RSPB Bempton Cliffs has reported its highest ever visitor numbers for 2025 after receiving targeted business support and grant funding to extend its tourism season.
One of the top visitor attractions in the East Riding has recorded an all-time high in footfall, following a successful initiative to boost year-round tourism.
RSPB Bempton Cliffs welcomed a total of 135,561 visitors over the course of 2025. This record-breaking figure represents an eighteen per cent increase compared to the previous year.
The flagship nature reserve is renowned as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and attracts thousands of visitors each year. It is highly popular during the puffin season and holds the unique distinction of being the only mainland breeding colony of gannets in England.
In a bid to extend the traditional visitor season and increase footfall beyond the peak summer months, the attraction sought assistance from the Invest East Yorkshire Business Support Services team.
Through this local authority programme, RSPB Bempton Cliffs successfully accessed a UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant, which is funded by the UK Government.
The financial support enabled the nature reserve to undertake targeted advertising campaigns across both regional media and social media platforms.
In addition to the grant funding, the team at the reserve accessed free social media workshops and received ongoing business advice from the support services team, which operates as part of East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
The initiative aimed to draw in tourists during the quieter shoulder seasons, spreading visitor numbers more evenly across the calendar year rather than relying solely on the popular puffin breeding period.
Reserve Manager Dave O Hara said:
"Thanks to Invest East Yorkshire, we were able to invest in marketing RSPB Bempton Cliffs as a year-round visitor attraction, increasing visits in the shoulder seasons, so spreading visitor numbers across the year. This contributed to an amazing year for visitor numbers, our highest on record."
The milestone year for visitor numbers also coincided with a significant anniversary for the site's facilities. The year 2025 marked exactly ten years since the opening of the Bempton Visitor Centre.
Alongside the visitor centre, the site features a shop and a café that serves bird-friendly coffee. To cater to the growing number of nature enthusiasts, the reserve has also increased its range of events for the summer season.
The local authority believes the boost in tourism at the cliffs will have a positive ripple effect across the wider East Riding economy.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader, Councillor Anne Handley, said:
"It is great to see how Bempton Cliffs has been able to increase its visibility and start to increase its tourism season, with the help of new marketing activities. This success shows how targeted funding can generate wider economic impact for an entire local supply chain, with the opportunities for accommodation providers, restaurants and other independent businesses in the region to benefit from the increased visitor numbers."
The Invest East Yorkshire Business Support Services team continues to work closely with local enterprises to help them develop, grow, and access available funding where applicable.
Businesses located within the East Riding that are interested in finding out more about support or grant eligibility are encouraged to visit the Invest East Yorkshire business support website.
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