ORGANISERS of Dorset Seafood Festival have responded to criticism about the event's location change and introduction of a £10 entry fee - and said they hoped the moves were a one-off for this year only amid coronavirus uncertainty.

The festival usually takes place on the harbourside in July and is free to attend, making it one of the most celebrated weekends in Weymouth’s event calendar which each year attracts around 60,000 visitors.

But concerns have been raised after it emerged that this year's event would move to the peninsula behind Weymouth Pavilion in September, with limited visitor numbers, strict crowd control and a ticket-only system.

The event had to be cancelled last year due to the Covid pandemic, but organisers announced it will be back in Weymouth on September 11 and 12. A new ticket system will be introduced, with adult tickets starting at £10.

Festival director, Stuart Cooper, said that the changes were made as a cautious attempt to deal with any Covid restrictions or social distancing measures, should they still be in place by September and as a way of covering additional costs they may face after the event was unable to take place last year.

He said: "Firstly, we hope this can be a temporary move, and that we are able to return to a free Festival at our usual location in future years. With many 2021 events already cancelled, we wanted to find a way to give the town something to look forward to this year.

"Although things are looking up with vaccines under way, we want to be very responsible in our planning for the event, which usually attracts 50,000+ people to the harbourside. We need to allow for some form of social distancing should it still be a requirement and NHS test and trace. Ticketing the event is the simplest and most straightforward way of managing those visitor numbers safely."

The much-loved festival, sponsored by Nyetimber English Sparkling Wine, will be set up in a new location on Weymouth peninsula, behind the Pavilion Theatre, to ensure visitor numbers can be responsibly controlled.

Dorset Echo: Weymouth Seafood Festival, 13/07/19, Picture: FINNBARR WEBSTER/F30362.Weymouth Seafood Festival, 13/07/19, Picture: FINNBARR WEBSTER/F30362.

Mr Cooper said: "The event itself is run by a small Weymouth-based business. We have made the difficult decision to charge a fee for the tickets this year. This change is in order to cover the additional costs of having to relocate the event and make it safe for visitors to attend in the current environment and is necessary to protect the future of the event given the postponement of 2020.

"We can only manage all of this at a new location – hence the move to the peninsula site."

Business bosses said that the new location would have a huge impact on one of their biggest annual weekends of trading, and said they didn't believe people would fork out for tickets for an event that has historically been free.

Mr Cooper said: "With regards to the reaction of some harbourside traders, we’re proud of what the event has become and what it means to the town – over the years it has resulted in a huge visitor spend locally. Whilst we understand the concerns of local businesses, our belief is that they will still benefit in a big way this year from the visitors the Festival brings to Weymouth. As always the marketing and PR campaign that helps to promote our wonderful town will cost the businesses nothing.

"The changes also mean we’re able to offer discounted stand space this year. This benefits the many local traders who already take a stall, and other local businesses are welcome to apply too – their support would help protect the event for future years, which is something that's in everyone’s interest."

They have been working with Dorset Council and Weymouth Town Council to secure the new festival site.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “Dorset Council has agreed with the organisers of the Seafood Festival that they may use the space at the Peninsula in Weymouth over four days in September. The organiser will pay half the lost car parking income and Weymouth Town Council and Weymouth Harbour are supporting the festival.

“The location was moved at the request of the organisers to allow for social distancing. In making this decision Dorset Council had to consider businesses along the quay and provide space for their expansion. This decision will help support all businesses.

“We have no comment to make on the ticket entrance fee that the organisers have decided to charge.”