Welcome to Watchet Summertime.
Welcome to Watchet Summertime 2023!
Here you will find additional information on the events that will be occurring in Watchet between Monday 14th and `Saturday 19th August 2023.
We hope to see you for Watchet Summertime.
The Watchet Summertime team x
Dates for 2023 Monday 14th August - Saturday 19th August
Watchet Summertime programme of events...
The programme for 2023 is as follows...
Monday 14th August
10am – 4pm: Market Stalls The Esplanade. Free.
10am – 4pm: Crafts Day The Esplanade. Free.
11am: Official Opening The Esplanade. Free.
3.00pm – 4pm: Music Watchet Community Choir.
The Esplanade. Free.
Tuesday 15th August
10am – 4pm: Market Stalls
The Esplanade. Free.
10am – 3.45pm: Lego Competition Book ahead for your slot.
Prizes at the end of the day! Sponsored by Watchet
Harbour Book Shop.
The Esplanade. Free.
4pm: Prize Giving Winners of the days Lego competition.
The Esplanade. Free.
Wednesday 16th August
10am – 4pm: Market Stalls Watchet Town Council Market.
The Esplanade. Free.
7pm – 8.30pm: Music
“Old Time Singalong Music Hall” Varied evening of music, suiting to all tastes. No charge but retiring collection for Watchet Sea
Scouts and church funds.
St Decumans Church Watchet. Free.
Thursday 17th August
10am – 4pm: Charity Stalls.
The Esplanade. Free.
10am – 4pm: Don’s Showtime A day of all kinds of music played by local musicians.
Programme below.
The Esplanade. Free.
After 8pm: Outdoor Cinema Watchet Community Cinema present an outdoor screening of the iconic movie Dirty Dancing. Costume and dancing competitions in the style of the movie. Bring chairs and warm clothes.
The Marina Cafe will be staying open late for film night so you will be able to purchase tea and coffee.
The Esplanade. Free.
Friday 18th August
10am – 4pm: Market Stalls.
The Esplanade. Free.
10am: Music Gadzukes Ukele Players.
The Esplanade. Free.
12pm – 4.30pm: Funday Watchet Town Council funday.
The Esplanade. Free.
From 7.45pm – 8pm: Story Time ‘Crash Bang Donkey’ by Watchet author and illustrator Jill Newton performed by the West Somerset Brass Band.
The Esplanade. Free.
7pm – 8pm: Music
West Somerset Brass Band.
The Esplanade. Free.
8.30pm onwards: Event
Night of Lights. A spectacle of light for all to enjoy. Dress yourself in lights and/or bring your own decorated lantern (available from the Summertime tent on the Esplanade) or make and decorate your own lantern. Battery lights only, no naked flames.
The Esplanade. Free.
Saturday 19th August
10am – 4pm: Market Stalls.
The Esplanade. Free.
10.30am – 11.30am: Music Live Sea Shanty performances.
The Esplanade. Free.
11.45am – 12.30am: Music Watchet Consort.
The Esplanade. Free.
2pm – 4pm: Music Andy Barrett and Friends.
The Esplanade. Free.
From 7pm: Food
Hog Roast by Farmhouse Kitchen.
The Esplanade.
6pm – 8pm: Music
Audio Roulette on the The Esplanade Stage (Band sponsored by Roy and Helen at The Esplanade Club).
The Esplanade. Free.
8.15pm: Grand Draw Watchet Summertime Raffle.
The Esplanade.
9pm – 10pm: Music Goodnight Louis on The Esplanade Stage (Band sponsored by Roy and Helen at The Esplanade Club).
The Esplanade. Free.
10pm – 10.15pm: Grand Finale FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR Music continues until 11pm.
The Esplanade.
Donations appreciated.
10.15pm – 11pm: Music Goodnight Louis return to the stage to finish the evening.
The Esplanade. Free.
Additional event information.
Don's Showtime
Thursday 17th August
Lego Competition
Tuesday 15th August
Book a slot at the Wednesday market on August 9th or at Summertime HQ on Monday 14th for your place in the Lego competition.
Build your creation within the time slot ready for judging at the end of the day. You could win yourself a prize!
The competition takes place on the Esplanade and past events have shown it to be very popular so don’t delay in booking your slot if you would like to take part.
Sponsored by Watchet Harbour Book Shop.
Night Of Lights
Friday 18th August
A spectacle of light for all to enjoy. Come and see the Esplanade as it is covered in lights for all to enjoy.
Dress yourself in lights and/or bring your own decorated lantern, be part of our Night Of Light. Please note, battery lights only, no naked flames.
Bring your own decorated lantern to add to our area of reflection. We will have paper lanterns with a bright led light to purchase from the Summertime HQ stall during Summertime week. Take them away and decorate them and then bring them along on the night to be added to our area of reflection.
Pease, as mentioned above, battery operated lights only. No naked flames.
Street Fair stalls and other markets
All week!
We have various stalls from our hugely popular Watchet Street Fair that usually come to join us all week. We have a wide selection of stalls with plenty of local and artisanal goods.
Where to eat in Watchet Somerset...
Chives Cafe
East Quay Kitchen
Hellikers Tea Rooms
The London Inn (01984 631880)
The Cat’s Whisker
www.facebook.com/catswhiskerwatchet
Sams Deli
www.facebook.com/samsdeliwatchet
The Marina Cafe
www.watchetmarina.com/cafe-shop
Pizza Time
The Bell Inn
The Corner House Tea Rooms and Serendipity www.facebook.com/ SerendipityCreativeCafe
The Mariners Chippie
www.facebook.com/themarinerschippie
The Star Inn
The West Somerset Inn
www.facebook.com/ thewestsomersethotelwatchet
Watchet Fish and Chips
A cash point can be found at the Co-Op in Swain Street
Thank you to our sponsors!
Watchet Summertime is extremely grateful for the support it has received from many of the local businesses including the following.
Thank you for for helping us make it happen!
Watchet Marina Café
Chives Café
Wilkies
Little Lighthouse
Albert’s Ardware
New Horizons
Cotton Street
Lynda Cotton Gallery
Sensational Sizzlers
Clara Mann Hair Design
Beedell Coram Collectables
Richard Little
Adorium Antiques
Maurice Whiteley Accountants
West Somerset Hotel
Baldie’s Barbers
The Bell Inn
Pebbles Tavern
The Star Inn
Alex Reynard
The London Inn
Perfectly Lovely Interiors
The Hair & Beauty Lounge
Serendipity Café
Mariners Chippie
Watchet Glass and Glazing
Chamberlain & Son, Watchet MOT Centre
Corner Collection
We would also like to thank Watchet Town Council and Watchet Coastal Communities Team.
The ‘thank yous’ wouldn’t be complete without a thank you to Terry Walker for his photographs.
How to find Watchet!
The following is a letter was received by the Summertime team after Summertime 2022 and we thought we would share it with you. It gives you an idea of some of the things to do during Watchet Summertime and it’s what Watchet Summertime is all about…
To the Watchet Summertime Committee Members.
Dear All,
I am writing to thank you for all the efforts you must have put in to produce the amazing Summertime week. My grandsons, aged 6 and 10, were staying with me and enjoyed the events everyday:
The craft marquees on the Monday were superb. So many diverse crafts offered from people so generous with their time, resources and expertise. One made a beautiful dreamcatcher, while the other painted a rock hedgehog; both items have pride of place in their bedrooms. They took part in the Lego competitions both days, found the ‘rats’ in the Boat Museum and played table football on the Esplanade. And still could have done more…
One of the boys stayed on by himself for the rest of the week and had the time of his life. He spent his pocket money in the Market. He was allowed to stay up late for the Outdoor Cinema and enjoy being part of such a lively, friendly atmosphere.
Friday was the highlight for him: While I was working elsewhere on the Esplanade, he was able to watch the performances of the excellent Nutty Noah (Glad he kept the ‘Pants on the Head’ song in.) and the captivating Pirate storyteller. For the first time in his life, in the safe space of the Esplanade, a little boy was given the freedom and confidence to be an
audience member and participant and to buy his own ice cream, without an adult shepherding his every move. He had a very special afternoon. (I was keeping an eye on him from afar!) We bought our lanterns and spent an afternoon thoughtfully decorating them and reflecting on those we miss in the family before the thrill of walking in the dark dressed like early Christmas trees.
And all of this is totally free, astounding in this day and age as well as a relief to parents and grandparents in the current climate. As a family we are grateful for everything provided and did try to buy a lot of raffle tickets in support.
The highlight, of course, was the spectacular firework display. How does this little town do it?
The answer is simple: because of kind, committed people like you. Thank you.
Yours faithfully
A L
