Measuring the Impact of the Port Closure on Holyhead High Street

Overview

Holyhead is one of the towns supported by the Welsh Government’s Trefi SMART Cymru programme, delivered by Menter Môn. This initiative helps towns, businesses, and decision-makers harness data and technology to revitalise high streets. Access to high-quality data not only enables businesses to operate more efficiently but also provides crucial insights into how external factors—such as port closures—affect footfall and trade.

On the 6th of December 2024, Storm Darragh caused significant damage to Holyhead Port in Anglesey leading to its closure. The Port remained closed until January 16th, 2025, when it partially re-opened, resuming ferry services between Holyhead and Dublin. However, to date one of the two ferry berths remains closed due to ongoing repairs.

The closure disrupted travel and trade not only between the UK and Ireland, but also significantly impacted businesses in Holyhead during the busiest time of the year.

In order to measure the impact of this closure directly on the high street, Trefi Smart Cymru have reviewed BT Active Intelligence data analysed with two separate data sets.

For the purpose of this case study, the coverage areas of the two data sets have been shown in pattern 1 and pattern 2.

Effect of the closure on Holyhead businesses

Local businesses have below voiced their concerns and shared the direct impact of this storm:

“Obviously, the closure for Holyhead Port for nearly six weeks had a significant impact on many businesses in Holyhead. For hotels and guesthouses, this was especially noticeable over the busy Christmas period when most room bookings were cancelled due to the port closure. The decreased footfall in the usually busy town also affected retail, restaurants cafés and takeaways, with all reporting a significant downturn in business.”

Howard A N Browes, Business Owner and Chair Cybi Business Forum

Isle of Anglesey County Councillor Keith Roberts has noted that significant decrease in trade in Holyhead, attributing to the lack of ferry passengers and haulage drivers. He explained that these drivers often take breaks and eat locally while waiting to collect another container, contributing to local trade.  

Other local businesses commented on the impact of the Port closure:

Business

Chanthi's - Thai restaurant located in the town centre
Reported Impact - Trade 50% down

Mete's - A fast-food takeaway
Reported Impact - Trade down 25%

Orient, Newry Beach, Holyhead - Bed and Breakfast
Reported Impact - Bookings 40% - 45% down and lost over £2,000 worth of business. Had to cancel and refund 41 rooms’

Haven, Newry Beach, Holyhead - Bed and Breakfast
Reported Impact - 90% down on trade over the Christmas period

Wavecrest, Newry Beach, Holyhead - Bed and Breakfast
Reported Impact - Losses over £1500

Witchingham, Newry Beach, Holyhead - Bed and Breakfast
Reported Impact - Losses over £2000

Claudia Howard, Owner of The Boathouse Hotel added:

‘The Boathouse Hotel, a 17-bedroom hotel with a bar and restaurant, is a small family business that employs 13 local people throughout the year, with an additional 4-6 seasonal posts. The Holyhead Port closure had a significant impact upon trade, which has rippled through our supply chains, and it also impacted our staff. On the announcement that the Port was to remain closed until January, we had 147 cancellations that spanned December and the beginning of January, which proved to be around 44%-46% of our bookings for the Christmas holiday period. In monetary terms, this is a loss of £14,700 based on an average of £100 per room, excluding further expenditure in the bar, restaurant, and breakfasts. Although not every resident eats/uses the bar and assuming only 1 person is in each room, based on an average of even £10 spend per head, this totals £1,470, though some rooms accommodate 3-4 people and restaurant bills for 4 people reach £75-£85. In addition, we have contracts with coach companies for 3-course meals for up to 45 people on the way to/from Ireland. In reality, our lost revenue falls more in the region of £19k-£20k.’

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