after leaving school.
Thanks, I remember the Esplanade Hotel on the seafront and the swimming pools in the rocks but everything else is pretty much the same as it was when I was a kid
