DREADFUL weather and a failing economy have brewed a ‘perfect storm’ which is killing tourism businesses, a Minehead hotelier has said.

It was revealed this week this summer has been Britain’s wettest in 100 years and Alex Mendoza, owner of the Marston Lodge Hotel, in St Michael’s Road, said:

“It’s been diabolical. We have a perfect storm. The weather has killed us, the economy has killed us and the Jubilee and the Olympics have killed us.

“You may as well roll a bowling ball down the High Street – you won’t hit anyone.”
Mr Mendoza also said visitors did not have enough to do.

He said: “I send my guests smartly dressed into town for dinner and they come back an hour later, saying ‘what is there in this town?’”

Roy Quantick, owner of Brambles Coffee Shop, in The Avenue, said: “My biggest problem is the weathermen.

"They keep coming up with these weather warnings, telling people to avoid the South-West. There have been days where they’ve predicted gale-force winds and heavy rain but it’s been lovely. If they’d got it right, coach tours would have come down but, of course, they don’t. It’s not been brilliant and we’re down about 10% this year.”

Peter Thompson, owner of Glendower House hotel, in Tregonwell Road, said: “The weather has an impact unfortunately but we’ve actually found this year better than last year."