“I agree with B. Williams, I would rather go to Wales for the day then Ilfracombe. I will admit Ilfracombe is pretty down by the Harbour and there are some really lovely places to eat but the town and the high street is what really lets the place down and they seriously need to sort it out and try to attract some decent shops into the town so that people from surrounding areas can go to Ilfracombe shopping rather than Barnstaple for ease. The council needs to look at improvong the high street as ts really lets Ilfracombe down in a big way”

“The Welsh are interested in the new ferry service, depending on the cost of fares. What the Welsh really want however, is a car ferry. That would be extremely successful, year round, whereas a foot passenger service might be a bit iffy.
Swansea has a lot to offer "ordinary visitors" not just wealthy North Devonians. Loads of shops a mile away from the dock, national chains and independent retailers. A very good beach, several miles long stretching to Mumbles and the Pier, with dedicated cycle trail, which starts almost alongside the ferry dock. Then of course, the Gower Peninsular, which starts, almost around the corner. Come to think of it, there may be more visitors coming to Swansea, than Ilfracombe ! After all, our roads are much, much better, safer and faster. You can be in Cardiff in 40 minutes from Swansea (M4), and in Tenby (M4 then dual carriageway) in less than an hour. Ilfracombe will need to step its game up, to compete !”

“Can anyone tell me if the Welsh are getting just as excited at the prospect of wealthy North Devonians visiting Swansea?”

“I agree banners are not improving anything, forget them get a few more hanging baskets around the harbour, get the Harbour Master to get the fishermen to clean up their mess, which has now spread to quay head and dead fish on the beach it¿s a disgrace, and the first thing the ferry people will see on arrival,”

“Lee, how I wish we could have some of your lovely empty shop fronts here and some of your vision BUT we are stuck with what we are stuck with unfortunately. Even the Council have left the old Job Centre looking like a bomb site.

Have you seen Gems and Steel recently. It is disgusting that anyone should be allowed to leave their shop front in that mess. I think the Council should make it their business to contact shop owners and tell them their shop fronts are letting down the people like Mike Turton, the chocolate Emporium and others who take such pride in the appearance of their shopI despair at times I really do.”

“Sorry but this does not constitute a branding exercise. A few banners strapped to lamp posts is cheap and down market. If you have not got the money to market yourself effectively then stop.”

“I don't think anyone is saying the banners will revive Ilfracombe. Ray has some very valid points. While I agree Ilfracombe has some great restaurants and some great places to stay, they are not the majority. Lets not kid ourselves! As for the banners, they wont make a huge difference and they could just look like street clutter. It would be far better to sort out the ugly parts first otherwise this over corporate branding scheme might just make the memory of a run down seaside to an that has seen better day s an indelible memory in the eyes of anyone visiting or passing thorough. It's only when you look past the veneer of shabbyness that you discover the hidden gems that Ilfracombe has to offer that make many locals (and ex locals like me) love the place so much. Getting tourists to feel the same way is an uphill battle. It's a battle that wont be magically fixed by 'branding'. The place has to change first otherwise any branding is pointless.”

“Ray
Open you eyes - Ilfracombe is changing & evolving all the time. Not everyone has the Imperian or Saunton Sands money.
We dont need negatives like you bringing the place down. If you were so concerned about it why disappear off to Malta ?

Malta a destination where local hunstmen play recordings of birds to attract others to shoot them just for sport . Nice !”

“Ray, you want to have a look on the internet m'dear! There are some great hotels and B & Bs in Ilfracombe. Several have been taken over within the last three years and remodelled.
Foodies are really well catered for with a range of restaurants catering for Fine Dining to pizza,

Shops around the harbour and the quay are resplendent in their new coats of paint and Ray we have a fantastic wet fish shop on the quay complete with coffee shop outside and serving the best crab sandwiches for miles! Get a seat early or else you won't get one!

We are getting there Ray, come and see. But no matter what nothing will ever change our beautiful scenery.

I think the banners will look pretty but can we lose some of the Union Jacks now? Not that I am unpatriotic, but they really are left over from the Victorian era and slowly, but surely, we are moving on.”

“Alas I see no prospect of banners on lamp posts reviving Ilfracombe as a holiday venue. Over the 45 years I have known it hotels have failed, been destroyed by fire or have never been modernised.
My first wife, Ilfracombe born, and I gave up on the town and much prefered The Imperial in Barnstaple or The Saunton Sands when we visited North Devon rather than stay in any of the hotels in 'Combe.
In recent years we could not even buy fresh fish in Ilfracombe - alas Mrs. Barbery's shop closed.
Sad but 'Combe has not moved with the times and a few banners are a measure too late!”