Hereford is perhaps considered a beautiful city, with plenty history and memories to perk up the minds of those who care for the old and forgotten.
Afterall, Hereford takes significant pride in its history, with museums being the only thing that google feeds you when you google “things to do in Hereford”.
The Cider Museum, the Black and White House, Broomy Waterworks and the (yes, stunning) Hereford Cathedral are all key features of Hereford, yet none of these attractions seem all that attracting to Herefords teenage demographic.
The activities to do in Hereford are far too thin and far.
The best attribute possibly being the Matrix, which offers Lazer Tag, Mini Golf and Axe Throwing.
However, do the Hereford teens considered this enough to keep their eager, under-stimulated minds loyal to Herefords few entertainment facilities?
You may feel we have enough, after all, there's an Odeon and a bowling alley, right?
But how many of us can afford the cinema weekly? And how many games of bowling can you play before you feel a little bit dizzy watching a ball skate down the lane for the hundredth time?
The answer is not many.
Despite the lack of evidence Herefords entertainment is fulfilling to teens, is there much call for change?
Do the Herefordians of today's city really feel much needs to be done?
We have a skate park and the wonderful Jam Factory, so is there much more we really need for the Youth?
These questions have weighed heavy on my mind for a little too long- so I decided to research myself- and see whether the need for excitement is really that strong.
Fourteen out of fifteen teen as, ages spanning from 17-21, told me they feel there are not enough activities in Hereford, with one individual stating while there are enough activities, they are ‘not affordable’.
I asked individuals what activities actually interest them in Hereford, with the Cinema being motioned six times, bowling three times and Matrix twice.
Four people noted eating out to be their go to activity with friends. roller-skating at the Core, Courtyard and Flip out were other activities noted among the more popular cinema and restaurants.
What appears to be an exhaustive list is far from.
The price for a ticket to see a film in Odeon is a painful £15, bowling sits at £8.50 for a game per person, and prices at Matrix depending on the activity.
Mini golf and laser tag are priced “from £8.00 per person” on the Matrix website, axe throwing is priced from £15 per person and ping pong comes to £20 per table.
Everything comes at a price, that is fact.
However, under16s have no funding outside their parents, and over16s may be finding it increasingly difficult to obtain a job under the many closures around Hereford.
Expenses is a big issue noted throughout my questionnaire, when asked “Do the activities available to you interest you, and why?”, one individual concluded “activities are good because they offer different types of entertainment and are often quite unique, but like mentioned, they are expensive” , with another user responding “Yes but not affordable” when asked whether they felt there are enough activities in Hereford.
Hereford is no doubt a beautiful city in the beautiful coutryside, but is there a risk of it losing its young demographic?
With few options for teenagers to really enjoy themselves, they find themselves travelling elsewhere. 13/15 respondents said they would travel outside of Hereford for a day out, with one respondent staying it would depend on what they're wanting to do, “I would travel elsewhere for a day of shopping”.
Could we see Herefords economy fall further behind in its GVA and could job creation remain slow as herefords population look elsewhere for opportunity?
It is clear Herefords good looks can only bring us so far, and with heavy reliance on the younger generations, a generation whose interests in the city either rapidly evaporate or never existed to begin with, there's no telling how successful Hereford can ever truly be.
