Robin Hood's Bay 'never been as deserted', says resident

Calls to 'stay at home' over the Easter Bank Holiday have 'finally sunk in', says a business owner at one of Yorkshire's tourist hotspots.
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Usually flooded with people from across Yorkshire and the rest of the country, Robin Hood's Bay was eerily quiet this weekend.

After experiencing a deluge of visitors last Easter during a weekend of unseasonably-warm weather, the beach and village was deserted this weekend, with the exception of local residents getting their daily exercise allowance.

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Resident Graham Kemp, who opened his beach takeaway hut business a year ago to the day, and said on Sunday that the message to 'stay at home and save lives' appeared to have finally hit home.

Robin Hood's Bay, usually swarming with tourists, is left 'deserted' over Easter Bank Holiday as the public stay at home for the UK lockdown.Robin Hood's Bay, usually swarming with tourists, is left 'deserted' over Easter Bank Holiday as the public stay at home for the UK lockdown.
Robin Hood's Bay, usually swarming with tourists, is left 'deserted' over Easter Bank Holiday as the public stay at home for the UK lockdown.

Mr Kemp, 70, who is also Treasurer for the Robin Hood's Bay Tourism Association, said despite this, the village was also looking forward to welcoming back visitors in the future as lockdown measures are eased.

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He said: "I've never seen it quieter on a Bank Holiday, it's like it is in the middle of winter.

"So far this weekend, it has just been the odd dog walker. I have not seen anyone I don't know as it is just locals here now and everybody knows everybody.

Robin Hood's Bay resident Graham Kemp has never seen the beach on a bank holiday empty as it is this Easter Saturday, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.Robin Hood's Bay resident Graham Kemp has never seen the beach on a bank holiday empty as it is this Easter Saturday, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Robin Hood's Bay resident Graham Kemp has never seen the beach on a bank holiday empty as it is this Easter Saturday, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
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"There are people who have been turning up to holiday homes here, which is frowned upon. But I think the message has more or less sunk in now."

Mr Kemp, who has been living in the North Yorkshire village for nine years, added that it had been "absolutely dead" and even shops had "taken all the displays out of the window".

"I don't think anybody has seen anything like it.

"When it's all over, though, we will be working hard to make sure the tourism industry here comes back to life."

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