Scouting for Girls and The Fratellis play final Watchet Festival

The festival began on August 25 and was headlined by Scouting for Girls and Belinda Carlisle, Scottish rockers The Fratellis and 80s jazz-funk outfit Level 42.

‘House band’ The Wurzels also played on the main stage, and there were plenty of young and local acts on The Udder Stage and the Something Else Tea Tent, where punters could pick up a slice of cake or a boozy coffee to enjoy with the music.

On the festival’s Friday night, Scouting for Girls frontman Roy Stride described Watchet as “the most beautiful festival in the world”; understandable, given its quaint surroundings and stunning sea views.

“Our first-ever gig as Scouting for Girls was in Somerset,” he said.

“It was at Pilton Men’s Working Club as part of the Glastonbury unsigned competition, and we were absolutely rubbish. But we’ve been practicing for the last 17 years.”

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They were followed by Californian hitmaker Carlisle, who put on a polished yet unspectacular performance as midnight drew in.

On Saturday, The Fratellis barely paused for breath as they powered through their headline set, pleasing the crowd with hits such as ‘Henrietta’, ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’, ‘Flathead’ and riotous smash-hit ‘Chelsea Dagger’.

As their set drew to a close, frontman Jon said: “We still remember playing pubs. Sometimes, just the bar staff.

“That stays with you. All we ever wanted was an audience to play to.”

West Country band John D Revelator perform on The Udder Stage.

Despite the success of Watchet Live 2022, it was soon confirmed that the festival would never return.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unfortunately not able to renew our lease on the land that we use at Parsonage Farm,” the organisers said.

“From its modest beginnings on the harbourside in 1997 to the size of the event that it has grown into, Watchet Festival has even exceeded our own wildest dreams and expectations of what we could accomplish.

“Please don’t be sad that Watchet Festival is over – please just be happy that it actually happened.”

Even before this announcement, there was uncertainty about the festival's future.

Despite tickets selling out in 2022, the organisers had already decided to make 2023 a fallow year, citing rising costs.

A band entertain the crowd in the Something Else Tea Tent.

Tommy Banner, the longest-serving member of The Wurzels, was among those who were saddened by the festival’s end.

In a recent interview with the County Gazette, he said: “We played the same slot every Sunday – the teatime slot.

“Sometimes, we’d stand on stage, watching and listening to the crowd. And we’d think, ‘this isn’t work. This is heaven. I’m getting paid for this’.

“Backstage, it was magic. It was a great atmosphere.”