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Re: YHA
Posted: 5 Dec 2025, 10:55am
by Bmblbzzz
There were some figures given in the latest edition of Cycle that showed the total number of YHAs hasn't fallen much but the proportion open to random arrivals has approximately halved. I'll dig out the figures in a mo.
Re: YHA
Posted: 5 Dec 2025, 11:16am
by mattheus
Bmblbzzz wrote: 5 Dec 2025, 10:55am
There were some figures given in the latest edition of Cycle that showed the total number of YHAs hasn't fallen much but the proportion open to random arrivals has approximately halved. I'll dig out the figures in a mo.
for me, what would make that really helpful is to also state the number of independent hostels.
Re: YHA
Posted: 5 Dec 2025, 11:55am
by Bmblbzzz
1970s: "about 180 hostels"
now: "around 150"
of which only 93 offer private rooms and only 69 offer dorms.
The implication, *but not stated*, is that in the 1970s (until when?) every hostel offered bunk beds and/or private rooms for anyone who turned up.
Re: YHA
Posted: 5 Dec 2025, 12:39pm
by axel_knutt
Bmblbzzz wrote: 5 Dec 2025, 10:55am
There were some figures given in the latest edition of Cycle that showed the total number of YHAs hasn't fallen much but the proportion open to random arrivals has approximately halved. I'll dig out the figures in a mo.
Haven't fallen since when?
Figures from YHA handbooks:
1998: 240
2001: 231
2005: 226
2008: 202
2011: 189
Current website: 113
They're closing about 4.7 hostels a year on average (net of new openings).
Re: YHA
Posted: 5 Dec 2025, 2:23pm
by Bmblbzzz
axel_knutt wrote: 5 Dec 2025, 12:39pm
Bmblbzzz wrote: 5 Dec 2025, 10:55am
There were some figures given in the latest edition of Cycle that showed the total number of YHAs hasn't fallen much but the proportion open to random arrivals has approximately halved. I'll dig out the figures in a mo.
Haven't fallen since when?
Figures from YHA handbooks:
1998: 240
2001: 231
2005: 226
2008: 202
2011: 189
Current website: 113
They're closing about 4.7 hostels a year on average (net of new openings).
Since the 1970s, according to the article in Cycle magazine.
Bmblbzzz wrote: 5 Dec 2025, 11:55am
1970s: "about 180 hostels"
now: "around 150"
of which only 93 offer private rooms and only 69 offer dorms.
The implication, *but not stated*, is that in the 1970s (until when?) every hostel offered bunk beds and/or private rooms for anyone who turned up.
As "about 180" and "around 150" really don't correspond with 240 and 113, you might want to write a letter to Dan Joyce suggesting they check their facts and state their sources!
Re: YHA
Posted: 5 Dec 2025, 3:19pm
by axel_knutt
It's interesting that the rate at which they're selling off hostels hasn't really changed over 27 years, which seems to lend credibility to the story I'd heard that they just flog them off to make up the trading losses each year.
Re: YHA
Posted: 5 Dec 2025, 9:24pm
by TrevA
Bmblbzzz wrote: 5 Dec 2025, 11:55am
1970s: "about 180 hostels"
now: "around 150"
of which only 93 offer private rooms and only 69 offer dorms.
The implication, *but not stated*, is that in the 1970s (until when?) every hostel offered bunk beds and/or private rooms for anyone who turned up.
I can’t remember private rooms being a thing back in the 70’s and 80’s when I was a regular hosteller. It was pretty much all dorms back then, though sometimes quite small ones, you’d rarely get a room to yourself or even just your group.
Re: YHA
Posted: 6 Dec 2025, 12:47pm
by axel_knutt
In the 1970s, Buttermere hostel was unique for having a 'family annex' which had private rooms for families. Presumably it wasn't that well used at the time, or it would have been more widely introduced.
Re: YHA
Posted: 5 May 2026, 8:41pm
by Traction_man
Re: YHA
Posted: 31 May 2026, 5:02pm
by Traction_man
Re: YHA
Posted: 31 May 2026, 5:27pm
by axel_knutt
Bellever, that's where the warden said to me "Travelodge are our competitors now".
Re: YHA
Posted: 1 Jun 2026, 10:37am
by Bmblbzzz
A friend yesterday said he's going up to Northumbria and will be staying at two YHAs. Unfortunately I can't remember either of the names.
But he said the first one, he's paying just £20, albeit for a dorm room.
Re: YHA
Posted: 1 Jun 2026, 1:53pm
by jimlews
The incredible shrinking YHA circling the plughole.
Re: YHA
Posted: 2 Jun 2026, 6:33pm
by Pneumant
Re: YHA
Posted: 2 Jun 2026, 6:54pm
by axel_knutt
That's Broad Haven, not Manorbier.
We had an early morning alarm call at 5am from the fire alarm when I was there walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
