The Weymouth Hoteliers Guesthouses & Leaseholders Association (WHGLA) says guests are leaving negative reviews and demanding refunds after being kept awake by loud music, screaming and flashing lights from rides at the Pavilion forecourt and Jubilee clock.

Emotions ran high at a recent council meeting as leaseholders told of ‘drug-taking, drinking and frolicking’ by gangs of youths when the fair is in town. It is feared that B&Bs could close due to lost revenue amid the cost of living crisis. 

However the owner of Danters Fairs says they have been providing quality entertainment in the town for more than 30 years and that security measures are in place to prevent trouble.

It comes as the town council considers proposals for more funfairs next year, as visiting fairs generate much-needed revenue for the authority. 

But the fairs are causing stress for hotel and guest house proprietors and their families according to WHGLA chairman Claire Wall, who says leaseholders' children are afraid to go out alone due to gangs of youths roaming the seafront.

Hoteliers are angry because they have previously raised the issues with the council, and say the authority is "reneging" on its promises.

"These attractions are encouraging anti-social behaviour and causing the crime rate to go up," said the proprietor of Weymouth Bay Hotel.

"When people come to Weymouth they want to see a lovely beach – it’s one of the best beaches in England - but all they are seeing when they look out of the window is funfair rides." 

Rides on the Pavilion forecourt (Image: Edward Danter)

Alexandra Gardens near the Pavilion "becomes a hangout for people having sexual encounters, smoking cannabis, drinking and frolicking" after fairs shut for the evening according to a speaker from Ocean Guest House on The Esplanade.

"It’s us who are having to police it," she said. "I’ve had guests come down to complain because they can hear youngsters arguing and fighting. We’re trying to bring money into the area – the people with money to spend in restaurants are not the people who attend funfairs.”

Jonathan Oldroyd of Gloucester House said it was disappointing that the council is proposing 71 days of funfairs despite being aware of problems with anti-social behaviour. 

"We’ve invested massive sums into our properties to bring a new type of customer to Weymouth with money to spend in the town," he said. "We don’t want funfairs near our businesses."  

Keith from The Roundhouse described the situation as "horrific" and said he has witnessed drugs being taken and dealt at the fair.

More work is to be done by Weymouth Town Council, which has deferred a decision on next year's fair dates due to hoteliers' concerns. 

Melcombe Regis ward councillor Tia Roos said the authority ought to be doing everything in its power to support local businesses amid the current cost of living crisis. “Many of (the hoteliers) will be at high risk of closing this year and struggling to keep their bills up - if they say fairground rides are not helpful then we have to listen."

She added that Weymouth already has a beach where there are traditional seaside attractions to keep children entertained.

But young people on Weymouth's new youth council say they enjoy the larger rides visiting fairs bring to the resort. They want the fairs to be sited on the peninsula area behind the Pavilion.

Summer funfair rides near Weymouth Beach (Image: Graham Hunt Photography)

This is one option put forward by the town council in a bid to resolve hoteliers' concerns. But plans cannot be made until landowner Dorset Council confirms dates for construction work at the site.

Another suggestion is Lodmoor Country Park - however previous funfairs at the Preston Beach Road site have seen low attendance according to the fair's operator - who says it is not financially viable.

Edward Danter of Danters Fairs said he is "shocked" by accusations of drug taking and drunken behaviour - describing the claims as "far-fetched." 

Speaking to the Echo about the concerns raised by hoteliers, he said: "We do lots of prestige sites all up and down the country - it is not in our interest to have banging music or allow trouble to harm our reputation."

Mr Danter added: "We have strict conditions in place for music to be off by 10pm and the fair shuts at 10.30pm - we provide our own security and refuse anyone who appears to be intoxicated. It's very disappointing to be singled out when there are bars and late-night music venues on The Esplanade.

"It's a first-class attraction that we operate, which brings people into the town."

A spokesperson for Weymouth Town Council confirmed what actions are now being carried out: “Councillors on the council's services committee agreed to defer a decision on additional fairground rides in the town in 2023.

“They also requested a meeting is arranged with hoteliers, representatives from Dorset Council and the police to discuss issues raised in more detail.

“The Services Committee will then meet again in January to consider the item.”