YHA

[axel_knutt]

I hadn't noticed that under 16s are banned, that's a bit ironic for an organisation that calls themselves Youth Hostel Association.

[rareposter]

I hadn't noticed that under 16s are banned, that's a bit ironic for an organisation that calls themselves Youth Hostel Association.

They can go as a family group, just not on their own for safeguarding reasons.
Same applies when a school has it, they have to have the whole place.

Many years ago, a group of us from my cycle club stayed in a YHA as we were all doing a big Sportive the following day and it was a convenient cheap place where all of us could stay together and be near the start.

There was a school group staying too and the kids were running round screaming, spraying deodorant and hairspray at each other which set the fire alarm off so we all got evacuated to the car park at 11pm while the fire brigade did their thing for an hour. Hardly the ideal start to a 4.30am wake up call and a 200km ride.

So I'm fully in favour of kids only being allowed under controlled conditions!

[mattheus]

I hadn't noticed that under 16s are banned, that's a bit ironic for an organisation that calls themselves Youth Hostel Association.

Assuming we take their public statements at face value, it's VERY clear that they are youth-focused.

https://www.yha.org.uk/sites/default/fi ... -24-25.pdf

Banning solo U16 guests doesn't undermine that!

[axel_knutt]

There was a school group staying too and the kids were running round screaming, spraying deodorant and hairspray at each other which set the fire alarm off so we all got evacuated to the car park at 11pm while the fire brigade did their thing for an hour. Hardly the ideal start to a 4.30am wake up call and a 200km ride.

So I'm fully in favour of kids only being allowed under controlled conditions!

I've been in hostels where the school party was a bit rowdy too, but when the alternative is not being able to use the hostel at all, I'll take it. I don't recall any troublesome kids who were travelling alone, they've all been the ones that were supposedly supervised by adults. I've also had occasions when I've been bothered by rowdy adults.

I'd guess that if parents trust their kids to travel alone, it's because they're the type of kid who's least likely to cause trouble.

[rareposter]

Some further news (and a link to their 10-year strategy) in this article talking about hostel sell-off and former YHA venues being run privately but still under the YHA name.

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/yha ... model.html

[axel_knutt]

I'm surprised Cambridge is in trouble, I'd have thought a city like that would be able to produce enough customers to keep more than one going. I don't know if there's any competition from independents these days, but there were none at all when I compiled my independent hostel list.

As other hostels closed I became increasingly dependent on Cambridge to head northwards out of Essex.

Sad to see Holly How's in bother, I rather liked that one, and much as I also liked the Coppermines, HH doesn't have the climb up a rough rocky track to get to it.

[Steady rider]

Perhaps CUK and British Cycling could come up with a joint plan to take over Cambridge and create a route on the east side of England, using a few new hostels. YHA and Cycling centres, in some cases. talks with the government to see if support can be gained.

[axel_knutt]

Kings Lynn's closed and Thurlby's gone groups only now though, which are the next day north from Cambridge.

[Traction_man]

News story on BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2kx42e2n1o

[Bmblbzzz]

That they have a 78 year old lamenting the fate of the YHA is perhaps indicative of the problem the organisation faces.

[axel_knutt]

So only 72 hostels left then, with another 26 franchised. If they're closing them in batches of 9, that's only another 8 years left then.....

[rareposter]

So only 72 hostels left then, with another 26 franchised. If they're closing them in batches of 9, that's only another 8 years left then.....

Controversial view but I think the whole organisation needs to be put out of its misery long before that!

[Traction_man]

So only 72 hostels left then, with another 26 franchised. If they're closing them in batches of 9, that's only another 8 years left then.....

Controversial view but I think the whole organisation needs to be put out of its misery long before that!

I've just booked the Sill for a couple of nights with just me and my son in a private room en suite, for a bit of walking on the wall, it's perfect for that, pub next door, self catering kitchen in the hostel, decent carpark, great location. A winning combo