40's Festival set to deliver a boost to district economy

Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Woodhall on July 16-17, delivering a huge boost to the local economy.

This year will see a new range of 40s-themed entertainments, specially created food and drink areas and a vastly improved traffic management system.

The improvements have been made possible thanks to sponsorship deals and a huge list of donors.

For the first time, the Woodhall-based Petwood Hotel and Golf Hotel have signed up as joint sponsors of the Festival.

The Inn at Woodhall Spa and Woodhall Spa Country Park have become supporting sponsors.

Organisers say that by offering financial backing, the businesses have helped to plug a funding gap that could have prevented the festival happening in 2016. Paying for improved traffic management had been highlighted as a key challenge to the success of the volunteer-run festival following complaints in 2015.

Successful fundraising initiatives - including a village lottery - have combined with the sponsorship deals to ensure the traffic system is in place.

Andrew Hunter, chairman of the organising committee, said: “It’s hugely exciting that we are working with such well-known and supportive businesses and we are very grateful for their support.

“While we had raised a good chunk of the extra £10,000 needed to pay for the traffic management, it really is thanks to our wonderful sponsors and our many other supporters that we can make this year’s event happen in the way we aimed to – safely and successfully.”

Emma Brearley, director of Petwood Hotel, said that opportunity to support the future success of the Festival was the right decision for her business and the wider community;

She said: “We are hugely supportive of the festival as it has really helped to attract a whole new generation of visitors to the village.”

Details about the sponsors, plus all visitor information about the traffic diversions and park and ride options, can be found at www.woodhall-spa- 40s-festival.com.