This summer’s farewell feast showcases star of the future
A new seafront festival will next summer continue to offer the very best in street food, craft beer and cocktails and live music.
Over the weekend the third and final Feast by the Sea of 2019 attracted tens of thousands of visitors to the Spanish City Plaza.
Photos by Max Cooper | fb.com/maxcooperphotography
Although August’s Feast was cancelled because of bad weather, the festivals in July and September proved to be stunning successes and plans are already being drawn up for next year.
“Great location, great food and drink and great music,” said Mark Deakin from the Feast Pop Ups company, which runs the events.
“We’re delighted with how much people have enjoyed the Feasts by the Sea and they’ve provided a real taste of what’s to come next year.”
As well as bringing the Feast by the Sea back to Whitley Bay, the organisers intend to stage a number of other events in 2020 including Feast in the Park and Feast in the City.
They are free to enter and provide visitors with an opportunity to try different types of food which take their inspiration from all corners of the world.
Throughout the summer the Feast by the Sea has provided a showcase for local musical talent, such as Love Like This and Salida. At the weekend festival goers were also treated to a performance by 13-year-old Whitley Bay schoolgirl Sarita Playfair.
“She was absolutely amazing,” said Nigel Holliday for Feast Pop Ups. “I’m sure she’s got a fantastic career ahead of her.”
Sarita’s mum Edith said her daughter – a pupil at the Kings Priory School in Tynemouth – started singing before she could talk.
Edith was in the audience during Sarita’s performance at Feast by the Sea. “I was really proud of her. Every time she sings it feels like it’s the first time I’ve seen her,” she said.
Sarita joined a singing and acting school when she was six, has performed on stage in Tynemouth and Newcastle and – for the past year – has been working with the well-known North East singing coach Julie Miles.
“She says she just needs a little help with her technique because she is already amazing,” said Edith who is confident Sarita will achieve her dream of singing professionally.
Although the summer festivals have now finished, Mark Deakin and his wife Shelley are busy with a new venture which will create up to 10 new jobs.
They have bought the popular Salt House bar and eatery in Cullercoats which closed earlier this year.
The Deakins are going to keep the Salt House name but when it re-opens later this Autumn the bar will have a decidedly Spanish/Ibizan theme.
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