A SIX-week summer festival organised by Tavistock’s Business Improvement District has been deemed a huge success.

The summer festival was a brand new campaign by the BID to bring more people in to Tavistock and increase footfall into the town’s shops.

And it proved successful with local residents, visitors and BID members alike enjoying the atmosphere and activities held throughout the town from July 24 to September 2.

The festival was busier than expected, with craft events, themed days, a treasure hunt — which ran throughout the whole of the six-week holiday — and the hugely popular Mad Hatters Tea Party.

BID chairman Robin Rich said the festival was a way to energise the town.

‘We have found that people really enjoyed themselves and if people enjoy themselves and feel appreciated then they will stay longer in the town and spend money, but they have to be encouraged and have an enjoyable experience.

‘The feedback we received from the tea party was fantastic and the best thing was that it incorporated the whole of the town from the former Old Folks’ Rest Room to the church lawn.

‘This was the first summer festival and there is a lot more that we can do to make it an even better summer festival for next year.

‘We have a good working relationship with the chamber and the town council and we all work together for the good of the town.’

The BID is now working on its next project.

With the positive response to the summer festival, BID manager Lisa Piper is now focusing on a winter event.

She said: ‘We are now working toward the winter festival and the half term in October.

‘The summer festival did well to bring people in to town. As we haven’t done an event like this before it did well to get people out and about and circulate around the town, so now we are planning for the winter festival to give the town an extra boost.’

If any business or local resident has feedback on the summer festival, email Robin on [email protected]