INTERVIEWS and PHOTOS: The sights and sounds of Morecambe Vintage by the Sea festival

Monday, 5 September 2022 11:00

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Dancing in the Midland Hotel car park at Morecambe Vintage by the Sea festival

Beyond Radio mingled with the crowds at a glorious Vintage by the Sea festival in Morecambe.

Held on Saturday September 3 and Sunday September 4, the annual vintage festival made its return to the central Promenade area after a three-year absence due to the Covid pandemic.

Despite a rainy forecast, the festival was blessed with fine and warm weather all weekend, with the sun even peeping through at times!

Visitors came from all over the UK, other parts of Europe, and even as far afield as Canada to enjoy the sights and sounds of the event, many dressed in the finest fashions from the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.

This group of well-dressed ladies came from Burnley to enjoy Vintage by the Sea.

Classic characters who are regulars at the Morecambe vintage festival made their return to entertain the crowds.

They included Viv the Spiv.

The fast-talking Londoner, an authentic 1940s black market wheeler-dealer, had all the patter as he posed for photos and chatted to passers by, while trying to sell them 'knock-off gear' at the same time!

We even managed to grab a word with Viv!

LISTEN to our interview with Viv the Spiv (pictured below, right, with his brother Alistair).

The Midland hotel car park was a focal point of the festival, as people clamoured to take a look at the many beautiful vintage vehicles on display.

Local dance teachers Anthony Padgett and Stephanie Sturges led vintage dance classes in the hotel car park. They also run classes every Tuesday from 7.30pm at the War Memorial Hall on Church Street in Morecambe.

LISTEN to our interview with Anthony and Stephanie (pictured below).

A Makers Market was held in the Winter Gardens as part of the festival.

Huge crowds of people browsed stalls of arts, crafts and gifts, many created by local producers.

One of them was Patricia Haskey from Heysham, who had a stall selling her artwork.

Patricia was recently commissioned to create a painting to mark the 125th anniversary of the Winter Gardens.

This shows the interior of the Grade II* listed theatre.

LISTEN to our interview with Patricia (pictured below with her painting).

There was plenty of music on offer at the festival.

DJs performed behind the Midland and on top of a Routemaster double decker bus outside The Platform, and also on The Melodrome stage in the Promenade Gardens. People gathered to enjoy food, drink, live music and a relaxed atmosphere.

Acts on The Melodrome stage included Pete Moser, aka Sergeant Pepper's Lonely One Man Band. Morecambe's one-man band extraordinaire performed an array of Beatles songs and definitely looked the part!

There was lots more going on all weekend, including the Torch Club Ball, the After Party and family activities in the Little Big Top, vintage fairground rides, street theatre, live performances, a vintage bike ride, the Best in Show and much much more.

Here are some more of our photos of Vintage by the Sea.