Newark business give feedback on Newark-on-Sea Market Place beach
Businesses in Newark town centre have given a mixed response to the impact of the urban beach in Newark Market Place this summer.
The beach, outside Newark Town Hall, was visited by more than 3,000 people during it's two-week installation during August.
Its aim was to increase footfall into the town centre and support traders.
“The beach brought a lot more children into town and where children are, parents are spending money. We were blessed with nice weather and we sold a lot of ice creams, drinks and sandwiches.” said Linsey White,of Harry’s Fine Salads and Sandwiches on Bridge Street.
At G.H. Porters Provisions, also on Bridge Street, Joanna Moore said: “It made a huge impact in town. It was about the same as usual, but it felt busier with everyone around town, it’s been really good.
"The council needs to do things to drag people in and this has been a huge success.”
But despite the huge numbers of people the beach attracted into the town, some business owners said that the number of food and drink stalls in the Market Place actually drew their customers away.
“It was more people coming for a coffee or to use the toilet than actually coming here and giving us profit," said Tamara Rose, who works at Tambo Lounge Cafe Bar.
"In terms of sales for us it didn’t have a positive impact on us due to the offer of food and drinks in the market. If they didn’t have the food stalls, all the local businesses would probably gain more from it.”
Just a few feet away from the Market Square, restaurants and shops felt the reduction in the number of people coming in and out.
“To be honest it probably did us less, worse than less because it was happening at the market square so all the customers were heading there, it drew my customers away," said Paula Chamberlain, who works at American Diner PJ in St Mark's Place.
"It was a fantastic idea and probably benefited all the restaurants that side in the square, but not me or the others here.”
When it comes to beach and heat, ice cream is a summer essential and the gelato business at Pastability goes beyond the beach impact but also the lack of events and investment in the town.
“I’ve been selling less ice cream because there were a lot of ice cream stalls in the market, that were cheaper, better and closer.” said Xavier Vazquez, manager at Pastability.
“Newark has been running with Newark people and there are too many businesses and not enough people. They should have spent the money rebuilding the market, this is a market town, or used to, not any more.”
