This Café Royal Book is a collection of previously unpublished photographs that brings together the subjects from two earlier CRB publications: Ocean Beach Rhyl and Rhyl Seafront. In this book, the Ocean Beach fairground has spilled over along the promenade to include attractions such as ‘Professor Peabody’s Playplace’, ‘Fun House’ and ‘Horror’, that have the industrial charm of large warehouses.

Rhyl was once a popular destination for family holidays, but the town spiralled into decline. In some of the images the decline is evident such as the derelict Palace of Pleasure Amusements that also housed ‘Suzies Massage Parlour’. Shops and hotels were rundown, aiming for low budget customers who would appreciate cheap roast dinners. Most of these features that I photographed in the 1980s and 1990s have disappeared as Rhyl underwent redevelopment.

Published by Café Royal Books.  
Edited by Craig Atkinson.  
First Published 2020.  
Edition of 250.