DIRE weather may have cut takings but it has not dented the hopes of seaside traders that an upturn is on the way.
The summer season has been a washout for visitors and many traders but with the Olympics just a week away and hopes of more sun,  they are hoping for a change in fortune.
Many need the crowds to arrive after the wettest summer in 30 years left the resort quieter than usual.
Dave Spackman of Weymouth Super Snails on the seafront, said: “I would say we’re down by about a third this year. We haven’t put our prices up for ten years, so it’s not that. The people just aren’t coming.
“No-one’s got any money for holidays but the weather has been absolutely awful.”
The 30-year average for rainfall in June is 46.4 millimetres.
But June, 2012 produced 128.8 millimetres of rainfall in Weymouth and the first four days of July saw 70 per cent of the average rainfall for the month.
Weymouth Chamber of Commerce president Anna Maria Geare said: “It’s always sad to have bad weather.
“The fact that we had the wettest June on record wouldn’t have helped any businesses. But we are looking forward to a good summer and are hoping for good weather.
“All we can do is hope it will improve.
“It’s very challenging for traders if the weather is poor but no-one has any control over it.
“We are in a seaside resort and it’s never going to be easy. Traders can diversify as much as they can to attract people, but bad weather is not conducive to a seaside resort.
“Though the hope is that the Olympics will attract a new wave of people – walkers, for example – whose holidays are not dependent on the beach.
“We are keeping positive and we hope good weather is on the way.”
Craig Dunkerley, manager of the Weymouth Sea Life Tower, said: “We have had great feedback from people going on it and numbers are okay.
“We would like a few more but the weather has been terrible and has taken the shine off some days. The resort has seemed not as busy.
“But roll on the summer.”
Melanie Rush, owner of West Hill donkeys said: “When the weather’s been good it’s been absolutely fine.
“We had three days last week when we did twice as well as we expected.
“We haven’t been out on the beach for three days because of the rain, but I’ve been doing paperwork – there’s always something to do.
“You always have something to be getting on with when you run a business.
“Overall it’s been fine.”
Dennis Spurr, of the Fantastic Sausage Factory, said: “We can’t change the weather. Yes, we are down, but we have got to be positive. I’ve got my shorts on, a Hawaiian shirt and we’re playing summer music.
“If it’s raining I will be out there with my umbrella smiling at people.
“We’ve just got to do the best we can. What can we do about the weather?”
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council spokesman for tourism and leisure Coun Ian Bruce said: “I am very sympathetic about the problems of bad weather causing low visitor numbers and how this is affecting all of the UK’s hotels and attractions.
“However I would emphasise to all tourism businesses in Weymouth and Portland that we benefit from the Weymouth Bay Gap where bad weather from the South West hits Portland Bill and is diverted away from our beach and Esplanade.
“This means even when the weather is bad it is generally better in Weymouth.”