That was Christmas, then. Christmas Eve (this year on December 24th, a Saturday) and I'd say the town was very busy by today's standards even up to mid-afternoon... but actually only as busy as it used to be in the late 1980s and 1990s on an ordinary Saturday. The fact that the town appeared busy just on Christmas Eve speaks volumes about how over 30 years footfall has collapsed.
Now we're in January and it's reported that several shops are struggling to make their rent. We know Jazz's proprietrix is retiring and that'll be one less reason to visit what is already a beleaguered Clwyd Street.
The Farmers closes early during the first couple of days of the week and other pubs report poor takings.
But the most staggering thing was the numbers on The Square for new year. Yes, the weather was grim but given that most of these people come out of a pub, it indicates the state we're in. Reports vary but some suggest there were as few as 30 midnight revellers... which means pub trade on such a key day was appalling.
Meanwhile, I think it was the day before New Year's Eve that the market hall put on some kind of event that lasted till 2 a.m. There were complaints of noise in the vicinity but the real problem for the pubs is that revellers can only spend their money once... and if in the market hall this won't be in hostelries.
Hostelries are not at all happy with the market hall. Another case of factions in Rhuthun/Ruthin.