Rhyl Air Show set go ahead “bigger and better than ever” in 2021

After the disappointment of having to cancel this year’s event Rhyl Air Show will go ahead “bigger and better than ever” in 2021.

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd have announced the annual air extravaganza, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to the resort, is already looking at the programme for next year.

The show won the award for “Best Crowd Puller” at last year’s North Wales Tourism Awards against stiff competition from the region’s burgeoning adventure tourism sector.

Last year the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon display team made their debut at its 11th annual event, along with a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster Bomber.

The cancellation of this year’s annual August flight-fest, due to public safety concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, was a hammer blow to local businesses already threatened by the double whammy of lockdown and less than seasonal weather.

However Denbighshire Leisure’s managing director Jamie Groves, promised a bumper event was being planned to make up for it on August 28 and 29, 2021.

He said: “The entire events team is naturally disappointed, but will now set its sights on making next year’s air show better than ever.

“It is disappointing having to cancel events that contribute so much to the Rhyl visitor economy, but we stand committed as a company to work with all stakeholders and businesses in Rhyl to ensure the destination emerges from this crisis with a strong and vibrant tourism offer next year.

“We will now be focusing on developing a fantastic programme for Rhyl Air Show 2021.”

News of the Air Show’s planned return was welcomed by North Wales Tourism, which supports the tourism sector to entice domestic and international visitors into the region.

It is behind the Go North Wales website and has marketed the area as the “adventure capital of Europe”, among other things.

Managing director Jim Jones said: “I’m delighted to see the programme for 2021 starting to look busy, with many great events coming back on stream.

“It’s also great to hear the efforts that Denbighshire Leisure are putting in place to bring back the spectacular Rhyl Air Show for 2021.

“This is just the tonic we need right now to bring back confidence and hope for this important part of our tourism industry.

“It has been very tough on event organisers who have had to cancel so many scheduled festivals and events in 2020.

“They make a huge positive economic impact on our North Wales economy, generating additional visitors and creating a positive image nationally and internationally.”

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd is an arms-length company formed by the county council to manage leisure attractions and events in the county.

Denbighshire county council only approved the management and board structure at the start of the pandemic but its first year has been blighted by the historic pandemic.

The authority’s leader Hugh Evans OBE said it would be working with the company to stage next year’s show.

He said: “We promise next year’s show will be bigger and even better.

“Denbighshire Leisure Ltd assure us they will be developing a fantastic events programme in partnership with Denbighshire County Council for 2021, to help us all forget 2020.”

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter