Organiser of Weymouth Bayside Festival enters voluntary liquidation

Mainsail, the organiser of Weymouth Bayside Festival, has elected to voluntarily liquidate the business and close the event site.

Citing “dire visitor numbers”, Mainsail closed the site this morning and is no longer running the event, which was due to take place for 17 days alongside the Olympic sailing in Weymouth and Portland.

Some suppliers, including SXS Events, have been paid upfront but there are reports that traders are unhappy having allegdedly paid £4,500 for a pitch.

Jonathan Lane of Hourglass Promotions and Atlantic Audio have now stepped in to host a week-long series of entertainment and music nights at Weymouth’s Pavilion, as the council and local businesses desperately encourage people to visit the area.

Johnny Palmer, director, SXS Events, told Stand Out: “The car parks are dead. I think the council has overwarned people about bad traffic and so people have stayed away. We are OK and have been paid upfront by Mainsail but my main concern is now getting our kit off site.”

David Clarke, chief executive, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “The borough council is very disappointed for the company behind the Bayside Festival. The decision to close this single part of what is on offer in Weymouth at the moment is entirely a matter for the commercial operator of that site.

“People still have 10 days to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience – the Olympics by the sea in Weymouth and Portland.

“Our free live site on Weymouth’s golden sands will be showing all the sailing and other Olympics action and the sports arena on the beach is getting rave reviews from people who are trying their hand at everything from rugby and kayaking to volleyball and sailing on Weymouth Beach.”