Festival boost for Tamworth pubs and clubs

The first weekend of the Tamworth Country Music Festival has provided a “solid” uplift for the pubs and clubs of Tamworth’s CBD.

The rain and the cooler weather helped boost the numbers to the 10-day festival, with Post Office Hotel owner Andrew Coutts telling The Northern Daily Leader that this year’s numbers were “as consistent as past years”.

"It's a touch surprising given the drought and the fires and everything, but there's a fair bit of positivity around with the rain and the cooler weather, it's been really good,” he said.

"The food trade has been really solid, and where we probably had people come in for one drink in the heat in years gone by, they're now staying and having a few drinks and having a feed - it's good to see."

Tudor Hotel manager Shauna Riley told the Leader trade for food and drinks had almost doubled compared to last year.

"They're coming in a lot earlier we've noticed, and there's been a good mix: visitors, locals, out-of-towners coming in because of the rain," she said.

"There is a lot of the older generation too, and they're enjoying the festival and having a feed, you know, just down to earth country folk that are making the most of the cooler weather."

The Tamworth publican Luke Prout said the cooler weather also meant patrons wanted to eat more.

"With the drought and bushfires, fears were high that we may be a little forgotten this year, however it doesn't seem to be the case," Prout told The Leader.

"We are really appreciative of the support that visitors are showing the town and send our most positive thoughts to those that can't make it due to said drought and fires."

Sheridan Randall, 20^th January 2020