YHA Closures

[horizon]

This September, I'm afraid to say. This is normal for YHA to close some youth hostels, some close, some open. Shame to see Scarborough go.

Hmmm. Actually it's more like, "Some youth hostels close, some Travelodges open."
Or, "Some unique places to stay close, some faceless newbuild opens."
Or, "Some vital links in the cycling chain close, some car-based activity centre opens."
Or, "Some more youth hostels close, an entire sub-culture starts to disappear."

[fatboy]

This September, I'm afraid to say. This is normal for YHA to close some youth hostels, some close, some open. Shame to see Scarborough go.

Or, "Some vital links in the cycling chain close, some car-based activity centre opens."

That's why I'm getting a tent! The gaps between hostels in most places are too big for touring IMHO

[swagman]

When i enquired at a yha they wanted £26 for a dorm bed for the night ,are they all this much?

[cycleruk]

When i enquired at a YHA they wanted £26 for a dorm bed for the night ,are they all this much?

Which YHA was that?

For less than £26 I got B&B and evening meal at Hawkshead hostel.

[thirdcrank]

In 1958, a 'juvenile' bed night was 1/6d. Meals 2/6d AKA half a crown. Total for evening meal, breakfast and bed = 6/6d (33p)

CAPSTICK COMES HOME

I'll never forget that first day at t'pit. Me an' mi father worked a seventy two hour shift, an' then we walked home forty three mile through t'snow in us bare feet, huddled inside us clothes med out o' old sacks. Eventually we trudged over t'hill until wi could see t'street light twinklin' in our village. Mi father smiled down at mi through t'icicles hangin' off his nose. "Nearly home now lad", he said. We stumbled into t'house and stood there freezin' cold and tired out, shiverin' and miserable, in front o' t' meagre fire. Any road, mi mam says "Cheer up, lads. I've got you some nice brown bread and butter for yer tea." Ee, mi father went crackers. He reached out and gently pulled mi mam towards 'im by t'throat. "You big fat, idle ugly wart", he said. "You gret useless spawny-eyed parrot-faced wazzock." ('E had a way wi words, mi father. He'd bin to college, y'know). "You've been out playin' bingo all afternoon instead o' gettin' some proper snap ready for me an' this lad", he explained to mi poor, little, purple-faced mam. Then turnin' to me he said "Arthur", (He could never remember mi name), "here's half a crown. Nip down to t'chip 'oyl an' get us a nice piece o' 'addock for us tea. Man cannot live by bread alone." He were a reyt tater, mi father. He said as 'ow workin' folk should have some dignity an' pride an' self respect, an' as 'ow they should come home to summat warm an' cheerful. An' then he threw mi mam on t'fire. We didn't 'ave no tellies or shoes or bedclothes. We med us own fun in them days. Do you know, when I were a lad you could get a tram down into t'town, buy three new suits an' an ovvercoat, four pair o' good boots, go an' see George Formby at t'Palace Theatre, get blind drunk, 'ave some steak an' chips, bunch o' bananas an' three stone o' monkey nuts an' still 'ave change out of a farthing. We'd lots o' things in them days they 'aven't got today - rickets, diptheria, Hitler and my, we did look well goin' to school wi' no backside in us trousers an' all us little 'eads painted purple because we 'ad ringworm. They don't know they're born today!!!

[thiswayup]

This September, I'm afraid to say. This is normal for YHA to close some youth hostels, some close, some open. Shame to see Scarborough go.

Hmmm. Actually it's more like, "Some youth hostels close, some Travelodges open."
Or, "Some unique places to stay close, some faceless newbuild opens."
Or, "Some vital links in the cycling chain close, some car-based activity centre opens."
Or, "Some more youth hostels close, an entire sub-culture starts to disappear."

I used to work at aysgarth falls yh between 1988/90 and would often go over to pete at keld yh to help out on my days off remember henry the rabbit and the trumpet he played at meal times.
And the late nights at the tan hill pub.
The wardens at aysgarth were dave and sandra woods who went to york yha in 1990.

[Barrenfluffit]

And the late nights at the tan hill pub.

You'd be lucky; most YHA's shut before the pubs did at 11. Its not that the market for YHA's has vanished; independant backpacker hostels have flourished and multiplied. The customers have voted with their feet. hence the coach parties.

A bed for £26 is better than none at all but I got a single room at a birmingham business hotel for £29 on the web. On other occasions I've moved from a YHA to a B&B because the facilities were so much better for so little extra cost. Currently the pricing is done on-line to reflect demand. If you just show up or don't have mobile internet it will tend to be expensive (if you can get a bed).

[dinger207]

my recent YHA News states that these hostels will be closed "over the coming year" and "the named hostels will continue to operate until September". When my local hostel at Castle Hedingham closed YHA gave a years notice, I would suggest the same is true now

[meic]

Well Rapidfire is for this September and Dinger for next September.
The newsheet from YHA wasnt very good at communicating the facts.
However it did say FROM September so many hostels may close later than that.

[thirdcrank]

Presumably, when something like a youth hostel goes on the market, especially a larger one, nobody can have any idea in current market conditions how long it will take to sell. I could imagine keeping it going, even through the winter, would be better than risking a long period when it would be unoccupied and at risk of vandalism, squatting etc. That would suggest a flexible closure date.

[iviehoff]

That's what comes of not doing it for several years, I suppose - we contributed to the under-use.

You should not conclude that the hostels being closed are under-used or making a loss. In recent times the YHA has been forced into selling hostels simply because they need money now to pay off debts.

[rapidfire72]

This link may be of interest. yha group & update

Although, Thorney Howe hostel is closing soon, Butharlyp Howe hostel up the road near to Grasmere centre is worth a visit.

I was staying there overnight on my recent coast to coast walk and must admit it's a lovely hostel, friendly staff and the meals are excellent value.

Although, I was in the lower annexe, the dorm was comfy, clean and had it's own kitchen and common room. I would go there again, if only for the evening meal & breakfast.

[Gforce]

Hi. Can anyone tell me what happened to Epping Forest YH?

[steady eddy]

I might have been mistaken but I am sure i saw a sign outside the YH in Hawes a few weeks ago advertising breakfast for £9. If my eyes didn't deceive me then I can see why they might be having trouble attracting customers. Its much cheaper than that at the excellent Wesleydale Pantry not far down the road.

Have the very considerable advances in light weight tents in recent years contributed to this decline?

[thirdcrank]

... You should not conclude that the hostels being closed are under-used or making a loss. In recent times the YHA has been forced into selling hostels simply because they need money now to pay off debts.

Would that be the YHA Adventure Shops by any chance?