LETTER: Put off by rise in entry price

On reading this week’s Observer (September 11) and seeing the article on the Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival I felt I had to raise an issue with it that countless people have made comment on to me and that is the entry charge.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Sep 2015, 13:00 BST

I see that it has risen to £2 if you don’t purchase a wristband in advance.

Last weekend I met with a friend in Bexhill and found the Bexhill Seafood Festival was on, so I went to have a look around.

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There was no entry fee, no charge for the programme and many of the stalls were exactly the same as those found at the Hastings festival.

There were two sites for live music and performance, and all set in the beautiful area of the De La Warr Pavilion and adjacent greens. There was also a children’s fun fair provided by Bexhill Lions.

Hastings Festival is now crammed into the small space alongside the art gallery and we have to pay to get in.

When it first started and I attended it was free with plenty of room to manoeuvre and it did not matter whether you knew it was happening or chanced to find it, as I did the Bexhill festival.

HBC should take note and move their festival to an area with more space.

I know I am not the only person who will not bother attending.

Joan Bones

Mount Pleasant Road

Hastings

Related topics:ObserverBexhillHastingsDe La Warr Pavilion