Sea Fest sails into sunset as cost rise kills off big event

Organisers say visitors and stalls declined but opponents say charging did not help

Arbroath’s Sea Fest has sailed into the sunset after organisers admitted it was no longer economically viable.

The annual event is being brought to an end after 21 years due to “hugely increasing costs, declining visitor numbers and stall holders and the constant struggle to attract grants”.

It has been a huge success over the years but has not escaped fierce criticism.

Bill Adam, who runs the Harbour Nights guest house, said there will be no tears shed over the end of the town’s annual maritime festival.

“The minute they started getting greedy and put fences up to enclose people in and started to charge the public, that was their demise,” he said.

“Obviously, it wasn’t going to die right away – it took a couple of years.

“But they overcharged the stall

The minute they started getting greedy and... started to charge the public, that was their demise

holders, they didn’t offer anything to the public and they didn’t have the footfall to sustain themselves.”

Mr Adam said he was operating at a loss during Sea Fest and closing off the harbour had hurt local traders.

“The Seafront Spectacular at Victoria Park was a roaring success but, unfortunately, the organisers pulled out because they got criticised,” he said.

“The Festival of Heroes organised a display from the Red Arrows but what did the Sea Fest put on?

“The lifeboat having tea and coffee.” Mr Adam said it was the organisation rather than the event itself which was the problem.

“It was the only funfair in the whole of Scotland that you had to pay to get into,” he added.

Ed Murdoch, chairman of the committee responsible for Arbroath Sea and Food Festival, the name given to Arbroath Sea Fest for this year, said the committee was “very sorry” to be calling time on the event.

“For more than 20 years, Arbroath Sea Fest attracted thousands of people to Arbroath every year, boosting the town’s economy and further enhancing the reputation of Angus as a great place to live and to visit.

“In addition, it provided an excellent fundraising platform for charities, assisting a large number to raise thousands of pounds.

“This is a sad day for the committee members and for Arbroath but with hugely increasing costs, declining visitor numbers and stall holders and the constant struggle to attract grants, the committee has reluctantly come to the conclusion it is no longer economically viable to organise an event on the scale of Arbroath Sea Fest.”

Mr Murdoch said the event’s remaining funds are to be distributed to worthwhile local causes in the near future, adding: “In the meantime, on behalf of the committee, I would like to thank everyone who has supported Arbroath Sea Fest and, latterly, Arbroath Sea and Food Festival, over the last 21 years.”

Pictures: Mhairi Edwards. Above: Sea Fest committee members Lynn Cameron and Bruce Fleming. Right: Harbour Nights guest house owner Bill Adam.

“As chairman of Arbroath Festival of Heroes which took place in 2016, I can understand the position of cost challenges and the pressures that it puts you under. It’s a shame for the town that our wonderful harbour area won’t have its annual showcase.Jamie Buchan, retail director, Specsavers Opticians, Arbroath.

“I think it’s very sad when anything like Sea Fest, which brings people and a buzz into the town, comes to an end. I seem to remember it was the town’s business association who ran it at the beginning and it was immediately massively popular and successful bringing thousands of visitors into Arbroath. Ian Lamb, retired, Arbroath.

“I’m not surprised that Sea Fest has gone. We’ve not been for years and it’s now got very little to do with the sea. It’s changed beyond all recognition and it’s now just a glorified funfair. We’ve been up to the one at Portsoy and that’s head and shoulders above what’s on offer at Arbroath.Bill Cargill, retired, Arbroath.