Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - My Trip to Flat Holm - 2024 . . .

I really enjoyed the trip to Flat Holm and learnt a great deal about its importance to the Penarth Dock story in that it provided artillery cover for the port of Cardiff as well as providing an isolation hospital to protect our people and trade. So it was undoubtedly an important element of this Penarth Dock story.

When I arrived back at the barrage at around 7:00 p.m., I phoned Julie and arranged to meet up at the restaurant of 'The Deck' with whom we had booked a pod for the week. When I arrived I was met by an obnoxious waitress who stated that it was closed. When I stated that I was meeting my wife there she almost shouted 'we are closed'. An older gentleman employee tried to calm the young lady down. When we discussed the episode with the lady manageress the following day she was extremely apologetic and said that her understanding was that they had an obligation to stay open until 10 p.m. each evening and she was not aware that this early closing was going on!

During July, we decided to book a pod for a week in October 2024. The price quoted for the week represented an price hike in excess of 30% over that we had paid in March earlier the same year and in October the previous year! - needless to say, we felt insulted and found it unreasonable that our repeat custom was not in any way appreciated, and hence, Julie and I have decided to stay elsewhere in future. To be constructive, it seems to me that whatever algorithm has been applied to the variable daily cost of the pods favours the premium, one-night stand customers over repeat business and/or extended occupation bookings!

Having spoken to a number of contacts and friends since, most of whom are locals, our experiences have been communicated and we were surprised that we received a significant amount of adverse feedback about the attitude of the staff and variability in the quality of food and other adverse comments, especially in respect of value for money. Thus it has confirmed to myself that the management of the business is in need of substantial overhaul and that the selection and training of staff leaves a great deal to be desired.

I make no apologies for airing our experiences of 'The Deck at Penarth' at Penarth Marina, Penarth Portway, Penarth, South Wales, CF64 1TQ, in the hope that things improve!