Coney Beach was built on an area of Porthcawl which opened a Figure-8 Toboggan ride in 1920. The park developed in the holiday hey-days of the 20's and 30's.

Nowadays, it's a bit of a ramshackle sight. The park is in dire need of investment, and seems to be a place where old traveling rides go to die.

Having said that though, the staff are cheerful and pleasant, and the park certainly isn't as sadly run down as the likes of Ocean Beach in Rhyl. The rides are mainly a mix of one type of spin and spew or another and it's filled to the brim.

Back in 1994, there was a fatal accident when the side-friction water-chute was blown by high winds off its track. In either the late 1990's or early 2000's, the chute was finally torn down, after standing idle for several years. With it went a classic Ghost Train and the last remaining rides of an outstanding nature.

If you're passing by, and you feel the desire to ride some traveling fair ground rides, it's probably worth popping in, but only make a special trip if you really feel the need to get those three coaster credits.

Prices are reasonable, with rides costing just a couple of pounds.