| BRIDPORT: Bowling club loses out as town is hit by Olympic fever
By Chris Denne A BRIDPORT sports club claims it will lose vital revenue due to the Olympic Games. Bridport Bowling Club is "desperate for money" after visiting teams boycotted the area due to the hikes in hotel rates in Weymouth. Bookings from touring teams are down by 80 per cent on 2011 levels, with the club blaming the sailing spectacle at Weymouth for the drop off. Touring bowls teams normally bring in vital funds when they visit the area, but the club now faces having to increase more than £2,000 to pay for the loss in revenue, according to club social secretary Christine Neale. The club needs more than £10,000 each year to keep afloat. Mrs Neale was in no doubt about the cause of the hammer blow. She said: "During the summer season we have lots of touring sides who visit us from various elements of the country. They normally stay for a week in the area visiting local clubs like Lyme Regis, Bridport and Weymouth. "But this year due to the Olympics, many of them are not coming. The reason is that they couldn't afford to stay in the hotels in Weymouth or else the hotels wanted them to have bigger block bookings, all as a result of Olympics. "The money is vital because even if we didn't use the club for anything it would cost £10,000 a year to keep. We are desperate for money." Team captain Keith Brooks said other clubs were also suffering because of the Olympic effect. He said: "Last year we had 10-12 teams visit us. This year it's down to two or three. "You tend to rely upon touring teams because they bring a good deal of people. They pay rink fees and spend money at the bar. You look to make £150-£200 per team who visit. "All the local clubs are saying they are suffering because of this. There is not a hotel big enough in Bridport to cater for teams who're able to bring up to 50 people, so they have to stay in places like Weymouth. This year they can not because the prices have gone up apparently." Dave Price of the Weymouth Hoteliers, Guesthouses and Leaseholders Association, said that some hotels have been forced to put up prices during the Olympics because regular customers like bowls teams are not coming. He said: "There is an impression among the public that Weymouth will be booked up or expensive during the Olympics, so many regular returning clients, like touring bowls teams, are staying away. "This has forced many businesses to spend money on advertising and setting up online booking facilities to attract clients. These are extra costs which are not incurred over a normal summer. "I have had to put up my prices between £2.50 and £5 per person to cover these costs." He added: "I am not aware of any astronomical price hikes among hotel and guesthouse owners." There are no comments yet. Be the first to add one below. .ff BRIDPORT: Bowling club loses out as town is hit by Olympic fever |
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
BRIDPORT: Bowling club loses out as town is hit by Olympic fever
