Festival Announcemnt

Our aspiration has always been to organise a free-entry event aimed at promoting marine and wildlife conservation. We’ve been delighted to support local businesses, charities, and musicians in this endeavour.

The Festival relies on financial support from local business sponsorships, generous grants, advertising, raffles, quiz nights, visitor donations, and stallholder fees. However, the expenses for 2023 have significantly escalated. This won’t be a surprise, as many businesses are grappling with the same reality of rising costs. But for the first time, we are confronted with a fee from Rother District Council for utilising the seafront lawns. Despite the Festival being a free event, boosting footfall in Bexhill, this new fee has rendered the event financially unfeasible.

As the Organiser, I extend my deepest thanks to our dedicated volunteer Committee, who have tirelessly worked to make the Festival the success it is. We also extend our gratitude to our stallholders, MJS Media, Alistair Hazell, Friends of Bexhill Events, the RNLI, RSPCA, Bexhill Environmental Group, Marine Conservation Society, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Bexhill Sea Angling Club, Bexhill Sailing Club, St Leonards Motors, Skinners Sheds, Bexhill Police, Blue Response First Aid, and many others too numerous to mention.

Our entire Committee, myself included, are volunteers, receiving no payment for our services. We’ve all been happy to pour our efforts into the event’s success, and we will certainly feel its absence. Over the past nine years, we have been heartened by the many encouraging messages expressing appreciation for the Festival from visitors of all ages. WE THANK YOU!!!

As a final note, I urge the following:
AVOID LITTERING AND EMBRACE A PLASTIC-FREE LIFESTYLE. PLEASE PRESERVE OUR SEAFRONT AND MARINE WILDLIFE. THEY ARE PRECIOUS ASSETS FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Kind regards,
Carole Green,
Organiser
BEXHILL FESTIVAL OF THE SEA

Sponsors