Village green abuzz with grooves at Penkhull Jazz and Blues Festival
Thousands of music-lovers were at Penkhull Jazz and Blues Festival on Saturday to take in live bands and open-air activities.
The one-day event was a runaway success last year, as fans packed into the village's pubs and beer gardens.
But this year, organisers expanded the event and broadened its appeal to the wider community.
But there were also five extra bands playing on the village green from midday so families and non pub-goers could enjoy the ambience of the festival.
And the event also teamed up with the village church to help raise money for vital roof repairs.
Festival committee chairman and radiography lecturer Barry Carver, aged 51, said: "Last year was a huge success, but when we looked back we felt it had fallen slightly flat after the opening ceremony because it was all just about the pubs.
"This year, we wanted to make more of the village green to bring more people in and keep the momentum going through the day.
"We also wanted to do something for the local community, which is why we decided to help raise money for the Heart of Penkhull appeal to refurbish the church.
"People have been asking us for months what was happening because they couldn't wait for the next festival.
"But it is still a lot of hard work for the committee, and I think we will have to take a bit of a break before we sit down and reflect on this year's festival and see about next year."
Steve Edwards, who took over as licensee at The Greyhound in May, was impressed with the organisation of the event.
The 41-year-old said: "I didn't see last year's festival, but this has been very good.
"It seems to bring the whole community together and it's very good for business as well."
The Marquis of Granby licensee Carol Rowland, aged 46, said: "The festival is good for all the local pubs because it brings more people into the village, and some of them may well come back afterwards.
"I hope there will be more festivals held here in the future."
Opposite the pub was the Penkhull Christian Fellowship which also enjoyed an influx of visitors for al fresco tea and cakes.
Assistant Pastor Daniel Chan said: "The festival committee felt there was nowhere last year for people to go if they didn't want to go to a pub, so they asked if we would get involved.
"It's good for the church to be open and for people to see what's going on because it's an important part of the community."
The one-day event was a runaway success last year, as fans packed into the village's pubs and beer gardens.
But this year, organisers expanded the event and broadened its appeal to the wider community.
TIN.adverts.adWriteDC('article-detail-impact-tile-top', '452x118');
The festival still featured 15 live acts at The Greyhound, The Marquis of Granby, The Terrace Inn, The White Lion and The Beehive.But there were also five extra bands playing on the village green from midday so families and non pub-goers could enjoy the ambience of the festival.
And the event also teamed up with the village church to help raise money for vital roof repairs.
Festival committee chairman and radiography lecturer Barry Carver, aged 51, said: "Last year was a huge success, but when we looked back we felt it had fallen slightly flat after the opening ceremony because it was all just about the pubs.
"This year, we wanted to make more of the village green to bring more people in and keep the momentum going through the day.
"We also wanted to do something for the local community, which is why we decided to help raise money for the Heart of Penkhull appeal to refurbish the church.
"People have been asking us for months what was happening because they couldn't wait for the next festival.
"But it is still a lot of hard work for the committee, and I think we will have to take a bit of a break before we sit down and reflect on this year's festival and see about next year."
Steve Edwards, who took over as licensee at The Greyhound in May, was impressed with the organisation of the event.
The 41-year-old said: "I didn't see last year's festival, but this has been very good.
"It seems to bring the whole community together and it's very good for business as well."
The Marquis of Granby licensee Carol Rowland, aged 46, said: "The festival is good for all the local pubs because it brings more people into the village, and some of them may well come back afterwards.
"I hope there will be more festivals held here in the future."
Opposite the pub was the Penkhull Christian Fellowship which also enjoyed an influx of visitors for al fresco tea and cakes.
Assistant Pastor Daniel Chan said: "The festival committee felt there was nowhere last year for people to go if they didn't want to go to a pub, so they asked if we would get involved.
"It's good for the church to be open and for people to see what's going on because it's an important part of the community."

No comments: