Landmark welcomes its 27,000th visitor
ATTRACTION ... Nick Dolan, back left, with Sandy Small and his family.
STAFF at a South Tyneside landmark have welcomed their 27,000th visitor to the tourist attraction.
Souter Lighthouse in Whitburn has become a popular tourist draw since it first opened to the public in 1989 and, on Sunday, Sandy Small and his family from Larbert near Falkirk, Scotland, helped the venue achieve the figure.
Property manager Nick Dolan and visitor experience manager Simon Colvine were on hand to count down the numbers.
Mr Small, who was visiting the lighthouse for the first time, said: “We were really impressed.
“It was great to be able to feel we could touch and see how the lighthouse worked.
“The stairs gave us the ‘heebie jeebies’. Everyone was really helpful and informative.”
The lighthouse, was only open for a short time during half-term last week, but will reopen daily from March 10.
Mr Dolan said: “I am delighted that so many people have visited.
“It is an inspirational place and the staff and volunteers work very hard to make it as attractive and family-friendly as possible, provide tasty home-made food and great customer service, and tell the stories of the lighthouse and this coast.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
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nickdolan
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 10:41 AMHello everyone, and thanks for seeing the article: it's Nick Dolan, Property Manager of Souter here and I am sorry that the information I gave to the Gazette missed a vital line...it was our 27000th visitors to the lighthouse THIS SEASON! Since we opened to the public in 1999 we have welcomed nearly half a million people...and these numbers only include people passing the 'pay point' - including 2,500 schoolchildren per season, inspired to learn about lighthouses and the lives of the keepers and their families. We have always keps our loos and cafe outside the paypoint, and do lots of events and activites in the foghorn field and around the lighthouse so it is probable that well over a million people have enjoyed visiting us. The National Trust - an independant Charity with over 4 million members - has fantastic support from volunteers, who support the core staff at properties and in the regions to look after historic buildings and landscapes, and I take the chance to thank all supporters. We reopen for the new season on 10th March, and have loads of events, as well as providing a visit full of fun...and great food, with much of the veg & salad grown on site. Look forward to seeing you at Souter!
East Boldon Lad
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:19 AMGiven the maritime and shipping traditions of this area I find any disparaging comments about Souter andor lighthouses inexplicable.
monkeynuts
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:44 PMnever mind.... i only said 3ppl a day visited, if it was half decent and had something worth looking at, i might go. there was a pub in jarrow got pulled down because it was in the way of the new tyne tunnel. now that pub had history to it but they still pulled it down, and you go on about a lighthouse?
Hebburnlee
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:39 PMSpot on bewildered. And I'd add that without culture and a sense of history, we're nothing.
bewilderedonlooker
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:53 AMMonkeynuts the National Trust is funded by membership and the revenue it generates at its sites (the more polular sites subsidise those with lower visitor numbers), as their focus is on preserving our heritage (natural and human) they will take on properties of national importance that dont nesisarily pay thier way in terms of visitor revenue. None of your money Monkeynuts will go to support the light house unless your a member or go and have a coffee in the cafe (they do good cakes) and as for the cost of the staff, the management is shared across the region Nick will manage several properties but its not for you to worry about if your not a member of teh National Trust.
Blacktop
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:12 AMLet's not forget that they get a lot of revenue from the souvenir shop and cafe, both of which are well worth a visit even if you don't go into the lighthouse.
monkeynuts
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:03 AMfair enough, i wonder how much it costs to run this with management salaries and other costs, just seems to be a money pit, if you want to throw your money in, all well and good, I DONT.
Hebburnlee
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:14 AMIt's not open all year round, is a National Trust site and we should endeavour to preserve history for future generations.
monkeynuts
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:50 AMwow 23 yrs and 27k visitors, thats an average of just over 3per day. maybe 1 day it will pay for its upkeep
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