Beach Festival in Newbury attracts over 3,000 visitors

After kicking off on Friday evening at Newbury Rugby Football Club’s Monks Lane site, over three thousand people pitched up for the three-day party, drinking several bars dry, with staff battling to meet soaring demand for food and drink, in the heatwave:
“It was an end-to-end party from Friday afternoon onwards,” said the club’s executive director, Sean Bates who continued:
“We drank the cellar dry in true rugby club tradition.”
The hot weather helped to pull in the crowds and boost the gate on last year (2012) when the Beach Festival made a loss, according to Mr Bates.
The amount raised at this year’s festival was still being totted up, but any profit was to be ploughed back into the club’s funds, and used, he said, for much needed pitch maintenance:
“We have fallen short in that regard over the last couple of years,” he added.
Live music from some 30 bands, including Small Town Saviours, South Finesse, Military Arcade, Midnight Rambler, Blues Brothers, along with Woolton Hill teenager, Emma Lawrence, aged 16, singing and playing guitar, provided ample entertainment:
“An awful lot were local and did brilliantly - we should be proud,” said Mr Bates.
Meanwhile several tonnes of sand used to form the festival’s golden beach could become a permanent fixture at the club, after proving hugely popular with 32 of the club’s junior teams, in matches on Sunday:
“We are taking it off the pitches and will store it , but are considering a permanent sand pitch, as beach rugby is such a fun game,” he added.
A battery of food and drinks included dishes from Europe, the USA, Africa, Asia, South America and the UK, washed down with beach cocktails, 50 guest ales, 20 wines, a Pimms stall, champagne and Prosecco, Sake and Jack Daniels.